I wish I could give 6 stars. This has to be one the best dining experiences we have ever had. Words I would use to describe this place: Adventurous, incredible, unique, and phenomenal. The quality of the fish was amazing. They have all the fish freshly flown in from Japan, Boston, and others, some local. Where ever its the best he says. Everything we ate, had a story, a reason behind it, a crazy description, and an amazing flavor/texture. The service was awesome. We sat right in front of Chef Cory, where he served us most of our food and we got to speak with him and ask him tons of questions. He is self taught, although his dad is also a chef for over 50 years. His preparation for everything you eat is meticulous, well thought out, and made to perfection. The bento box which houses a corn based miso soup, nigiri, octopus, and parsnip rice. Then there are 8 rounds of nigiri, or more if you prefer. We loved all of them. We ordered an extra round to try the urchin. The salmon belly, boston clam, scallop, amongst other fishes were incredible. If you are looking for an out of the box experience, fresh flavors, and unique service and settings, this is your place. Book a reservation in advance, and when I say in advance, it took us 6 weeks to give you an idea. The restaurant only seats 8 people at a time, seatings are either at 6 or 9 pm. Trust me you won't regret it, you'll only be thinking about when you should go back for round 2. read more

It was about a year ago when I came here with a couple friends during spring break. We were looking for some classy food before heading to the club when my friend spotted this small venue. In no way did we expect it to leave such a huge impression. I distinctly remember the taste of every bite to this day. Not kidding. Wendy, the cutest waitress ever, greeted and sat us at the bar with a completely puzzled look on her face. Turns out this place was exclusively reservations-only. They opened not even a month ago and didn't expect any walk-ins. A large party of elderly Russians was sitting at the only table, so little did we know, we had to wait for them to order, eat, order more, finish, then leave. What was supposed to be an hour long dinner, turned into a 5 hour event. The only menu offered is the drink menu. Each patron get an individual bento box then nigiri sushi upon request. - Only two people run NAOE: Wendy- waitress Chef Kevin Cory- owner, executive chef, general manager & dishwasher (as written on his card) - Chef Cory used to work with Wendy at a different restaurant and called her up one day to work for him. - Chef Cory is SO OCD about his towel. I think he wiped the board EVERY TIME he did something. He washed it, folded it, used it, washed it again...and again... - Wendy actually asked to see our ID's (bit unexpected considering the caliber of the restaurant) - The organic sake and soy sauce are from Cory's family brewery. After 2-3 hours of impatiently waiting, we were presented with a large complimentary bottle of their best sake. Wendy then showed us pictures of this morning's catch on her iphone as Cory prepared it for our bentos: - egg custard with the soft freshwater eel bits - freshest giant clam sashimi in a shiso vinaigrette - conch in its shell dressed in soy sauce - sakura shape molded rice with daikon radish and tiny shrimp - chilled corn-miso soup Every single bite was thoroughly mind-blowing. Cory then served the parade of nigiri sushi, dabbing wasabi (freshly grated on sharkskin mat) on the warm, tangy rice, and brushing on the soy sauce: - salmon belly (melt in your mouth soft) - saltwater and freshwater eel (the textures and flavors were so different but both were delicious) - uni from Santa Barbara (you can tell the quality of a restaurant by their uni, as if it weren't apparent already, the creamy uni have me the chills. SO soft and totally not fishy. Santa Barbara supposedly has the best uni in the world. this was easily my favorite of the night.) - shiraiebi (collection of small bits of amaebi blended so well with the rice) - horse mackerel (complemented by a vinegary soy sauce ) We asked for Chef's choice for the next few- all wonderful & creative 5 people (3 cultured/ adventurous/ experienced, all hungry) 3 bottles of sake (1 on the house, 2 equally enjoyed) 6 beers (Sapporo draft) 5 bento segments (4 compartments and a soup) 8-9 nigiris (lost count after 6) 800 dollars (WELL spent) read more

