Ikigai - Miami

Gem for Sushi Lovers!! The sushi was amazing.. The moment you step in the ambiance has Japanese minimalist feel and everyone was very welcoming. Each sushi we had was fresh and very intricate blend of flavors. Recommend the white fish triadito,, Yorokobi, Kanikama Special!! The Akami and Chutoro were also a favorite.

Amazing place, the food and drinks were amazing. Franco treated us with great hospitality. Definitely a place to come back.

Had a great experience at Ikigai Miami — the food was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and full of clean, balanced flavors. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the staff made us feel genuinely welcome. Prices were more than fair for the quality, especially considering the caliber of the ingredients and overall vibe. Definitely a spot worth returning to if you’re looking for thoughtful Japanese-inspired cuisine in a relaxed, upscale setting.

Nicky and Vanessa were great waitresses super helpful with my allergies and very kind. Good place especially if you have soy, gluten, shrimp, oyster allergies like myself. I recommend the fish over the rolls

The best place in Miami to enjoy traditional Japanese food. They have a large variety of sushis. Prices are very affordable. Staff is very friendly. Very good atmosphere. IKIGAI is the place to be for anyone who is looking for excellence & happiness !

Want a simple and fresh Japanese experience? This is your place! The nigiri selection has a delicacy for every taste from typical fans favorite Chutoro (medium tuna) to more interesting Uni (sea urchin) or Tarabagani (king crab). Highly recommend the tiradito or the smoke kampachi for a super fresh experience. Nacho (the chef) comes with decades of high end experience, and for service Kasumi was just the absolute best!

Damn, so happy we found/tried this place. First time in Miami, my girl and I were afraid that all of the sushi restaurants were more commercial/party/western-roll focused - as that's how they appear in photos. But not ikigai. Much more of a traditional experience. Sushi isn't trying to be extra, it's back to top-tier basics. The fish quality was amazing. The cuts were great too, nice and thick. We just got a few small dishes - the chirashi (forgot what it's called) and sukiyaki. The waiter recommended the sawagani nigiri which was a delicious and unique experience! Definitely will be the go to spot for us. Service was pretty good and staff was friendly, though we did find ourselves wanting to order more and could not see any staff nearby to flag down (it was also only us and one other group at the time)

Love this place! The fish is super fresh, the rolls are delicious, and the service is great.

WOW!! This place is super chic, the food was absolutely amazing, fish was super fresh and tasty, and the owners and staff were all super nice and welcoming. Any and everything on the menu is delicious.

Phenomenal service and excellent food! We went for Miami Spice 2025. I highly recommend. There is a parking garage in building and restaurant validates parking!

Very tasty sushi and great service

Everything was amazing! The food and the service was perfect! Loved the tempura udon and the house maki!

This is the best sushi place in Miami! Celeste, Franco, Vanessa and Mau are super kind too! I've never had such good quality of food! Try the ribeye temaki!

Ikigai is at the top of my list when it comes to Miami restaurants. Our first time there was unforgettable. Between the atmosphere, accommodating staff and world class sushi it is an undeniable experience. The owner greeted us warmly and clearly is a connoisseur.

Always perfect! Best sushi in Miami. My husband only eats sushi here. And everything is perfect: food, service and atmosphere. Milford has been great. Love it!

We came to check out Ikigai through Miami Spice, and were impressed before we even walked in the door by the offerings that they had for the special Miami Spice menu. Parking was easy in the garage right next door to the restaurant. Upon entering Ikigai, the hostess greeted us warmly and took us to our table. We asked if we would be able to sit at the sushi bar and we're quickly seated there. Our server Katsumi was very knowledgeable and a great addition to our entire experience. Both of us ordered the Omakase off of the special Miami spice menu and supplemented it with items on the regular menu and suggestions from Katsumi. Every dish was crafted with precision and beauty. The Sushi is all incredibly fresh, the selection of fish is diverse, and the skilled chefs put together some beautiful tasting plates. There's a bar on the right when you enter a large dining room in the center and on the left there's another room with some larger tables for private parties. The design and decoration of the restaurant is very tasteful. Although it was quite full when we were there it did not feel loud or overpowering at all. The owner, Jose, came by to introduce himself and check on us to ensure that we were having a great evening. The food at Ikigai Sushi Bar is incredible, however the nuanced aspects of the evening are what really made an exceptional night for us. The friendly, knowledgeable Katsumi, Jose's warm greeting, the choices of Sushi and the presentation were really great. We came to check the place out on a whim, and by the end of the meal we both agreed that we have found a Gem 💎, that we'll return to time and time again. Thank you Ikigai! Oh! I almost forgot to mention the matcha green tea cheesecake, incredible!

Always an amazing experience! The food is consistently perfect—super fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Easily one of the best Japanese dining experiences in Miami. Highly recommend for anyone who appreciates quality and authenticity.

