Hakkasan Miami — Restaurant in Miami Beach

When you step into the world of fine dining, you expect nothing less than excellence, and Hakkasan delivers almost all of it. The decor and atmosphere immediately set the tone, with opulent imperial lighting casting a sophisticated glow over the impeccably polished marble tables. The ambiance feels both grand and intimate, creating a setting worthy of its celebrated cuisine.

Our exclusive journey through modern Cantonese flavors began with a unique sampling of the crispy duck salad. Each bite was a perfect balance of textures, the duck meat tender yet satisfyingly crispy, heightened by the bright, citrusy essence of pomelo, and punctuated with buttery pine nuts and sharp shallots. A slightly more generous portion of duck would have elevated it even further.

Moving into the varied dumpling selection, a medley featuring Har Gau, Scallop Shumai, Chinese Chive Dumplings, Black Pepper Duck Dumplings, and Pumpkin Dumplings, the craftsmanship was immediately apparent. The sweet-savory pumpkin dumpling and the robustly spiced black pepper duck dumpling stood out as must-tries. What I appreciated most was that each dumpling was lavishly filled; the rich stuffing made the flavors unmistakably pronounced. Perfectly steamed, the dumpling wrappers maintained their integrity, none broke apart upon biting, a testament to precise technique. A critical element not to overlook is the selection of dipping sauces: light soy, XO, black bean, and chili sauce, each pairing uniquely with different dumplings. The XO sauce was my favorite, a rich umami-laden condiment offering layers of sweetness, saltiness, and subtle spice.

Unexpectedly, the Crispy Almond Prawn offered a refreshing twist to a seafood classic. The dish flirted with a hint of spicy chili, evocative of a refined chipotle sauce that paired beautifully with the crunchy texture. The prawns themselves were sizable, fresh, and satisfying enough to constitute a standalone appetizer.

Our server, Bruno, masterfully paced the experience, swiftly transitioning us to the entrees. I was immediately drawn to the Roasted Pipa Duck, whose intoxicating aroma of red vinegar and honey wafted temptingly from its perfectly crisped skin. It was everything I had anticipated and more, deeply savory with a subtle tang. The Stir-Fried Steak with Shishito Peppers was another highlight, its flavors harmoniously balanced; the soy-based sauce enhanced rather than masked the natural flavor of the beef. Close behind was the Stir-Fried Chilean Seabass with Sanpei Sauce, a delicate, buttery fillet whose freshness testified to Hakkasan’s ingredient quality. The Sanpei sauce, a sophisticated blend of rice wine, soy sauce, and sesame oil, whispered across the sea-bass, allowing the natural flavors to shine.

Less remarkable was the Spicy Tiger Prawn with Lily Bulb and Almond. While competently executed, it lacked the distinctive flair that defined the other dishes. As a side, the Chicken Fried Rice was cooked to perfection: slightly sticky yet light enough to absorb the complex flavors of the entrees without feeling heavy or greasy.

For dessert, the Mango and Coconut Custard Sorbet was a delightful surprise. Creamy and luscious, with a refreshing ice cream layer hidden at the bottom, it sparked flavors of vanilla and coconut without becoming cloyingly sweet.

Service was nothing short of exceptional, thanks to Bruno, our own personal “Batman”, who ensured a flawless rhythm throughout the evening, delivering dishes and clearing plates with impeccable timing and precision.

Hakkasan masterfully bridges tradition and innovation, my only real reservation lies in the pricing, while the quality is undeniable, the cost feels exceptionally steep, even when compared to other fine Cantonese establishments. Hakkasan offers a luxurious experience, but it demands a premium that not all diners may find justified. Still, for those seeking an evening of indulgence, sophistication, and culinary artistry, Hakkasan remains a destination worth savoring, provided you are prepared for...

