What is "hofbrau"

Hofbräu may refer to:

• Cölner Hofbräu Früh, a brewery in Cologne
• Hofbrau, a style of carvery cuisine prevalent in Northern California, U.S.A.
• Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München (Hofbräu München), a brewery in Munich
  • Hofbräu-Festzelt, the largest beer tent of the Oktoberfest in Munich
  • Hofbräuhaus am Platzl
• Stuttgarter Hofbräu, a German brewery located in Stuttgart
• Würzburger Hofbräu, a brewery in Würzburg, Germany

Hofbrau is a cafeteria-style food service found in the United States, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the namesake for various restaurants and restaurant chains in the U.S. that feature this kind of food service. The name is derived from the German term Hofbräu, which originally referred to a brewery with historical ties to a royal court. Such breweries often have beer gardens where food is served. However, Northern California-style hofbraus differ in both food and service from such traditional German establishments, and commonly do not offer any German food. Instead, freshly carved meat is central to California hofbrau cuisine.