MISO Japanese Tapas — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

I finally had the chance to check out a relatively new place called MISO Japanese Tapas in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It's a laid-back restaurant known for its modern Japanese cuisine and Asian fusion, featuring tapas, seafood, sushi, and ramen. The atmosphere is lively, the dishes are innovative, and the service is outstanding. A big shoutout to Chefs Thuan Lam and Jay Barashari for creating such a fantastic experience.

From the beginning, the customer service was exceptional. MISO generously offers to cover your parking ticket for nearby parking, whether it's across the street or just around the corner. The place features an open kitchen, lively artwork, and provides a cool, cozy atmosphere perfect for a date, a local visit, or meeting up with friends. MISO is tapas style, so the portions are great for shareable bites.

TAPAS Miso Seabass - Miso glazed Foodie Chews Review – AMAZING!! OMG now this was a party in my mouth. Cooked to perfection and the flavor was everything HOWEVER we all agreed that it was extremely salty but still the best out of everything that we had.

Seared Scallops and Corn - Corn puree, tomato, shiso Foodie Chews Review – The description might have sounded dull, but it was anything but boring—it was actually the second-best dish of the evening. I experienced flavors ranging from Southern to Indian South Asian cuisine.

Belly Tasting - Belly cut tuna, salmon, yellowtail nigiri Foodie Chews Review: The fish belly is succulent and rich, boasting a tender yet delicate texture, with a hint of sweetness. It's incredibly fresh and complemented by delectable toppings, making it highly satisfying.

Squash Blossom Crab Rangoon - Snow crab stuffed squash blossom, tempura fried, sweet and sour sauce Foodie Chews Review: Not your local Chinese spot crab Rangoon but a very kicked up not version. Ha! Its exactly what the description described however I don’t recall the sauce being sweet nor sour but different. The dish was different in a good way but nothing mind blowing. I saw the crab however I did not taste the minced crab meat but paired with the sauce it was good.

Ceviche - White fish, red onion, jalapeño, cherry tomatoes & cilantro Foodie Chews Review: Did not try however my guest stated that it was very flavorful and quite good.

Miso Edamame - Miso-butter, garlic, togarashi Foodie Chews Review: Did not try however I was told that they were delicious.

Dragon - Shrimp tempura, cucumber, topped with eel and avocado, spicy eel sauce Foodie Chews Review: I did not try (to basic for me haha) however my guest enjoyed this roll.

Fried Short Rib Dumpling - Spicy ponzu (4 dumplings) Foodie Chews Review: Tender meat stuffed dumpling with light flavor. Needed more flavor but paired with the sauce it was good.

Overall: Solid B+ (BTW Nice RnB classics)

I cant wait to go back and get what I really want such as the Conch and Octopus Salad the Gilliebu (asparagus, scallion, wrapped in snapper, baked with sriracha aioli), Beef Tataki (japanese A5 wagyu, sake-soy, togarashi, sesame, fried garlic) Fried Oysters w/ a Kimchi Tartar Sauce Miso Hungry (tuna, salmon, white fish, asparagus, chive, cucumber wrapped, miso-vinaigrette) Tuna Nachos (Tuna, Scallion, avocado, Nori, spicy mayo, eel sauce, KIMCHI HONEY over...

Exceptional on All Levels!

The Food– Original, unique, and clearly the result of a menu carefully crafted by a gifted and passionate chef. Perfect portion sizes, layered flavours, and exquisite presentation made each dish a delight.

The Service – We were fortunate to have Sammy as our server. Impeccable, professional, and knowledgeable, Sammy expertly guided us through curating an eight-course tapas menu in a perfectly sequenced flavour journey. It was so refreshing to be served by someone so attentive, engaged, well-trained, and genuinely passionate about hospitality.

The Ambience – The initial impression is casual, warm, and welcoming. As the meal unfolds, it becomes clear how much depth and attention to detail has gone into every aspect—from the food to the décor to the overall vibe. There is a true sense of pride and passion in what the team at MISO has created. Nothing about this restaurant feels generic or homogenized, which is unfortunately all too common in North America.

We are visiting the USA from the Asia Pacific reagion and have dined at numerous highly notable and award-winning restaurants from West Palm Beach to South Beach Miami over the past two months—MISO has by far been our most surprising, authentic, unpretentious, and richly memorable dining experience.

A huge thank you to the chef for the special dessert created just for us in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary—such a thoughtful and unforgettable touch! ...

I am flabbergasted I was lucky to find reservations on a Friday night. Because this place should be the kind of place you should make reservations days in advance. If you check my reviews, I simply do not waste my precious time unless it’s terrible or it’s worth your time and money. This place is absolutely a worth an hour drive kind of place. I am sure this will be an oh my God, I have to make reservations in advance kind of place. If you like Izakaya style Japanese fusion with a modern take, you will not be disappointed or dissatisfied. I guarantee it. As much as I will hate in the future to not be able to just come in at the last minute. I simply have to take the time and promote this restaurant. I am an all over the world kind of foodie that loves all cuisines from French to Russian to Chinese and my foodie heart tells me I need to do my best to promote this place.

Serivice is impeccable. Outstanding doesn’t do it justice. Vivian was the perfect balance between attentive and not intrusive. Her recommendations on point.

I knows some of you may be wondering if is this real post or is she a plant. Check my profile and reviews. You will see my traveling foodie self is real. And as a traveling foodie, I am ecstatic I found a tapas style/Izakaya of this quality in my backyard.

Come. try it. You will thank me and maybe even check my recommendations and bad reviews past and future. Thanks...