Shireen's Favorite Things

Kone Sushi, 247 SE. 1st Street, Miami, Florida 33131

KONE is no ordinary sushi restaurant; it’s Japanese food fused with a Brazilian flair. If that sounds adventurous, well, it is, but it’s an adventure totally worth taking. For me, KONE was and is nothing short of spectacular. In fact, your tastebuds will never be the same, especially if you love fresh fish and food with a kick.

The place itself is sleek, modern and no-nonsense. Their red and black Japanese-inspired decor is highlighted with rich dark woods and the main dining area is flanked by two working bars (one for sushi, the other for adult beverages).

For the record, their drinks aren’t just pretty, they’re blended to perfection. I started Spotlight with two of their homemade Sakerinhas, which is Gekkeikan Sake, fresh fruit and sugar (pictured are the Strawberry and Lychee). I also tried the Berry Bliss (it tasted like a yummy red wine spritzer) and the Sobe Saketini (reminded me of a cosmo, but lighter and smoother).

The Rock Shrimp appetizer was the first food to arrive at the table and it was one of my favorites (made with shrimp tempura, spicy sauce, massago and scallions). The Ceviche Sampler was just as impressive with yellowtail, octopus and shrimp (mixed with onions, mango, cilantro and a spicy house sauce).

There was a Hawaiian portion of the ceviche, too (salmon and tuna cubes soaked in sesame oil, soy sauce, red onions, scallions and pineapple). If you prefer less fuss and more straightforward fish, the Jo Jo Trio (three pieces of sashimi: salmon, tuna and yellowtail) is fresh and delightful. For my main course…

I started with the Pure Protein roll, which is great if you’re watching your waist. It’s a roll with NO RICE (it has salmon, tuna, shrimp and kani rolled in soy paper). The Maguro Tataki (lightly seared tuna with sesame seeds and yuzu house sauce), was tasty, but the Salmon Special was a surefire stand-out (made with thinly sliced salmon, sesame seeds, jalapeño and ponzu sauce). For my last main, I pledged my heart to the Love Park (a warm tempura roll made with salmon, kani, cream cheese, avocado and scallions).

For dessert, I tried Kone’s signature SingleBites (mini waffle cones filled with ooey-gooey goodness served with ice cream). You can get an order of 3 or 6; you just have to pick your own fabulous filling. I liked the fudge, Nutella and grated coconut and caramel. This dessert alone is worth the trip to KONE. It’s one of the most fabulous sweets I’ve ever tasted.

The fresh fish, creative combinations and exceptional quality of the food makes KONE Sushi one of my NEW favorite things. I can’t wait to go back. Cheers!

KONE is in downtown Miami on a busy block, but there’s a parking garage conveniently across the street. I parked on the fifth floor, took the elevator back to ground level and walked across the street to KONE. The night I went, the parking was 10-bucks (because there was an event), on a normal night it could cost a little more. When I go back, I’ll definitely Uber.

Monday-Thursday 11:30am-11pm, Friday 11:30am-12am, Saturday 12pm-12am & Sunday 5pm-10pm.