Sushi Bar Near Me in Wynwood: Hiyakawa's Counter Under Wooden Rings

Wynwood is better known for murals than for quiet dinners, which makes Hiyakawa a surprise for anyone searching sushi bar near me between NW 25th and 29th Streets. The restaurant at 2700 N Miami Avenue, unit 5, opened on October 22, 2020, according to Time Out, and it was built around one idea: a sushi counter that feels like a stage, framed by wooden rings and lit from behind, with fish flown in from Japan.

At opening, partner and executive chef Masayuki Komatsu, an Osaka native who previously worked at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill, ran the counter. He told New Times the plan was to introduce real Japanese food to Miami with no spins or twists. The name comes from chef Shuji Hiyakawa of Wabi Sabi, who was involved early on but, according to Perez Miranda, had left both Hiyakawa and Wabi Sabi by 2021 to pursue personal projects.

The room does much of the talking. Designer Bea Pernia worked with Perez Miranda on the 2,000-square-foot space, and New Times described curved wooden beams wrapping around and over the dining room like a giant ribcage. The restaurant's own site describes wood panels set in undulating concentric rings that focus attention on the itamae. Backlighting turns the sushi bar into the brightest point in the room, which is why the counter seats are the ones to request.

The kitchen works on a small scale on purpose. Hiyakawa says it prepares no more than 50 meals a night, built from seasonal ingredients sourced from boutique purveyors, from aged soy sauces to fresh wasabi. The house philosophy is kikubari, the Japanese idea of anticipating a guest's needs before they ask. The site describes service calibrated to meet each guest's needs with minimal distraction, which suits a quiet date more than a loud group dinner.

The current menu prices nigiri and sashimi by the piece. Oh toro, fatty tuna, is $16, chu toro is $14 and akami, the lean cut, is $8. Shima aji, striped jack, is $10, and botan ebi, a sweet shrimp, is $12. Ibaraki A5 Hitachi wagyu nigiri is $16. If you want to taste tuna at three fat levels, order one piece each of akami, chu toro and oh toro and eat them lean to rich.

The platters are the simplest way to eat at a table. The Tsuru moriawase is $70 for seven nigiri and one cut roll, and the Kame, also listed as seven nigiri and a cut roll, is $90; ask the server how the two selections differ that night. The Sushi and Sashimi platter at $120 brings six cuts of sashimi, six nigiri and a cut roll, enough for two to share alongside a hot dish or two from the kitchen side of the menu.

Do not skip the cooked side of the menu. Gindara miso, black cod marinated in miso and grilled, is $30, and the chawan-mushi steamed egg custard is $11, with uni available to add. Among rolls and hand rolls, the negitoro with fatty tuna and scallion is $22 and the classic tekka is $16. For dessert, the yuzu honey mochi is $14. A meal that mixes two or three cooked dishes with nigiri shows the restaurant's full range.

Hiyakawa is open Wednesday through Sunday from 6 to 9:30 pm, and it is closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations are on Resy, linked from the restaurant's website. Larger groups of five to twelve can book the VIP Lounge, where, according to the Resy listing, every guest takes part in an eight-course group tasting menu at $200 per person that covers the signature dishes. For counter seats, book as early as you can, because there are only a handful.

A few habits help at the counter. Arrive on time, since the kitchen plans around the small number of covers each evening. Tell the server about allergies when you sit down, not halfway through the meal. Eat nigiri soon after it is placed in front of you, and dip fish side down rather than rice side down if you use soy sauce. If you are unsure what to order, ask what came in that morning and build the meal around it.

Getting there is easy from most of central Miami. The restaurant sits on North Miami Avenue at NW 27th Street, on the eastern edge of Wynwood, a short drive from Brickell or Midtown. Rideshare drop-off is straightforward on North Miami Avenue. If you drive, allow time to find parking, since Wynwood streets fill up on weekend evenings when galleries and bars draw crowds. Weeknight seatings are calmer and parking is easier to find.

Leave time for a walk through Wynwood. The Wynwood Walls, the outdoor mural park at 2516 NW 2nd Avenue, is roughly a ten-minute walk west and south of the restaurant, and the surrounding blocks are covered in murals that change from year to year. After dinner, NW 2nd Avenue is the busiest strip for a drink. Walking before your seating also gives you an appetite, which matters at a place where the platters are generous.

Practical notes. Hiyakawa, 2700 N Miami Avenue, unit 5, Miami, FL 33127. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 6 to 9:30 pm. Reservations on Resy; VIP Lounge group tasting $200 per person for parties of five to twelve. A table for two sharing the $90 Kame platter, a $30 gindara miso and two pieces of oh toro will come to about $152 before drinks, tax and tip.

Hiyakawa suits couples looking for a calm, design-forward dinner in Wynwood, diners who want precise nigiri without committing to a full omakase, and small groups who like to share platters and cooked plates. It is less suited to anyone after a loud night out or a quick roll before a party. Book the counter for a weeknight, order a tuna flight and the Kame platter, and walk the murals while the light lasts.