Azabu is for the discerning diner. The one who prefers their fish flown in from Japan and their rice cooked in cutting-edge equipment calibrated to the Miami climate. The main dining room serves an expansive selection of sushi and sashimi, as well as a full Japanese menu of meat, veg and composed fish dishes. The tempura corn and miso cod are a must if you’re ditching the raw stuff. But if you’re not, turn your attention to The Den—one of Miami's Michelin-starred restaurants—Azabu’s secret omakase hideaway. It’s a large space so couples and small groups can section off to enjoy a little privacy while participating in the communal dining experience.
There was, for many years, just one kind of sushi in Miami. We ordered it from counters inside simple restaurants off the beaten track, in shopping plazas where we dined on edamame, JB rolls shrimp tempura and maybe ventured briefly into the raw stuff. Now, Miamians are sushi masters—at least when it comes to eating the stuff.
Today, we have Michelin-starred omakase experiences, hidden-away sushi dens, incredible restaurants with the finest nigiri anywhere and yes, still those strip mall spots doling out solid takeaway. We’ve visited many of them, sampling everything from affordable carry-out California rolls to omakase tastings that cost as much as a car payment, to produce this definitive list of Miami’s best sushi.
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