Miami Is Going Crazy for These Japanese Breakfast Sandwiches

If you've noticed a queue outside a storefront a stone's throw from the Coconut Grove Metrorail station lately and are wondering what the hell is going on, New Times has gotten to the bottom of it. Miamians are going crazy for Japanese sandos (sandwiches) made with fluffy, authentic Japanese milk bread, especially those from the grab-and-go shop Aiko & Mumu.

On social media, food influencer Michael Zein (@mikeiseating) describes the viral tamago sando, a Japanese-style egg salad sandwich made with freshly-made Japanese milk bread, as "so soft, so decadent." Even though the sandwiches sell out as soon as the shop opens at 11 a.m., Infatuation Miami's Mariana Trabanino says the hassle is worth it. "They'll probably be out of everything except the highly overlooked (but equally impressive) sushi boxes," she quips with a laugh.

Did I mention that this shop has been open for barely two weeks and sells out of its sandos the moment it opens?

@mikeiseating Most Viral Japanese Sando style Sandwiches in Miami right now! 📍Miami | Aiko & Mumu 2770 SW 27th Ave Miami, FL 33133 #food #mukbang #sandwich #miami ♬ original sound - mikeiseating

Two Weeks Open and These Sandos Are Already Viral

The sando stands apart from Western-style sandwiches thanks to its delicate flavors bookended by pillow-soft milk bread (AKA shokupan). "A Japanese sando is a healthy, light, and visually beautiful type of sandwich," the team at Aiko told New Times over email.

Sandos can be savory or subtly sweet and filled with fruit, such as strawberries and oranges. They are so popular in the Land of the Rising Sun that they are widely available at mom-and-pop shops and convenience stores — or combinis — like 7-Eleven and Lawson. "We've been truly surprised by the level of demand," the Aiko team tells New Times. "It's gone far beyond what we imagined."

The most in-demand sandwiches are the tamago and strawberry. Aiko also offers ton-katsu (panko-breaded pork), chicken katsu, and matcha strawberry varieties with prices ranging from $11.50 to $16.

Made By a Chef Who Trained Beneath a Legendary Talent

If you are wondering why all the fuss about some sandwiches, know that Aiko has a serious pedigree behind it. Chef Richard Wang worked under chef Atsushi Okawara at the Den at Azabu, a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Wang moved on to Rakki Sushi & Omakase in Doral, eventually reuniting with Okawara to open Aiko and its evening pop-up Mumu right off U.S. 1 near Coconut Grove, where a portion of the sales goes to local children's hospitals and charities.

"During the day, we serve Japanese sandos and sushi; in the evening, we become an Asian bistro that blends Chinese and Japanese cuisine," the team says. Beyond the sandos, Aiko also serves sushi boxes and donburi (Japanese rice bowls). "Our chef team is always experimenting with new creations — such as the tuna sando and onigiri — that we hope more guests will try," they add.

While walk-in orders are accepted, your best bet to ensure you get a chance to try these in-demand Sandos is to preorder online — even then, they still sell out quickly. The shop is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.

Aiko & Mumu. 2770 SW 27th Ave., Ste. 2, Miami; ​786-860-5993; aikoandmumu.com.