Do we really need to talk about Manhattan transplant Cote, where I savored an excellent Wagyu rib eye next to a couple bickering over an Instagram bikini photo shoot, when we can talk about its homegrown Design District neighbor, Itamae?. When a torrential storm scattered the aspiring influencers to the nearby Gucci and Dior boutiques, I sheltered here, at chef Nando Chang’s six-seat terrazzo-topped bar with lemongrass-perfumed kanpachi tiradito, Hokkaido scallop nigiri dabbed with fruity apple-banana purée, and other vivacious expressions of Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine.

Home to some of Miami's best sushi rolls, fish bowls, and ceviches, this family-run Nikkei concept (owned by James Beard--nominated brother and sister duo Nando and Valerie Chang and their father Fernando) is a hot spot amid the designer stores of the Design District. Dishes are prepared tenderly with fresh seasonal ingredients and high-quality seafood and served in a casual outdoor setting in the center of Palm Court.

This MICHELIN‑Starred late‑night omakase from Chef Nando Chang is open well past 10 p.m (the second seating is at 9:15 p.m.). Its serene, 10‑seat counter becomes a shrine for nocturnal indulgence with sultry toro, fire‑kissed ikura and chef‑curated sake pairings. Ideal for those whose idea of after‑hours means finesse, not fireball shots.

Itamae is a modern space tucked inside a courtyard of a popular shopping district. There are six seats at the indoor counter, and the rest of the seating is outdoors on the patio. The restaurant is a beautiful showcase of Nikkei-inspired flavors, presented in artful fashion that almost make it too beautiful to eat.

Some of Itamae’s culinary experiments will knock you for a serious loop. There's a mountain of shaved parmesan on top of a fresh catch that pairs, somehow, with Peruvian Leche de Tigre sauce. A condiment of shrimp head and uni bottarga arrives on the prawn.

The Nikkei dishes on Itamae AO’s eight-course tasting menu are entirely unique (and not sushi). You can expect a night full of seafood though. Most of it is covered in tangy leche de tigres made with local ingredients like habanero and jackfruit.

Perfect for evening dining beneath a clear night sky full of stars, Itamae is optimally located in the Miami Design District’s Palm Court, an elegant space for a refined restaurant experience. Sushi master Nando Chang serves an alluring multi-course omakase (chef selected) menu of Japanese-Peruvian bites, an eclectic mix of cuisines that produces fine flavors you won’t find anywhere else. Itamae began as a mere vendor venture at the nearby MIA market food hall, though it now reigns as a forty odd seat al fresco restaurant where customers can enjoy exquisite bites alongside the warm night breeze.

In a neighbourhood flanked by designers like Gucci and Givenchy, Nikkei-inspired Itamae is a refreshing addition to the Design District’s over-the-top boutiques and eateries. Taking over a patio space in the Palm Court, Itamae serves up a menu of Peruvian-Japanese dishes revolving around local and seasonal ingredients. To pair with the fresh tiraditos and ceviches, Argentine-born wine director Karina Iglesias—co-owner of Downtown’s NIU Kitchen—sources natural wines from small producers in Peru, like the chillable red Fundo El Quintanar, Quebrada de Ihuanco.

This Japanese-Peruvian restaurant first got its start inside the former St. Roch Market in 2018, but has since grown into a new larger space that’s all its own in the across the way in the Miami Design District’s Palm Court. Led by a brother, sister, and father team lovingly referred to a the “Chang Gang,” Itamae combines their Peruvian heritage with Japanese classics. Think a curated selection of specialty maki and vegan rolls, sashimi, rice bowls, alongside tiradito and ceviches, using ingredients like leche de tigre, fresh fish, and local produce.

Top of the list of most fancy restaurants in Miami, Itamae is a Peruvian diner that is above the rest and has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for “good quality, good value cooking,” the family-run establishment is one of the best places to eat in the Miami Design Center. The restaurant offers a host of stunning dishes, including bluefin tuna tiradito, a mixed ceviche of black grouper, squid, and octopus, spiny lobster, and masu. Wealthy patrons of the restaurant often make a Rethink Food donation to support meals in the local community.

If you find yourself craving some ceviche or sushi, look no further. Itamae is a critically acclaimed, family-owned Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant that utilizes local ingredients while remaining rooted in their unique Nikkei-inspired flavors and traditions. Conveniently located right in Palm court, in the midst of all the incredible shopping Miami Design District has to offer, it has never been easier to grab a seat outside, enjoy the weather and recharge with a light meal before heading back to the shops.

