Peruvian-Japanese eatery Osaka to surf into Miami
Osaka
1300 Brickell Bay Drive, Miami, Osaka.com.pe
This upscale Nikkei chain from South America that merges Japanese techniques with Peruvian flavors is expected to debut a North American location the first week of September.
“Most of our customers either spend some time in Miami or have a friend or a relative here,” says Diego de la Puente, co-owner with childhood friend Diego Herrera. “It Is a city that we love and we understand. Plus, we are targeting the local Latin-American community, which is huge compared to other cities in the States.”
De la Puente describes Herrera as his “ocean brother” because they surfed together across the globe before founding Osaka 17 years ago in Lima, Peru.
Their bond to the ocean is still strong, as the popularity of their Peruvianstyle
Recently opened
sushi has fueled locations in seven South American countries.
“We have been doing events during the last year in Miami to get feedback about flavors and intensity of our food,” de la Puente says.
Signatures will include scallops with white truffle butter and lime; shrimp with roasted rocoto sauce or creamy leek and aji panca curry; foie gras with caramelized pear, pork broth and truffle oil; and an Amazon fish, called paiche, with coconut butter and miso.
For dessert, he recommends the Amazonian suspiro (translation: “sigh”), a traditional caramel pudding with twists of soursop sorbet and matcha meringue.
“Osaka’s decor is inspired by the different regions of Peru, including the country’s dry coast, dunes and adobe walls resembling the old Inca ruins,” he says. “It is a mix of Japanese architecture and Peruvian textures with Elisabetta’s Ristorante ,a Neapolitan-style pizzeria and gelato bar with an expanded menu from sibling Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in the former space occupied by 32 East, 32 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, Facebook.com
Cao Bakery and Café, hues in the sepia tones. We have worked with local Peruvian renowned artists like Cristina Colichon, who has weaved art pieces with copper thread and nylon that will hang from the ceiling.”
Lounge seating on a terrace will lead to the entrance. A DJ will spin on weekends in the bar lounge, where cocktails such as pisco sour, the Shotto with pisco and sake, and the kunsei (“smoked” in Japanese) negroni will be crafted.
“We have a playlist on Spotify specifically for Osaka that is called Nikkei Conspiracy with funk, soul and house. Music has been part of our DNA since the beginning,” de la Puente says.
Lunch and dinner will be served daily, except Sunday nights.
“Nikkei cuisine is a perfect fit for Miami’s lifestyle, either from a healthy perspective to a cool night pairing dinner with good drinks and music,” de la Puente says. neighborhood from the team behind La Pollita food cart in the Design District, retro-modern nook serving dinner nightly except Tuesdays amid an ambiance inspired by the 1980s Italian Memphis movement, 5205 NE Second Ave., Miami, Boiaderestaurant.com
OLA, a relocation of this acclaimed Latin-American restaurant to Gates Hotel South Beach, serving three meals a day amid mid-century modern ambiance, 2360 Collins Miami Beach, 305-695-9125, OlaMiami.com
Regina’s Grocery,
Coming soon
Rose’s Daughter, a sibling to Brulé Bistro also in Pineapple Grove neighborhood, American-Italian trattoria with New York borough Italian ambiance, featuring continental grab-and go-breakfast on front patio and nightly dinner. Back patio will be Bastardo’s weekend late-night scene with DJ and cocktails, 169 Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561-271-9423 The Wine Room — Kitchen & Bar, City-based fast-casual chain Nick’s Bar and Grill,