Chef Raheem Sealey made a name for himself helming the kitchen at the original Kyu and his pop-up restaurant, Drinking Pig BBQ. Now, Sealey marries his Asian, Caribbean, and barbecue techniques in one place at Shiso. Nowhere does that translate more than in Sealey’s “Shiso Chicken, Please,” a whole chicken (half smoked, half fried) served with pickles and scallion waffles. Or, try the smoked short rib, a shareable piece of meat served with sushi rice, barbecue sauce, and pickles so you can make your own hand rolls. 

Shiso brings something entirely new to Miami’s dining scene—a bold fusion of Japanese wood-fired barbecue with Caribbean flair, all under the vision of Chef Raheem Sealey. From the open-kitchen layout to rooftop cocktails and a 15-seat Chef’s counter, the concept thrives on interaction, innovation, and layered flavor. Expect dishes like smoked duck bao, yakitori glazed in mango Scotch bonnet sauce, and sake cocktails with unexpected depth.

The Wynwood of today is more of a playground for developers and loud clubs than actual artists. But even though the former arts district gets progressively weirder with each passing month, it is undeniably one of Miami's most popular neighborhoods. It's also absolutely stuffed full of restaurants, many of which are the kind of awful tourist traps you used to only find in South Beach. But we actually enjoy the ones on this guide. Some of them are even worth fighting for parking at 8pm on a Saturday.

Even though it’s on the roof of a shiny new building, Shiso reminds us of hashtagging our way through the Wynwood art walks of the twenty-teens. The indoor-outdoor restaurant has big cement columns tagged with graffiti. Its Japanese menu has Caribbean influences and feels refreshingly original in a neighborhood where everything is either a taco shop or an Italian restaurant. The meat-heavy menu includes dishes like duck dumplings, oxtail udon noodles, and a sliced short rib that comes with materials to make your own handrolls. We’re still trying to figure out the best way to order without feeling like we just had three Thanksgiving dinners.

Even though it’s on the roof of a shiny new building, Shiso reminds us of hashtagging our way through the Wynwood art walks of the twenty-teens. The indoor-outdoor restaurant has big cement columns tagged with graffiti. Its Japanese menu has Caribbean influences and feels refreshingly original in a neighborhood where everything is either a taco shop or an Italian restaurant. The meat-heavy menu includes dishes like duck dumplings, oxtail udon noodles, and a sliced short rib that comes with materials to make your own handrolls. We’re still trying to figure out the best way to order without feeling like we just had three Thanksgiving dinners.

Chef Raheem Sealey, famous for his time in the kitchen at KYU and his beloved barbecue spot Drinking Pig, has found his way back to Miami.In a partnership with Forward Hospitality Group, Sealey is opening a new Wynwood restaurant called Shiso, an Asian smokehouse that blends the flavors of wood-fired barbecue and the Caribbean (Sealey grew up in St. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Connie Ogle

Chef Raheem Sealey—known for his work at KYU and Drinking Pig BBQ—has opened Shiso, an Asian Smokehouse in Wynwood. This personal project blends his Caribbean roots with Japanese techniques and wood-fired barbecue. The menu includes dishes like Shiso Chicken Please (Cornish hen served smoked and fried) and the Oxtail Gunkan, a layered bite of smoked oxtail, pickle relish, rice, and nori.