This neighborhood gem in South Miami was just named the best restaurant in Florida

Connie Ogle
·4 min read

The best restaurant in Florida isn’t an overpriced New York import or a status-rich Michelin star winner. According to Yelp, it’s a small, unassuming and friendly spot in South Miami that values freshness and hospitality above all else.

Led by owner and chef Manasanan “Gina Oui” Phorasamee — you can call her “Chef Oui” like a regular, if you’d like — Pla-Tu Sushi Thai Tapas is the top restaurant in the state on Yelp’s Top 100 Florida Restaurants list for 2023.

The chef, who co-owns the restaurant with family members and her partner, master sushi chef Pravech “Win” Fueng-ngern, said via email that she and the staff were “surprised and humbled” by the ranking.

“Miami is the perfect place to showcase our family-owned and operated restaurant,” she said. “There are a lot of places to eat here, but we believe that we differentiate ourselves by offering warm hospitality and high-quality cooked to order meals each and every day.”

The menu at the Pla-Tu Sushi Thai Tapas, which opened in 2021, features what Yelp calls “playful” small plates of Thai tapas and sushi, most of which are suitable for sharing. The restaurant, which is small but has indoor and outdoor seating, also serves Thai-style entrees and noodle dishes, all of which can be accompanied by a cold Sapporo or Singha beer.

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Outside tables at Pla-Tu Sushi Thai Tapas in South Miami.
Outside tables at Pla-Tu Sushi Thai Tapas in South Miami.

Best sellers include the spicy wahoo tataki starter with crispy onions and a zesty ponzu sauce; grilled salmon with a Thai herb salad; and Beef Massaman (a warm curry with avocados and cashews).

“We always strive to incorporate traditional Thai food items on the menu so that our customers can experience truly authentic and delicious cuisine from our beautiful home country,” the chef said. “We share our history and our culture by way of food and drinks.”

Yelp, which compiles the list by analyzing user reviews and ratings, also included other Miami-Dade restaurants on the top 100 list, including Italian spots Pane & Vino just off Española Way in Miami Beach (No. 7), which made the best restaurant in the state list in 2022, and Fratellino in Coral Gables (No. 8).

Napoli 1800 Cucina & Pizzeria in Kendall, which was named one of the best pizza restaurants in the country by Yelp earlier this year, also made the list at No. 12, with Yardie Spice in Homestead, which serves classic Caribbean fare, ranked No. 13. Downtown Miami’s Argentine gem Bunbury, known for its steaks and wonderful wine list, was named one of the best restaurants in the U.S. earlier this year by Yelp and ranked No. 21 here.

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Giovanni Colantuono, left, and Tim Dimas are co-owners of Napoli 1800 Cucina & Pizzeria in Kendall, which was named one of the top 100 restaurants in Florida by Yelp.
Giovanni Colantuono, left, and Tim Dimas are co-owners of Napoli 1800 Cucina & Pizzeria in Kendall, which was named one of the top 100 restaurants in Florida by Yelp.

Rounding out the list for Miami-Dade are Intimo on Miami Beach (23); Luca Osteria in Coral Gables (24); Franky’s Deli Warehouse in Hialeah (28); Havana Vieja (33); 107 Taste in Coral Gables (47); Pesto Cafe and Grill in Miami (56); Café Prima Pasta in Miami Beach (62); Minty Z in Miami (69); Full Bloom Vegan in Miami Beach (78); Aguacate Sanctuary of Love in Miami (91); La Sandwicherie in Miami Beach (92).

Broward County was also well represented on the list, which includes the Italian restaurant Prosecco 22 at No. 2 and burger-sub-sandwich spot North South Grill at No. 5 (both restaurants are located in Pembroke Pines). Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill in Fort Lauderdale was No. 6.

The rest of the Broward restaurants: Larb Thai-Isan in Fort Lauderdale (11); The Etna Rossa (15); Colombian Mountains Café (18); The Rabbit Hole, Pompano Beach (19); The Modern Rose in Deerfield Beach (31); Ichimora in Fort Lauderdale (34); Broad Shoulders Sandwiches in Fort Lauderdale (41); Magnolia Caffee in Fort Lauderdale (42); Ethos Greek Bistro in Wilton Manors (59); Pampa Gaucho Churrascaria in Lighthouse Point (83); Pho Bar Vietnamese Kitchen in Davie (93); Niran’s Kitchen in Deerfield Beach (94); Tacu Take in Pembroke Pines (95).

Only two restaurants in the Florida Keys made the list: What the Fish Rolls in Tavernier (50) and Hobo’s Cafe in Key Largo (86).

The cozy interior of Pane & Vino on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, which was just named one of the top 100 restaurants in Florida by Yelp.
The cozy interior of Pane & Vino on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, which was just named one of the top 100 restaurants in Florida by Yelp.

Pla-Tu Sushi Thai Tapas

Where: 6101 Sunset Dr., South Miami

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday; noon-10:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-9:30 p.m. Sunday

More information: platumiami.com or 786-359-4678

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