I'm not sure I can add anything to all the glowing reviews people have already written about this wonderful restaurant (on yelp or otherwise), but I will try. I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday here this past Saturday night. What I came away from my time at Naoe, is that Naoe delivers a world-class dining experience, not just incredible sushi. That impeccable dining experience starts the moment you make your reservation. Wendy, the manager, does everything to make sure everything is perfect leading up to and during your meal. Chef Cory, who is a great guy, delivers a masterfully crafted sushi meal. The bento box we had was creative and for the five of us in our party who were very well seasoned sushi eaters, we all had about 10 or 12 things we've never had before. There was a delicious house made egg tofu with an exquisite uni sauce. There was an incredibly fresh local cobia sashimi, which was other-worldly. There was a scallop roe soup which was refreshingly light and clean, and basically tasted like warm sea water (I mean that in the best possible way). The nigiri course was incredible as well and the star of the evening of course. While I could've literally eaten nigiri until Naoe ran out of fish, my wallet, wouldn't allow for that. There was an amazing array of fish, most of which I hadn't eaten before. The level of craftsmanship was so evident from the first bite. The fish was sliced beautifully and the rice was perfect. It was not gummy or too cold, the perfect vehicle for the sushi, which just melted in your mouth. The experience was made even better by the beautiful sake we had (um, all four bottles), which I am sure you have read from other reviews, is brewed by Chef Cory's family back in Nippon. The restaurant is modern and spartan in the decor, which I really like. Wendy and Chef Cory made for excellent hosts, and Chef Cory was nice enough to impart some sushi making tips on me. Wendy was nice enough to gift me a complimentary bottle of sake for my birthday, which I will crack open the next time I make sushi at home. The whole experience was top notch, and I think the only better dining experience I've ever had was De Kas in Amsterdam. Naoe is great for Miami, and I will definitely be back. read more

my review needs an update. watch Kevin Corey doing what he loves in his new space in Brickell (north end of Courvoisier Centre). When asked about expansion, he says "I only have two hands." You can tell he loves his craft and is the best at it. 2 seatings 8 lucky diners. Opentable reservations only. Wendy and Corey will provide an unforgettable dining experience. Oh and if you want to know where Chef Corey eats? it's Japanese Fish Market on 79th and MOMI. I totally agree! finally got to try NAOE 2.0 price point has moved up over time and is pricey, but does provide Kevin free reign to source the best ingredients and throw in some unusual ones as well. ever heard of konoko or konowata of the sea cucumber? we're talking at least 12 rounds of nigiri and his classic bento with a few side dishes and multiple desserts. most certainly you will be trying something you haven't had before. again the subtleties in the fish presentations and his respect for maintaining the natural Japanese ingredients all in harmony is one of his strengths. this is advanced dining since the average person might not want to eat every item. compared to before, you can now tell that surrounded with kitchen help, he can orchestrate his bento and sushi symphony at any pace suited to the dining group. bravo! oh and the other side looks amazing, stay tuned for their lunch opening! read more

I really wanted to like this place... The sushi was good and fresh, but I felt that it just didnt justify the $550+ price tag for a couple. Gist: You get a Bento Box, broiled fish, 13 pieces of nigiri, and 3 desserts. Sake is extra. The box includes everything you'd expect, but with a touch of expertise. Rice with pickled daikon and bambo, Miso soup with geoduck, sashimi, eggs, fermented amberjack guts...ect. All good and as they put it, Bold flavors. The broiled fish was lovely, just very boney. While authentic, it was annoying. The nigiri was all very delicate, maybe too delicate. Most of the flavor of the fish was lost to the rice. It was skillfully prepared rice, but made most of the pieces taste the same. The highlight was the uni and sea cucumber, which were awesome. Overall though it was an underwhelming experience. Also lots of fish guts... fermented and cured... I feel they were very excited about if they could and never thought to think if they should. The dessert consisted of different courses of dragon fruit, green tea, honey cake (my favorite) and mystery ice cream (I wont spoil the surprise). You'll wait a bit for the food, 20 min per piece, but that is normally typical of these types of dinners. Overall its good and you'll leave full... but you might think "Why did I just spend so much" read more

I decided to try this out for my friend's birthday based solely on reviews. Glad I listened! The food was spectacular. Everything was fresh, perfectly prepared and precisely portioned. You won't regret ordering some a la carte items to add to the experience. The sake recommendation was perfect for the meal. The staff went above and beyond...they made for a memorable night. Thank you!!! (Definitely ask to be seated at the bar to watch the chefs work) read more

