If you love a good speakeasy, sake, and the intimacy of a private omakase, then you'll love this new Miami-based summer pop-up.
This month, the teams behind Hachidori Ramen Bar and the E&P Dmplngs pop-up have come together to open a new speakeasy-style, secret sake bar and Washoku-style dining experience. Set inside Miami's Hachidori, the limited-time concept officially launches Tuesday, June 22, and will continue throughout the summer until mid-September.
Here, hidden in the back of the Little River restaurant, diners will find Kura Sake Bar, an intimate space that will functions as a speakeasy pop-up kitchen for Kojin's private tastings, chef collaborations, omakase-style dinners, and more. The small, dim-lit space features a 14-seat bar and accents like cherry blossoms and parasols that transport you to Japan the moment you walk through the door.
"After debuting Hachidori Ramen Bar last year, we’re thrilled to partner with Kojin as we officially open Kura Sake Bar to the public," says Guillermo Paniza, owner of Hachidori and Kura. "Kojin's culinary concept is the perfect complement to our premium sake menu."
To that end, Kura will offer a variety of sakes, beer, wine, and specialty cocktails curated by ChatChowTV’s Gio Gutierrez. Inspired by Washoku cuisine, Kojin’s food menu will be dedicated to a collection of elevated small plates designed by resident chef Pedro Mederos to complement the Kura beverage menu. Guests will be able to enjoy a selection of dishes ranging from raw bites and salads to hot plates and handcrafted desserts by pastry chef Katherine Randolph.
Mederos, who most recently whet Miami’s palette with E&P Dmplngs, has an extensive background in Japanese cuisine. He previously worked at Single Thread Farm and Inn, a three Michelin-starred restaurant in California, where he focused on Kaiseki cuisine. The Miami native returned to South Florida to work under James Beard Award finalist, Brad Kilgore. In 2020, as local restaurants began to close due to the pandemic, Mederos found himself with ample time to develop new dishes and explore food fermentation projects. In December 2020, he opened his pop-up focusing on innovative dim sum.
"The pop-up was a success and further motivated me to focus on curating guest experiences while showcasing aspects of Japanese cuisine," Mederos says. "Our goal is to make unfamiliar cuisines comfortable and fun for everyone. We want the experience of coming into Kojin to be unlike anything else you can find in Miami. Guests will witness the preparation of their meal first-hand, and see the care and attention to detail that goes into each dish."
Kojin at Kura will be open Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from noon to midnight. The pop-up is located inside of Hachidori Ramen Bar at 8222 NE 2nd Ave., Miami. Reservations are required from 5 p.m. to close and can be made by DMing @Kojin_Miami on Instagram. Walk-ins are accepted from noon to 5 p.m. daily. For more information and updates, follow @Kojin_Miami and @KuraMiami. For more information about Hachidori Ramen, or to book an event, visit hachidoriramen.com.