Finally a place in Miami that truly honors Japanese cuisine. From the sashimi platter to the signature rolls, everything was top quality. Worth every visit.

I came here with a group of girls on a Friday night, and it is still considered their “soft opening”. Price wise, it is similar to Uchi and Osaka ($7-$17 for 1 piece of nigiri) and seemingly aims to have the same notoriety. They have great cuts of fish, and I recommend their nigiri more than the rest of the menu. The salmon nigiri was one of the best I’ve had. Our server was well-versed with the menu and different cuts. There were a couple of odd/off-putting customer service choices that we wouldn’t have anticipated for a $150 per person dinner, though these were not to do with our direct server.

Great food, minimalist and warm ambient. Amazing customer service from Timo who guided us on our first time and made our experience delightful.

Exceptional! Service and quality of the food are excellent. If you are looking for a sushi restaurant in the Miami area, it’s the place to go. I had try multiple sushi restaurants in the area and none come close to Ikigai. It was my first time, but won’t be my last.

Jose was the perfect bartender. The food was delicious as well. Best toro around.

Ikigai has easily become one of my favorite sushi spots in Miami. And I don’t say that lightly, I’m a serious sushi lover. The vibe is great, the kind of place you want to keep coming back to. The quality of the fish is outstanding. The otoro and chutoro are top tier, the kind that melts perfectly, and you can really tell how good the rice is, which honestly makes all the difference. The wagyu with foie gras nigiri is ridiculous in the best way. The salmon shake sakura sashimi, the smoked kampachi tiradito, everything is just on point. Even the ramen is excellent, which says a lot for a sushi focused spot. Service is warm, attentive, and consistent. I already feel like a local there, which is always a good sign. If you care about quality, great ingredients, and a place that does everything right without trying too hard, Ikigai is it. Very happy to have this place so close to home and I recommend it without hesitation.

If your looking for a great hidden sushi spot, Ikigai is the place to go! The smoked kampachi was to amazing! And their nigiris were made to perfection! Services was Great! They really made us feel special! Definitely would recommend this spot. Will be back!

Ikigai exceeded every expectation from start to finish. The flavors, presentation, and service were truly outstanding. We started with the White Fish Tiraditos, which were incredibly fresh and perfectly balanced with citrus. The complimentary Salmon Ambush Búshe was another standout, silky, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The Mixed Yakimeshi was absolute comfort in a bowl, packed with mixed vegetables, shrimp, and tender rib eye. And the Mako Kuranchi roll, eel, avocado, masago, and tempura flakes was a perfect fusion of texture and flavor. A special shoutout to Jose, the bartender and mixologist, whose creativity and attention to detail elevated the entire experience. His cocktails were not only delicious but thoughtfully crafted to complement the dishes. Ikigai is a must visit exceptional food, exceptional drinks, and exceptional service. Highly recommend!

One of the best happy hours in Miami. The bartender Jose is so sweet and attentive, with all the best recommendations. We ate the seaweed salad, white fish tiradito (2 orders), toro hand roll, and spicy salmon hand roll. Everything was absolutely incredible. Will be coming more often.

I had such a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food delicious and the service was outstanding, especially from the General Manager, Santiago. They went above and beyond to make sure every detail of our dining experience was perfect — from warmly welcoming us to thoughtfully checking in throughout the meal. It’s rare to find such genuine hospitality, and it made the evening feel extra special. Highly recommend this place not only for the cuisine but also for the exceptional service!

We live on Brickell Key and decided to try Ikigai Sushi Bar. I am happy we did... The restaurant is modern and inviting. The bar is excellent and the food was fabulous. I was impressed when the owner personally thanked us as we left and seemed to care about our dining experience. Everything we tried was perfect and fresh. Great choices of sake too. Highly recommend.

Nice clean sushi spot. Food was good, but when I asked if there were mushrooms in their special sushi offering they told me no. I made it clear that it looked like mushrooms and the waiter told me no. He seemed new.

Giving it 4 instead of 5 stars because the service was good but not superB. Mainly because they accidentally brought a dish with shrimp ( which my Dad is allergic to) and he had a bite before we noticed. I thought they could have done more to remedy that (big) oopsie but they seemed to be a bit blazé about it. Now having that said, the sushi is SO GOOD. Fresh, simple, and mighty flavorful. They had a really good Mismi Spice menu too and the ambiance is exactly what you want for a sushi restaurant.

The food was s very good, but for the price point. The service is very good in terms of friendliness BUT, the restaurant is very unstaffed, 25 minutes from sitting to getting a drink served. 25 minutes for check to arrive. Not the staff’s fault, the restaurant staff simply understaffed. While the food is good, when you factor the wait and the time, you are much better off in many places. Osaka will be a similar price for a much much better over all experience and better food.