This family-owned, Nikkei-inspired restaurant grew from a humble stall in the neighborhood’s food hall, Mia Market, to a prime location in the Design District’s Palm Court. Why we love it: Itamae 2.0 is a glittering example of innovative Peruvian cooking, where the possibilities for raw fish are seemingly endless. You’ll find a variety of cebiches and other staples of South American cuisine, though our greatest obsession are the conchitas a la parmesana (stacked with fish, charred scallops and avocado).

Miami’s authentic Latin cuisine extends to fascinating fusions like Nikkei—the Peruvian-Japanese culinary tradition that emerged from Japanese immigration to Peru. At Itamae in the Design District, the Chang family creates dishes that honor both cultures with exceptional skill. Their ceviche and tiraditos showcase the perfect marriage of Japanese precision with Peruvian flavors, using top-quality fish and innovative combinations.

Valerie and Nando Chang are an extraordinary brother-sister duo who have just been nominated as semi-finalists for the prestigious James Beard Award Rising Star Chef of the Year. Together with their beloved father, Fernando “Papa” Chang, they offer a unique Nikkei-inspired menu of delicious Japanese-Peruvian dishes for everyone to enjoy!. Explore the menu at this cozy restaurant and you won’t be disappointed!

The Chang Gang – a brother, sister, and father team – leads Itamae, which celebrates its Peruvian heritage through Japanese classics. It started small in a food hall but has since grown considerably. The fully operational restaurant now offers a menu of Nikkei-inspired dishes with creative cebiches, delicate nigiri, and more complicated fare like the daily catch topped with charred parmesan or uni tiradito.

The Michelin-starred restaurant in Midtown, helmed by chef Nando Chang, serves a new standard of omakase Nikkei cuisine. Among the Peruvian-Japanese flavors, guests can enjoy refined signature dishes such as a lobster bisque, Hokkaido scallops, ceviche and various sashimi flown from Japan. Guests can also opt for a beverage pairing with wine, sake and sherry.

Itamae: Get a real feel for local tastes and flavors at Itamae. The Japanese-Peruvian take on sushi and other dishes unique to both cultures will have your palate whirling—in a good way. The restaurant is run by a family whose sole focus is developing their personal take on Nikkei, the name for the Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine they are famous for

Desserts: Cremolada & Torta HeladaNeighborhood: Design DistrictAddress: 140 NE 39th St #136. When we talk about Itamae, it’s usually about all the bright, beautiful, and bold Peruvian and Japanese-inspired dishes consistently coming out of the kitchen daily. Including the delicious cebiches, tiraditos, octopus bañadito, and nigiri selection.

Owned a brother, sister, and father team lovingly referred to as the “Chang Gang,” Itamae has combined their Peruvian heritage with Japanese classics. Itamae has grown significantly since its food hall beginnings. Now a full-fledged restaurant offers a menu of Nikkei-influenced dishes filled with pristine fish like creative cebiches.

Nando and Valerie Chang’s take on the Japanese-Peruvian cuisine known as nikkei has earned Itaemae plenty of rave reviews — and the hype is warranted. The menu is constantly changing to highlight local and seasonal products. A recent visit featured ceviche mixto with black grouper and conch and a barred knifejaw tiradito.

Get ready to embark on an epic culinary adventure at Itamae – Miami’s treasure trove of Nikkei cuisine, effortlessly blending Peruvian and Japanese flavors. This sleek eatery has already earned a MICHELIN Guide mention, making it a must-visit destination for any Asian food enthusiast. Don’t know what to order?

An eclectic combination of Peruvian and Japanese cuisines makes this location one of the most interesting ones on the Miami food scene. The location itself is fabulous, but not in a flashy way. And besides the food, we included this place because it’s a great outdoor dining option.

Itamae (140 NE 39th St.) is a Japanese Peruvian spot from some very well-respected Miami restaurateurs. It fuses really interesting flavors and traditions, always offering up some great maki and ceviche. The menu is always changing, but everything is really good.

Located in Design District right inside the Palm Court Plaza, Itamae carries a Michelin’s Bib Gourmand award. This culinary temple offers its guest a unique gourmet experience in a casual but yet stylish atmosphere of the design district courtyard.

The Nikkei dishes on Itamae AO’s eight-course tasting menu are entirely unique (and not sushi). They pull at your cheeks and amygdala with tangy leche de tigres made with things like habanero, jackfruit, or ash.

It offers technique-driven Peruvian-Japanese tastes and traditions. It also uses domestic and seasonal ingredients. The Infatuation named the cafe one of the most fantastic restaurants in Miami.

140 NE 39th St #136, Miami, FL 33137Phone: 305-631-2664 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Itamae (@itamaemiami)