KYU Miami

"Recently reopened after a lengthy closure, this Asian-inspired restaurant helped shine a spotlight on Miami as a culinary destination. While the menu extends beyond barbecue, diners will find offerings like beef short ribs with sesame crust and duck breast burnt ends." - Eater Staff

"Beloved Wynwood restaurant KYU has reopened after being shuttered for nearly a year and a half following a fire. Under chef Chris Arellanes, the restaurant keeps favorite dishes from its original menu, including crunchy kale with nam prik, a variety of crispy rice selections, beef short rib with a sesame crust, Korean fried chicken, and roasted cauliflower. The redesigned dining space maintains the industrial ambiance of its predecessor, incorporating both warm and modern elements. Oh, and don’t forget, the coconut cake also makes a comeback, too." - Olee Fowler

"Wynwood is cursed. The chaotic neighborhood takes things we enjoy—like street art and mini golf—and makes them expensive, optimized for the algorithm, and emotionally draining. That’s what happened to Kyu, one of the first restaurants that made us excited about eating in the neighborhood. Our city’s infamous art district swallowed it whole and regurgitated a fully assimilated Wynwood beast. Kyu closed for nearly two years of renovations and repairs in 2022. And if you dined at the old version of this broadly Asian wood-fired restaurant, which seemingly 98% of Miami did, reentering the renovated space feels eerily familiar. The walls are still a sleek stone gray and you can still see straight into the kitchen. But now, tables are crammed together, bathrooms are inconveniently located behind the busy bar, and the space’s original minimalism has been replaced with what can only be described as an upscale dungeon. photo credit: World Red Eye photo credit: World Red Eye photo credit: World Red Eye Kyu's acoustics mimic the inside of an MDCPS middle school cafeteria. The indecipherable soundtrack clashes with 60 separate conversations that bounce off the flat walls. No matter how much you inch forward, you can’t hear your server describe the sheer volume of the short rib. And that’s a shame because food is the only reason to come to Kyu now. Most of Kyu’s original dishes are still delicious. But like an aging third baseman, all of Kyu’s old hits are better than its new ones. The corn ribs are overcoated with a yuzu aioli that would work better as a dipping sauce on the side. And the “krunchy” kale is sprayed with a yuzu fish oil at the table in an attempt to distract you from the fact that you’re eating $15 kale chips. The famous coconut cake may have met its match with the cardamom doughnuts—possibly the only new menu item worth ordering. photo credit: Courtesy Kyu If you’re going to eat at Kyu, do it with four of your loudest friends (the ones that refer to their mom as “bro”). Nearly every item on the menu is portioned for a party of four, like the hamachi crispy rice that’s injected with wasabi cream filling and eats like a delicious Japanese eclair. Or the fried chicken that sits in a pond of rich, spicy chili butter. Kyu is no longer the safe and consistent Wynwood option it once was. It’s become this noisy vessel with tables packed like sardines and servers pacing left and right like ants around a sugar cube. Maybe it’s not entirely Kyu’s fault. It still feels like a quintessential Wynwood restaurant. But that's no longer a compliment. Like the old Wynwood, we just really miss the old Kyu. Food Rundown photo credit: Courtesy KYU Roasted Cauliflower Back in the day, this roasted cloud received as much buzz as that banana someone taped to a wall and labeled art. It was a revolutionary vegetable sitting on a green chili vinaigrette and creamy goat cheese. Now, you’re lucky if it shows up warm to your table. Hamachi Crispy Rice These are too large to eat in one bite, so eat it in two and admire the creamy wasabi filling inside. It’s a lovely starter that mutes the chaos around you for a brief moment. photo credit: Kyu Miami Pastrami Steamed Buns They look like bao buns, but taste like a Costco hotdog. Although we love a good wholesale hotdog, this is one of the misses from Kyu’s new menu. photo credit: Courtesy Kyu Korean Fried Chicken Another Kyu original, this chicken is juicy and crispy. But it’s the spicy chili butter it sits on that makes it really special. Dress your chicken with enough chili butter to slow your breathing. photo credit: Courtesy KYU Beef Short Ribs If you’re here with at least three people, order this. The giant slab of cow is tender, perfectly cooked, and should be tasted on its own before you assemble it into delicious lettuce wraps. photo credit: Courtesy KYU Mom's Coconut Cake We’re not sure whose mom made this, but whoever she is, we thank her. The alternating layers of vanilla cake and cream cheese frosting are subtly sweet and will convert even the biggest cake haters." - Mariana Trabanino

"KYU, the popular longtime wood-fired Asian restaurant in Wynwood, is set to reopen its doors on Wednesday, March 6, following a temporary closure due to storm-related structural damage in November 2022. Under executive chef Chris Arellanes, KYU’s menu will offer an array of shareable items, hearty plates, and vegetable-forward dishes. Dishes exclusive to the Miami location include the new Mimmos Burrata with sudachi citrus green tomatoes and pickled peppadews, along with returning staples such as pan-seared snapper with brown butter-white miso & pickled myoga (Japanese ginger) and smoked bone marrow with shiso chimichurri and miso toast featuring bread from Miami local favorite, Zak the Baker. Staples of the original menu remain, including krunchy kale with nam prik, a selection of crispy rice options, beef short rib with sesame crust, Korean fried chicken, and the renowned roasted cauliflower. Desserts by Eliana Aponte, such as the popular Mom’s coconut cake and dark chocolate s’mores cake, also make their way to the menu. The beverage program at KYU, also reintroduces fan favorites like the She-so spicy, a shiso-infused spicy sour cocktail. Exclusive to the Wynwood location are drinks like Old Slabside and Que Bola?, alongside non-alcoholic options like Frank the Tank and Spring Solstice. Miami designer Mark Alan Diaz has revamped the 4,000-square-foot space of KYU, maintaining its industrial chic roots while introducing new elements. The interior features wood paneling, leather seating, and stone accents. A distinctive feature is the garden wall at the entrance and the host stand made from oolite, aka Miami limestone. The layout includes a prominent bar and an open kitchen to accommodate guests in its patio area and 114-seat dining room. The reopening of KYU Miami adds to the restaurant’s large growth in recent years, with outposts already operational in Mexico City since August 2020, New York’s NoHo district as of April 2022, and the recently launched Fontainebleau Las Vegas in December 2023. Plans are underway for a new Los Angeles Century Plaza outpost, slated to open in 2025. KYU reopens on March 6 at 251 NW 25th Street in Wynwood. When it opens, it will be open Wednesdays and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. Call 786-577-0150 for more information." - Olee Fowler

"The crowd here is as fashionable as its Wynwood neighborhood, so expect to see plenty of regulars and art lovers tucking into fried chicken. And while you’re most likely to hear KYU described as a contemporary Asian restaurant, that feels too simplistic. Try the duck breast “burnt ends” and Thai coconut cream spinach, which show off the menu's southern influences, or the shichimi-rubbed wagyu brisket for something a bit more indulgent." - Nila Do Simon, Jennifer M. Wood