Storm damage shut down this beloved restaurant in Wynwood — but it’s finally reopening
After being closed for more than a year after suffering structural damage from a series of storms, a Wynwood favorite is reopening.
Asian-inspired restaurant KYU, which closed in November of 2022 and is famous for its wood-fired barbecue, grilled meats and eclectic menu, is finally reopening in early March, with a new look and a familiar menu.
Executive chef Chris Arellanes, who will lead the kitchen, said the reopening of KYU — pronounced “cue,” as in “barbecue” — has been “a long time coming.”
“It’s been exhilarating, to say the least,” Arellanes said. “Nobody is ever excited about a closure.” Especially not fans of the restaurant, who have been staring at a red “permanently closed” notice on Google. Happily, Google was wrong. The restaurant’s look has been altered a bit, with its original industrial feel softened by wood details, dark leather and gold finishes. The 4,000square-foot space, designed by Miami’s Mark Alan Diaz, includes the KYU garden wall and 24 patio seats. Inside, there are 114 seats, an open kitchen and a bar.
As for the food, Arellanes said that diners will find a lot of familiar items on the menu.
“Rest assured, a big portion of the menu is coming back,” he said. “The bones on which this restaurant was built was the food. It was a chef driven concept then, and now it’s stronger. We’ve gotten better.”
Diners can still share snacks and plates, and in addition to the barbecued favorites, the menu will also offer many plant-based options. The restaurant, which also has locations in Mexico, New York and most recently the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas, will also offer a few only-in-Miami specials, like the new Mimmos Burrata with sudachi citrus green tomatoes and pickled peppadews.
Arellanes said exclusive items can be found at each KYU, depending on accessibility of ingredients and produce.
“That keeps us from getting stagnant,” he said. “It allows us to evolve as we grow to different cities.”
Returning favorites include the pan-seared snapper with brown butter, white miso and Japanese ginger and the smoked bone marrow with shiso chimichurri and miso toast (the bread comes from Wynwood’s own Zak the Baker). You’ll also find Krunchy Kale with nam pik and crispy rice (choose tuna and chili, hamachi and wasabi or Korean elote).
Inspired by the Japanese art of yakiniku, a grilling technique, the wood-fired dishes include the beef short rib; Korean fried chicken; the beloved KYU roasted cauliflower with goat cheese and shisitoherb vinaigrette.
KYU will also offer a cocktail menu with returning favorites like She-So Spicy, a spicy shiso sour made with Milagro blanco, cucumber, mint, shiso, yuzu and Thai chili. Like the food, some drinks will be available only in Miami, like the
Old Slabside, a black garlic Manhattan, and Que Bola? with Japanese whiskey, mamey and whtie chocolate.
Even in the short time KYU has been closed, new upscale restaurants have opened in the neighborhood, including Brad Kilgore’s Marygold’s Brasserie at the Arlo Wynwood and New York’s buzzy French bistro Pastis. But Arellanes isn’t worried about any competition.
“The way we operate collectively as a family is very unique in the sense of our overarching vision of the company,” he said. “We don’t worry about what new restaurants are in Wynwood. We ask, ‘Do we have to up our game? Do we have to upgrade the food?’ This restaurant was built on something so sound in this community that we didn’t want to mess with that.
“We’re excited to bring this evolved KYU back to its home. I’m excited to see the community’s reaction to the new space.”
The brand is planning to open a fourth location in
Los Angeles in 2025.
KYU
Where: 251 NW 25th St., Miami
Opening: March 6
Hours: 5-11 p.m. Wednesday; 5 p.m.-midnight Thursday-Saturday; 5-11 p.m. Sunday
Reservations and more information: kyurestaurants.com or 786577-0150