Wynwood Newcomer Shiso Combines Caribbean Flavors With Japanese Techniques

Chef Raheem Sealey is set to open Shiso in Wynwood on Friday, March 28. His new spot is an Asian smokehouse that combines Japanese cooking techniques with Caribbean flavors. The result is a menu full of creative combinations like sake-glazed creamed corn, sticky ribs with furikake, and oxtail gunkan.

Sealey is known for leading the kitchen at popular wood-fired Asian restaurant KYU and American barbecue spot Drinking Pig.

“Cooking is something deeply personal to me,” says Sealey, “I appreciate the simplicity of Japanese cuisine and love combining it with the bold flavors of the Caribbean. My Caribbean roots, from St. Croix, influence the cuts of meat, spices, and fish I use in the menu at Shiso. It’s not about specific dishes, but about the overall flavor. By blending the vibrant tastes of the islands with the precision of Japanese cooking, I’m honoring my heritage while creating something that reflects both cultures. The result is something new, surprising, and uniquely mine.”

The dining room at Shiso is sleek, combining concrete, graffiti, and chandeliers to create an urban-meets-glossy space. The restaurant includes indoor and outdoor rooftop areas, two different bars, chef’s counter seating, and Harajuku-inspired bathrooms full of anime art.

Shiso is located at 239 NW 28th Street and will open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 5 p.m. to close

Diana Todorova

Diana Todorova

Diana Todorova