Miami restaurant

Yue Chinese Hosts Wok Star Supper Club — One Night Only!

July 4, 2025 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Don’t miss the next Wok Star Supper Club at Yue Chinese, a stylish new Northern Chinese restaurant tucked on charming Española Way & Drexel in South Beach — happening Sunday, July 13 at 6PM.

Yue Chinese collaborates with Event Curator & Producer Eleanor Hoh (@wokstar) to bring her popular Supper Club to their cozy dining room. What used to be a clubby bar now glows with Art Deco colors, custom embroidered peacock panels, vintage lacquer cabinets, and design details personally chosen by owners Jay & Sherry Zhao and shipped from China.

WHAT TO EXPECT

For one night only, guests will enjoy a 5-Course Tasting Menu ($78pp), including a welcome rosé from Doña Rosalba.

Expect bold Northern and Szechuan flavors like Spicy Cumin Lamb and Black Truffle Angus Beef Xiao Long Bao. A vegetarian menu will feature dishes like Pan Fried Tofu in sweet soy sauce and a braised Wheat Gluten with mushrooms — a nod to traditional Szechuan roots.

It’s all about classic Northern Chinese and Szechuan flavors in a modern, neon-lit Miami setting. The night is rounded out with a curated wine list by sommelier Christina Sun.

On every menu, they’ve added their mantra: “At Yue Chinese, dishes are designed for communal enjoyment — bringing people together around the table.”

EVENT DETAILS

REGULAR APPETIZERS
Choose ONE: Peking Duck Rolls, Black Truffle Angus Beef Xiao Long Bao or Pan Fried Crispy Lacy Chicken or Pork Dumplings

REGULAR MAINS
Choose ONE: Steak with Mango; Kung Pao Chicken; Cumin Lamb

**VEGETARIAN APPETIZERS**
Choose ONE: Black Truffle Crispy Tofu; Vegetable Dumplings; Vegetable Spring Rolls

VEGETARIAN MAINS
Choose ONE: Pan Fried Tofu in sweet soy sauce; Ma Po Tofu; Wheat Gluten, Wild Mushrooms, Peanuts

**VEG –** Choose ONE: Eggplant OR String Beans
**SIDES –** Choose ONE: Veg Fried Rice OR Veg Lo Mein

WOK STAR SUPPER CLUB
📍 Yue Chinese, 447 Española Way/Drexel Ave, South Beach, 33139
📅 Sunday, July 13
🕕 6:00 PM
🥢 5-Course Tasting Menu
🌱 Vegetarian menu available
💳 $78pp INCLUDES tips & tax
🎟️ Early reservations a MUST due to limited seating.
👀 See instructions below RESERVATIONS to submit your food order
🍷Welcome rosé by Doña Rosalba
🍹Beverages NOT included, order exotic cocktails a la carte
🚗 Valet Parking right outside $20 (4 hrs) on Drexel Ave./Espanola Way or city garage on 16th/Collins $1/hr using Park Mobile just a block away

RESERVATIONS

Click on RESERVATIONS BUTTON ABOVE
Scroll down to Wok Star Supper Club
->click RESERVE
-> set at 6pm (ONLY TIME)
-> click number of guests
-> click Add a special request:

state any food allergies
Submit your MENU choices – Regular OR Vegetarian
Please NO mixing
Choose App, Main, Veg, Side

We look forward to seeing you for this intimate
and delicious dinner!

NOTE:
I’d like to thank talented Daphnie Montoya @thedmxperience for help with flyer and creating a stunning Reels for Yue Chinese.

Thanks to Karen Escalera, Miami Curated, a luxury lifestyle, fashion and food blog for including our event in Lots of Things to do in July 2025.

Thanks to Jenny Starr Perez, publisher & editor, Courant Magazine for posting on instagram!

Yue Chinese brings Stunning Decor and Theatrical Presentations to South Beach

June 24, 2025 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Yue Chinese brings Stunning Decor and Theatrical Presentations to South Beach. On June 6, Yue Chinese opened its doors at 447 Española Way, introducing South Beach to a stylish new take on Northern Chinese cuisine.

This modern, artfully designed restaurant is already turning heads with its elegant and fun interiors, show-stopping dishes, and a menu rooted in tradition with a twist.

Dragon Well Shrimp, sautéed in fragrant Longjing green tea and served in a mist of vapor.

Yue Chinese Brings Bold Flavors, Artful Decor, and Theatrical Presentations to South Beach.

Founded by hospitality veterans Jay Zhao, originally from Beijing, and his wife Sherry Liu from Shenyang, Yue Chinese is a dream realized after years managing restaurants from New York and Miami. Their vision? To share the warmth and richness of Northern Chinese flavors with a South Florida audience eager for bold, authentic experiences.

“In Asian food culture, meals are meant to be shared,” reads the motto on every menu. “At Yue Chinese, dishes are designed for communal enjoyment — bringing people together around the table.”

Signature dishes include:

• Cumin Lamb, flamed tableside for a dramatic and aromatic presentation.

• Dragon Well Shrimp, sautéed in fragrant Longjing green tea and served in a mist of vapor.

• Truffle Beef Xiao Long Bao, a luxurious twist on the classic soup dumpling.

• Peking Duck, presented in a custom tiered porcelain vessel with compartments for scallions, cucumber, pineapple, hoisin sauce, and pancakes.

Cumin Lamb, flamed tableside for a dramatic and aromatic presentation.

