By Maria Gabriela Bermudez / Contributing Writer
In a strip mall just a few minutes east of Biscayne Bay Campus on Biscayne Boulevard is what just might be the best sushi and Thai food in North Miami.
Deceiving to the eye from the outside, Oishi Thai is a seemingly hole-in-the-wall restaurant that, once inside, is actually quite spacious, boasting high, decorated ceilings and beautiful, Buddhist-style décor. It’s also surprisingly busy – bursting with life and the usual lively Thursday afternoon lunch crowd.
For students that are tired of the limited lunch options at BBC and are looking for a new spot to grab a bite with their friends between classes, Oishi Thai offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, like their spicy Volcano Sauce chicken or Massaman curry – a sumptuous dish prepared with cashews, curry paste, coconut milk, and topped off with avocado slices.
Oishi’s lunch menu offers a variety of largely portioned authentic Northern Thai dishes, and will also satisfy Japanese food cravings, that include several different bento box specials – all less than $15 per person.
This is the real deal.
Piyarat Potha Arreeratn, better known as “Chef Bee”, is a native of Thailand and the owner of Oishi Thai. Chef Bee originally worked at the James Beard Award-nominated Khong River House in Miami Beach until they parted ways in 2013.
Some lunch specials include fried rice, stir-fried clear noodles with onions, scallions and tomatoes, and a variety of curries, including their red curry, prepared with coconut milk, bell peppers, and basil.
Their vegetarian Pad Thai with tofu is a mountain of flavorful goodness – thin rice noodles sautéed with scallions, tofu, bean sprouts, and scrambled eggs, all tossed in a light peanut sauce and topped with crushed peanuts.
Vegetarian alternatives have been requested by students at BBC for a while. No worries vegetarians! You will find a wide range of choices at Oishi Thai.
The majority of the dishes offered on the lunch menu are vegetarian, but meat can be added.
Often many Thai restaurants will slap a small selection of sushi rolls to their menu, almost as an afterthought.
There are 10 different bento box lunch specials that offer various lunch combinations, including California or vegetarian rolls, a sashimi and nigiri selection, shrimp tempura, and even chicken or beef teriyaki with vegetables. A miso soup or salad is also included.
I ordered the lunch combination J7, which came with three pieces of nigiri, half a California roll and six pieces of sashimi. It also came with chicken teriyaki in a sweet glaze which was quite good.
The sushi was some of the freshest you can find this side of North Miami- buttery with obviously, good-quality cuts of fish.
For those who are feeling more adventurous, Oishi Thai also offers dishes like salmon belly nigiri with caviar and gold flecks in a white miso sauce, and spicy salmon tacos with truffle.
Since its grand opening, Oishi Thai has won several awards, including Miami New Times “Best of Miami,” three and a half stars from the Sun Sentinel, and was also featured on the Zagat guide.
Their lunch specials are available daily from noon to 3 p.m. You can also order it to go and eat it while you study on campus!
The next time you’re craving a delicious curry, Pad Thai, sushi, or something deliciously healthy that is flavorful, close to FIU and affordable for students, try Oishi Thai.
Until next bite!
About Post Author
