Best Asian Fusion Food In Miami
Asian fusion food in Miami is still something of a novelty. In fact, when it comes to Asian food in general, Miami doesn't exactly have a million restaurants about which to brag. What we lack in quantity, however, we make up for in quality. -- Jen Karetnick
Zuma
270 Biscayne Boulevard Way
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 577-0279
www.zumarestaurant.com
Pan-Asian or contemporary Japanese? Take your pick. Just make sure you do pick Zuma, located in the Epic Hotel downtown. This lobby eatery, sibling to the London establishment of the same name, is a superior entry to the Miami dining scene, with dishes served izakaya fashion. Order two or three per person, in whatever order you like - though we suggest starting with perhaps a selection of impeccable ngiri or sliced seared tuna with chili daikon and ponzu sauce before moving on to the prawn-and-black cod dumplings and lobster tempura with spicy ponzu and wasabi mayonnaise. Refresh your palate with a yuzu-key lime pie and you're left only to contemplate the rice paper panels hanging from the ceiling.
Lan Pan-Asian Café & Yuga
Lan Pan-Asian Café
8332 South Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33143
(305) 661-8141
Yuga
357 Alcazar Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 442-8600
lanpanasian.com
Thanks to Chef Johnson Teh, Lan Pan-Asian Café not only delivers some of the best Asian fusion food in Miami, but so does sister restaurant Yuga. The pair offer vibrantly flavored dishes inspired by the countries of Southeastern Asia as well as China and Japan, including taro croquettes (creamy blue crab, corn, herb and taro croquettes fried crisp and served with a creamy sweet and sour sauce); green wonton (asparagus, wonton crisps, spinach and cream cheese rolled in rice and seaweed, fried and served with orange-mustard sauce); and mushroom-crusted tuna (eight-ounce fillet crusted with wild mushrooms and herbs, seared rare and served over bok choy with a red miso broth). For a sweet ending, Vietnamese coffee or passion fruit-flavored crème brulee is the perfect marriage of tropical wares and technique.
Café Sambal
500 Brickell Key Drive
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 913-8288
www.mandarinoriental.com
To put it bluntly, the gorgeous bay view at this Mandarin Oriental, Miami restaurant rivals the fare. And when you're talking about the purity of honey-miso-charred hamachi with corn and king crab tofu and edamame puree, that's saying something indeed. Dine outside on the patio on brilliantly sunny days to further enjoy treats from the sushi and sake bar or inside in the air-conditioning to make short work of the Malaysian-spiced beef short rib, served over a sesame rice cake and garnished with garlic chives.
