Osaka Miami
Japanese restaurant · Miami Financial District
1300 Brickell Bay Dr, Miami, FL 33131, USA
Highlights
Upscale Nikkei spot serving Peruvian-Japanese fusion with live music.
Upscale Nikkei spot serving Peruvian-Japanese fusion with live music.
"Osaka is an upscale Nikkei restaurant in Brickell with a fair amount of round tables for bigger groups. It’s tough to leave here without spending a lot of money—but the food is good. Ceviche, tiradito, and sushi are what you want to focus on. The Peru tiradito is a small but delicious portion of white fish, avocado mousse, and crunchy sweet potato. The nigiri is great as well, and if you don’t want to order a la carte, they have a couple omakase options ranging from around $145 and $240. The sleek restaurant itself is impressive enough for special occasions or business meals—and the round table will make it easier for everyone to argue over who gets stuck with the bill." - ryan pfeffer
"Osaka blends Haku vodka, espresso, and coconut miso in its espresso martini, combining nutty espresso and umami miso with tropical coconut notes." - Juliana Accioly
"Servers at Osaka use blowtorches so much you’d think you’re in welding school. The Brickell Nikkei restaurant is really good at ceviche, tiraditos, and keeping Miami-Dade’s fire department on its toes. However, portions are small, cooked dishes are a letdown, and you will rack up an offensive bill if you come very hungry. Your server will recommend you order a few small plates of raw fish and work your way to the main entrees. But politely ignore them and just focus on the first page of the menu—where you’ll find classic ceviches that only a pyromaniac would set on fire. Start with the tuna tataki that’s perfectly seared around the edges. It’s paired with aji amarillo you’ll want to lick off your plate. The hamachi brasa nigiri has a beautiful crunch from the almonds and a nice kick from the chili. And if you love acevichada sauce with a burning passion, get the Nikkei roll. To get the most out of Osaka, you’ll have to order a bunch of small plates and inevitably spend a lot of money. This place makes a little more sense if you think of it as more of a tasting experience that has more fire than a soap opera. And since you’re going to spend a lot of money here anyway, get a cocktail too. The honeycha comes in an adorable stone teapot and tastes like the best slushie you’ve ever had. There are too many misses on the menu to make this your first choice for anything. But if you’re ever in Brickell and desperately need to burn through some cash, come to Osaka. Food Rundown Tuna Foie This inverted roll wears a seared foie gras top hat—of course torched on sight—and can be gobbled in one go. It’s sweet, savory, rich, and at $26, a fleeting moment of instant gratification that feels too expensive for a mouse-friendly portion. photo credit: Courtesy Osaka Miami Tuna Tataki The tuna tiradito doesn’t require chewing. Instead, your teeth just sink into the slices of tuna like guava. Lather each piece with aji amarillo the same way you would apply sunscreen on a toddler. But, you should try at least one piece of the delicately seared tuna on its own. Hotate Nissei This scallop ceviche dish arrives in a large shell to remind us where scallops come from. But they’re overpowered by the truffle aji amarillo they sit on. These scallops can no longer swim and unfortunately drown in the yellow sauce. Order the kiro instead. photo credit: Courtesy Osaka Miami Nikkei Makimono The shrimp tempura roll is topped with white fish and a generous drizzle of acevichada sauce. It's good, but you can find the same quality roll without all the fussiness at a more casual sushi spot (like B-Side)." - Mariana Trabanino
"For Valentine’s Day, fans of Nikkei (Japanese with Peruvian influence) cuisine can enjoy a special $200 per person prix-fixe menu at this Downtown favorite, starting with a welcome glass of champagne. The menu features Zeitaku ceviche with Ora King salmon, yuzu sauce, 24-karat gold quinoa, and Perigord truffle, along with lobster Mentaiko, which includes cooked lobster sushi topped with rocoto miso gratin and grana padano cheese." - Alona Martinez
"This sexy South American Nikkei import serves an expansive menu with items like nigiri sushi, wasabi ceviche, omakase platters, and larger dishes like bone-in ribeye, seafood rice skillets, wagyu skirt steak, plus an extensive cocktail menu and see-and-be-seen atmosphere." - Olee Fowler, Dara Smith
