It can be hard to keep up with El Tucán. This Brickell spot has now entered its third transformation in a few years. At first, El Tucán was a restaurant/Latin cabaret (a pretty fun one too) and then, suddenly, it was a nightclub (less fun, to be honest) and now it’s, um, a little of both? El Tucán’s most recent launch thankfully sees it going back to its theatrical roots with a live dinner show that includes singing, dancing and aerial performers. Before the plates have even cleared, the dining room turns into a sparkler-fueled supper club with a DJ and no shortage of table dancing and booth-side performances.
The menu is new too, swapping the old Latin cuisine for a bevy of new-wave Asian dishes. Requisite sushi and sashimi are remixed with tropical flavors, including the Mango Tango that pairs the namesake fruit with shrimp tempura and hamachi and the yellowtail crunchy tacos served with micro cilantro and a dollop of guacamole. For something more traditional, we suggest something from the robot grill, like the hoisin ginger filet mignon or the pineapple teriyaki salmon with ginger rice. Though the small plates and salads best serve El Tucán’s dinner party vibes: an order of the juicy wagyu beef sliders, creamy avocado salad and addictive sweet-and-spicy edamame satiate without anchoring you to your seat with a full stomach. The fortune cookie milk punch and the lychee rose martini are two excellent ways to start or end any meal.
Overall, this latest iteration is a pretty wild time and, hopefully, the winning one for the glamorous El Tucán.