Brazilian Restaurant South Jordan: Tushar Brazilian Express Brings Authentic Home Cooking to Utah

The smell of fire-grilled pork skewers hits you first, caramelized and smoky, followed by something unexpected in South Jordan—the unmistakable aroma of feijoada simmering slowly on a back burner. It's Brazil's national dish, a black bean stew that takes hours to develop its depth, and Wagner Ribeiro has been perfecting his version for over three decades. "Wagner, the owner, was one of the most gracious hosts we've ever had," one diner recalls. "He made us, and all of our party, like family."

At Tushar Brazilian Express, tucked into a South Jordan Parkway strip mall, there's none of the carnival atmosphere or $50-per-person price tags you'd find at Utah's traditional Brazilian churrascarias. This is something different—a fast-casual Brazilian bistro where you order at the counter, where authentic comfort food arrives quickly, and where the man behind it all actually knows what he's doing.

From Rodizio Grill to South Jordan: Wagner Ribeiro's 30-Year Journey

Wagner Ribeiro didn't wake up one day and decide to open a Brazilian restaurant in South Jordan. His path to 1078 West South Jordan Parkway began in the late 1990s, working the grill at Made in Brazil, where he first suggested serving Brazilian BBQ on Saturdays—cooking meat outside the store because that's what needed to happen. By 1998, he was working with Rodizio Grill, then left with one of the partners in 1999 to open Tucanos in Provo as a manager. He returned to Rodizio as General Manager in Denver, finished his MBA in 2002, and spent years consulting for Brazilian restaurants across the Southwest.

In 2013, Ribeiro was invited to open Tushar Brazilian Express, and he saw an opportunity to do something the Utah market was missing. The state had plenty of expensive all-you-can-eat steakhouses, but nowhere offered the kind of affordable, everyday Brazilian food people actually eat in Brazil. Tushar's approach was conceived by Chef Wagner Ribeiro and manager Alacy Monteiro as a way to honor the food they grew up with in their native Brazil.

The concept was simple but radical for Utah's Brazilian food scene: skip the elaborate servers parading meat around dining rooms, ditch the $40-60 per person pricing, and focus instead on the dishes Brazilians actually crave. Feijoada. Coxinhas. Pão de queijo. The kind of food that reminds expats of home and introduces Americans to what Brazilian cuisine really tastes like beyond the steakhouse experience.

The Brazilian Restaurant South Jordan Needed: Where Authenticity Meets Affordability

Walk into Tushar and you'll notice it immediately—this isn't trying to be Rodizio Grill or Tucanos. "There are plenty of Brazilian churrascarias and steakhouses out there, but no bistro type places," one regular customer explains. "Tushar is affordable, hearty, comfort food. The people there are all very generous, friendly, and genuinely nice."

The menu boards on the left wall display the day's offerings: fire-grilled skewers of beef, chicken, and pork ($2.99-$3.75), served with your choice of three sides. But it's the appetizers and specialties that reveal Wagner's commitment to authenticity. The coxinhas—golden, teardrop-shaped chicken croquettes—are exactly what you'd find at a Brazilian street food stand. "I've lived in Brazil for 5 years of my life and this food is EVERYTHING," wrote one customer. "The black beans, coxinhas, fried bananas and pao de queijo are perfect. If you like real brazilian food, this is the place to go."

The pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) arrives piping hot, gluten-free orbs with a crispy exterior and that characteristic chewy interior. One visitor noted these were their favorites, calling the food "good authentic," specifically highlighting these Brazilian staples. Another customer who served a mission in Brazil said simply: "This took me back in a way Tucanos never did!"

Then there's the feijoada, served on Fridays and Saturdays as part of an all-you-can-eat buffet. "Forget the feijoada from other places! This is the real feijoada and it's all you can eat!!! Love this place!!! Best feijoada in Utah!!!" enthusiastically declares one review. The dish arrives with white rice, salad, and farofa (toasted cassava flour) for sprinkling on top—the traditional Brazilian way. "My favorite dish is the feijoada, tastes like my family's recipe & I love it," wrote another diner.

But Wagner's menu goes beyond the expected. The Frango/Catupiry Pizza showcases catupiry—a uniquely Brazilian cream cheese that doesn't exist in American supermarkets. The calabresa pizza is "so authentic, better than in Sao Paulo," according to one Brazilian customer. The Portuguesa pizza, another Brazilian classic, features ham, onions, eggs, and olives in combinations Americans wouldn't typically see at their local pizza joint.

The glazed pork loin skewer, caramelized with a sweet glaze, balances that signature Brazilian combination of savory and slightly sweet. City Weekly's food critic praised it for its "slightly sweet caramelization on the outside of the tender meat," noting the restaurant's attention to proper cooking temperatures—they actually ask how you want your beef cooked, a nice touch missing from most fast-casual operations.

Desserts lean heavily into Brazilian tradition: passion fruit mousse, silky and tart; brigadeiros (chocolate truffles); and pudim de leite (Brazilian flan), sweeter and denser than its Spanish counterpart. "I stopped here tonight to grab some passion fruit mousse to go. Let me tell you...it was quite delicious! I should have taken a picture, but i ate it too fast!"

