Stephen Starr made us rethink mall food with this upscale Japanese restaurant inside the Bal Harbour Shops. Even if you’re not fresh off a shopping expedition, this place is worth a stop. Makoto put crispy rice on the map in Miami and theirs still tops the others with the perfect rice-to-fish ratio. The sushi is supremely fresh here and best enjoyed as a combo platter, which includes a chef’s choice variety of the day’s top picks. It’s the instant-gratification version of omakase dining.
Remember when finding the best sushi in Miami meant driving far distances or waiting for hours at one of the few local options? Now the Japanese favorite is as ubiquitous as Cuban restaurants in Miami. You can go no-frills fish in South Beach or haute cuisine in Downtown Miami and Brickell, where omakase experiences give adventurous eaters a chance to surprise their palates. There’s never been a better time to enjoy sushi in Miami and these spots prove the Magic City is on par with cities like New York in L.A. when it comes to super-fresh sashimi, nigiri and more.