Asian Restaurants to Try Out in Miami, Florida

Everybody looks forward to time off where they get to travel to new, exciting places and try out all kinds of fun experiences. Maybe it’s somewhere you’ve been before and particularly enjoy spending time at, or perhaps it’s an entirely foreign place to you that has caught your eye for whatever reason. In either event, part of the fun of traveling somewhere else is getting to try the awesome cuisine of the region. The same is true for anyone who plans to travel to Miami, Florida. 

Miami is a bustling coastal city and naturally has plenty of dining offerings to appease residents and visitors with. You’ll find a broad selection of food from different parts of the country and the world, with a wide array of restaurants and eateries catering to various cuisines from different cultures. Asian food, though a very broad term, is one of the most popular types of cuisine available in Miami with many businesses specializing in specific types of Asian dining, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and fusion. 

Today, we’re going to be diving into the universe of Asian restaurants and eateries in Miami, Florida that you should add to your dining list the next time you plan on visiting the beautiful coastal city. Several of the establishments that are featured on this list will have gift cards available through GiftYa, which you can purchase and use at a later date or give as a gift to somebody else. 

And now that we are all on the same page, let’s see what kind of restaurants are waiting ahead!

1. Benihana

Any dinner or lunch affair can turn into a show at this iconic restaurant

Buy a Benihana gift card

📍 1665 NE 79th St Causeway | North Bay Village | benihana.com

Anyone who enjoys a good spectacle paired with delicious, mouth-watering Japanese cuisine is well familiar with Benihana. It may not be a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Miami, but you can always count on a location to be close at hand almost anywhere you go, and that includes tropical Miami. 

At Benihana, customers can step into a dining experience unlike any other as expert chefs slice and dice tender meats right before your very eyes. This beautiful waterfront location in North Bay Village features an expansive sushi lounge, twenty teppanyaki tables, and an indoor/outdoor bar that extends to an open-air patio overlooking the bay. Try out succulent seafood, steak, or chicken entrees paired with a vibrant cocktail or a glassful of signature hot sake. 

“The food and atmosphere was very nice and inviting. The staff was also helpful friendly and attentive. I'd recommend them over and over again.” – Yelp Review

You can grab a gift card for Benihana with this link!

2. Tanuki 

A riverside restaurant where patrons can unwind in a classy manner

📍 1420 NW N River Dr | Miami | tanukimiami.com

An elegant restaurant situated in the River Landing Shops, Tanuki operates as a modern Asian eatery with an extensive array of Japanese, Chinese, and Asian fusion options to dine on. The dining room atmosphere is relaxed, hip, and chic while also possessing an air of refinery and sophistication, making patrons feel comfortable and taken care of. 

Tanuki River Landing is nestled next to the picturesque Miami River, giving customers a gorgeous view to look out onto as they dine. Diners can have all sorts of experiences while at Tanuki, from an omakase experience featuring seasonal fish to hand-picked options like dim sum, maki rolls, and wok-based dishes. Seafood entrees available at Tanuki include whole lobster, tiger prawn, miso black cod, and mango salmon. 

“Tanuki is a great Asian inspired restaurant with both ample indoor and outdoor covered seating. Nicely themed, it's a place you can dress up or dress down at. The foods pretty good with the menu having a wide section. Lots of veggie options too for the non meat eaters.” – Yelp Review

3. China Express

Hot and delicious Chinese cuisine with fair portions and prices

Purchase a China Express gift card

📍 5748 W Flagler St | Miami | beyondmenu.com

Who doesn’t love the basic casual Chinese food staples? From fried rich dishes and lo mein to stir-frys packed with delicious vegetables and tangy orange chicken, there is so much variety and so much to adore when it comes to casual Chinese food. If you’re looking for that in Miami, then China Express is going to be your go-to restaurant. 

China Express is an unfussy lunch or dinner option that doesn’t come with a high price tag attached, unlike some of the more fancy eateries in Miami. Where presentation is big and the portions are small, China Express is the opposite–the portions are generous, filling, and there are no frills attached to how they come out. It’s the exact type of place you like going to in your own town, extensive menu and all. 

“Consistently great for the past 10 years I've been ordering. Fast order and fast delivery even if you call 5 min before they close. Best Chinese food in the area.” – Yelp Review

Pick up a China Express gift card when you follow the link!

4. Itamae 

Inspired small size Japanese-Peruvian dishes prepared with precision 

📍 3225 NE 1st Ave | Miami | itamaeao.com

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. Customers can discover a host of delicious fusion dishes while dining at Itamae, from Hokkaido scallops with lime and tuna tartare with caviar to yellowtail snapper and grouper ceviche. 