South Jordan's Brazilian Gathering Spot: Community, Catering, and Weekend Traditions

What sets Tushar apart in South Jordan's dining landscape isn't just the food—it's how Wagner has created a space that feels genuinely welcoming to both Brazilian expats and curious Americans. A missionary reunion gathering praised the all-you-can-eat buffet's variety and quality, with the group's president personally congratulating Wagner on the "awesome food and service." The experience included feijoada, stroganoff, potato salad, barbecue sausage, and passion fruit mousse served in small cups.

"We tried Tushar Brazilian Express on a whim and had a great experience," wrote one first-time visitor. "The owner/manager/server was very invested in making sure we had a great experience and got to try all of the buffet options as they became available. He spent extra time with our table explaining different items on the menu and even brought us some samples of an appetizer we'd been curious about."

The restaurant has become a go-to for catering throughout the Salt Lake Valley. "Best Brazilian By a Billion. Tushar's came through with 200 lil' cochinhas delivered on the night before the big party. Delicioso! And priced just right," one satisfied customer reported. Wagner's catering operation handles everything from intimate family gatherings to large corporate events and weddings, bringing his authentic Brazilian flavors to celebrations across Utah.

The Friday and Saturday buffet has become a South Jordan tradition for those who know about it. "We also love the ambiance when we eat in - especially Feijoada Fridays!" one regular notes. It's unlimited access to Brazilian home cooking at a price point that won't break the bank—a rarity in Utah's Brazilian food scene.

For health-conscious diners, Tushar offers something unusual: transparency about its menu. Most dishes are gluten-free, with 95% of the menu safe for those avoiding gluten. "This is my go-to place in the general salt lake area. Most of the menu is GF, so I feel pretty safe eating here," wrote one celiac customer, who regularly orders the glazed pork or chicken skewer with white rice, black beans, and steamed veggies. The restaurant even maintains a separate fryer for its famous fried bananas and fries.

Vegetarian options extend beyond the typical side dishes—Brazilian cooking naturally lends itself to vegetable-forward dishes, and Wagner hasn't overlooked that audience in South Jordan's increasingly diverse dining landscape.

Planning Your Visit to Tushar Brazilian Express

Location & Hours: 1078 West South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095

• Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
• Friday-Saturday: 11am-10pm (buffet available)
• Monday: 12pm-9pm
• Sunday: Closed
• Phone: (801) 446-6644

What to Order: First-timers should start with the Brazilian Special—a skewer meal with three sides that lets you sample the foundational elements. One diner praised the "delicious" rice and noted the vegetables are "surprisingly good and above average for 'fast food,'" with fried plantains earning special mention.

Don't skip the coxinhas—they're what locals come back for. "I recently ordered a catered order of Coxhinas and Pao de Queijo for my birthday party and they were fabulous!" Order them with pão de queijo for the full Brazilian appetizer experience.

If you're visiting on Friday or Saturday, the feijoada buffet is the move. At under $20 per person, it's your chance to sample Wagner's specialty without committing to a single dish. The buffet includes feijoada, stroganoff, multiple salads, barbecue sausage, and Brazilian pizza, with items refreshed continuously.

For drinks, try the Brazilian lemonade (limonada suíça)—it's made with limes, condensed milk, and ice, completely different from American lemonade. The cashew juice is an adventure if you've never had it, made from cashew apples rather than the nuts. Guaraná, Brazil's beloved soda, is always available for those seeking an authentic beverage pairing.

Insider Tips: Parking is plentiful in the strip mall, and the counter-service format means you're not waiting for servers. Order at the left counter when you enter, grab a number, and they'll bring everything out—usually within 15 minutes. The dining room features a massive Brazilian flag mural and televisions showing Brazilian scenery and music, creating an atmosphere that's relaxed without being overly themed.

Prices run $7-25 per person for most meals, making Tushar the most affordable authentic Brazilian restaurant in the Salt Lake Valley. Family meals starting at $25 can easily feed four people with multiple skewers and sides.

Wagner often works the front of house himself, and for Portuguese speakers, he's happy to converse in his native language, creating an instant connection that transcends the typical restaurant experience.

---

In a Utah dining scene increasingly dominated by chains and franchises, Tushar Brazilian Express represents something increasingly rare: a family-owned restaurant run by someone who's dedicated his life to the craft. Wagner Ribeiro's three decades of Brazilian cooking experience aren't just credentials—they're evident in every properly seasoned skewer, every authentic coxinha, every batch of feijoada that reminds Brazilian expats of home.

South Jordan finally has the affordable Brazilian bistro it didn't know it needed. And for those willing to venture beyond the familiar churrascaria model, Tushar offers something more valuable than unlimited meat parades—it offers authenticity, community, and the kind of comfort food that makes you want to come back next Friday for that feijoada buffet.

Visit Tushar Brazilian Express at 1078 West South Jordan Parkway, or order online for pickup and delivery. Follow them on Instagram @tusharbrazilianexpress for daily specials and catering information.