Asian Funk Fusion
"The Top 6 Places to Taste the New Asian Fusion" - Bon Appetit Magazine
"38 Essential Miami Restaurants" - Eater
Asian Funk Fusion
"The Top 6 Places to Taste the New Asian Fusion" - Bon Appetit Magazine
"38 Essential Miami Restaurants" - Eater
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our story
Sakaya Kitchen is a Grateful Hospitality restaurant and the first in Chef Richard Hales’ portfolio. Opened in 2009, the fast-casual concept immediately captured the hearts of loyal guests with a menu of curated plates, bowls and baos inspired by Chef Hales’ years of traveling throughout Asia. The many new flavors he experienced ultimately influenced the menu, which continues to be a thoughtful marriage of traditional dishes and flavors, blended with modern techniques and ingredients. Hales’ flavor-packed menu quickly gained traction and in 2014, Sakaya Kitchen received the ultimate validation, when the “Mayor of Flavortown” himself, Guy Fieri, featured the restaurant on his Food Network Emmy-nominated, “Diner’s Drive-Ins & Dives.”
Now more than a decade old, Sakaya Kitchen continues to serve up Fieri’s favorites including the Duck Sandwich and Ginger Brussels Sprouts. Hales’ approach to Sakaya Kitchen has always been forward-thinking; in its opening years, the chef-driven approach to fast casual dining was new to the industry, and most recently, Sakaya Kitchen has moved to a virtual model with a pick-up, and delivery-only. Sakaya Kitchen is available to order online through the website as well as via Uber Eats, Postmates and Door Dash.
We love good food from good sources too
“When I was backpacking through, Asia if I ate something I enjoy at a restaurant, I would ask the owner if I could work there for free for a couple days to learn the flavors of the dish and how they came to be” Chef Richard on how he came up with the Sakaya Kitchen menu.
We love good food from good sources too
“When I was backpacking through, Asia if I ate something I enjoy at a restaurant, I would ask the owner if I could work there for free for a couple days to learn the flavors of the dish and how they came to be” Chef Richard on how he came up with the Sakaya Kitchen menu.
The Kitchen
The Kitchen
Richard Hales
CHEF / OWNER
Chef Richard always wanted a restaurant of his own and spent the first two decades of his life dreaming about, the second two decades working in the industry and the last four years opening them. In 2009 Sakaya Kitchen Midtown, 2010 Dim Ssam a gogo food truck, 2011 Sakaya Kitchen Downtown, 2012 Sakaya Kitchen Catering, 2013 Blackbrick Chinese. Notably he has been a Sommelier in the past besides a cook but now most importantly a Dad.
Jenny Hales
COOKIE MAKER / OWNER
Jenny has a serious background in high finance in the commercial real estate industry with a masters degree in business but that could not trump the desire to raise and take care of a family. Somehow amongst the chaos of home life a baker was born. What started out as a treat at home turned into a 200 dozen a month one and only dessert at Sakaya Kitchen, the "Wife Hales' Cookie." Jenny also collects all the $$$.
Jenny & Richard live in Miami with their daughters