Source: Niño Gordo

Reported By: Caroline Dalal

May 19th, 2025 – When Niño Gordo first opened its doors in Buenos Aires back in 2017, it didn’t just serve food—it staged a sensory rebellion. Now, the Asian-fusion grill has planted its flag in Miami, choosing Wynwood as the backdrop for its first international outpost. With its moody red lights, sci-fi noir interiors, and a soundtrack that feels as punk as the menu tastes, Niño Gordo Wynwood isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a manifesto.

The brainchild of Argentine culinary disruptors Germán Sitz and Pedro Peña, Niño Gordo has landed stateside with more heat, more spectacle, and a very Miami twist.

Mission accomplished.

Housed in a 74-seat space on NW 28th Street, Niño Gordo Miami feels like walking into a graphic novel drawn by a chef with a taste for controlled chaos. Designed by Peña and Eduardo Suarez of Tres Tristes Tigres studio, the venue unfolds room by room in a kaleidoscope of unexpected detail. A floor-to-ceiling mural by Argentine artist Ever Siempre greets diners at the entrance—twice the size of its Buenos Aires counterpart—setting the tone for a meal where no two corners (or courses) look or feel the same.

But the main character isn’t the mural. It’s the fire. It’s the sound. It’s the sensory overload where Japanese and Korean street food meet Argentine grilling, filtered through a distinctly Miami lens.

And then there’s Dekotora—the cocktail-driven omakase bar tucked inside the restaurant. Inspired by Japan’s trucker subculture and built like a kinetic art installation, it pulses with rotating projections, big ice theatrics, and electric color. The sushi’s fresh, the vibe’s louder, and the cocktails are a neon-lit fever dream in the best way possible.

At Niño Gordo Miami, the food does more than match the atmosphere—it escalates it. The menu isn’t a carbon copy of the original, and that’s entirely the point. It leans into Miami’s tropical palette, local ingredients, and late-night cravings with thoughtful chaos.

Highlights include a Katsu Sando layered with beef, tonkatsu, and Japanese mayo on shokupan; Hamachi crudo kissed with bell pepper, cucumber, and nori; and an indulgent Fried Rice loaded with Key West prawns, crab, bacon, and bean sprouts. There’s also Peking-style Duck with hoisin, bok choy, and crepes; and a plant-based showstopper: Cauliflower Karaage with grapes, cashews, and fresh herbs.

Even the dumplings tell their own story—stuffed with squid, veal, curry, coconut yogurt, and a jolt of wasabi, they’re emblematic of Peña’s culinary explorations across Asia, from the street stalls of Seoul to Tokyo’s high-end counters.

Christine Wiseman, the mixology maestro behind some of the country’s most talked-about cocktail programs, helms both bars. Her lineup is bold, artful, and deeply aligned with the restaurant’s ethos: break the mold, but make it balanced.

In the main dining room, that translates to offerings like the Red Bean Old Fashioned with red bean demerara, and a Papaya Salad Daiquiri that’s sweet, sour, and absurdly refreshing. Over at Dekotora, things get even wilder. The Neon Skyline features shiso-infused Patrón and Mijenta Shochu, while the Electric Midnight arrives with Japanese whisky, tamarind, curry, coconut, and a citrus jolt—served, naturally, with a glitter ice cube.

Each drink, much like each plate, is meant to jolt your senses and skew your expectations.

Niño Gordo didn’t come to Miami quietly—and why would it? This is a restaurant that thrives on contradiction, fusing high-low aesthetics, fine dining discipline, and street food soul into a single frame. With the addition of Dekotora, it doubles down on its mission: to surprise, to provoke, and above all, to serve flavor with attitude.