I'm not going to belabor the point. Excellent assortment of interesting foods in the bento box--loved the lightly fried ginko berries, amazing fresh egg-tofu with uni roe sauce on it. beautiful daikon rounds, fluke with shiso, caviar on the seaweed. oysters, portabella rice with anchovies, tempura fish. many types of delicious sauces and fresh grated wasabi root and a hearty winter soup with butternut squash and celeriac, which was great considering the cold weather when we went. The nigiri was awesome too. I had a good time sitting at the bar. I recommend, sitting at the bar! It is really a treat to see Chef Cory doing a subtle dance while he precisely slices dices, fries, steams, poaches, wraps and garnishes everything in his tiny kitchen, with two tiny refrigerators, two pots of water, a tempura cauldron, a steamer and two small and immaculate cutting areas. He is a pretty cool, young dude, with an interesting life story and an obvious creative streak for flavor combinations. We loved the organic sake from his family brewery. and I thought the large wait between each course really let us have a whole night of eating and a culinary experience, rather than just a good meal. Obviously I can't eat here every day, but I will definitely be back as soon as the dining-out fund recharges. read more

I want to add to the litany of 5* reviews because I also want to encourage readers who, like me, were hesitant. Does NAOE live up to the hype? Is it worth the money? Will I feel full? How different can it be from other Japanese restaurants that do omikase? NAOE ticks all the boxes (not just the bento, hehe) and even boxes you didn't know existed, in the way that is fully necessary with a price tag of this level. I hoped that we would come away feeling like it was worth the price, and we did. One of my concerns was that the bento box would feel like it was designed to be a filler. As soon as I smelled it and saw all the unfamiliar items, we realized it was no ordinary bento. Each compartment was layered with surprises: from the tempura mamey to the pickled fish guts (shuto), from the scallop mantle to the traditional yams. It was explained in detail by the maître d', Rachel, who had great knowledge and answered all our questions. A true happy meal. The house sake is clean and paired perfectly. A star of the show is the house shoyu--if only we could purchase some for our home. And although the bento could have stood alone, it was only the beginning of the journey. Nigiri upon nigiri, eaten exactly as prepared, rice at body temperature, one piece at a time, using the fingers for maximum sensory experience. Even familiar items are rendered in ways that might ruin you forever. Arrive hungry and you will leave full, your mind and soul at peace. I wanted transcendence and I got it. You cannot place a price tag on an experience like this. If you love Japanese food, if you love intense flavors, challenging textures and tastes, and also demand perfection from your chefs and staff, then do like we did and go for it. I won't even go into further details of the food because what you eat could be completely different from what we ate. What you can expect is for each bite to be unique, then fused into one magical meal paced perfectly, lovingly crafted and designed to be multi-sensory. Expect to try sea creatures you had not heard of, their guts or innards, things pickled, fermented, and brined with remarkable finesse. Expect also to smile and have fun. What an experience. Consider NAOE an investment in your happiness. read more

I will not comment on the food because I agree with everything that has been posted so far. So, I'll comment on the service and the overall dining experience. Although the decor is minimal, it has a very intimate yet laid back feel to it. Wendy who manages the reservation to serving and everything in between was super friendly and sweet. We were the last remaining ones at the end of the evening (due to the rain, not many ppl showed up) so we chatted with Wendy and Kevin for awhile. We braved the torrential rain to get there but it was worth it. It rained so much by the time we finished our 3 hour dinner experience, the parking lot was totally flooded. The water was above your ankle level! They actually picked up diners from their SUV and drove them to their car. The ladies waited out in the front. ;-) Wendy waited with me outside with an umbrella for my hubby to get the car out of the parking lot. They are so accommodating and will adapt dishes for food allergies or restrictions (advanced notice required). Perhaps it was the torrential rain storm that enhanced the dining experience but overall it was a memorable dining experience and one of the highlights of my vacation in Miami. read more