I went with a group of my friends to this place to try the Miami Spice, I won’t lie the ambience and the environment is really nice and peaceful until it came to the food, I’d say for $35 I won’t expect much but for what happened is what I’m upset about. Firstly there was a bug that was swimming around my friends water that they charged us $24 for. I had my glass refilled once but we were charged $24 for 3 bottles of still water. We did not get an apology but instead the glass was just taken from us immediately and replaced, fine we let that slide, things happen and there’s always going to be bugs. Until I got my salmon bowl that had a piece of plastic in it. I gave the benefit of the doubt to be nice and just kindly let them know there’s a piece of plastic but then again they took it from me and offered me something else, again no apology or anything, and the piece of plastic was a sharp one. Our bill came up to $300 for 6 people which is an ok price but we were upset by the genuine lack of communication this resteraunt had. The food was also very mid, the yuzu whitefish we had was extremely sour and the eel bowl was drenched in sauce. Everything tasted like it could be made at home. Very underwhelming.

I’ve been here to eat several times and have ordered Uber eats several times as well. The first time dining in was great - food quality, service and atmosphere. The second time I came in person, the food was good, the floor was filthy as well as the chairs, I just happened to get here at 5 pm while the lights were still on to be able to see. We also got charged for wasabi even though it was blacked out on the menu as if there was no extra price for fresh wasabi - which I do not mind paying for at all but, to blackout it out on the menu and not mention the extra price is a bit sketch and dishonest. Lastly - just ordered Ubereats and my sushi arrived with a black hair right on top - gross. It’s unfortunate because the sushi tastes good, but there are many other places in Miami that are just as good and don’t slack on cleanliness, so will not be returning to Ikigai.

They changed the menu. I went Ikigai today for Miami spice dinner menu (second time) and I was extremely disappointed. I total got one seaweed salad and 5 pieces of Nigiri, escolar sashimi and dessert. They used to give 10 courses but now they give you only 8 Before it was good deal but not anymore. 🤷🏻‍♀️ quality of fish was good but not worth it if you will go for Miami spice omakase. Waitress doesn’t know how to communicate and he took my dessert away without asking if i finished, This is not considered proper etiquette in most establishments. I rather go somewhere else

We had one of the worst dining experiences at Ikigai in Miami. What was supposed to be a nice sushi meal turned into something out of a health code violation report. My friend found a piece of plastic in my salmon bowl, and to make matters worse, there was an insect floating in the water we were served. We immediately brought it to the staff’s attention, expecting at least some concern or action. Instead, the manager was completely inactive — no apology, no explanation, no offer to fix the situation. Just a shrug and silence. This level of negligence is unacceptable for any restaurant, let alone one that charges premium prices. I won’t be returning, and I strongly suggest others avoid Ikigai until they take cleanliness and customer service seriously! On a side note, our server was great!

Food was horrendous (too fishy, i.e., not fresh). Service was horrendous (complete lack of interest by staff in whether we were enjoying our experience). Atmosphere was, you guessed it, horrendous (too bright and bland, felt like I was in a hospital). Dining at this restaurant was in no way a high-end experience.

This place serves only atmosphere, food is nothing exceptional. This place serves no courtesy to their customers for the type of restaurant business. I wished the manager on duty was more active. One of my friends dining in with me almost could’ve choked on a sharp piece of plastic directly in her rice bowl. I’ve never been to such a neglectful restaurant especially given the price I paid - not a great experience

First time experiencing the restaurant. We are neighbours looking forward to have a good sushi experience close by but it was not the case. Sushi was not fresh and very chewy. Good japanese beer though. We told the waiter who seem to not care. Only after paying (not a cheap bill) and reinforcing that we didn’t have a nice experience and we were not coming back, or recommend the place the manager decided to show up just saying to give them another chance, which we certainly won’t and won’t recommend to our friends and neighbours. Good luck. There are much better sushi restaurants in our neighborhood.

We made a reservation for a surprise birthday dinner, and it turned out to be a disappointing experience. Had informed the team about a few dietary restrictions as well as a cake/candles. Neither of which were fulfilled. The food was below average and extremely overpriced. Our party had gotten sick from eating the food. The worst was that our server brushed off our requests. We called in to confirm the reservation and had specifically asked for ice cream, candles, and a happy birthday from the staff to celebrate the special occasion. We received a matcha cheesecake and no happy birthdays, while we watched other parties getting that. We are quite upset at the experience and would not recommend this place to anyone, especially for a birthday.

We got the $81 omakase set and the experience was bad. The sushi came out all together at once instead of being served one by one. The rice was too mushy and vinegary. At good omakase places each piece is perfectly seasoned, but here the seasoning was off and some pieces were bland. The waiter offered a free dessert, and the owner gave us a 20% discount at the end, which was nice of them. But regardless, we still paid $170 for two people for a quite disappointing omakase experience, so would not recommend coming here.