Rodizio Grill is staking out new ground in downtown Ogden, with the Brazilian steakhouse chain announcing plans to open its third Utah restaurant at 2309 Washington Blvd. inside The Junction. The opening is planned for 2027, and it marks a notable push north for a brand that has long anchored itself in Salt Lake City and Provo.
The new restaurant will bring Rodizio Grill's signature churrasco format to Northern Utah, with rotisserie-grilled meats carved tableside by the chain's Rodizio Gauchos, according to abc4.com. The Ogden location is slated to become the company's third in the state, and as RestaurantNews.com reports, Rodizio Grill plans to share more details on the grand opening in the coming months.
“In 1996, we opened the first Brazilian steakhouse in the United States,” said Ivan Utrera, founder of Rodizio Grill, per the ABC4 report. Utrera is credited with bringing the churrascaria concept and family recipes from Brazil to American diners, and the company says it has operated in Utah for 27 years since entering the state in 1999.
A Growing Utah Footprint, With a Fourth Spot Already Brewing
Rodizio Grill is not stopping at Ogden. The company says a fourth Utah restaurant is already in the works, though no location or timeline for that project has been disclosed. The chain is headquartered in Sandy, Utah, and has operated restaurants in Salt Lake City and Provo, according to the same RestaurantNews.com announcement.
Steven Staples, CEO of Rodizio Grill, also commented on the Ogden expansion, the outlet notes. The company's growth claims come with a wrinkle: the Ogden announcement states Rodizio Grill operates 24 locations across 14 states, while a June announcement from the chain put the figure at 25 locations across 14 states following the opening of a North Scottsdale, Arizona restaurant — the brand's second in that state, per the same source.
What Diners Can Expect on the Menu
Rodizio Grill's all-inclusive menu offers unlimited Brazilian sides and more than 30 gourmet salads, alongside rotisserie-grilled meats and grilled items carved tableside by its Gauchos, the company said in its North Scottsdale announcement. That same formula is expected to anchor the Ogden location once it opens.
Ahead of opening day, Rodizio Grill plans to run what it calls a “Road to Rodizio” countdown with the Ogden community, featuring sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes moments, and grand opening celebrations. Guests can also join Club Rodizio to receive opening updates, invitations, and exclusive offers, including a free birthday meal once the Ogden restaurant opens, the company said.
Other Brazilian Steakhouses Making Moves in Utah
Rodizio Grill is not the only churrascaria chain setting its sights on the Utah market. Fogo de Chão opened its first Utah location in Murray last November, a restaurant expected to create more than 100 jobs, according to ksl.com. That chain, which launched in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1979 before expanding to the United States in 1997, donated 10% of its first week's sales to the Utah Food Bank.
Rodizio Grill's own Utah growth has a longer history. Back in 2017, the company opened its fourth Utah location at The Shops at Riverwoods in Provo, a nearly 7,000-square-foot space built with private and semi-private areas for group dining, according to a report from finance.yahoo.com. Whether the Ogden location will echo that scale remains to be seen, as construction timelines and restaurant size have not been disclosed.
Ashlee Hille, VP of marketing at Rodizio Grill, is listed as a media contact for the Ogden announcement. For now, downtown Ogden diners will have to wait for more specifics, but the company has made clear that its Utah appetite is far from satisfied.
