There are some places that catch you by surprise, places that feel like a hidden invitation to slow down, breathe in, and savor something special. 

That’s exactly what happened when my close friend Sharma and I found ourselves at Mai Sushi Tapas & Bar, tucked sweetly into the vibrant rhythm of Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile. 

With its soft lighting, warm wood tones, and eclectic touches, such as kimonos on the walls to carefully curated sake bottles, it was the kind of setting that instantly made us feel welcome, like we had stumbled into a story waiting to unfold.

A Shared Vision Rooted in Flavor and Friendship

Behind the intimate setting of Mai lies a culinary partnership deeply rooted in both heritage and shared passion. 

Vietnamese-native Annie Pham, chef Khoa Duong, and Japanese itamae Alfred Toita first crossed paths in Seattle, where their mutual love for Asian cuisine sparked a lasting bond. 

That connection eventually led them to Coral Gables, where they brought their vision to life with Mai, a restaurant that gracefully balances tradition with innovation. 

With just 31 seats, including a five-seat sushi counter, the space invites diners into a front-row experience of sushi and tapas craftsmanship, where Japanese refinement meets Vietnamese warmth. 

And you can feel this warmth so much when you come in and realize that this is not the type of place where you quickly grab a bite, or even one that’s loud and expansive, it feels like you have been invited into a private dinner party. This one of the things that makes the restaurant special.

The name “Mai,” meaning “dance” in Japanese, beautifully symbolizes the flow of flavors and the seamless blending of two distinct culinary cultures.

New Creations That Push Culinary Boundaries

Diners visiting Mai today can expect bold, elegant additions to the menu that showcase the restaurant’s playful approach to fusion cuisine.

New dishes include the Bone Marrow Donut, a surprising blend of savory richness and donut decadence; and the Uni Risotto, a luxurious, ocean-forward dish elevated with sea urchin creaminess. 

The Beef Tongue Pho Broth offers a soulful, slow-simmered taste of Vietnamese comfort, while the Iberico Pork Cheek is paired with fermented bean and pickled papaya for a complex balance of deep umami and tang.

Guests can also find inventive signatures like the Japanese Wagyu Burger with guava barbecue unagi and the Steak Skewers glazed with ginger nuoc cham. And for those seeking variety, the Mai Bluefin Tuna Box offers a refined mix of sushi, sashimi, and maki featuring premium cuts like akami, chu-toro, and o-toro, each one a tribute to quality and technique.

For us, as the chef prepared a sampling of some of these new dishes, we realized that this restaurant offers not your expected and typical cuisine, but boasts new additions, flavors and mixes them in a way that you will be quite pressed to find this type of inventive cooking elsewhere. They are not afraid to try new mixes of ingredients and flavors, and it works.

Mai Sushi Tapas & Bar is the kind of place that lingers with you long after you leave.

It’s where cultures meet, where flavor becomes a language, and where you’ll want to return, again and again, with someone you care about, just to experience the magic together, and one that you will quickly recommend that others visit, like Sharma and I did right after we left the restaurant happy, full and impressed by the experience.

Mai Sushi Tapas & Bar is located at 98 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL. For more information and for reservations, call
206-696-07674, and visit their website at www.maisushitapas.com and @maisushitapas on Instagram.