Ask us to brag about Brad Kilgore, and it could take hours — this South Florida chef and restaurateur has done it all. He was a James Beard Award nominee for “Rising Star Chef” two years in a row, and was a James Beard semifinalist for “Best Chef South” just last year. Kilgore was recognized as “Best New Chef” by Food & Wine, earned a spot on the World’s 50 Best San Pellegrino list, and most recently, teamed up with mixologist Nico de Soto to open a hot new Tokyo-inspired cocktail lounge, Kaido, right here in the Miami Design District.
Opening its doors in December 2018, Kaido (pronounced “Kai-eee-DŌ”) is unlike anything the Miami restaurant world has ever seen. The interior is a replica of an edgy, Tokyo-style drinking den, where diners and imbibers can sit at a 12-seat bar, surrounded by deep colors and gold accents, with a 1,000-Butterfly Knife chandelier suspended above them. Matching the design, everything about the menu at Kaido is non-traditional. A testament to Miami’s culinary renaissance, Kilgore and de Soto have created transformative menus that promise to give guests a different dining and drinking experience every time they visit.
From inventive appetizers to multi-course tastings that will take you on an actual “culinary journey,” the food menu includes out-of-the-box fare like only Kilgore could create. Served on custom plates from Felt & Fat, expect Kaido debuts like the “Floridian Fugu,” a lionfish sashimi with yuzukoshō and caviar; asparagus and apple wrapped in pork belly and topped with spicy XO; green papaya with shredded broccoli stems and a Thai vinaigrette; and wahoo in a smoky ponzu broth.
To wash it all down, de Soto has whipped up a menu of Asian- and Japanese-inspired cocktails, many of which are made with rare Japanese whiskies and designed to share. The Hokkaido Sour mixes soy milk-washed Japanese whisky with Kuromitsu licorice syrup, lemon juice and kombu bitters. Offering completely different flavors, the Jasmine Gimlet combines lemongrass shochu and jasmine cordial, while the Shiso Negroni gives us an Asian twist on a classic: a Negroni made with gin, amaro, sweet vermouth and a shiso leaf. For something with more of a “kick,” order the tequila-tinged Hato, which fuses umeboshi tequila (a tequila made with Japanese salt plums), grapefruit, agave nectar, club soda and Takesumi bamboo salt.
Perfect for an interesting date night or nice night out with friends, Kaido is the new Miami spot everyone is buzzing about—and considering what we know about it, we’re not surprised.
Kaido is located at 151 NE 41 Street #217. It’s open Sunday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to midnight, and on Fridays and Saturdays, from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information about Kaido, or to view the full food and drink menu, visit www.kaidomiami.com.
All photography by Giovanny Gutierrez/Chat Chow TV for Eater Miami.
