The story
Zitz Sum occupies a 30-seat space inside a historic building in Coral Gables – deliberately unmarked, tucked beside the City Bank lobby. The lack of signage is intentional: discovery here feels personal, a quiet reward for those who know to look.
Chef’s autobiographical menu is a dialogue between Japanese ingredients and technique and his Latin American roots. The result is a tightly seasonal, contemporary take on Asian fusion that changes with the markets. Dinner unfolds as either à la carte or a seven-course tasting menu that rotates weekly, with playful snacks and family-style portions designed for sharing.
The kitchen’s sourcing is stubbornly principled. Zitz Sum works with Niman Ranch, Natoora, Trigger Seafood, Tiny Farms, and Zero Acre Farms (for seed-free cooking oil), among other purveyors who share the same reverence for quality. That dedication has earned the restaurant a place on the New York Times’ 2022 Best 50 Restaurants in America list and a James Beard Foundation semifinalist nod that same year. The Michelin Guide has awarded it a Bib Gourmand every year from 2022 through 2026, recognizing good quality, good value cooking.
The atmosphere is unassuming yet polished – air-conditioned, with outdoor seating for Miami evenings. Service is unapologetically gracious, the kind that makes a 30-seat room feel like a private gathering.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
Instagram