NAOE is the BEST restaurant in Miami and I couldn't be more thrilled that they changed locations and are now in Brickell Key. I dined at their previous location in Sunny Isles two years ago and had been dying to come back ever since. You'd be hard pressed to find sushi of this quality anywhere else on the east coast, south of NYC. Their fish if flown in daily from Japan, Portugal and Boston. You still need to book on Open Table ahead of time, give them your credit card information and inform them of any food allergies. It is also still very small ( they only accomodate 8 people at a time so you'd better make your reservation early) and there are still only two seatings, 6:30 and 9:30. There is one differerence though: Dinner now consists of the Chef's Choice Shokado Bento for $85. There are four compartments in the box and a miso soup, 8 pieces of Nigiri-zushi and dessert featuring their "mystery" flavored ice cream which hasn't changed. You also have the option of adding on additional rounds - they are hard to resist! (At the old location you started with the bento box for $26 and then had the choice of adding on the nigiri as you wished. I can't remember the names of everything we had but I LOVED absolutely every bit of it. Very unique - there is NOTHING else like it anywhere in Miami. (IPO the only other restaurant that has even come close to comparing with NAOE was Sushi Nozawa in Studio City, CA which is no longer open. It was my birthday dinner and Wendy and Chef Cory made it very special. They gifted us with a bottle of their famous sake to bring home (in a gift bag no less) and I also liked how each menu was personalized with our name and date of the visit. Such a cute touch! Major surprise of the night however was running into dear friends of ours who were also celebrating a birthday. What a small world considering it is such a small restaurant. Great foodie minds think alike! We were originally seated at a table but upon discovering our friends we moved over to the bar to sit with them. Added benefit: getting to watch Chef Cory in action. ****Also, they are opening another restaurant next door in the next 6 months or so. It will feature traditional Japanaese dishes (as opposed to sushi) at a more affordable price and offer much more seating. I CAN'T WAIT! read more

There were a lot of logistics involved in getting to this restaurant so I'm going to give you the Yelper's Guide to Dining at NAOE: 1. Must reserve on Open Table, only two seatings a night, 6:30 and 9:30 2. Homemade Sake from the Chef's family recipe (excellent) plus beer - no wine or other alcohol. 3. The main serving is the Chef's Selection Bento Box for $26 with a lot of interesting creations. 4. Following the Bento Box, you can select from various rounds of Sashimi ranging from $2-$8 per piece featuring Salmon Belly, Eel, Shrimp Omelet, Lobster, Uni, etc. I have to say I didn't like everything I ate but I'm glad I experienced it. This is a place for adventurous people. Be prepared to spend about $100 per person if you drink. read more

This place is an experience like no other. You're hosted by Wendy - the sweetest person w/ a wonderful smile. Then there's the chef, Kevin behind the bar. That's it. They have 2 seatings a day, one at 6:30 and one at 9:30 (which you must reserve via OpenTable). The experience is truly 2-3 hours long and if it wasn't for the other 3 people next to us, it would feel like you have a private chef in front of you cooking the freshest authentic cuisine from Japan. If you are a sake lover, then you're in for a true treat. All the sake is served cold and is from chef Kevin's family "wineries" in Japan. We tried the reisling-like sake which was delicious, light, crisp and on the sweeter side and we ended with a slushy-like sake scooped out of the bottle, served in wooden bowls and eaten with small wooden spoons. The sakes ranging from around $20 to $125 (the most distinguished). First meal is a unique bento box which changes all the time at a cost of $26. Ours was: Daikon and Brown rice w/ sardines; seaweed salad w/ Baby carrots and sliced cobia; conch water snail w/ hog snapper tempura (spearfished that day by Kevin's friend--or at least that's what he told us) with soy bean paste on mountain yams; custard like soup of grouper and mushroom. Next up was an all fresh nigiri sushi progression, most of it from Japan that gets shipped overnight everyday. The pieces ranges from $2-$8 each. It's important to note that even the ordering "process" throughout the sushi progression is unique. If you would like to participate in the upcoming round, you are asked to place a wooden paddle in front of the chef or farther back (closest to you) if you do not. Here's an example of ours: Scottish Salmon Belly (melted in my mouth) Poached Maine Lobster Madai Sea Bring - a white fish. Hiramasa - real yellow tail from Japan Squid Uni Shrimp Omelet Eel w/ Japanese Melon - pickled for 2 years and brushed with a bb q sauce at least 5 times before we ate it Last but not least is dessert which is sponge cake w/ mystery ice cream. We were sworn to secrecy so I don't want to ruin the surprise! However, I can say that it tasted like salted caramel. read more

