As far as Miami’s omakase scene goes, six-month-old Matsuyoi still flies under the radar—which made it all the more exciting to check out. (My most well-fed friend hasn’t been yet, not that it’s a competition… but it is.) Hidden upstairs from sleek temaki spot Nami Nori, Matsuyoi offers an omakase that leans more Japanese tasting menu than straight sushi counter, underscored by serious technique and unexpected flavor pairings.
The night started with drinks at the bar, served in delicate, eye-catching glassware, bemoaned by the bartenders for their short lifespan (not all beauty is meant to last). The cocktails surprise: some combos I recognized, others I wasn’t so sure about. Between Strangers mixed lemongrass-infused Haku vodka, pineapple, yuzu, uchibori, honey, suze, soy and sesame—think sweet, savory, balanced, with a little umami kicker.
Once at the counter, a shiny chartreuse envelope sealed with red wax held the road map for the next two hours. Potato pavé with caviar and ao nori made for a punchy start, but it was the Caesar—reimagined with bottarga and hallabong vinegar—that I still dream about. All of its components are beautifully layered, finished off with a cloud of finely shaved parmesan. Wagyu shabu shabu came next, interactive and playful, followed by a truffle beef soup crafted from its remnants.
Then came the curveball: temaki instead of nigiri or sashimi for the raw course. It tracks, given Nami Nori downstairs, but it’s still a twist. The larger bites hit hard, like the flavor-packed madai shiso (think fancy lettuce wrap) and anago cucumber that nearly changed my mind about eel. A picture-worthy, house-made Hokkaido milk ice cream tropical sundae wrapped things up. At $245 a head, I appreciated leaving more than satiated—borderline stuffed. Matsuyoi offers two nightly seatings, 6:30pm and 9:30pm (naturally, the later one’s more popular—because, Miami).