Sushi Azabu, a Michelin-Starred NYC Sushi Restaurant, Heads To South Beach This Fall

One of New York City’s favorite sushi spots Sushi Azabu announced it's flying south and opening a location inside the Marriott Stanton South Beach (161 Ocean Drive) this October.

The Michelin-starred restaurant — which is technically “hidden” in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood — is known for its omakase menu that rotates frequently featuring fish from Japan that arrives daily. The South Beach location will house various concepts including a full-service dining room, plus two parts that aren’t available at its NY counterpart: a hidden sushi counter called The Den and Bar Azabu, a cocktail bar showcasing imported whiskies and sakes.

In the dining room expect a menu featuring Izakaya style dining with dishes like robata-grilled yakitori, Japanese fried rice served tableside on a Tobanyaki grill, sukiyaki, udon and the Instagram favorite, Raindrop Cake.

The Den will feature an 11-seat sushi bar serving sushi using imported seafood flown in directly from fish markets in Japan. It will feature a formal Omakase style dining experience, led by Chef Ken, previously of Shinji by Kanesaka, a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant in Macau, and Sushi Kanesaka in Tokyo, which also is a Michelin-rated restaurant.

As for Bar Azabu, it'll be helmed by bartender Davide Borgia and plans to use imported ingredients and Japanese-inspired presentation styles served in glassware handcrafted by a Japanese artisans. It also plans to carry an extensive list of imported Japanese sakes and whiskies, including several vintage varieties.

When the restaurant makes its debut it will be open daily for dinner from 6 to 11 p.m. and stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Final seating for The Den will be at 10 p.m.; Bar Azabu will be open daily from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.