Quality over Quanity. Painstaking attention to detail. Sit by the bar if you wanna see a masterful sushi chef do his thing with a precision and idiosynchracy that'll remind you of watching Nomar Garciaparra in the batter's box. This isn't sushi; this is sushi theatre. The whole thing is an experience. The lighting, the wooden bar, the professionalism of the staff, the attention to detail, the designated seating times for tables. It's kinda like being at a modern art show. You're thinking in the back of your head, "This would be weird, if it wasn't so cool." But it IS cool. It's not for everyone, I imagine. This is not a top 40 hit that everyone can tap their toes to. This is a rare b-side song off an import album of your favorite band that you'll love and someone else might hate. Freshest fish that just melts in your mouth. There's an odd contrast between the simplicity of the bento box, and the decadence & quality of its contents. Sure, it took 3 hours to serve us all the courses, but we NEEDED that time. Sure, it cost more than Nobu in NYC, but it tasted way better. Sure, putting corn in the miso soup made it just smell n' taste like corn chowder (not miso soup), but the risk taking is appreciated. A MUST for any sushi connoisseur. 100% guarantee that even if you don't like this place, you will respect it. read more

After reading Rob C's review, and this restaurant is so close to my place. I decide to try NAOE this Wednesday night. Although this restaurant can only seat 17 people, but atmosphere and decoration are just perfect. Not too exaggerate, unlike some "Fusion" restaurant. No Menu in here, Chef design the menu at least once a week. Depending on seasonal resource. Sake I had was from Chef's family in Japan. Many of things I had were rare to find in other restaurant. So I am trying to visit this place at least twice a month. read more

NAOE - Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - Miami, Florida

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I am giving this a low rate knowing there is a lot of ignorance on my part regarding Japanese cuisine. NAOE motto is.. it is not fresh;it is alive! And you can take that to the bank. I give them all the kudos in selection of products, and cooking creativity, but the outcome is for a very selective acquired taste. I could. It eat many of the food, and my friend threw up twice. Once in their bathroom and the other in the Uber. The cost for 3 people was almost $2,000, and one of us could not keep it. Again, I do not doubt this must be a sublime experience for people who appreciate true Japanese cuisine that goes far beyond the sushi and the tempura. read more

This place is the definition of amazing! From service to dish I don't know how it could be any better. I went for my birthday last night and the service, (well let's not even call it service, it was more like love and friendship) was excellent. Then the food started coming, I've never had better or fresher sushi in my life. I'm from the SF Bay area and we have some great sushi there, but this was amazing. I mentioned it was my birthday and they celebrated with me with cake and an unforgettable secret ingredient ice cream. I won't tell you the secret but you have to have it, it memorable. Try this place it is truly a beautiful experience! read more

Easily one of the best meals of my life. Between the food and the experience, NAOE makes for an incredibly memorable meal. Chef Cory provides an experience completely different to any other sushi restaurant in Miami by crafting each piece of sushi specifically for the one customer it is going to. He never makes more than a few pieces at a time, to ensure that the rice stays warm to contrast the slightly chilled fish - which is exactly as sushi is intended to be served. The wasabi is also freshly grated for each course and is a completely different experience from the wasabi you get on the side of your plate in a standard sushi restaurant. The service is also amazing, with each course being carefully explained. By the time you savor your bite of food, you know exactly where it came from, why it's special, and how fresh it is. If you're interested in food and like to know exactly what you're eating - this is a great place for that. Effusive praise aside, yes it is expensive. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of money on this meal (our meal for two came out to $500, but we also ordered a couple beers to start, a bottle of sake, and a smaller bottle of frozen sake for dessert, as well as 5 additional courses after the set menu). But it is definitely worth it. It's not your every day lunch spot, but it's also not a plate of california rolls that you will forget by dinner time. read more

Best Restaurant in Miami. Best Japanese Food in Miami. Most interesting, friendly wait staff in Miami. Carefully crafted and well prepared fish. Interesting sake choices. Intimate setting. The menu/bento changes from night to night, so for me to describe what I ate would be an injustice. Just expect to pay over $200 for 2 people, to truly enjoy yourself with the sake, the bento and the nigiri. read more

Naoe was quite an experience. I've had comparable sushi in other cities but come on, it's Miami and for Miami, this is going to be the absolute best you will experience. The chef loves what he does and it shows. He is truly truly talented. He paid careful attention to sushi rice temperature, the cuts, flavor combinations, and presentation. I also enjoyed the service. Other than his wife/girlfriend there was another young lady who was just eager to serve you. She was knowledgable and painted a nice picture of what we were about to experience. It's really easy to rack up the bill - be warned. He offers a la carte after you've eaten his perfectly prepared sushi prix fixed meal. It's hard to resist when you've eaten piece after piece of delicious sushi. For 3 girls, 1 bottle of Sake, and 2 hours of "oohs" and "ahhs" we spent close to $500. read more

Amazing food and also amazing staff. Everyone was so knowledgeable and attentive. They made it very memorable for my boyfriends birthday! Thank you NAOE! read more

Definitely come here with an adventurous palate because Chef Kevin Cory will take you for an exciting ride! We brought a bottle of Bollinger and it went terrific with his courses! We dine out a LOT and this is definitely the best spot in Miami to enjoy a luxurious meal! Thank you Chef and Wendy for a brilliant dining experience! Cheers! read more

I have been to NAOE 2 times now. Both times I have left with a huge smile, and wanting to come back the next day. Try to get a seat at the bar, on the left side so you can see Kevin Cory work his magic! It is a pleasure to see such talented persons work on your food. The outcome is just incredible. Every single item I have eaten there is incredible. You keep thinking that last one was my favorite and it never ends! Everything is so fresh! Service is just perfect. Not much to add there! Pair your dinner with one of the chef's family sake options. You won't be disappointed! I don't get other reviewers complaining about the price. Do you think you are going to a glorified Sushi Maki or Sushi Samba were everything was previously frozen or came from a Sysco truck? Why would you even bother going to NAOE if you think those other Sushi places are good? This is a high end traditional sushi restaurant with Michelin level food and service. You get what you pay for! Complain about reservations? I guess with the almost non existent high end dining options in Miami, people have gotten used to walking in to a restaurant and getting seated or having to call a day in advance at the most. Compared to most high end places in NY or California, the wait time for this restaurant is minimal. Try to get a table at Per Se, Momofuku, The French Laundry and then rethink how bad NAOE is! read more

Omaksase at its finest! Chef Kevin is amazing, and his wife/gf (the waitress) is the most knowledgeable and incredible server ever. The fish and uni were sooooo good. It's one of those places you can't complain about the price, but to the non wealthy who loves real authentic sushi, and not Americanized sushi rolls, this is a once a year kind of treat read more

It's now years later and we've been living in Florida since my last review. I can't believe I said then that I don't really eat sushi. Well that has changed and Naoe is still the favorite. We celebrate every family milestone at Naoe. I'm posting photos of our various anniversaries. Naoe is like family. read more

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My wife and I had the extreme pleasure of having dinner at Naoe with Chef Kevin for our first anniversary. As I mentioned that evening, during the delectable 17 course meal, "I am running out of adjectives to describe how sublime this food is". Eventually when words failed both my wife and I we resorted to a series of grunts and moans with the repeated "oh my god!" that accompanied each course that was set before us. We were lucky enough to be seated directly in front of Chef Kevin as he skillfully created each course from beginning to end. The entire evening brought dining to a new level. The food, music, the austere yet elegantly decorated environment, the staff, and did I mention the food(?) were wonderful. It is an evening we will never forget and hope to repeat as soon as possible. read more

Absolutely amazing and authentic experience. Current price is $85/person for bento box and 8-courses of sushi/sashimi. Then you can add rounds of sushi for $3-$12/round. Saki was amazing. Expect to spend between $50-$150 for a bottle. We went with $75 bottle that was great. The hospitality of the small staff was incredible. read more

Anything less than 5 stars is insanity! Incredible experience, the team led by Chef Kevin is highly synchronized and makes you feel welcomed while there and completely satisfied after departing. *I don't usually yelp, but felt the need to give credit after last night! read more

