Tâm Tâm Founders Spice Up Miami With New Chinese Pop-Up

The founders of popular downtown Miami Vietnamese spot Tâm Tâm and chef Adrian Ochoa have partnered up to open Double Luck, a pop-up slinging Chinese dishes with creative twists in Miami's Shorecrest neighborhood. The restaurant currently operates from the former New Schnitzel House space Thursday through Sunday, with hopes of becoming a permanent fixture.

"The menu is kind of an introductory course for people," Ochoa says. "I'm taking advantage of my love for more traditional Chinese food by helping people walk through the Chinese American path."

That path includes approachable favorites like crab leg rangoons alongside lesser-known offerings such as double-cooked pork belly, mapo tofu, and cold mushroom salad—dishes Ochoa hopes Miami diners will embrace beyond their usual takeout orders.

Chinese Food Dreams Find a Home on 79th Street

The chef's fascination with Chinese cuisine started years ago when a friend introduced him to Sichuan cooking at a spot in North Miami. After stints at Ghee Miami and helping launch Tâm Tâm, Ochoa furthered his Chinese food journey by running pop-up China Moon on South Beach, where he mastered the classics. When Adam Gersten from New Schnitzel House offered his space, the team transformed it with just "a couple coats of paint and some decorations."

Currently offering beer and wine with a selection selected by Harrison Ramhofer, Double Luck plans to introduce Chinese wines and sake-based options. If the pop-up transitions to a permanent restaurant, they'll launch full spirits and craft cocktails featuring Chinese ingredients and flavors.

Generous Portions and Bold Flavors

Double Luck's menu strikes a balance between familiar Chinese-American favorites and traditional dishes less common in South Florida. "We want people to feel like they're in the Chinese restaurant they grew up in," Griffiths says. The portions reflect this philosophy—generous and meant for sharing. While the spot works well for solo diners grabbing a seat at the bar, the family-style service makes it ideal for groups looking to try multiple dishes.

Appetizers include "Crab Leg Rangoon" filled with snow crab and cream cheese, "Char Siu Ribs" seasoned with five spice and fermented bean curd, and "Typhoon Shelter Shrimp" featuring crispy panko, garlic, and basil.

Standout entrées include Hennessy orange chicken, a boozy twist on the takeout staple made with mandarins, cognac, and sesame, and "Tea-Smoked Duck," complemented by jasmine green tea and Shanxi black dates. For a heartier option, diners can enjoy Dandanmian noodles topped with wagyu beef cheek, sesame paste, and cucumber or the group-friendly crab fried rice filled with snow crab and Chinese sausage.

Vegetarian dishes receive plenty of attention as well, with options like "Cloud Ear Mushroom" served alongside smoked tofu and garlic chives, "Sweet & Spicy Long Beans" prepared with sweet bean miso and Thai chili, and Chinese cabbage stir-fried with garlic and ginger. The menu also features mapo tofu, a Sichuan classic with minced pork, Sichuan peppercorn, and chili, also available in a vegan option.

Reservations are available via Resy.com.

Double Luck. 1085 NE 79th St, Miami; instagram.com/doubleluckchinese.