Makoto

"This longtime Stephen Starr restaurant in Bal Harbour Shops, now located on the mall's top floor, continues to be a go-to destination for the Gucci-clad set thanks to chef Makoto Okuwa’s pristine sushi menu. In addition to the raw stuff, Makoto’s modern Japanese dishes, bincho charcoal robata, and surprisingly affordable lunch bento boxes have hungry shoppers making this a staple in their rotation." - Olee Fowler

"Located in the upscale Bal Harbour Shops, this bustling Japanese restaurant is a favorite among well-heeled locals, tourists, and celebrities. Having recently moved three floors up from its original spot, the redesigned space now offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with coral pinks, saffron, and sandalwood hues, accented by oversized floral motifs. Chef Makoto Okuwa offers some of the best sushi and sashimi in Miami, complemented by dishes from the charcoal robata, including wagyu filet, rib-eye, sea bass, and lamb chops. The extensive sake list and creative cocktails, such as the Tatsu made with Banhez Mezcal, passionfruit, hibiscus, and Hellfire bitters, round out the experience." - Olee Fowler

"Makoto is an upscale Japanese restaurant inside the land of very thick credit cards known as Bal Harbour Shops. While we really enjoy Makoto's dining room—which feels like eating inside a ripe peach—the patio situation is every bit as cute. It has Tic Tac green tables and floral chairs that make you feel like you're on vacation even if you live here. There's also a circular bamboo bar you'll want to forklift into your own living room. It's all a perfect setting to enjoy some tasty raw fish, crispy rice, or a koji-aged New York strip. This is a mostly covered patio, so don't expect a view of anything spectacular except a potential Real Housewives sighting." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo

"Located inside the ritzy Bal Harbour Shops, this seemingly always busy Japanese restaurant just got a new look and new location – three floors above where it was located for nearly a decade. The now bright and airy space still offers up some of the best sushi and sashimi in town by chef Makoto Okuwa. Still, it also features plenty of dishes made on the charcoal robata, like wagyu filet, ribeye, sea bass, and lamb chops that shouldn’t be missed." - Olee Fowler

"Umami Kanpachi We recently checked out Makoto’s badly-needed and very impressive renovation. The Bal Harbour spot now has a new colorful dining room that feels like eating inside a perfectly ripe peach, some lovely patio seating, and a cute outdoor bamboo bar. The menu has been trimmed down a bit too, and the best thing we tried from it was the umami kanpachi. The fish was buttery and delicious, there was an ideal amount of yuzu, and the crispy garlic chips gave each bite a little crunch. If you find yourself here, this needs to be on the table." - ryan pfeffer, carlos c olaechea