Nestled in Brickell, Kaori serves up creative Asian fusion dishes and crafted cocktails in a chic, cozy space perfect for date night or a casual dinner with friends.
"There are so many ambiguous Asian restaurants in Brickell, but Kaori is one we don’t roll our eyes at. They make a flawless duck, great mee siam, and they’re one of the few date night options in the neighborhood we'd consider saying yes to. Not every dish is as good as the duck, but we appreciate that they’re not afraid of sharp, acidic flavors. The restaurant is split into two floors. The first floor is great for a nightcap or post-work drinks. It has a DJ booth that’s in use from Thursday through Saturday. The upstairs dining room is where you can sit, eat, and catch brief glimpses of food delivery robots through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Though it’s in the rapidly beating heart of Brickell, the light wood and relaxed space manages to make the chaos outside feel far away. Food Rundown photo credit: Mariana Trabanino Japanese Milk Bread This golden, fluffy loaf is as satisfying to pull apart as it is to eat. It comes with a side of butter and a dollop of honey dimpled in the center. Start here. video credit: Mariana Trabanino Shiro Ponzu Crudo The fish changes in this dish, but our cobia was a little chewy. The ponzu yuzu sauce, however, we’d happily have as a cold soup. photo credit: Mariana Trabanino Wagyu & Foie Gras Gyozas Wagyu and foie gras are too rich to coexist with one another inside a dumpling. We love the sharp, vinegary sauce, but the foie gets lost in the shuffle. video credit: Mariana Trabanino Five Spice Dry-Aged Duck If we had to choose between this dish and rescuing a child from a well, we’d obviously rescue the child. But, the crackly skin and sour beet puree from this exquisite duck would make us think twice about it. video credit: Mariana Trabanino White Chocolate Matcha The scoop of yuzu and coconut sorbet is good and all, but it overpowers the pool of matcha sauce it sits on." - Mariana Trabanino
"Kaori Miami reimagines the espresso martini by using Mezcal Union Uno, paired with black coffee liqueur, espresso, Hoodoo chicory liqueur, Licor 43, Okinawa sugar, and salted milk ice. The karajillo is garnished with grated nutmeg and costs $14." - Juliana Accioly
"This Michelin-caliber restaurant offers a modern interpretation of traditional Asian dishes with Mediterranean twists. Diners can enjoy items like foie gras gyozas and bluefin tuna with coconut-lime sauce. The two-story setting features sleek concrete and wood furnishings, a stunning bar, and a DJ booth that transforms into a Japanese listening room on weekends, making it a go-to spot any day of the week." - Olee Fowler, Dara Smith
"Kaori is one of our favorite Brickell safe spaces. Exiting the chaos of Mary Brickell Village and walking up the stairs to its peaceful dining room is akin to stepping out of a blizzard and into a hot bath. Kaori has a broad, modern Asian menu—a slightly vague style of cuisine you’ll find butchered throughout this neighborhood. But Kaori pulls it off. Start with the sashimi or any of the seasonal vegetable dishes. And if you’re here with a group and want a showstopper entree, get the kurobuta kan-kan pork chop. The huge slab of pork has a nice mix of fatty and lean pieces, and comes with bao buns, lettuce wraps, and more tasty construction materials. The downstairs vinyl lounge is a good place to linger if you don’t feel like facing the athleisure hordes outside yet. " - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
"So the couple you’re double dating with suggested to do dinner in Brickell. Rather than blocking their numbers, social media accounts, and never speaking to them again—just suggest Kaori. This place is one of Brickell’s best restaurants and least-obnoxious options for a nice dinner. Their best entree, the kurobuta kan-kan pork chop, also happens to be a perfect thing for four people to split. It’s a huge slab of pork with a nice mix of fatty and lean pieces. It comes with bao buns, lettuce wraps, and more tasty construction materials. Their downstairs bar also doubles as a listening lounge, and it’s another good place to redirect the couple who’s probably going to suggest post-dinner drinks at Sexy Fish. " - mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer