Chef Akikuni brings his years of experience and accolades to Shingo. Most recently, he served as the executive chef at the high-end Japanese restaurant Hiden in Miami. Under his leadership as executive chef, Hiden was one of the first restaurants in Miami to receive a Michelin star in 2022.
The space has been entirely designed and constructed by skilled craftsmen in Kyoto, Japan, before being deconstructed, transported, and reassembled in Miami. Upon entering Shingo, guests will feel as if they have been transported to the classic omakase hideaways of Japan. The restaurant features elements of traditional Japanese design and antique materials, including the use of Hinoki and Sugi woods in the counter, ceiling, and grand entrance, which also doubles as an art gallery. The dining area features an intimate L-shaped 14-seat counter made from a rare 10-meter Hinoki wood slab. Special touches and details are found throughout Shingo, from the exclusive silver chopstick holders designed to resemble food shapes to a variety of custom-made ceramic tableware created by Kyoto-based ceramic manufacturer Shin Murata.
Passionate about sharing Japanese culture through food in the United States, Chef/Owner Akikuni is excited to join the thriving culinary scene in Miami and aims to provide diners with a personalized experience based on their personalities and preferences.
"I first moved to Miami five years ago, and I feel that the restaurant scene has been booming year after year, with so many passionate and talented chefs whom I call my colleagues and friends," says chef Shingo Akikuni. "I am thrilled to be able to open my first restaurant in Coral Gables, utilizing the experience and skills I learned from working in restaurants in Tokyo, New York, and Miami. I look forward to serving our guests dishes that change with the seasons and continuing to add value to the culinary landscape in Miami."
The 18-course menu at Shingo will change with the seasons, featuring a rotating selection of fresh sushi variations and Yakimono dishes prepared through traditional grilling practices. Guests can expect dishes such as grilled Japanese eel with Binchotan charcoal topped with caviar and fresh wasabi served with premium sake. Personally sourced and selected by Chef Akikuni, SHINGO's fresh ingredients are imported from Japan and locally sourced in Florida.
Shingo Akikuni is a third-generation sushi chef originally from Osaka, Japan, and is recognized as one of the top sushi chefs in Florida. Growing up making sushi in his family's restaurant in Osaka, Chef Akikuni was instructed and trained by both his father and grandfather before coming to the United States in 2017. Previously, Akikuni served as a sushi chef at an award-winning sushi restaurant in Tokyo before moving to Miami and assuming positions such as Sous Chef at Sushi Azabu and ultimately as Executive Chef at Hiden, where the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star.
Shingo is located in the La Palma building at 112 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, and will be open for dinner five days a week (Tuesday to Saturday) with two time options, at 6:00 PM or 9:00 PM. The 18-course omakase experience costs approximately $180 per person.