Don't expect to have an experience like Naoe for cheap. Kevin, Wendy and the entire staff make the experience worth every cent. My wife and I promised to be back at least once every two months but with kids and all, it's kinda hard. We rave about this place, that's how memorable the entire date was. In reality it is a bit expensive, but in my book give stars is not enough. read more

There are no stars enough to rate this amazing japanese temple in Miami. A unique two hours long experience thanks to Itamae Cory, a real master that makes this restaurant one of the best in US. * Online reservation only! *** For real Sushi Lovers only! You wont find cream cheese or mayo sauces fusion rolls ^O^ I really appreciate it... read more

I've been staying in Miami for more than 2years, and NAOE is absolutely my favorite restaurant in Miami! Chef Cory's cuisine is like art, plus nice and friendly service, exquisite and wonderful sushi, quite and private environment...love everything here! Even though I've moved to NY last year, I'll fly back just for a meal in NAOE. read more

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Love the food , I almost tried most of their food it's really good , wish I can go every day, I highly recommend this place

Anyone who gives this place less than five stars is ridiculous. The service is amazing and it's not hard to find. Look it up or ask Wendy when she calls you to confirm.. the entrance is in the back like she says it will be. It's very intimate and we were lucky to have Chef Kevin and Wendy to ourselves (Sunday night). She is so sweet! They are literally cooking for you, the diner. There is plenty of quality food and you have the option of stopping when you want to. It's perfect. Bring an adventurous palate and get ready to give your appetite a treat it'll never forget :) UPDATE- Went to the Brickell Key location for our anniversary.. ahhhh it was better than I remembered. Wendy gave us the best seat in the house. We closed the place down and they even gave us a parting gift :) Best sushi restaurant in Miami. WE LOVE YOU KEVIN AND WENDY! read more

We went last night with a couple of friends, it was an awesome night! The food was outstanding! Everything was execute perfectly, I've been spoiled all night with aromas and flavors, my mouth was having a party! I enjoy the bento box but enjoy more the 8 different sushi pieces. Yeah I'm dying to get that wasabi and beer that got yesterday, Nothing seems to be the same anymore... sushi would be never the same because I've tried the best of the best. read more

NAOE - Japanese Near Me - Miami, Florida

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I am privileged to have had the opportunity to dine at NAOE once... ONCE! [doing my best impression from Johnny Dangerously here]. It has earned the AAA 5-diamond award (exceedingly rare in Miami) and one of the highest overall scores on Yelp for very good reason, but if you want to know what that reason is, you will pay for it, and heavily. I went for a business meal with 2 other people, and submitted the bill for reimbursement. I am sure that the office administrator wouldn't have suspected for a moment that the bill I submitted was only for myself, and not for the entire group of 3 (thank god we each paid our own way, or I would have been bankrupted). The service is extraordinary - there are as many employees as patrons, or so it seems given the level of attention we received. It doesn't cost more to dine at the bar, so that is the natural preference to enjoy the Cory Show. I'll leave the pictures and details to other reviews and conclude that if you want to impress a client on business and money is no object, than NAOE is for you. read more

Still the king of Miami. Now you pay $180pp (exclusive of tip, tax and drinks) but you get so many more rounds of nigiri sushi and all sorts of extra surprises. It was a revelation even for a repeat customer. The bento box and soup combo was as composed and delicate as ever and the sushi included some old favorites like the salmon belly, uni, shime saba, mirugai, hotate, lobster, ankimo topped with lightly poached golden ring octopus in a spectacular ponzu like sauce, and the eel two ways. Some of the new (or more recent) favorites included ika topped with abalone roe-liver sauce, konowata and karasumi. There was more including a (not so) small broiled japanese pike that came next to the bento box and soup. Also included were two desserts (including the mystery ice cream), teas, and a fruit course. All that and the artistry of Kevin's preparations and Wendy's kind and professional service. All the staff is pretty great too. This is not just a great meal, it is an epic experience, like the food version of a great opera-- everything just works perfectly and you feel enriched (not to mention full) from the experience! read more

