Tokyo’s acclaimed Oniku Karyu, a Michelin one-star restaurant celebrated for its elegant wagyu kaiseki, will make its U.S. debut with the opening of KARYU in Miami. Led by Chef Haruka Katayanagi and created in partnership with Spicy Hospitality Group, KARYU brings Japan’s meticulous craftsmanship and reverence for wagyu beef to Miami Design District, one of America’s most dynamic dining destinations. From the moment guests enter, KARYU is intended to feel like a passage to Japan, where precision, ritual, and hospitality unfold as they would in Tokyo, offering an experience that transcends geography.
“Partnering with Chef Katayanagi to bring KARYU to the United States is a privilege. His approach to cuisine represents the pinnacle of precision and artistry, and Miami provides the perfect stage for that level of excellence. Our goal is to preserve the integrity of the Tokyo flagship while introducing its philosophy to a city that deeply appreciates culture, design, and world-class dining. This project continues our vision of curating meaningful experiences that connect people through craftsmanship and authenticity.” Said Andre Sakhai, Partner, Spicy Hospitality Group
Chef Haruka Katayanagi
Leading Chef Katayanagi’s vision in Miami are his protégés from Tokyo: Head Chef Hiroshi Morito, Sous Chef and Sommelier Seishiro Tatsukawa, and Service Director Akiho Saito, all of whom are relocating from Japan to lead the Miami kitchen and dining room. Together, the team will uphold the precision, hospitality, and artistry that define Oniku Karyu’s Michelin-starred legacy.
Renowned in Tokyo for its elevated interpretation of kaiseki, Japan’s refined multi-course culinary tradition, KARYU celebrates wagyu not merely as an ingredient, but as an embodiment of Japan’s pursuit of perfection. In Japan, wagyu represents centuries of breeding, care, and respect, each cut prized for its marbling, texture, and harmony.
At KARYU, that reverence is transformed into a sensory journey. A true farm-to-table connection, the wagyu served at KARYU originates from Ueda Chikusan, a family-run, full-cycle Japanese cattle ranch located in the scenic mountains of Hyōgo Prefecture. KARYU is the only restaurant in the U.S. to feature wagyu from this farm. The ranch is dedicated exclusively to breeding and raising Tajimaguro cattle, the purest lineage of Japan’s famed Tajima-gyu, from which Kobe beef also descends. With only a limited number of animals raised each month, Tajimaguro is considered among the most exclusive wagyu in Japan, prized by gourmet restaurants for its traceability and extraordinary depth of flavor.
Tajimaguro Wagyu
Each course at KARYU highlights premium cuts prepared through a range of traditional and modern techniques, all unified by the purity, balance, and seasonality central to the kaiseki tradition.
KARYU’s opening menu presents a refined progression of wagyu-focused kaiseki, showcasing premium Tajimaguro through both traditional and modern expressions. The initial opening menu includes:
Nikusui – a delicate beef broth that awakens the palate with clarity and umami
Beef Cutlet Sandwich – a playful take on the classic, featuring a Kobe beef tenderloin
KARYU “Taco” Tribute – lettuce in place of a tortilla, layered with shiso, aged Gruyère, and lightly seasoned raw egg yolk, mixed tableside as part of the chef’s live presentation
Grilled Chateaubriant – an elevated expression of Tajimaguro’s tenderness and depth
Traditional Sukiyaki – served with Japanese white rice, raw egg yolk mixed in front of the guest
Tantanmen – a sesame-based broth with noodles nestled beneath the surface, finished with aromatic vegetables
Seasonal Kakigori – a shaved ice dessert that honors Japan’s micro-seasons
The menu will evolve monthly to reflect Japan’s micro-seasons, ensuring each visit introduces new expressions of seasonality, temperature, texture, and wagyu preparation.
Beef Cutlet Sandwich
KARYU’s beverage program features a carefully curated selection of sake and wines, chosen to highlight the umami depth and nuance of Japanese wagyu. Approximately ten sakes will anchor the list, including rare and limited producers, complemented by a focused wine selection of three whites and five reds chosen for their structure, acidity, and ability to pair with richly marbled beef.
“Every dish tells a story. Wagyu is not just about richness - it’s about spirit. It carries the patience of the farmer, the precision of the butcher, and the sensitivity of the chef. Bringing that philosophy to Miami allows us to share the true heart of Japanese cuisine and omotenashi.” Said Chef Haruka Katayanagi
KARYU captures the spirit of the Tokyo flagship while embracing the contemporary energy of the Miami Design District. Designed by the acclaimed architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, the intimate 12-seat space blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a modern architectural sensibility. Guests enter through a warm white-oak façade and pass layers of linen scrim and softly illuminated parasol-inspired fabric, creating a sense of ceremony that mirrors the omakase experience and leads into the sake room, where an illuminated bottle display and an ikebana-inspired botanical installation introduce the artistry to come before guiding guests toward the chef’s table.
Inside, Japanese cedar–inspired millwork, hay-embedded plaster, raku pottery, indigo linen partitions, and terrazzo floors — transitioning from wood-chip aggregate to deep green with brass inlays — establish a refined material palette rooted in wabi-sabi. The room is defined by a subtle contrast: one side traditional, with oak counters, a bronze oven hood, and noren screens framing the yakitori grill; the other contemporary, with lacquered walls, green terrazzo, and woven leather stools. Concealed lighting and sliding panels reveal the chef’s table and sake room, creating intimate moments throughout the dining journey.
With its design-forward setting and meticulous craftsmanship, KARYU offers a transportive stage for Tokyo’s Michelin-starred wagyu kaiseki in Miami.
Seishiro Tatsukawa, Akiho Saito, Haruka Katayanagi & Hiroshi Morito
KARYU Taco Tribute
Chef Haruka Katayanagi
Images via World Red Eye