Best Seafood Restaurants in Miami Design District
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sushi Yasu Tanaka
A Michelin-recognized sushi master serves Tokyo-quality nigiri inside a casual food hall, with fish flown in multiple times weekly and two types of rice for different cuts.
Notable Picks
8.8
Chef Yasu Tanaka trained at one-Michelin-starred Ginza Iwa in Tokyo and helmed the counter at The Den at Azabu before opening this intimate stall inside MIA Market food hall in 2020 with his wife—and somehow delivers fish quality that rivals restaurants charging three times more. The operation is deliberately focused: nigiri only, two types of rice made fresh every two hours, top-tier fish flown in multiple times weekly. No reservations means you might wait, but the 10-piece omakase moves quickly enough that you can be out in 20 minutes. The food hall setting strips away ceremony, which suits diners who care about what's on the rice rather than what's on the walls.
Must-Try Dishes:
10-Piece Omakase, Otoro Nigiri, Uni Nigiri
What Makes it Special: A Michelin-recognized sushi master serves Tokyo-quality nigiri inside a casual food hall, with fish flown in multiple times weekly and two types of rice for different cuts.
#2
Jass Kitchen
8.6
Chef Yasemin Karadas opened this owner-operated Turkish restaurant in 2022 on a residential street just north of the Design District, bringing family recipes she learned from her mother alongside live jazz, world, and Turkish music every single night—a $20 per person music fee applies. The clay lamb draws repeat visitors willing to navigate the tricky residential parking, and the manti dumplings and baked feta hold their own against any Aegean spot in town. Service feels genuinely warm rather than performative, with Karadas often greeting tables herself. The candlelit brick-walled room delivers on romance without trying too hard, though plan your visit around the music schedule if conversation matters more than ambiance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Clay Lamb, Adana Kebab, Manti Dumplings
What Makes it Special: Chef Jass brings her family's Turkish recipes to Miami in a bohemian space with live jazz, world, and Turkish music every single night.
8.5
Husband-and-wife team Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis opened this converted 1940s bungalow in December 2009, and fifteen years later the garden courtyard remains one of Miami's most transportive dining settings—twinkling lights, whitewashed walls, the whole Aegean fantasy. The kitchen delivers honest Greek-Turkish mezze that rarely misses: lamb meatballs, charred octopus, and baked feta with peppers are reliable standbys. Service can feel stretched during peak weekend hours, especially in the courtyard where tables pile up, but regulars like Sandro and Lorena earn consistent name-drops in reviews. This is the spot for a date night where the setting does half the work, though lunch may be the better bet if you want attentive pacing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Mandolin Kebab, Mantı Dumplings, Baked Feta with Turkish Peppers
What Makes it Special: A restored 1940s home with one of Miami's most enchanting garden courtyards, serving authentic Aegean mezze in a transportive setting that feels like a Greek island escape.
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
James Beard Award winner Michael Schwartz opened this Design District anchor in 2007 as a farm-to-table pioneer when that phrase actually meant something in Miami—and the daily-changing menu still reflects what local purveyors deliver that morning. The wood-fired pizzas and Sunday brunch draw consistent crowds, but recent reviews flag noise levels that make conversation difficult and occasional execution misses on simpler dishes. The happy hour remains one of the neighborhood's legitimate draws, with cocktails and small bites that justify the hype. Best for business lunches or relaxed dinners where you want solid cooking without the pretense, though skip the cramped interior tables if you can snag a patio seat.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wood-Fired Pizza, French Onion Soup Croquette, Lamb Ribs
What Makes it Special: James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz pioneered Miami's farm-to-table movement here, with menus that change daily based on what local farmers deliver.
#5
MC Kitchen
8.1
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
Hidden Gems Heaven
Chef Dena Marino opened this light-filled Design District Italian spot in late 2012 alongside partner Brandy Coletta, drawing on her years under Michael Chiarello at Tra Vigne—and though Marino has since moved on to cook privately for LeBron James, the kitchen maintains her standard for handmade pastas and wood-roasted proteins. The paccheri with sausage and garganelli bolognese remain the moves, and the fries pull consistent praise from regulars. The dining room runs loud when full, and cocktails at $26 feel steep for what arrives. Works well for a polished business lunch or date night where you want Italian comfort without traveling to South Beach.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paccheri with Italian Sausage, Fiocchi Di Formaggio e Pera, Burrata with Prosciutto
What Makes it Special: Chef Dena Marino's handmade pastas and wood-fired dishes feel like Italian Sunday dinner, but with Design District polish and locally-sourced Miami ingredients.
#6
ZZ's Club
8
Major Food Group brought their signature excess to the Design District in 2021 with this Japanese-leaning members club, featuring a 16-seat omakase counter, wagyu selection that rivals anywhere in the country, and fish sourced directly from Tokyo. The wagyu katsu sando and yellowtail crispy rice deliver on the hype, but recent reviews suggest service consistency has slipped and prices feel extractive even by MFG standards. Lunch is the move here—no membership required, same kitchen, and you skip the scenesters. The private club mystique works for some, though the actual dining experience doesn't always justify the premium over other Design District options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu Katsu Sando with Truffles, Yellowtail Crispy Rice, Lobster Dumplings
What Makes it Special: Major Food Group brings their signature excess to Japanese cuisine, with America's largest wagyu selection, Tokyo-sourced fish, and a members-club mystique accessible at lunch.
Worthy Picks
7.9
The NYC temaki specialists landed in Miami with Pharrell's backing in 2023, bringing their open-style hand rolls designed to be eaten immediately while the nori stays crisp—a smart technical move that distinguishes them from standard sushi bars. The space channels coastal Japanese minimalism with sandy browns and cream tones, and the furikake fries have become an Instagram fixture. Reviews flag underseasoning on some rolls and portions that leave heavier eaters wanting more, plus service can feel rushed during turnover-focused dinner shifts. Best as a light lunch or pre-shopping bite rather than a destination dinner, especially at these prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
X.O. Scallop Hand Roll, Spicy Crab Dynamite Roll, Tuna Poke Hand Roll
What Makes it Special: NYC's beloved temaki temple arrives in Miami with Pharrell's backing, serving open-style hand rolls designed to be eaten immediately while the nori stays crisp.
#8
La Màrtola
7.8
Hospitality impresario Paolo Domeneghetti and Martino de Rosa of La Filiale fame—the Neapolitan pizzeria featured on Chef's Table—opened this European Riviera concept in February 2024 with Stefano Ferrara wood-fired ovens and gelato from Italian master Simone Bonini. The garden setting evokes coastal Saint-Tropez, and the Neapolitan pizzas with 36-hour dough deliver what you'd expect from the La Filiale pedigree. Reviews flag inconsistency as the kitchen finds its footing, with some dishes landing underseasoned and service pacing uneven during busy nights. Early days still, but the bones are strong—give it another year to see if execution catches up to the ambition and Instagram-ready courtyard.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrata with Pistachios, Tagliolini al Limone, Neapolitan Margherita Pizza
What Makes it Special: European Riviera dining comes to Miami with wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, coastal Mediterranean dishes, and world-class gelato from Italian master Simone Bonini.