A near clone of Sushi by Scratch, Sushi Bar Miami arrived from Austin to set up a counter in the Esmé Hotel on Española Way. This is an omakase experience that bucks the traditional in favor of the flavorful, with strawberry gochujang on the aji, a caramelized pineapple hat on the hiramasa and a bruleéd skin above the cold-smoked sawara. The prawn comes with the best bit of theatrics of the night: spiced with dehydrated Frank’s RedHot powder and oozing with butter melted from a stick with a blowtorch. At $222 and up per person, is it worth it to brave this so-touristy section of South Beach? Oh yeah. For more of the best Japanese restaurants in Miami, tap the link in our bio. 📷: Josh Villatoro