Iguana Investments, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s development company, announced Sept. 25 that Asado Life, “a live-fire culinary experience,” will open in the Shipyards marina support building Downtown.
The building is near the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences and One Shipyards Place, the future Jaguars headquarters building, and a marina all under construction on the Downtown Jacksonville Northbank near EverBank Stadium along the St. John River.
The full-service restaurant is planned for an August 2026 opening.
The release said Asado Life focuses on communal fire-grilling, or asado, featuring scratch-made ingredients and “traditional Argentinian-inspired cooking methods of chef’s cuts, sausages, fresh catches and grilled vegetables.”
The restaurant will offer a la carte menus and private events.
“I am proud to welcome Asado Life, a restaurant centered around celebrating the centuries-old Argentine tradition of open-flame cooking, to the Shipyards Development,” Iguana Investments CEO and Chief Design Officer Shanna Khan said in the release.
“ Fire has been rooted in mankind’s origins since the beginning of time, and I am eager for guests to enter this vibrant space designed to spark memorable connections while dining along the St. Johns River.”
Shanna Khan, the daughter of the Jaguars owner, is overseeing her family office’s global portfolio of development and investment properties and initiatives, including the Shipyards.
The release said the restaurant’s culinary team will be led by Executive Chef Matthew Brown and serve lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays.
The restaurant will accommodate about 140 guests with options for inside and outdoor patio seating overlooking the river.
Second location
It is the second location for Asado Life, which started in St. Augustine where it will remain open.
The release said the Shipyards restaurant “will offer a more modern, metropolitan vibe to the coastal St. Augustine interior, but the menu and attention to detail will remain the same.”
Asado Life owner Nick Carrera said in the release that the restaurant will introduce its signature live-fire cuisine to the heart of the city’s sports and entertainment district.
“Just as in St. Augustine, we look forward to welcoming guests around the fire to share the food, the atmosphere, and the sense of community that define who we are,” he said.
Colliers Urban Division served as the leasing representative on behalf of Iguana Investments.
Asado Life said it plans to host special tailgating events for game days and concerts. The site is also near Daily’s Place and the Sports and Entertainment District.
The Jacksonville Shipyards project comprises the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville with 170 hotel rooms and 26 residences; One Shipyards Place, a six-story office building; five restaurants; the Riverwalk; pier; a marina support building; and a 78-boat slip public marina.
Asado Life is at 173 Shipyard Way in St. Augustine. The restaurant website says the concept started in 2014 when Carrera and his wife, Christie, started Experience Grilling out of their garage. The St. Augustine Record reported they opened their brick-and-mortar location in 2022.
According to the St. Augustine Asado Life website, lunch entrees range from $22.99 for an asado vegetable plate to $29.99 for a grilled asado trio.
An asado bowl is $13.99. Additions include $4.99 for grilled zucchini to $12.99 for grilled steak. Grilled shrimp, pork shoulder and chicken are other options.
Sandwiches range from $14.99 for a rotisserie smoked chicken sandwich to $22.99 for a steak and Gorgonzola sandwich.
According to the Asado Life spring dinner menu, the most current one on its website, entrees range from $25 for an asado vegetable plate to $59 for Korean BBQ beef cheeks.
Chef cuts of steak range from $34 for an 8-ounce hanger steak to $97 for a 36-ounce porterhouse.
Permit issued
The city issued a permit Sept. 9 for a $2 million project to demolish the existing Jacksonville Shipyards marina structures and replace the dock.
The city issued permits May 8, 2025, for Auld & White Constructors LLC to build the Jacksonville Shipyards marina support building and its back-of-house for a total project cost of $5.6 million.
The 1.92-acre city-owned site is at 5 Shipyards Place.
In January 2023, Jacksonville City Council approved a redrafted $129.75 million incentives deal with Iguana Investments Florida for the hotel, condominiums and office building.
The city is paying for redevelopment of the public marina; the marina support building; an event lawn; and the Riverwalk to support the hotel and residences.
Orlando-based PCL Construction is the project’s construction manager.
Completion of the six-story One Shipyards Place, where the Jaguars will move its team headquarters, is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
The 10-story Four Seasons Hotel and Residences is under construction for completion in 2026.
EverBank Stadium has begun a $1.4 billion renovation that targets 2028 for completion.