Mai Sushi & Tapas Bar: Where Vietnamese Boldness and Japanese Precision Dance Over Fire on Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile.

June 25^th, 2025

Walk into Mai Sushi & Tapas Bar and you don’t just get dinner — you step into a conversation. Between Japan and Vietnam. Between fire and silk. Between tradition and rebellion. Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile isn’t short on food spots, but Mai isn’t just another trendy name. It’s a dimly lit stage for edible storytelling, and each dish is its own plot twist.

Founded by Vietnamese-native Annie Pham and chef Khoa Duong, alongside Japanese itamae Alfred Toita, Mai is what happens when heritage meets hustle. The trio met while working together in Seattle, and their shared love for Asian cuisine bloomed into a menu that honors Japanese tradition while letting Vietnamese boldness shake things up. It’s an ambitious fusion, but under their guidance, it feels fluid and never forced.

The name “Mai” means “dance” in Japanese, and that spirit is everywhere. It’s in the way plates arrive with grace and flair. It’s in the warmth of the 31-seat space, styled like a cozy living room with kimono accents, hanging sake bottles, and soft lighting that invites conversation. It’s upscale without being uptight. It’s where you go to relax, revel, and explore.

Let’s start where we did, with skewers. The Chicken Nagima arrives looking humble, but one bite in and it’s clear this bird has been treated with respect. Salt and pepper tease out the natural savoriness of the thigh meat, grilled until it hums with smoky char. The teriyaki glaze isn’t cloying — it whispers. Add a dusting of Japanese chili and a squeeze of lemon, and suddenly it’s not just grilled chicken. It’s memory. Street smoke. Childhood. Summer.

Then, the Brussels Sprouts enter, uninvited and instantly forgiven. Roasted until their edges fray into caramel, sautéed with bacon and guava, then crowned with mini rice crackers — they’re the unexpected headliner. Sweet, salty, meaty, crunchy — like your favorite bar snack and your favorite side dish fell in love and ran off together.

But let’s talk spice. The Miami Vice Roll doesn’t tiptoe around heat — it struts in, fans itself with habanero citrus truffle sauce, and dares you to bite. And you do. Because inside, there’s spicy tuna. There’s shrimp tempura. And on top? A glorious tangle of seared crab and potato. It’s the kind of roll that makes you sweat and smile at the same time, that calls you weak and kisses you on the forehead.

And for those seeking smoke and seduction, the Bacon-Wrapped Scallops deserve their own ovation. Plump Hokkaido scallops, already buttery and delicate on their own, are enveloped in crisp-edged bacon that crackles with umami. They’re grilled just enough to kiss the line between oceanic sweetness and fire-born char. A brush of yuzu glaze sneaks in a whisper of citrus, lifting the richness with a zing that lingers. It’s surf and turf reimagined: no steakhouse fuss, just bite-sized brilliance that vanishes far too fast. If you blink, your tablemate might steal the last one.

Need to cool off? Not quite yet. The Mochiyaki is up — grilled rice cake hugged in bacon, drenched in sweet teriyaki, and sprinkled with sesame. You think it’s dessert. It isn’t. It’s a late-night Tokyo alley on a plate, where savory lives in shadows and sweetness lingers like perfume. It’s chewy, it’s smoky, and it’s something your mouth doesn’t quite expect but refuses to let go of.

The Pintxos Combo is where the rulebook burns. Imagine Spain’s pincho culture colliding with Japanese ingredients like eel, tuna, octopus, and seared hamachi — all resting atop crispy mini toasts like little flavor sculptures. Guacamole meets unagi. Jalapeño kisses sea juice. Somehow it all works. Somehow, it’s not overdone. It’s just… alive. And if you’re lucky, you might catch one of Toita’s signature creations like the Uni Snow Crab Pintxo — a decadent mash-up of sea urchin, snow crab, and truffle mayo — or Spicy Tuna with Eel Sauce, elevated with guacamole and jalapeño.

By now, you think you’re full. But then the Short Rib Udon slides in — noodles coated in mentaiko cream (yes, fish roe cream, and yes, it’s dreamy), crowned with fork-tender, slow-cooked short rib, and ringed with crackling rice crackers. It’s indulgent without apology. The kind of dish that doesn’t ask for your attention — it commands it.

And for the love of everything warm and sweet, don’t skip dessert. The Honey Cake is part mochi, part sponge cake, topped with cinnamon-laced ice cream and condensed milk that drizzles like poetry. Each bite is a soft sigh of sweet comfort — chewy, cold, creamy, warm. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t have to be. It knows exactly what it’s doing.

For the more adventurous, Mai offers a rotating $80 weekend tasting menu, an eight-bite journey that might include Bone Marrow Donuts, Uni Risotto, or even Beef Tongue Pho Broth, each paired with a curated sake pour. The menu changes with the seasons and the mood of the chefs — so expect the unexpected.

Sake is more than a side note here — it’s a central character. From robust junmai to delicate nigori, Mai offers flights, bottles, and even guided pairings. Not a fan of rice wine? Try one of their signature cocktails like the Pinky Guava (sake, red wine, guava, lime fizz) or the Passionfruit Sangaria, a tropical swirl of rosé and fruit purée that dances with dinner.

Nearly 80 percent of Mai’s premium seafood is flown in directly from Japan, and it shows. Whether it’s toro, sweet shrimp, or Japanese flounder, the fish is pristinely fresh and handled with reverence. But even with this commitment to quality, the team makes space for guests to ease into the unknown. Their small-plate approach means no pressure — just opportunity. Try a bite of unagi, and if it’s love, try more. If not, there are always steak skewers with ginger nuoc cham or the rich, indulgent Wagyu Burger with guava BBQ and caramelized onions waiting to win you over.

Final Word:

Mai Sushi & Tapas Bar doesn’t follow trends. It doesn’t cater to the usual. It’s a beautifully strange waltz between cultures, flavors, and formats — a place where spicy rolls bite back, rice cakes wear bacon like a tuxedo, and dessert walks the fine line between playful and profound.

Come curious. Come hungry. Bring a friend who’s willing to share. And don’t be surprised if you leave with a new favorite dish and a little soy sauce on your soul.

Not Just a Meal. An Experience.
Mai is what happens when love for craft, culture, and chaos is plated with purpose.

📍 98 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL
📞 (206) 696-0674
🕔 Open for dinner daily:
Monday through Thursday: 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Friday and Saturday: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Sunday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
💻 maisushitapas.com | @maisushitapas
💰 Weekend tasting menu: $80 per person
🍶 Happy Hour daily from 5:00 to 6:30 PM
🥢 Sushi bar seats five, cozy 31-seat indoor/outdoor layout