The dining space is equally compelling. Guests step into a vibrant atmosphere where Art Deco color palettes meet Chinese elegance — think embroidered wall panels with peacocks and chrysanthemums and lacquered cabinets. Accented ceilings and mirrors are lit up with pastel colors creating a cheerful, club-like ambiance. Outdoor seating is also on the horizon.

embroidered wall panels with flowers and lacquered cabinets

Jay, a passionate chef and design aficionado, developed the menu to reflect both heritage and innovation, aiming to introduce Miami to a new era of Chinese dining. Complementing the food is a carefully curated wine list by sommelier Christina Sun.

Whether you’re a local or visiting from abroad, Yue Chinese is a welcome addition to the historic charm of Española Way — and a must for lovers of Chinese cuisine seeking something new, refined, and memorable.

Full disclosure: I am helping with PR, Marketing & Business Development and proud to be associated with this lovely restaurant and couple.

New Miami food hall, Julia & Henry’s serves up Asian cuisine, all on one floor

June 19, 2023 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Ding, ding, ding! New Miami food hall, Julia and Henry’s serves up Asian cuisine, all on one floor. The newest curated food hall with a lineup of numerous celebrity chefs finally opened in downtown Miami in the iconic art deco building that housed Walgreens. Story goes this food hall was named after Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler, considered “the mother and father of Miami”!

About the decor:

Your first impression of Julia and Henry’s is, WOW! You’re immediately hit by the multi level, colorfully lit up wine cellar (I’ve only seen it blue and pink).

It’s MASSIVE, I like that there’s an atrium in the middle that spans all three floors. With “balconies” on each floor, this makes the food hall very open and light. There’s a modern, see through staircase and walkways which lets light in also and regular staircase in the rear back wall. The design is modern, whimsical, industrial with hints of colors especially with the bar lounge sofas and wall art.

Currently open in the food hall: ground, mezzanine & balcony third floor. Future will be a floor dedicated to music and “experiences”. The third floor balcony showcases SIX Asian Food Concepts and a craft cocktail bar, The Lasseter and that’s where we went straight to! I mean food not bar.

Scout, then action:

I loved visiting with my foodie buddy @epicurean305 we enjoy the same pacing and like exploring new flavors, do check him out on Instagram. We took a quick tour of the SIX Asian food concepts before settling on two: Fried Snapper bowl from Achar and Pork Lechon Gyozas from Hitchi Haika.

We did end up getting a third dish from Osso on the Ground Floor but that’s for another post.

About the 6 Asian Food Concepts:

@Acharstreet.kitchen
Created by restauranteur, Maher Murshed, who also opened Byblos in South Beach among many others. His vision with Achar was SPOT ON! He nailed it with all aspects for a fantastic dining experience. I mention this constantly…ambiance, presentation and of course, delicious food. Interesting Achar is tagged as Burmese but Murshed is Bangladeshi and the chef is Peruvian??? I don’t care as long as the food is tasty!

About Achar’s food:

Fried Snapper Bowl, $18 came with basmati rice, turmeric cauliflower & potato, mashed tomato with onions & a gorgeous colorful, chopped salad. I loved this complete meal and it was great value. The fried snapper was dipped in a chickpea batter so it’s gluten free and seasoned with a house mix. The snapper was perfectly executed, moist and tender. You could taste flavors of each ingredient in that beautifully presented bowl.

There were options of tandoori grilled, beef or chicken skewers which looked very tantalizing. I got to film some fiery grill action there. Definitely going back to try those! There was also a Tamarind tossed Chick Pea Bowl for vegetarians.

I managed to have a brief chat with Chef Marco who had worked at Byblos & Bazaar by Jose Andres. Chef definitely has operations organized, you could see colorful bowls laid out ready which just needed the skewered protein. Our dish was ready quite quickly.

He gifted us Sweet Rice Pudding (Firni) served in a traditional earth clay bowl. It’s made with chinigura rice, rose water and pistachios. A flood of food memories rushed at me in the first bite, this dessert reminded me of a semolina dessert my mom used to make in Hong Kong. I loved this sweet end to what was a well thought out concept and most importantly, our Fried Snapper Bowl was really very delicious. Well done Achar!

@Hitchihaika
Japanese Gyozas filled with 7 flavors from around the world by Chef Jose Mendin (Pubbelly & many other food concepts) & Chef Jorge Mijangos. Between $14-$16. We tried Pork Lechon Gyozas with citrus mojo, green herbs. 5 in an order, very tasty and lovely presentation, maybe a little bit teeny.

Lucky @epicurean305 scored a fantastic window seat right next to Hitchi Haika, it was PERFECT for photo taking.

Now, for the other 4 Asian Concepts:

@shimujaflorida Master Ramen Chef Kei San was serving authentic ramen bowl made fresh in front of you. I’ve heard so much about this restaurant. I can’t wait to try, my only issue is I can’t eat a lot of starchy noodles.

@palmarmiami described as “Dim Sum” by Javier Ramirez who also opened Alter, Bachour and Palmar in Wynwood where I’ve dined several times. Described as “blending Latin flavors with modern Asian street food and tropical Miami vibes”! The spicy pork noodles and papaya salad looked scrumptious.

@sankuay by Chef Charles Thomson. A Peruvian-Cantonese Chifa Wok concept and Asian street food. Lomo Saltado looked delightful, priced at $22. I need to try one of his Wok dishes, hey, I am a wok cooking teacher and know a thing or two about this!

@yabairolls serves Japanese hand rolls. Yabai brings the vibrancy of Kabukicho, an entertainment district in Tokyo known for their neon signs!

Conclusion:

I would love to hear what Asian dishes you’ve tried or want to try!

Julia & Henry’s is definitely a fun food hall to check out with so many options. Maybe weekday? We went Saturday, around 1:45pm and only waited 5 minutes in line to get in. However, when we came out, the line was half a block long! Or wait a couple more months when it’s not the newest and latest food hall to try?