The Best Colombian Restaurant in South Jordan: Where Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana Brings the Soul of the Grill to Utah

There's something primal about the smell of meat over charcoal. It doesn't matter if you're in Medellín or South Jordan—that smoky aroma cuts through everything else and demands your attention. At Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana on Redwood Road, that's exactly what stops you in your tracks. The scent of chorizo sizzling on the parrilla, chicharrón crisping to perfection, and carne asada developing that perfect char—it's the kind of smell that makes you pull into the parking lot even if you weren't planning to.

"The portion was more than enough and very tasty. Definitely my favorite place," one customer wrote after their first experience with Parcerito's generous plates. And generous might be an understatement when you're talking about a restaurant that's bringing authentic Colombian parrilla to a corner of Utah County that's been hungry for exactly this kind of place.

This isn't some watered-down version of Colombian food designed for timid palates. Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana landed in South Jordan with a full liquor license—earned in September 2024—and a mission statement written right in their Instagram bio: "Restaurante con auténtica comida colombiana y a la parrilla, que te hará sentir como en casa." Authentic Colombian food and grilled meats that make you feel at home. That's the promise. And judging by the 4.5-star rating and the way plates come loaded with enough protein to feed a small village, they're keeping it.

The Colombian Parrilla Tradition: What Makes Parcerito Different

Here's what most people don't understand about Colombian parrilla until they've experienced it: it's not just barbecue. It's a entire culinary tradition built around the grill, where everything from blood sausage to plantains gets treated with the same reverence. Every Colombian backyard has some version of a pit barrel or parrilla setup. It's how families gather, how celebrations happen, how Sunday afternoons turn into multi-hour feasts.

The word "parrilla" itself means grill in Spanish, but in Colombian food culture, it represents something bigger—a cooking philosophy where open flame and charcoal smoke transform simple ingredients into something transcendent. At Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana, that tradition gets the respect it deserves. The restaurant specializes in authentic Colombian grilled cuisine, focusing on preparation methods that have been passed down through generations in Colombia's diverse regions.

Walk into Parcerito and you'll find chorizo hanging from hooks, morcilla (blood sausage) with its distinctive dark casing, and chicharrón—that magical combination of crispy pork skin and tender belly meat that Colombians have perfected. The parrilla technique involves more than just throwing meat on a grill. It's about understanding how different cuts respond to charcoal heat, when to move proteins to cooler zones, how to achieve that perfect char without drying out the interior.

The restaurant's signature Picada Parcerito ($49.99) exemplifies this approach. It's a massive mixed grill platter designed for sharing, loaded with various meats all prepared on the parrilla. Think of it as Colombia's answer to Korean BBQ or Brazilian churrasco—a communal eating experience where the quality of the grill work is on full display. You're getting chorizo, morcilla, chicharrón, grilled beef, and usually some grilled plantains and potatoes on the side, all charred to different degrees of perfection.

What You Need to Order at Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana

Let's talk about the Bandeja Paisa ($27.99), because you can't discuss Colombian restaurants without discussing Colombia's most famous dish. This is the plate that stopped farms across Antioquia region in Colombia—a protein-packed monster meal that farmers needed before a full day working the land. At Parcerito, it comes with beans, rice, ground beef or carne asada, chorizo, fried egg, arepa, and chicharrón.

Now, one DoorDash reviewer noted that their bandeja paisa "lacked sazón and not truly authentic," which is fair feedback. Colombian cuisine is deeply regional, and what tastes authentic to someone from Medellín might be different from what someone from Bogotá expects. The beauty of parrilla-focused restaurants is that the grilled meat components—the chorizo, the chicharrón, the carne asada—these are where Parcerito really shines. That's where the smoke and char tell the story.

The Churrasco (13oz, $23.99) is another standout. In Colombian parrilla tradition, churrasco means a thick cut of sirloin, marinated and grilled to your preference. It's simpler than bandeja paisa but showcases the restaurant's grill skills without distraction. You're tasting the quality of the meat, the char from the parrilla, and whatever marinade magic they're working with.

Don't sleep on the Burger Parcerito ($13.99), which sounds basic until you realize it's built on Colombian parrilla principles. The beef patty gets the same charcoal treatment as everything else, and it's probably served with fried plantains instead of regular fries—that sweet-savory combination that makes Colombian food so addictive.

And then there's the Lunch Del Dia ($15.99), which is how you experience authentic Colombian home cooking without breaking the bank. Daily specials rotate through regional Colombian dishes, often featuring sancocho (a hearty soup), grilled proteins, and sides of rice and beans. One reviewer specifically praised the soup from their lunch order: "Not sure what kind it was but hit the spot." That's the Colombian food experience—sometimes you can't name what you're eating, but you know it's exactly what you needed.

The Papas Locas ($15.99) translates to "crazy potatoes," and it's the kind of loaded potato dish that makes sense when you're drinking beer and sharing stories. Expect fries or chunks of potato topped with various grilled meats, sauces, and probably some cheese. It's bar food elevated by parrilla technique.

South Jordan's Growing Latin Food Scene

South Jordan isn't the first place you'd expect to find authentic Colombian parrilla. The city of nearly 89,000 residents has historically been known as a bedroom community for Salt Lake City—suburban, family-friendly, heavy on parks and light on international cuisine. But that's changing, and Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana is part of that evolution.

