"What It Was: A Japanese restaurant in North Miami Beach that opened over 20 years ago, back when you couldn’t find Japanese food like this in Miami (it’s honestly still hard). Dishes like wafu pasta with angel hair, uni, and ikura were hits. And it was one of the few places you could find okonomiyaki. It was a true izakaya—a casual spot that served small plates and was popular with people looking to relax with a cold beer after work (especially those in the restaurant industry). What It Is Now: Still—thank god—a true izakaya. It changed its name from Yakko-San to Yakko Bistro and reopened in 2023, but the restaurant also returned to its first location on West Dixie. The current menu is truer to the original, with less dishes and plenty of elusive ones like tsukune, okonomiyaki, and that uni pasta. It’s once again an affordable Japanese restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and delicious, affordable food. " - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer
