400 Pounds of Tuna, Housewives & a Rooftop Party: Yamashiro Miami Opens Its Doors

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Yamashiro Miami unveiled its new indoor dining experience with Lisa Hochstein, Justin Quiles,

Alex Sensation and enough Miami energy to turn dinner into an all-night affair.

Apparently, the proper way to unveil a new dining room in Miami is with celebrities, rooftop cocktails, geishas, DJs and a 400-pound bluefin tuna. Yamashiro Miami officially opened the doors to its highly anticipated indoor dining experience on Wednesday, September 23, and, unsurprisingly, nobody seemed particularly interested in having a quiet dinner.

The evening brought together a decidedly Miami mix of reality television, Latin music, nightlife personalities, influencers, business leaders and familiar faces from around the city. The Real Housewives of Miami star Lisa Hochstein joined Latin music star Justin Quiles, DJ and radio personality Alex Sensation, Cuban artists Bebeshito, Lenier Mesa and Baby Lores, model and influencer Cindy Prado, and a packed room of VIPs for the celebration.

First Stop: The Rooftop

Before anyone stepped inside the new dining room, Yamashiro gave guests a reminder of why its rooftop has already become such a draw. Cocktails were poured. Sushi made the rounds. Miami's skyline provided the backdrop.

In other words: everyone understood the assignment. As the sun disappeared and the music picked up, guests mingled on the rooftop before making their way downstairs for the first official look at Yamashiro's new indoor space.

And Lisa Hochstein seemed particularly comfortable with the surroundings.

The Real Housewives of Miami star spent much of the evening dancing, taking photos and working the room. At one point during the festivities, Hochstein told guests that Yamashiro had become her favorite restaurant in Miami.

Considering Miami isn't exactly suffering from a shortage of restaurants, that's quite the endorsement.

Then Came the Tuna

Once the doors opened to the new dining room, the evening quickly shifted from restaurant unveiling to full-blown party.

DJs kept the room moving as roaming entertainers worked their way through the crowd

and guests explored the dramatic new space.

Then someone rolled in a 400-pound bluefin tuna. Because subtlety was clearly not on the evening's menu. The enormous fish immediately became one of the night's main attractions as guests gathered around for a live tuna-carving presentation. Phones came out almost instantly as Yamashiro's sushi chefs began expertly breaking down the prized bluefin in front of the crowd.

Fresh cuts were then served throughout the evening, making this one of those rare occasions when taking a video of your dinner before eating it felt completely justified.

Dinner? Party? Why Choose?

That might be the best way to describe Yamashiro Miami's new chapter.

This isn't simply about opening another dining room. The new indoor experience appears designed for the particular way Miami likes to go out: start with dinner, add cocktails, turn up the music and see where the night takes you.

Geisha-inspired performers moved throughout the space. Drinks continued flowing. DJs kept the energy high. The crowd stayed packed.

At some point, the distinction between restaurant opening and nightlife event became pretty irrelevant. And Yamashiro wasn't finished.

One Roof, Very Long Night

When the unveiling began winding down, guests didn't exactly call their Ubers home. Instead, the celebration moved to 400 Vinyl Room, where the crowd continued the party late into the evening. Dinner upstairs. Dancing downstairs.

No venue change required. Convenient? Absolutely. Dangerous for anyone who promised themselves they were “just going out for dinner”? Also absolutely. The indoor unveiling represents another major step for Yamashiro Miami, the first location outside California for the legendary Los Angeles institution.

The original Yamashiro has long been known for combining Japanese-inspired dining with dramatic architecture, views and a sense of occasion. Its Miami counterpart seems intent on taking that formula and giving it a distinctly local

interpretation, one where dining, entertainment and nightlife aren't necessarily separate experiences. If opening night was any indication, Yamashiro isn't trying to be the restaurant where you eat dinner and leave.

It wants to be where the rest of your night happens, too. Yamashiro Miami's new indoor dining experience officially opens to the public September 26. And yes, dinner will probably be a little less eventful without a 400-pound tuna rolling through the room.

Probably.