Ichigo-Ichiéi is a term the Japanese use for the once in a lifetime concept that every encounter should be valued as if it were to be the last. That notion is at the heart of Hiyakawa, a new Japanese restaurant in Wynwood.
Alvaro Perez Miranda, the Venezuelan restaurateur and art dealer who launched the Vagabond Restaurant & Bar with Alex Chang and owns Wabi Sabi by Shuji on NE 79th Street, tells
New Times that Hiyakawa was designed as a transportive dining experience. After living in Japan for 16 years, every time I wanted to eat Japanese food in Miami I felt like I had to go to New York City or Los Angeles to get the real thing, he says. This eatery is meant to fill that gap. Between the atmosphere, service, and menu, Hiyakawa is meant to serve as a portal into a quintessential fine-dining Japanese eatery.
305-864-8600 An ultrachic vibe and A-list clientele might yield comparisons to Nobu, Katsuya, Naoe, and other swank spots in Miami, but Makoto truly sets the gold standard for sushi. Led by
Iron Chef alum Makoto Okuwa, Stephen Starr’s Bal Harbour restaurant is faultless in its preparation and presentation of immaculate cuts of sushi and innovative interpretations of the chef s native cuisine. Maki roll highlights include softshell crab tempura with tobiko, avocado, scallion, and asparagus ($17); and the Vegan Stephen , packed with tempura zucchini, avocado, roasted red pepper, eggplant, and kanpyo squash ($14). Regardless of your choice, the sushi and sashimi arrive vibrant and fresh a stark contrast to the dark hues of the décor.
Photo by Amanda Julca 305-204-2372 Sisters Jennifer and Michele Kaminski channeled years of watching their mother, Chom “Sunny” Kaminski cook at her Indiana restaurant. Seeing a need for delicious Korean food in Miami, they opened 2 Korean Girls with a little help from culinary veteran Allen Susser. The virtual takeout-and-delivery-only concept revolves around bibimbap, the Korean bowl filled with rice, meats, and vegetables (and customarily topped with a fried egg or a raw one if you re hardcore). The sisters turn the staple dish on its side with renditions like the Fish Better Have My Money, made with cod and festooned with edible gold flakes ($17); and the Impos-Seoul-Ible, made with plant-based bulgogi meatballs ($16). The meals come in adorable K-pop boxes and are pleasing to the eyes (check out the heart-shaped fried eggs!). But the real enjoyment comes in mixing all the ingredients together and eating these flavorful, soulful bowls of goodness.