NAOE

NAOE is an intimate five-seat omakase counter tucked into Brickell Key, where chef/owner Kevin Cory single-handedly prepares every course of a chef's-choice Japanese menu. Meals begin with a signature bento box featuring housemade dishes like egg tofu with uni, followed by rounds of pristine nigiri brushed with the chef's own soy sauce, and finish with a mystery-recipe ice cream.

Manager Samantha Phouthone runs the minimalist, hinoki-wood dining room with warm, personal hospitality, greeting each guest by name. With only ten seatings offered per week, reservations book out fast and dinner typically runs two to two and a half hours.

Sake, sourced in part from Cory's family brewery in Ishikawa, Japan, is the only alcohol served and is paired thoughtfully with the meal. Recognized with a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating and AAA Five Diamond Award, NAOE is considered by many locals and critics to be Miami's original and most serious omakase destination, worth the splurge for a special-occasion dinner or milestone celebration.