“Everything from the fish, to the sauces, to the beautifully, meticulously prepared vegetables was beyond words. You can't skip dessert --it would be criminal. And of course, the service --every single person in the restaurant was so kind and welcoming. Chef Nando --you and your team truly have made something remarkable --It is truly an *honor* to have eaten here.” – Yelp Review

5. Cote Miami

Check out this clubby steakhouse and embrace the ultimate luxuries 

📍 3900 NE 2nd Ave | Miami | cotekoreansteakhouse.com

With a reputation that speaks for itself, this upscale Korean steakhouse in the Miami Design District is well worth your time if you are visiting the area. Some might even say planning one of your days around a dinner at Cote Miami is worth the effort simply on account of the food quality and dining experience. 

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the menu at Cote Miami, but part of the fun is watching the masters perform their craft. Tables here are adorned with gilded grills where you can watch dry-aged cuts and wagyu beef sizzle right before your very eyes. The dining room is a rich black marble featuring a circular bar that serves up expert-level cocktails and other craft beverages to accompany your dinner. 

“Came here with a reservation on a weekend night and it wasn't as empty as I expected. We got the omakase set and everything was delicious. Service was amazing, our servers were excellent in helping us cook the meat and the vegetables we got. Overall the meat is super tasty and they have different options for you to choose depending on what cut you'd like to order.” – Yelp Review

6. Makoto

Top quality Japanese cuisine with bold flavors and new styles

📍 9700 Collins Ave | Miami Beach | makoto-restaurant.com

This is a spot that the locals will definitely bring up if you ask them where their favorite place to get Japanese is. A mainstay of Baal Harbour Shops, Makoto is operated by renowned Chef Makoto Okuwa and is the perfect place for a lunchtime stop or for an elegant dinner reservation. Patrons can sit in a sleek and warm atmosphere while they dine on upscale Japanese entrees, sushi, and robata dishes. 

Makoto boasts a sophisticated and contemporary menu filled with Japanese cuisine that has been reshaped for a modern audience. Traditional Japanese cooking meets the new at Makoto, with a smorgasbord of enchanting dining options to try out and fall for. From Japanese eggplant and octopus fresh off the grill to maki rolls and ramen noodles, Makoto has quite a lot of menu items to delight all customers who walk through their doors. 

“Makoto definitely lived up to the hype. I've been wanting to try it forever, and I'm so glad I did. We had the wagyu fried rice, wagyu yaki noodles, crispy tuna rice, rainbow rolls, and a bunch of cocktails to celebrate a birthday! What a fun ambiance and everything was so delicious. We were part of a large party, and our server made sure everything was brought out quickly and paid excellent attention to us.” – Yelp Review

7. Teriyaki Madness

Custom food orders so good you’ll have to come back for more

Purchase a Teriyaki Madness gift card

📍 13775 SW 152nd St | Miami | teriyakimadness.com

What’s an all-day Asian eatery with customizable menu options worth checking out in the Miami area? Why, it’s Teriyaki Madness, of course. If you aren’t interested in frills or pomp and circumstance with your lunch or dinner affair, then the casual, laid-back ambiance of Teriyaki Madness is going to draw you right in. 

Rather than cough up an arm and a leg to afford a dish of fusion cuisine that you can’t even pronounce, you can always fall back on more affordable and just as satisfying Asian cuisine when dining at Teriyaki Madness. This jubilant counter-service chain serves custom rice and noodle bowls with Asian-style proteins, veggies, and other topping options. All made-to-order and incorporating fresh ingredients, Teriyaki Madness is just the spot to hit when you need to fill up fast. 

“Such yummy food for a good price. This place is close to my house and I like that I can depend on them whenever I want a quick grab of japanese food. I always get the chicken teriyaki bowl with noodles and the crab rangoons and they fill me up a lot! the egg rolls are delicious as well.” – Yelp Review

You can pick up a Teriyaki Madness gift card when you follow the link to GiftYa!

8. Tropical Chinese

Genuinely good Chinese food bursting with flavor in an aesthetic setting

📍 7991 Bird Rd | Miami | tropicalchinesemiami.com

China and Florida could not be further apart from one another, and yet Chinese food and Florida go together oh so well. If your stomach hasn’t been feeling the past choices on this list and you have your sights set on good Chinese food, then Tropical Chinese may just be the perfect match for your Asian restaurant needs. 

Tropical Chinese is a favorite spot among locals explicitly for their dim sum. They also serve up plates of classic Chinese fare, Peking duck, and they have plenty of vegetarian options on their menu as well. Tropical Chinese operates in a strip mall and offers a very laid-back atmosphere that diners can enjoy while eating their food. 

“I love me some good Chinese, but let's be real, Miami lacks options when it comes to quality, great tasting Chinese cuisine. Tropical Chinese beats those allegations though, and I can wholeheartedly say it was absolutely delicious.” – Yelp Review

We hope you find this list helpful when it comes to picking out the perfect spot for Asian cuisine during your trip to Miami, Florida!