Michelin Star Miami Restaurant Itamae AO to Close in Midtown

After weeks of industry whispers, Itamae AO, chef-owner Nando Chang's acclaimed 10-seat omakase counter, will serve its final dinner service on Saturday, August 2. The announcement follows the July 5 closure of Maty's, the award-winning restaurant run by Chang's sister, Valerie, whose departure set the stage for Itamae AO's inevitable move.

In a statement shared with New Times on Tuesday, July 29, a representative for Itamae AO confirmed the closure, citing the restaurant's current location — physically accessed through the now-shuttered Maty's — as the primary reason for the decision. "Itamae AO has always been closely tied to Maty's — not just because my sister was its chef but because it literally serves as the entrance to our restaurant," Nando says. "When she stepped away, we knew it would soon be time for us to move on as well."

A Michelin Star and a James Beard Award — All in One Year

The closure caps off a milestone year for Nando and his team. He had just opened Itamae AO in May 2024, his first solo venture after running the former Itamae as a food hall spot with his family in the Design District and B-Side Sushi in Wynwood. This was his first major break into the scene as a solo chef, and his ambitions paid off.

"While I've been cooking professionally for some time now, it was only in the last few years that I've fully come to understand who I am as a chef and my culinary identity, one that can blend seamlessly with my family's point of view while also standing out on my own," Nando told New Times in a May 2024 interview. "The journey Itamae has been on since it first opened in a food hall has been nothing less than amazing, and I'm looking forward to showing off this latest version as Itamae AO and for Miami to enjoy our food once again, this time in the form of the Nikkei experience." Less than a year later, in April 2025, Itamae AO received its first Michelin star, cementing its status as one of Miami's most coveted dining experiences. It was a major career milestone for Nando, who was named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs back in September 2023. A restaurant within a restaurant, the 10-seat omakase counter featured inventive Peruvian Nikkei cuisine with Japanese influences. The way he reworked, reimagined, and refined those Peruvian-Japanese dishes made a national impact.

Just weeks later, Nando was honored with the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. Despite this momentum, the logistical challenge of operating in a space bound to Maty's proved unsustainable.

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What's Next for Itamae AO

While the current chapter of Itamae AO is coming to a close, Nando made it clear that the restaurant is not disappearing for good, even posting on Instagram, "Itamae AO isn't going away. We're excited to find our new home." He's actively scouting new locations, both in Miami and beyond, with plans to reopen once the right space is secured. In the meantime, he's personally assisted his team in finding new roles to ensure a smooth transition.

This summer, Nando will bring his celebrated Nikkei cuisine on the road, hosting pop-ups at Birch in Milwaukee (August 15-16), Penny in New York City (August 26), and Massara, also in New York (September 17). Additional dates will be announced via Itamae AO's social channels.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the great run we've had in this special space and so proud of the year we've had," Nando says. "Itamae AO isn't going away — I'm excited to find our new home."

Itamae AO. 3225 NE First Ave., Miami; itamaeao.com. Final dinner service will be held Saturday, August 2.