Well sometimes a place gets this big hype and that could be a double edge sword because if it doesn't meet the high expectation it could be disappointing. I mean the place looks upscale and it's located inside the Fontainebleau with beautiful decor and everything you'd expect from a place like this. However, the food, did not impress me at all even though we tried a few other items not on the Miami Spice Menu. We got some drinks and those were actually really good, not great. I got the Serpent's Tongue with whiskey, wife got the famous Floating Goddess, our friends got the Hakkatini and Western Smash. The drinks were all good but nothing extraordinary in flavor nor presentation. I ordered a hot and sour soup and dim sum platter not on the Miami Spice Menu and was kind of disappointed. The soup was spicy as it should be but barely had any tofu which an ingredient I love and the dim sum was shrimp and crab meat, vegetables, scallops top with fish eggs. The dim sum was better than average but nothing I would be impressed with, could find better at a hole in the wall in New York City. The one thing that was really delicious was the green salad with crispy taro and that amazing dressing. The crunchiness of the taro and the peanuts was the highlight of the salad. As far as the main entrees, it was a family style sharing type deal. So my wife and I shared the flounder topped with black bean sauce, the stir fry beef in peppercorn sauce and a chicken fried rice. The fish was steamed and therefore kind of bland but what saves it is the delicious black bean sauce. The stir fry beef was nothing special, almost like something you can get at a takeout Chinese place and no I'm not exaggerating. The beef was tender and with food flavor probably coming from that peppercorn sauce. The fried rice is the most simple, flavorless fried rice you can possibly get anywhere and the baby pak choi with garlic was not good at all. It's a steamed cabbage with some garlic for flavor except the veggie never absorbed the garlic so poor attempt to serve a tasty vegetable dish. Now the desserts is where they shined here and I couldn't finish a mediocre dinner with better sweet treats. My wife and our friend got the chocolate mousse which basically a chocolate Dome filled with passion fruit, cashews and crispy croutons for texture. This dessert is so delicious because in my case i'm a big fan of passion fruit but anyone would really enjoy this. I got the mango custard and this one blew my mind in every sense. It's a mango custard with grape fruit wedges, topped with coconut cream and calamansi. I actually would prefer not to have the grapefruit on mine since it gave it a sourness I didn't necessarily enjoy. This dessert it's really fresh and not too sweet so it's a perfect ending to a meal. Last but not least, the reason they're getting 4 stars it's because of the outstanding service and overall vibe of restaurant. Our waiter was most friendly and attentive and really helpful at all times. We ended up spending $400 for everything but like I said before the food is not what I would expect from a restaurant like this one. Honestly l've had better tasting food at PF Changs and that says a lot about how they're cooking here and what they...

Music that can be described as chill nightclub was a bit overbearing unless you want that nightclub beat droning on all night long...we did not. We came for Miami Spice, $60 with two upgrades ended up being $200...was it worth it? No it wasn't. Be prepared to walk all the way around to the rear of the hotel for elevators to take you to the 4th floor. I honestly thought it was a more upscale hotel but you wouldn't think so seeing the clientele as you walk among bathing suit claded large bodies headed to the pool area. We were among the first patrons at 6 pm, and they sat another couple immediately to our left separated by an open partition wall and we hear everything, and vice versa. It did get more busy midway through but definitely made us wonder about their seating choice. Dumplings: disappointing and rather bland w/o the spicy sauce which had great flavor. Almond Prawn: fried perfectly but served w boring spicy mayo...extremely uncreative. Peking Duck: served with 10 pancakes but only enough duck for 6 realistically. Skin was not as golden brown and crispy as we'd expected, however the texture and flavor were good. Beef with black bean: served over an odd partially crispy yet partially soggy rice noodle pancake, it was just meh. Lotus asparagus stir fry: pretty boring, underseasoned and undercooked...I like my veggies crisp but not half raw. Fried rice w/ XO sauce. While i don't eat spicy I could taste and see the red chili oil residue on my plate and could taste that it had the slightly kick...it was ok but i would have preferred it without the chili oil. I love the shredded lettuce, my favorite is from Hong Kong a beef and shredded lettuce fried rice. Mango Custard: a perfect blend of texture and flavors...loved the bitterness of the grapefruit with the creaminess of the coconut ice cream, the highlight of the meal! Extremely overpriced, but it scores a 3.75 because sadly there aren't many great chinese...