Food

A new Peruvian-Japanese restaurant is opening in Wynwood — with fancy sake cocktails

The dramatic interior of Balagan restaurant, opening soon in Wynwood and serving up Peruvian-Japanese fusion.
The dramatic interior of Balagan restaurant, opening soon in Wynwood and serving up Peruvian-Japanese fusion.

Not all ceviches are created equal.

Balagan, opening soon to Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, understands this. The restaurant will serve Nikkei cuisine — a blend of Japanese and Peruvian fare — showcasing both classic recipes and cuisine with a unique touch of Miami added.

The menu for the 3,000-square-foot space, which has seating for 100 at indoor and outdoor tables, is in the hands of chefs with experience in the Miami restaurant world: Chef Henry Hané, who created B Bistro + Bakery in Brickell and Jattö in Wynwood, which specializes in Peruvian, Colombian and Spanish fare, and executive chef Juan Manuel Alva, behind some of Miami’s top sushi programs.

They’ll create and serve popular appetizers like spicy tuna tostadas and tuna ceviche. But some menu items will come with a special tropical twist, like tuna kumquat ceviche and Corvina plantain ceviche. Other dishes include truffle salmon tostadas with crunch garlic and avocado puree; hamachi with chalaquita, leche and crunch quinoa; and torched scallop with Parmesan leche, lime zest and daikon.

“We’re very excited to meld my heritage flavors of Peru with Japan and bring something new and fresh to Wynwood,” Chef Hané said via email.

The cocktail program features drinks made with special sakes, like the Rose Cloud, with Hou Hou Shu Rose Clouds sparkling sake and hibiscus yuzu, and the Shiso Exotic with Joto “The One With Clocks” Daiginjo sake, aloe vera, cucumber shiso and yuzu.

Restaurateur Ilan Sitt, founder and CEO of Sherpa Consultancy, is the force behind the restaurant, a veteran of Miami restaurants Wayku, Paperfish and Jatto as well as Piegari Ristorante in Argentina and Chile.

“I am beyond excited for Balagan’s opening,” he said in a release.

The entrance at Balagan, a new Nikkei restaurant opening in Wynwood.
The entrance at Balagan, a new Nikkei restaurant opening in Wynwood.

Balagan

Where: 295 NW 27th St., Miami

Opening: June 2022

Hours: 5:30-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday

Information and reservations: 736-391-4394

CO
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
Connie Ogle loves wine, books and the Miami Heat. Please don’t make her eat a mango.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER