Top Best Japanese Restaurants in Star Island

"This New York City import boasts a “hidden” sushi counter inside its main restaurant, which serves omakase using local and imported seafood from the top fish markets in Japan. Wash it back with one of the 40 imported whiskeys on hand. Keep an eye on its social media channels for announcements about a wide variety of interesting collaboration dinners with local chefs and purveyors."

"You’d never guess this super authentic Japanese restaurant would be inside a hotel, but lo and behold, Azabu is located in the Marriott Stanton South Beach not too far from Ocean Drive. It feels worlds away, though. Dimly lit, quiet and beautifully understated, Azabu has a Michelin-starred sister location in Tribeca which inspired its Tokyo comfort food concept."

"Where else can you dine on Michelin-starred Japanese cuisine right by the ocean?. Azabu Miami Beach serves killer fish (think salmon tataki, miso black cod and spicy tuna crispy rice) with a view of the water. Just make sure to reserve a table on the restaurant’s outdoor patio in advance."

"Bars Lounges Allapattah. Watr owns its stunning view of the ocean with a Peruvian-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar decked in reclaimed wood. The soundtrack is more akin to breaking waves than the usual club bangers you hear in these parts."

"Ready for some of the most stunning unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean?. Sitting at 18 stories, WATR at 1 Hotel Rooftop has you covered. Whether you are staying at the Miami hotel or planning a visit to have some cocktails with views of Miami Beach, you will not be disappointed."

"Nothing like a soft sea breeze, white, pillowy couches and some delicious Peruvian-influenced Japanese cuisine to make us feel like we’re on vacation right here at home. 2341 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-604-6580 or 1hotels.com. View this post on Instagram"

"From its days inside the former St. Roch Market, this Japanese-Peruvian restaurant has grown into a larger space all its own in the Miami Design District’s Palm Court. Led by a brother, sister, and father team lovingly referred to as the “Chang Gang,” Itamae is an ode to combining their Peruvian heritage with Japanese classics. Think: a curated selection of maki and rolls, sashimi, and rice bowls served alongside tiraditos and ceviches."

"When I heard Itamae, an excellent Nikkei spot that initially debuted in a Design District food hall, was going to open its own restaurant, I was way too excited. I probably checked their Instagram page on a weekly basis for updates. I even ended up interviewing Nando and Val Chang about the process of opening during a pandemic, which sounded like a planetary-size headache."

"Japanese , Latin ,  Peruvian"

"On the spectrum of $200-per-person omakase dinners and that place nearby that does surprisingly good rolls for under $10, you’ll find Blue Ribbon just about in the middle, tilted slightly towards the fancier side of the scale. They serve high-quality fish and the space fits in well with the art deco-style of the cute little hotel that it’s housed in. Come here to eat any roll with fatty tuna and great fried chicken while nodding your head to censored hip-hop songs."

"Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill is nestled in the historic and newly restored Plymouth Hotel in the burgeoning Mid-Beach district, just 3 blocks from the beach. The restaurant includes a spacious cocktail bar, sushi bar, indoor dining rooms and a poolside dining area. Open for dinner, starting 5...See More"

"This tiny, classic dining room in Pinecrest feels like you’re in actual Japan, and we don’t mean fast-paced and sophisticated Tokyo. If you were to get on a train from Kyoto to a remote village half an hour away and stumble upon a small restaurant amongst hills and green fields, this would absolutely remind you of Sakura. This shopping center restaurant is easy to miss, but you’ll be glad you found it."

"1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139-3136Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Valet Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Parking AvailableLatin, Argentinean, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free OptionsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner, BrunchSGD 39 - SGD 79+1 305-674-5752"

"One of Miami’s most-respected chefs, Piyarat Arreeratn (a.k.a. Chef Bee) has brought inspired Thai food to several Miami restaurants, including the lauded, now-shuttered Khong River House. These days, the Chiang Rai native co-owns a hip, Thai street food-inspired Sunset Harbor destination with his mom, serving spicy spring rolls and sriracha wings, in a hip, industrial-cool space. Bee’s fare updates Thai classics, including Chiang Rai curry, an elevated riff on khao soi with braised beef and springy noodles in a fragrant yellow curry base."

