Spicy tuna rolls floating around on tiny boats, dimly lit omakase speakeasies, decadent buttered rolls, and tantalizing nikkei-style maki. Miami Beach truly has it all when it comes to sushi, and below we’ve gathered the best of the best.
Azabu
Tucked inside the Stanton Hotel, this Michelin-recognized spot offers everything from a lively bar scene to one of the most intimate omakase counters in the city. If you’re lucky enough to snatch a seat, that is.
The menu shines a spotlight on Edomae-style sushi, highlighting pristine fish flown in from Japan. Expect beautifully balanced nigiri like buttery toro and delicate uni, alongside a wider selection of sashimi and maki. Beyond sushi, the kitchen turns out standout dishes like robata yellowtail collar with ponzu, wagyu steak with plum teriyaki butter, and lobster tempura with spicy mayo, as well as a range of izakaya-style small plates that make it easy to mix and match. Then, at the soul of it all, is The Den—an intimate, veiled omakase room where you’ll find Tokyo-trained sushi masters bringing to life incredible fare.
If you’re just easing into the evening, the Kanpai happy hour (daily from 5:30-8 p.m.) is one of the best under-the-radar deals in Miami Beach, with cocktails, sake, and bites like baked crab rolls at very friendly prices. Whether you’re here for the full omakase or just a yuzu gin tonic at the bar, Azabu delivers an elevated experience without feeling overdone.
Azabu is located at 161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.
Katana
For a unique experience of sushi flowing toward your table on tiny boats, Katana is the spot to be. The sushi restaurant has been satisfying hungry Japanese food lovers for two decades now and its dedication to its craft is seen in the line that forms outside the restaurant daily.
Here, skilled sushi chefs prepare nigiri, sashimi, and rolls out of the freshest fish and send it swimming along the river. Plates are color-coded and priced accordingly so you can grab the dish that’s looking at you and leave the stack to be collected at your table.
As far as the sushi goes expect an extended menu of all your typical sushi bar culrits along with seasonal specialties like bluefin toro and madai. Diners can also order a la carte from the full menu to get hot dishes straight from the kitchen including crispy pork gyoza, chicken karaage, and piping hot shrimp tempura udon.
Katana is located at 920 71st St, Miami Beach, FL 33141. For more information, visit their official website.
Makoto
Makoto is a true Japanese fine dining experience, with elegance present in every detail of the affair. Helmed by acclaimed sushi chef Makoto Okuwa, the eponymous restaurant presents epicureans with traditional edomae-style sushi in a modern setting.
The sushi bar is open for lunch and dinner and offers diners an omakase meal for $185 as well as chef’s sushi samplers and a la carte options. You’ll find the most exquisite cuts of fish including ones that are hard to come by in other sushi joints like fatty salmon, saltwater eel, and wahoo, to name a few.
Other popular menu items include robata-style wagyu short rib with chili sesame ponzu and whole branzino laced with a wasabi chimichurri and aromatic shiso. In addition, there’s an extensive menu of charcoal-grilled premium steak and one of the most comprehensive sake lists in Miami Beach. This is an experience for the books, ladies and gentlemen, and reservations are highly encouraged.
Makoto is located at 9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154. For more information, visit their official website.
Paperfish Sushi
With two outposts in Miami, the newly opened Espanola Way location is a true haven of perfectly executed nikkei cuisine and a welcoming Tokyo izakaya-style vibe. Helmed by highly passionate Chef Michael Asalie, the sushi offerings here are always prepared in the best traditions of Japanese and Peruvian fusion with a true Miami Beach flair.
On the a la carte sushi menu find nigiri and maki with crowd-favorites like torched wagyu, scallop with truffle butter, and the Acevichado roll made with shrimp katsu, white fish, and acevichado aiolo.
Paperfish Sushi also offers a signature omakase to share featuring nikkei ceviche, tiradito, and chef-choice nigiri, sashimi, and maki. For $120 this might just be the most affordable yet quality omakase experience in Miami Beach.
Pubbelly
The Pubbelly name has become synonymous with Miami Beach dining itself and there is no question why. Since its opening in 2010, Chef Jose Mendin has established a cult following behind his creative Asian fusion dishes, fun atmosphere, and utterly crave-able provisions.
With multiple newly opened locations around Miami (and the world), the pioneering Sunset Harbor location has been holding it down with all the Pubbelly classics your soul desires. If it’s your first time then make sure to remember the following order carefully: Butter Krab Roll, Bigeye Tuna Roll, and the Yellowtail Roll. Enough Said.
For those wishing to venture outside the sushi menu, there are also dumplings, bao buns, ceviche tostones, and delectable robata grill offerings. P.S. Please don’t skip dessert — you’ll be dreaming of the sweet and salty miso bread pudding for days to come.
Sushi Bar Miami
Joe Rogan fans, or simply those who are curious about what’s the hype all about, should not miss making a reservation at Sushi Bar Miami, the Miami Beach outpost of the Austin original. Celebrities aside, the omakase speakeasy has truly deserved the clout. It’s an intimate experience and behind the bar skilled sushi chefs work wonders right before your eyes.
Amidst the elegant dimly-lit ambiance, the staff genuinely makes you feel like a high-esteemed guest. With seasonally rotating ingredients, each of the 17 courses is a true work of art putting gifts of the land and sea on a pedestal.
Here, you won’t only undergo a luscious culinary experience, but you’ll also learn about the ingredients and preparation from the highly attentive staff. So without further ado, reservations are necessary.
Sushi Bar Miami Beach is located at 1438 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.