China Grill Returns To Miami With Landmark Reopening at Bal Harbour Shops

After over a decade, the iconic China Grill is returning to Miami. The legendary restaurant, originally opened in Miami Beach on September 27, 1995, will reopen at the entrance of Bal Harbour Shops on June 9th, ushering in a new era for one of the city’s most influential dining institutions.

Founded by restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow, China Grill first debuted in New York City in 1987 inside the iconic CBS “Black Rock” Building, quickly becoming one of the city’s most important and celebrated restaurants. When Chodorow expanded to Miami, he made a then-unconventional bet on South Beach’s southern edge, transforming the corner of Fifth Street and Washington Avenue into the neighborhood’s epicenter and helping catalyze the rise of South of Fifth.

The original China Grill, with interiors by the late Jeffrey Beers, introduced a new scale and energy to Miami dining. It earned four stars from the Miami Herald, attracted a global clientele, and became synonymous with high energy celebratory dining for more than 15 years. Its influence continues to ripple through the city’s restaurant scene today, including the later success of Komodo, which carried forward its globally inspired culinary philosophy.

Now, China Grill returns.

Its new home at Bal Harbour Shops places it among the most elite retail and dining destinations in the world, alongside Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, as well as restaurants like Makoto and Carpaccio. The location reflects both the brand’s legacy and its continued relevance among an international, luxury-driven audience.

At its core, the return of China Grill is about bringing back its classic dishes that defined an era while also introducing a new generation to its signature style of bold, shareable, Asian-inspired cuisine.

“China Grill was always about creating a shared experience, something people remembered long after the meal ended,” said Jeffrey Chodorow, owner and founder of China Grill Management. “There’s been a real demand to bring it back, and Bal Harbour feels like the right place to do it in a way that honors what it was while moving it forward.”

The menu will revive many of the restaurant’s most iconic plates, starting with the Lobster Pancakes, a longtime guest favorite that balances richness with flavor intensity, and the Lamb Spare Ribs, known for their deep, caramelized glaze and fall-off-the-bone tenderness. The Tempura Sashimi offers a contrast of temperature and texture, pairing delicately flash fried seafood with the bright, clean flavors or sushi grade raw tuna.

Dumplings remain central to the experience, including the Spicy Beef Dumplings, which deliver heat, acidity, and depth in a single bite. Diners will also find an array of new dumplings in China Grill style. Featured among them will be a signature black and gold black cod dumpling. Salads, another hallmark of China Grill’s menu, return in full force with dishes like the Confucius Chicken Salad, Crackling Calamari Salad, and Peking Duck Salad, each layered with crunch, herbs, and bold dressings designed for sharing. A new “classic” will be its Singapore 17 vegetable salad with an umi salted plum dressing and crispy taro.

Signature entrées reflect the restaurant’s approach to “Asian-inspired world cuisine,” blending technique and flavor across cultures. The Szechuan Beef delivers mild heat and intensity, while Drunken Chicken offers a more aromatic, nuanced profile. Seafood plays a major role, with dishes like Lobster Shanghai, coconut curried shrimp with black noodles, and an array of fish dishes cooked to precision.

Side dishes, often as memorable as the mains, include the cult-favorite Crispy Spinach and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, both of which have remained part of guest nostalgia for years. And for dessert, Banana’s in a Box returns as a playful, indulgent finish that has become one of the restaurant’s most talked-about finales. The restaurant will also offer an array of Asian inspired soufflés as a throwback to it’s historical roots.

“We’re introducing some new dishes that feel right for where dining is today, but the heart of the menu is unchanged,” said Chodorow. “Most of what people remember is coming back exactly as it should, the signatures that defined China Grill and still resonate with guests who have been waiting for this moment.”

Beyond the classics and new dumplings and salads, China Grill will introduce sure to be new “classics” like octopus with fresh lychee and Asian spiced coffee crusted tuna, as well as a host of new rice and noodle dishes. For the first time, China Grill will offer a simply grilled section of meats, fish, chicken and vegetables with a variety of Asian sauces. At lunch, these grill items will be available in more lunch friendly portions as part of a “bento like” price friendly lunch. Asian fish crudos will also be on the menu as well

as a signature Peking Duck that China Broadcasting described as the best Peking Duck they experienced outside of China.

Dining at China Grill has always been about more than the food. The format encourages sharing, with dishes arriving continuously and building momentum throughout the meal. It is designed to feel dynamic and social, whether for a celebratory dinner, a business gathering, or a spontaneous night out.

The design of the new space will echo the original while feeling distinctly current. Guests can expect signature elements such as excerpts from Marco Polo’s journals embedded throughout the floors and the brand’s recognizable floating lighting, alongside updated materials and a more refined, contemporary layout suited to Bal Harbour. The energy remains intentional: high-touch service, a sense of movement in the dining room, and an atmosphere that balances sophistication with approachability.

China Grill’s comeback speaks to its lasting emotional connection with Miami. Former guests who once celebrated milestones at the restaurant are now returning with their children, while a new generation discovers it for the first time. Its broad, international appeal continues, with strong ties to Latin American, European, and local Miami communities, including nearby Sunny Isles Beach.

More than a reopening, China Grill’s return marks a meaningful moment in Miami’s dining evolution. It bridges past and present, reintroducing a concept that helped shape the city’s culinary identity while meeting the expectations of today’s global, experience-driven diner. At a time when Miami continues to grow as an international hub for culture, business, and luxury, the revival of China Grill underscores the enduring power of legacy brands to resonate across generations, reaffirming its place not just as a restaurant, but as a defining part of the city’s story.