Utah's Colombian population more than doubled between 2010 and 2020, growing 123.6%. Salt Lake County saw Venezuelan populations triple in the same period. Every July, hundreds of Colombian-Americans gather at Jordan Park in Salt Lake City to celebrate Colombian Independence Day with traditional food, dance, and music. There's a hunger for authentic Latin American flavors in Utah, and not just from the Latino community—food enthusiasts across the state are seeking out regional specialties they can't find anywhere else.

Parcerito chose the perfect location at 10949 S Redwood Road, right in the heart of South Jordan's developing commercial corridor. There's easy parking, solid visibility from the road, and they're positioned to serve not just South Jordan but West Jordan, Sandy, and the entire south valley. Interestingly, they share the same address (different suite) with Mirazur Parrilla Colombiana, another Colombian parrilla restaurant. Rather than competition, think of it as validation—this spot has become a destination for Colombian grilled cuisine.

The restaurant's operating hours show they're serious about serving the community: Tuesday through Saturday from roughly 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with Sunday hours until 7:00 PM. They're closed Mondays, which is common for family-run Latin American restaurants that need one day to prep and recharge.

The Parcerito Experience: What to Expect When You Visit

Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana seats you in an atmosphere that splits the difference between casual and celebratory. This is a place where you can bring the family for Sunday lunch or grab drinks with friends before a night out. The full liquor license means they're serving Colombian beers like Aguila and Poker alongside cocktails—probably including aguardiente, the anise-flavored liquor that's practically Colombia's national spirit.

The restaurant's tagline—"Sabor colombiano en cada bocado" (Colombian flavor in every bite)—isn't just marketing. When you order from a parrilla-focused restaurant, you're getting food that was probably grilled to order. That means there's going to be some wait time, especially during busy dinner hours. But that wait is worth it when your plate arrives smoking from the grill, the chorizo still sizzling, the chicharrón crackling.

Service seems friendly and accommodating based on the customer feedback. The portions are legitimately huge—this is Colombian hospitality, where serving small plates would be considered almost rude. Come hungry, or come prepared to take home enough leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. The pricing is reasonable for the amount of food you're getting: most entrees range from $13.99 to $27.99, with the massive Picada Parcerito at $49.99 designed to feed three or four people.

One note about delivery: Parcerito is available on DoorDash, which is how some of those reviews came in. But parrilla food is really meant to be eaten fresh off the grill. The chicharrón starts losing its crispness almost immediately. The chorizo is best when it's still hot enough to make you blow on it. If you can, visit in person. Sit down. Let the smell of the grill remind you why humans started cooking over fire in the first place.

Planning Your Visit to Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana

Address: 10949 S Redwood Rd, South Jordan, UT 84095

Hours:

• Tuesday-Friday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
• Saturday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
• Sunday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Monday: Closed

Phone: (801) 205-9068

Instagram: @parceritoparrillacolombiana

Best times to visit: Weekday lunches for the Lunch Del Dia special; weekend evenings for the full parrilla experience with drinks. If you're bringing a larger group for the Picada Parcerito, consider calling ahead.

What to order on your first visit:

• The Picada Parcerito if you're with friends (massive mixed grill)
• Bandeja Paisa if you want the classic Colombian experience
• Churrasco if you're a steak person who wants to taste the grill work
• Lunch Del Dia if you're budget-conscious or curious about daily specials

Parking: Plenty of parking in the shopping center lot. This is South Jordan—parking is never an issue.

Atmosphere: Casual enough for jeans, nice enough for a date. Family-friendly but also set up for adults who want to drink and enjoy a longer meal.

Why Parcerito Matters to Utah's Food Scene

In a state that's rapidly diversifying its culinary landscape, Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana represents something important. It's not fusion. It's not adapted for mainstream American tastes. It's a straight-up Colombian parrilla restaurant doing the food they know, the way they know how to do it. That authenticity is valuable, especially in a place like South Jordan where international dining options have historically been limited.

The Colombian community in Utah is growing, and they need places where they can taste home. But Parcerito isn't just for Colombians—it's for anyone who appreciates the primal satisfaction of well-cooked meat over charcoal, who wants to understand what Colombian parrilla tradition is really about, who's tired of the same restaurant rotation and wants something different.

"The portion was more than enough and very tasty. Definitely my favorite place," that customer wrote. Sometimes that's all the recommendation you need—generous portions, bold flavors, and food that makes someone's favorite place list after just one visit. That's what Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana is building at 10949 S Redwood Road.

Get there before everyone else figures it out. Order the Picada Parcerito. Smell the charcoal smoke. Taste what Colombian parrilla tradition is supposed to be. This is the best Colombian restaurant in South Jordan for a reason—they're not just serving Colombian food, they're serving Colombian culture, one charcoal-grilled plate at a time.

Find Parcerito Parrilla Colombiana at 10949 S Redwood Rd, South Jordan, UT 84095. Follow them on Instagram @parceritoparrillacolombiana for daily specials and parrilla inspiration. Call (801) 205-9068 for takeout or questions about their menu.