"Located at 1854 Bay Road in Bayshore, the sushi bar, Thai and Japanese spot is the highest rated Japanese restaurant in Miami Beach, boasting 4.5 stars out of 523 reviews on Yelp. Avid participators in Miami Spice, NaiYaRa has been featured in numerous publications, including Time Out's Guide to the Best Thai food in Miami. "Chef Bee puts a trendy twist on the Thai street food of his childhood with spicy and sweet chicken wings, beef jerky with a woody nahm jim jao sauce, fried garlic bok choy and more," the review notes."

"The Northern Thai and Japanese styles at NaiYaRa are a happy addition to the growing culinary hub in Sunset Harbor. The pricing may be on the higher side, but it’s worth it. The papaya salad, sriracha wings, and beef jerky will prime your taste buds for the crab fried rice and drunken udon."

"This edgy Miami Beach restaurant is oozing with a cool and mysterious feel (maybe because the space used to be an auto garage). Whatever you do, don’t miss the fried rice stone pot, the tuna chicharrón roll, the toro sesame leaf taco and the chirashi, a gorgeous rainbow bowl of the Garage’s freshest fish of the day. 1784 West Ave., Miami Beach; 305-763-8355 orsushigarage.com"

"Favorites at this Sunset Harbour spot include a vegan option in the lemon vegetarian roll, made with cucumber, avocado, micro arugula, crispy shallots, and holy yuzu mustard ($13); a rosemary eel roll with avocado and rosemary aioli ($14); and the Garage bagel roll, packed with salmon, cream cheese, crisped capers, onions, chives, and furikake seasoning ($11)."

"In terms of setting and ambiance, this is perhaps the edgiest restaurant on this list. Located in Miami Beach, Sushi Garage oozes with cool and mysterious vibes. That’s perhaps because the space was formerly an auto workshop."

"Start your Wynwood adventure at the Wynwood Walls, home to dozens of murals by the world’s top street artists. The murals change regularly, so the next time you visit Miami, many of them will be different. It’s easy to spend an hour or more wandering through the murals and the galleries connected to the Walls."

"Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant when we first arrived in Wynwood. After parking in an enormous lot of an industrial-looking area, I found myself wondering where all the “pretty stuff” was. It was honestly a bit overwhelming."

"Our last day was spent at the creative Wynwood Walls art exhibit. Beautiful mosaics are spread across a few blocks on streets and on buildings, even on the sidewalks!"

"The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has come a long way since its inception as a single gallery space in 1981. Now one of Miami’s most beloved cultural institutions, the MOCA hosts around eight to 10 special exhibits a year alongside its stellar permanent collections. Among those showcased in the MOCA permanent collection are Keith Haring, Gabriel Orozco and José Bedia, with the collection boasting a whopping 500 works of art."

"Art lovers won’t want to skip a visit to the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Miami. This free museum is located in the Miami Design District and is focused on fostering the exchange of art and ideas through the Miami region and beyond. With exhibitions from local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, this is the place to visit if you want to support the arts."

"Little River’s sprawling multiuse complex launched a bottomless, Mediterranean vegetarian brunch last fall that’s just $54 and includes live jazz and all the mezze and mimosas you can handle in a four-hour time span. Zatounya Foods, a local catering company run by female Syrian refugees, prepares the plethora of small plant-based bites available, while the Cubazz quartet serenades you with live jazz. Brunch takes place in Ironside’s back garden...just follow the tunes to your afternoon oasis."

"Hop aboard for a fun 90-minute sightseeing cruise that takes you past waterfront mansions, Port Miami, Fisher Island and other highlights. See captivating views of the Miami skyline while enjoying beverages and light snacks."

"Crandon Park Beach boasts some of the clearest waters Miami has to offer, thanks in part to a strict ban on floatation devices and its offshore sandbar — itself an idyllic place to bask like the Floridian lizard you are at heart. Not to worry though, there’s plenty else to keep the whole family entertained, including unique eco-adventure experiences, picnic and cookout areas, and concession stands. If the sun becomes too much, head to the Family Amusement Center open on weekends and holidays only to check out its restored carousel, beachfront playground, and splash fountain."

"An abandoned zoo on a subtropical island, ever since Dade County's main zoological park decamped to way down south, the Crandon Park Gardens, or just Crandon Gardens (both derivations are used) has sat and grown into a hidden, mysterious botanical garden with otherworldly follies (the former animal enclosures) scattered here and there."

"Parents love Candon Park for its gorgeous 2-mile beach, lifeguards, and picnic areas. But kids keep coming back for the vintage carousel, paved roller rink, and a seahorse fountain. Throw in the pretty arboretum and gardens and you've got one of the best spots in Miami for kids of all ages."