Miami Design District gets a new omakase spot from beloved food hall sushi chef

After five years of serving highly-praised sushi at a Design District food hall counter, Chef Yasu Tanaka can now be found at a new, more upscale spot for Japanese cuisine.

From Spicy Hospitality Group, which also operates The Joyce steakhouse on Miami Beach and Le Specialità, the Italian restaurant from Milan now open in Miami, comes Yasu Omakase, an omakase counter in the Design District.

The restaurant, which features only eight seats and is open for two seatings a night five nights a week, offers a different experience than the more casual Yasu Sushi at MIA Market.

The chef’s choice menu offers 14-16 courses, beginning with three to five small plates, then moves on to serve a series of different nigiri bites, miso soup, a hand roll and a dessert that will change seasonally.

For Tanaka, who will work with chef Raymond Li, the new restaurant is a chance to more closely serve his guests.

“Miami has embraced my craft and my vision,” he said. “With Yasu Omakase, I want to create something more personal, a place where guests can slow down and experience sushi in a way that feels intimate and true to its tradition.”

Tradition at Yasu Omakase includes the counter itself, a 600-year-old hinoki counter, which is carved from wood usually reserved for Japanese temples and shrines. It’s polished every day with rice bran, an ancient technique that preserves the wood.

Tradition also can be found via the sake collection, which includes rare and limited edition bottles. Guests can order by the glass or try a pairing designed to complement the omakase meal.

There’s also a private dining room — with a second hinoki counter.

Andre Sakhai, a partner at Spicy Hospitality along with entrepreneur Marc Lotenberg and chef James Taylor, said the concept for Yasu Omakase aims to highlight “craft and precision” while reflecting Miami.

“In my travels through Japan, the architecture and intimacy of its traditional sushiyas inspired me to create an omakase that feels truly authentic while remaining true to Miami,” he said. “Chef Tanaka has made a lasting impact on Miami’s dining scene and with Yasu Omakase we’re bringing his most personal and refined vision to life.”

Yasu Omakase

Where: 151 NE 41st St., Miami

Seatings: 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

Price: $250 per person

Reservations: Seven Rooms

More information: www.yasu-miami.com