Bonsai Sushi

Founded in Caracas in 1999 by Victor Goncalves, Saúl Requena, and Claudio Hernández, Bonsai Sushi has grown to 33 locations across Venezuela. After debuting in Doral in 2024, it has now opened its second U.S. restaurant on Miracle Mile, replacing Chicken Kitchen. The former fast-food space has been transformed, with green banquettes, dark wood, and subdued lighting that give the dining room the feel of a cocktail lounge.

With so many options on the menu, deciding what to order is a challenge. We started with the Rollito Picanha ($17), thin slices of tender beef wrapped around crispy shrimp, sweet plantain, and avocado, topped with cheese sauce. We also tried two cocktails ($16 each), starting with the Saitama, a mix of nigori sake, Haku vodka, tangerine, and yuzu, served in a smoke-filled glass vessel hanging from a black metal stand. Talk about drama. As for the Honshu Lychee, made with whisky and elderflower liqueur, it came in a glass carton with blueberries, fresh mint, and a lychee garnish. Its floral aftertaste made it a little sweeter than expected.

For entrées, the Chaufa ($23), wok-tossed jasmine rice with shrimp, chicken, and steak, had a pronounced garlic flavor and a hint of smokiness from the wok. The generous portion can easily be shared by two. The Noodles ($23) was prepared with the same three proteins, the shrimp contributing much of the flavor. We finished with the Nutella Marquise ($12), layers of Nutella mousse and crunchy María cookies. Thumbs up all around. – Amanda Martell