Aoki Teppanyaki and Izakaya — Restaurant in Kendall

Aoki Teppanyaki and Izakaya has become a beloved spot for my family, and it’s easy to see why we keep returning. My son's recent birthday celebration there was just another reminder of why we love this place so much. The combination of exceptional food, top-notch service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere makes it a standout among Miami’s dining options.

Food: The food at Aoki Teppanyaki and Izakaya is consistently outstanding, which is one of the main reasons we keep coming back. The teppanyaki experience is always a hit, especially for special occasions like birthdays. The chefs are not only highly skilled in their craft but also bring an element of fun and entertainment to the table, making it a memorable experience for everyone, especially the kids. Every dish, from the tender steak to the succulent shrimp, is cooked to perfection with that signature teppanyaki flair. The ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are well-balanced, ensuring that every bite is as delicious as the last. Beyond teppanyaki, the Izakaya menu offers a wide variety of traditional Japanese dishes, each prepared with the same level of care and attention to detail. The sushi is always fresh, and the rolls are creatively crafted, offering both classic and innovative options that never disappoint.

Service: The service at Aoki is another reason we’re such big fans. The staff is always welcoming, attentive, and genuinely invested in ensuring that you have a great dining experience. For my son's birthday, they went above and beyond to make him feel special, which added a personal touch that we truly appreciated. The servers are knowledgeable about the menu and are always happy to make recommendations or accommodate any special requests. They work seamlessly with the chefs to ensure that everything runs smoothly, making sure that each course is timed perfectly and that no detail is overlooked.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Aoki is both lively and comfortable, making it a great spot for any occasion. The teppanyaki tables create a sense of communal dining, which is perfect for gatherings and celebrations. The décor is modern yet warm, with subtle Japanese touches that add to the authenticity of the experience. Even when the restaurant is busy, it never feels overcrowded or noisy, allowing you to enjoy your meal and the company of your friends and family.

Overall Experience: Aoki Teppanyaki and Izakaya has become a staple in our dining rotation, and for good reason. It’s the kind of place that feels like a home away from home, where you know you’ll always be treated well and leave satisfied. Whether it’s for a special occasion like a birthday or just a regular night out, Aoki consistently delivers a dining experience that is both enjoyable and memorable. I can’t recommend it highly enough for anyone looking for a great meal and a great time in Miami.

This is the kind of place that turns a simple dinner into a cherished memory, and I’m already looking forward to our next visit. If you haven’t been to Aoki Teppanyaki and Izakaya yet, do yourself a favor and make a reservation. You won’t be...

We have been to many a hibachi restaurant over the years, as the food is typically good and the entertainment value can be as well. I say "can be" because depending on your cook, it can be a top shelf experience or just run of the mill. So when we went into Aoki, we were expecting a typical experience beyond the experience of our table side chef. Yet it exceeded our expectations in virtually every way.

The setting was a mixture of traditional oriental and also with a modern flair not typically found in such restaurants. The seating was not crowded to where you felt like a sardine. The waitress was prompt and informative. I was pleasantly surprised to see that aside from the typical Japanese beers in the bottle, they has several on draft. That plus a very pleasant surprise of Kronenbourg on draft, which I have not had for years. The martini from the full liquor bar was also good and prepared just right.

Unlike some places that serve you premade and chilled salads, a prep man came out with fresh greens to mix tableside, and had a spinning bowl to mix and prepare the portions. Aside from the flair and personality demonstrated, the various greens with the ginger dressing was very good. I ordered the triple with steak, shrimp, chicken, and some scallops added in.

Our chefs name was Carlos, and he not only did the traditional techniques/tricks, but also had some new ones up his sleeve. Watching him with his utensils and bowl distribution was akin to watching Tom Cruise in Cocktail. He had an interactive personality that our entire table enjoyed. I'd rate him in the top 5 out of all the hibachi chefs we have ever had, which is high praise.

The vegetables were more generous than what the Samurai offers, with sweet potatoes and sprouts added in among the zucchini and onions. The rice is also a mixture of three different types, white, brown and wild to give is a unique taste with different textures. The meats were of high quality, prepared as ordered. Everything was staggered, but close enough together to where part of your meal was not getting cold waiting for the rest of the food.

I made a point to speak with the manager Junya, and he was very attentive and interested to know how everything was. We enjoyed the service, food, drinks, and atmosphere. Overall I could not have been more pleased with our experience. We look forward to going back again in the very...

Do NOT go here for special events. This is at best a place to stop in for a bite to eat during shopping. My daughter was turning 12 so I reserved a table for 10 on a Tuesday morning for 7:00 pm that evening. I spoke to someone named Stephanie and told her twice during the conversation that we were gathering to celebrate a birthday. When we arrived there were maybe 10 people in the entire restaurant. I told the manager again at check-in that we were there to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. We were waiting for two members of our party and were asked to wait in their tiny bar area. Thankfully we were able to persuade them to let us sit at the table and order sushi appetizers. Even though the rest of the restaurant was literally empty, they seated another party of 10 directly across from us so when the two chefs started cooking, they kept bumping into each other. The meal was good, but the chef did not offer any kind of “performance” like they do at other hibachi-style restaurants like Benihana. No steaming volcano of onions or skilled slicing, dicing and tossing of knives etc., He also had no idea that it was my child’s birthday even though we had mentioned it to our server Meli as well. At the end of the meal we mentioned it to her a second time and she said she would get my daughter her free bowl of ice cream. We waited, she brought out the ice cream and my family and I sang her happy birthday. We weren’t impressed at this point, but we were satisfied. It wasn’t 2 minutes later that the ENTIRE staff came out with a drum and sang happy birthday to the child seated directly in front of us. I was livid. I had just spent $500 on this meal and had average food, below average service (long waits for drink refills, hot tea that wasn’t hot) and now this! It’s a Tuesday, the place is practically empty. There was more staff there than customers! The absolute worst is that when I complained to the manager, he sent out the server again (who had already run my card), and instead of apologizing she says to me: You never told me it was her birthday until the end of the meal and you told me we didn’t have to sing to her. That is a complete lie. I didn’t have the time to sit around and adjust the bill. I tipped anyway because otherwise this girl would’ve gone home with nothing that night seeing as how we were...