Tucanos Brazilian Grill

Tucanos Brazilian Grill is a Brazilian steakhouse concept built around an all‑you‑can‑eat churrasco experience paired with a large, chef‑driven salad and hot bar. Guests pay a fixed price and receive continuous tableside service of skewered meats, which makes the restaurant a natural fit for social occasions, families, and celebrations at both lunch and dinner. The format supports larger parties and event business, allowing locations to pull steady traffic throughout evenings and weekends.

The company was founded in 2000 in Provo, Utah, by Steve Oldham and Christofer Mower, who wanted to introduce authentic Brazilian churrasco to a college and family‑focused market in the Intermountain West. A second restaurant in Boise, Idaho, followed as Tucanos refined its rodizio‑style service and salad festival approach. A notable milestone in the brand’s history is its evolution from that single Utah restaurant to a multi‑state operator that has kept its leadership and ownership structure largely intact while growing a loyal following.

As of November 2023 Tucanos operates nine restaurants across six states: Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, and Virginia. The chain typically positions each unit as a single large‑format destination within its trade area rather than filling markets with multiple locations. Sites often sit near colleges, family neighborhoods, or regional retail and entertainment hubs, which helps the restaurants function as anchors for group dining and weekend traffic.

Over roughly the past five years, Tucanos has continued to expand in a measured way instead of pursuing rapid national franchising. The company focuses on regional trade areas where a Brazilian grill can serve as a destination, with particular interest in the Intermountain and Mountain West, Midwest secondary metros, and Sun Belt suburban markets. Recent public communication and ongoing promotions, including active marketing through 2025, indicate that the brand remains in growth mode while prioritizing operational consistency.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Tucanos represents a privately held, experience‑driven restaurant that can occupy sizeable boxes or second‑generation restaurant space and reliably draw evening and weekend guests. Its fixed‑price, event‑friendly format lends itself to family gatherings, celebrations, and group outings, which in turn supports surrounding retail and entertainment tenants in value‑oriented regional centers.