Pao by Paul Qui

A couple of years after winning season nine of Top Chef, chef Paul Qui opened Pao by Paul Qui in the ritzy Faena Miami Beach owned by Alan Faena, the designer behind the restaurant’s dome. At Pao, Qui exhibits a penchant for fusing cuisines by crafting a menu with Filipino, Spanish, Japanese, Thai and French influences. The menu is slimmed down and changes seasonally.

The bird to order at Pao is Paul Qui’s 35-spice East Side King Fried Chicken—a small plate of crispy boneless chicken bites tossed over a bed of greens and pickled red onions. Though what really makes this dish for us is the side of sweet banana ketchup, a staple of the chef’s native Filipino cuisine.

Paul sells itself as a ‘Maison de Qualité,’ which in other words means you can get some very fine bread here, the sort of crusty-outside and pillow-soft…

What we liked: This is the first time Pao by Paul Qui has been on the Miami Spice list, and it’s a must-visit for lifelong Miamians and newcomers alike. For $60 a person, you can get a taste of the seafood-forward menu at a place that might be out of budget for the rest of the year. Appetizer choices include two types of raw fish, yellowtail in a grapefruit ponzu or bluefin tuna in a tomatillo aguachile, but we’ll nudge you to the fried chicken, served with a housemade and classically pinoy banana ketchup, which lands more savory than sweet.

One of the most striking features of this chef’s namesake restaurant isn’t the view into the open kitchens or the oceanfront vista just outside, but the $6.5 million statue of a golden unicorn by Damien Hirst. It’s mirrored by the extravagant $32 unicorn that you can actually eat — a spike-wielding sea urchin resting on a bed of tri-colored grilled sweet corn flavored with chile de árbol and a heady sake aioli. Pair it with the piña colada/Moscow mule mix that arrives in a solid copper unicorn-shaped goblet for a magical experience.

Paul Qui's restaurant, Pao, in the Faena, is a stunner with its gilded domed ceiling and multi-million dollar Damien Hirst unicorn sculpture as its centerpiece. Qui's food can be flashy too, like his "unicorn" dish inspired by that sculpture, combining sea urchin with a sweet corn pudding accented with kalamansi juice, arbol chiles and sake-spiked aioli. But he can also do elegant and clean, like a madai carpaccio paired with smoked soy, leek oil and citrus jam.

Pao by Paul Qui is a modern Asian restaurant with stunning ocean views located inside the luxury Faena Hotel, and is the epitome of luxury dining in Miami. The dining room seating surrounds a Damien Hirst unicorn sculpture worth $6million, meaning you can mix your gastronomy with your art. Make sure you take the girls to Pao by Paul Qui for a big milestone – this is the place to splurge and celebrate.

This swanky restaurant by Top Chef-winner Paul Qui sits inside the Faena Hotel serving globally-inspired Asian dishes. It’s pièce de résistance golden unicorn sculpture and breathtaking ocean views have been the talk of the town since its opening. Known for its bold flavors, regulars recommend trying the wagyu carpaccio, whole fish and pork adobo rice, all washed down by a perfectly paired wine list.

Located in the most opulent hotel of Miami Beach, the Faena, PAO by Paul Qui is lavishly decorated in shades of deep red and gold, with a unicorn theme throughout. Paul Qui rocketed up the ranks to culinary stardom after winning Top Chef, followed up by a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest. He takes a modernist approach toward food that is playful, authentic, and unexpected.

Let’s finish up with another great choice among the Miami Michelin Star restaurants - Pao by Paul Qui. In this place, you will enjoy not only incredible cuisine but also stylish surroundings that feed the eye and soul. As for the food, you can expect many Asian-inspired dishes like scallop aguachile with pineapple and black lime or bao with smoked Wagyu short rib with XO aïoli.

Address: 450 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139Phone:+1 (305) 531-1200Website:paulusa.comDetails: $$, Bakery. Paul, a true Parisian-style bakery and patisserie, brings a touch of European charm to Miami. With a delightful outdoor seating area, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious brunch, coffee, or dessert.

Pao by Paul Qui is one of the best restaurants in Miami, especially when you’re looking for an upscale date night. If you want a memorable meal that’s unlike anything else you’ve experienced, then Pao is for you. If you’re looking for a quiet night out, or if you’re on a budget, it’s probably not.

Pao is helmed by Chef Paul Qui, a James Beard award-winning chef who has been named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs. His culinary style blends his Filipino heritage with Japanese and French techniques. Qui’s travels and experiences inspire the menu’s bold flavors and textures.

Paul Qui won season 9 of “Top Chef” but became a headline name, sadly, when he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. Eventually, charges were dropped, Qui went into rehab, and moved from Texas to Florida to open this restaurant. If you believe in second chances, you owe it to…

The diner lies inside one of the best hotels in Miami, the luxe Faena Hotel. Creation of the talented chef Paul Qui, Pao specializes in serving Asian Cuisine. The restaurant offers more than just delicious food; it provides a new dining experience.

Drawing from a range of international styles including Filipino, Spanish, Japanese & French, Pao boldly presents a new brand of modern Asian cuisine with stunning ocean views.

3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140Phone: 786-655-5600 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Pao by Paul Qui (@paofaena)