The best sushi you can get in Miami. Period. I'm not going to write about each dish, since other reviewers can give you a good idea. Besides, their menu changes all the time. But the fish is very fresh and reminds me of the sushi I had in Tokyo and Tsukiji. Each dish is executed extremely well with well balanced flavors and textures. Highlights were the Lobster nigiri, toro, and uni. You end the course with a fruit dish and a cake and secret ice cream :). They have an excellent selection of sake and I really loved their teas, too. Reservations are a must and plan to get there early if you want to bask in the glory of Chef Cory and his skills as seats fill quickly! My only complaint? MOAR VEGGIES PLZ!!!!!! I wish there was one dish that showcased authentic seasonal Japanese vegetables. TBH, I'd take even a salad! Service was attentive, quick, and they love to talk and really love and are proud of what they serve you. Wendy and crew make you feel like friends already! 4.999 stars (-.0001 for MOAR VEGGIES!!) read more

Celebrated my birthday and graduation at NAOE! Coming from California, the dishes were well worth the travel. The chef is amazingly talented and the host was knowledgeable, kind and friendly. I could not have asked for a better Omakase experience. read more

Now, this is what I'm talking about! It's been a long time since I came across such an amazing Japanese restaurant. This restaurant is definitely on par with some of the top notch restaurants in Japan. If you really appreciate authentic Japanese and have been disgusted with all the sushi joints that sell you bad fish covered with ridiculous sauces in dim lights, in attempts to comprise shit food with presentation, then this will be your sanctuary. You will have the most amazing time here. Many reviews say that prices are great and it is true. But, you have to understand that in order to make the best out of the trip to NAOE, you have to prepare to spend $100. And that's as much as you'll be spending. And trust me, it's worth the money. So, here is the layout to how it works here. If you are planning to go to NAOE, I want you to read this. 1) You start off with a bento box that contains a variety of Japanese food, from fried fish, japanese egg custard, rice, sashimi, and many others. The bento box menu changes every day and are random, so you cannot choose what you will get. You get what the chef gives you and trust me, you cannot go wrong. 2) After you finish your bento, you start with the post-bento sushi that progresses in the order of chef Cory's choice. Unlike the regular Japanese restaurants here, NAOE does not serve all the sushi at once. Chef Cory serves one sushi at a time and gives you enough time in between to enjoy. The warmth of the rice and the coldness of the fish/shellfish creates a perfect harmony. Part of the reason that Chef Cory serves one sushi at a time is because you get the best flavor when this temperature balance holds. Once the fish/shellfish gets a little warmer, the freshness deteriorates and so does the taste. Every sushi is prepared with the soy sauce and wasabi that the chef has specially made, so you will not be dunkin' into your usual Kikkoman soy sauce, criminally destroying the flavor of the sushi. Once you've had enough you can stop. But, like I said, the pace is very slow, so you will be digesting faster than you will be waiting for the next one to arrive. 3) You will finish the meal off with a small bowl of assorted fruits and a very special dessert, which I will not and cannot tell you. Even the restaurant keeps it a secret until you finish the dessert and they whisper it to you. It's very good and very interesting. I suggest you try. Few more tips: 1) Tea collections are great. There are many genuine Japanese green teas that you can try. And no, they are not the green powder that you mix into the water, which 99% of other Japanese restaurants serve. 2) Chef Kevin Cory's family has been running a sake brewery called Nakamura Brewery since the 1800s. They have an exclusive collection and an acute description of each, so please do enjoy with the meal. 3) If you are not a sake fan, they have Sapporo draft beers, which are excellent as well. 4) There are many people who would comment and say that they were hungry after the whole meal and that the portions were ridiculous. The portions are indeed small, and it was too pricey. You pay, not by portion, but by the quality of the fine dining. If you complain about the portion here, you will complain about it at any other fine restaurants. In fact, you should go to a local buffet and conquer your hunger there. 5) The location of this place is quite tricky and the restaurant sign is very small. It is located across Aroma Espresso Bar, which is more visible. If you look carefully enough, there is a small sign with no lighting that says NAOE. Getting here itself is a journey. ENJOY! read more

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I am for sure coming back here again! The food was amazing and the service was really good! I had so much sushi that I couldn't even get off from the table! read more

Excellent place, great food, wonderful ambiance. There is no menu, the chef will prepare a Bento box with the ingredients of the day, very high quality fish and produce. It takes about two hours or more the dine here but it's well worth it. read more