Makimi is a Japanese Izakaya restaurant that recently opened in the Upper Buena Vista outdoor mall at 50th Terrace and NE 2nd Ave. As part of this month’s Estrella Damm Culinary Journey, we were invited to dine at Makimi and meet with the chef/owner.

The Estrella Damm Culinary Journey offers Chef Tasting Menus and The Perfect Pair options at over 70 Miami and Broward restaurants from June 1- June 30th.

Chef Leonardo Cascitelli welcomed us to the sushi counter with a cold bottle of Estrella Damm beer to accompany our 10-course Chef’s tasting menu. Makimi is a casual yet intimate spot with seating at its sushi counter or at outdoor tables. We chose to sit at the sushi bar for an up-close experience observing the sushi chef and chatting with Chef Leo.

Chef Leo explained that the three main elements of good sushi are the quality of the fish, the rice, and vinegar.

Makimi sources the best possible ingredients for all three. That focus on quality was reflected throughout our experience at Makimi. We started with the vegan hand roll, which paired well with the first sips of Estrella Damm.

The hamachi sashimi was served with lime and salt and melted in my mouth. It contrasted well with the 24-hour cured hamachi loin nigiri with orange. 

Next up were a few salmon courses. We first had fresh salmon nigiri, followed by salmon poke.

Chef Leo pointed out that traditional poke is cubed, seasoned fresh tuna or salmon, and not served over rice. We enjoyed the salmon poke that had been marinated in eel sauce and olive oil, topped with roasted sesame seeds.

The roasted salmon skin handroll with green onions and eel sauce was one of our favorite dishes. It was crunchy, salty, and tasted like a fun take on chicharron. 

We ended our journey with three tuna dishes. An elevated tuna nigiri, featured 36-hour cured tuna loin that tasted much like prosciutto.

With a nice texture and salty, it didn't need any tamari sauce. Next, we were served a spicy tuna handroll that was bursting with marinated tuna loin with ponzu and kimchi mayo. Finally, the real star of the show arrived: tuna toro nigiri. Toro, the prize part of the tuna, melts in your mouth, and serves as the finish to solid meal.

In addition to Estrella Dam, Makimi offers a fine selection of wines and sakes to accompany your meal, ranging from the affordable to the celebratory.

Makimi is open seven days a week for dinner and lunch from Tuesday through Sunday. 

Makimi

184 NE 50th Terrace Unit 308, 

Miami, FL 33137

(786) 353-2433