South Florida Food 50: Piyarat Potha ‘Chef Bee’ Arreeratn of Naiyara and Oishi Thai

Piyarat Potha “Chef Bee” Arreeratn, chef-owner of Naiyara and Oishi Thai

Why he’s Food 50: Thai-born chef has emerged from the shadows of other restaurateurs to run his own mini empire.

Chef Bee’s restaurant resume reads like a best-of of Miami Japanese and Thai food, working under sushi chefs Nobuyiko Matsuhisa (Nobu) and Kevin Cory (Naoe) before earning four stars for the opening of Khong River House in Miami Beach. Bee’s blend of pristine, intricate sushi and comforting, Thai-style street food has always felt most at home at his 11-year-old Oishi Thai in North Miami.

But he seems to have reinvented himself — and re-ignited Miami’s spark for Thai food that crackles with flavor — at the 2-month-old Naiyara in Miami Beach’s Sunset Harbour neighborhood. Don’t miss his Thai beef jerky, his tender and lively red curry duck, and his Killer Bee frozen cocktail (killer). Don’t miss Bee, one of Miami’s most exciting culinarians.

Where to find him: Naiyara, 1854 Bay Rd., Miami Beach, 786-275-6005; and Oishi Thai, 14841 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami, 305-947-4338

Web: naiyara.com, oishithai.com

Instagram: @beenaiya

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 4:00 AM with the headline "South Florida Food 50: Piyarat Potha ‘Chef Bee’ Arreeratn of Naiyara and Oishi Thai."