Sadly, New Times had simply named the beloved Korean barbecue restaurant the Best Korean Barbecue of 2023. Fortunately, the restaurant will likely be relocating — albeit additional away — to Hallandale Beach with hopes of opening in late 2024.
Those on the restaurant’s mailing listing acquired a somber e mail on Saturday, December 30, studying, partially, “Dear Drunken Dragon Miami Beach. Patrons, after 10 years of bringing our prospects pleasure with our Korean barbecue communal grills and tiki-themed cocktails, we now have determined to shut our Drunken Dragon Miami Beach location on the finish of this 12 months, 2023.”
The restaurant formally shut its doorways after one final New Year’s Eve social gathering.
On Instagram, the restaurant shared the information with a put up that reads, partially, “We are proud to have served all your particular events, celebrations, and gatherings with family and friends.” The caption continues, “We need to thanks in your patronage during the last ten years and we sit up for seeing you at DD Hallandale, set to open in late 2024.”
Twice-fried rooster wings can be found at Drunken Dragon for these searching for that extra-crispy chew.
Drunken Dragon photograph
If the information feels sudden and out of the blue to you, it should not really feel too stunning. Since the restaurant opened again in 2014, so much has modified. Over 30taurants have opened since, give or take — to not point out the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced in an inflow of snowbirds and restaurateurs from New York City and California to South Florida.
Plus, Cote, Miami’s critically acclaimed Korean barbecue restaurant, took over the scene when it opened in February 2021. The Design District restaurant presents a number of Waygu beef, together with American Waygu and A5 Japanese Wagyu (the latter sourced from the Miyazaki prefecture, the place genuine Japanese beef cattle is raised), and the steaks are dry-aged for no less than 45 days. Therefore, it was no shock that it earned a Michelin star in 2022.
However, as a Miami native, I will always remember the comfy spot with heat and scrumptious reminiscences. Before Boia De opened in a strip mall and shook Miami-Dade for its location alone, Drunken Dragon paved the best way as one of many space’s first fine-dining eating places in a strip mall. Once an iconic date-night spot (I personally went on a number of first and second dates there), I hope one of the best for the restaurant group that owns the Drunken Dragon model, Homecookin’ Hospitality.
Below, discover a photograph I snapped of a Drunken Dragon matcha tres leches dessert, which I described on Instagram in 2017 as “candy, salty, dense, creamy, moist, and vital after ice cream.” I stated what I stated.
Green tea tres leches was all the fashion again in 2017 at Drunken Dragon in Miami Beach.
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
According to the restaurant, the Hallandale Beach location will likely be a lot bigger, seating 300 patrons and boasting over 30 grill tables. It will likely be positioned alongside U.S. 1 with a “recent, new, craft cocktail supper membership.”
The restaurant’s ultimate line in its assertion reads, “Thank you all in your loyalty and love over time.” Well, thanks, Drunken Dragon.
Although Miami Beach bids thee farewell, I’m very happy (and relieved) to quickly report on the restaurant’s grand opening in Hallandale Beach later this 12 months.
Let’s circle again as soon as that involves fruition.