Dojo Izakaya deserves being on best restaurant lists
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Kampachi (left) and steak tartare. Just look at that gorgeous sauce! Photo: Sommer Brugal/Axios
Walking along the pedestrian-only Giralda Avenue, you might just miss Dojo Izakaya. I say that because I did. Walked right past it!
Why it matters: The restaurant's entrance isn't flashy. Nor does it jump out among the dozens of restaurants that line the street.
- But the small, often-changing menu is worthy of recognition — and one you'll want to seek out, over and over again.
- The restaurant, which is the sister resto of James Beard-nominated Zitz Sum, landed on Infatuation Miami's Best New Restaurants of 2025.
The vibe: We sat outside, because it's January in Miami and we were blessed with a cool, 75-degree evening. Inside is sleek and simple.
Zoom in: The menu is divided into four sections: raw and chilled, crunchy and spicy, grilled and large plates, and sweet. There's also the wines and cocktails.
What we ordered: My childhood friends, Ashley and Stephanie, and I ordered pretty much everything our waiter recommended. (Spoiler: It was too much, but we love leftovers.)
- Steak tartare: Instead of the typical ground meat and egg yolk, Dojo stacked chunky pieces on halved ramen eggs. Creamy and wildly delicious.
- Kampachi: The fish was buttery and light. You'll want to drink the ponzu (and you should).
- Fried Chicken "Karaage": Crispy and well seasoned. Do not skip the yuzu ranch!
- Smoked Hamachi Onigiri: The rice "patties" were giving crab cake vibes, but better. The tangy pickles and dijonnaise sauce were the perfect complements.
- Wagyu Gyoza: Tasty, but if I had to nix a dish, it would be this one.
- Branzino: Perfectly charred and served over a tangy, citrusy sauce. A delight.
The bottom line: If the waiter suggests seven dishes for three people, do not listen!
- Sure, we ordered two Onigiris, and that's on us. But each dish is more filling than you'd think.
- Dojo is well-deserving of its spot on Miami's best restaurant lists. The dishes are creative and offer unexpected twists to classics, and the constant change makes it that much more exciting.