CHŌ FUNKY ASIAN BISTRO: Miami Beach’s New High-Energy, Vibe-Forward Asian Bistro

FROM THE WIRES...

Miami, Florida – Now open just off Sunset Harbor, CHŌ Funky Asian Bistro offers a compelling reason to cross the bridge from the Miami mainland to Miami Beach. The playful brainchild of restaurateur Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar (owner/operator of MO MOMENTUM GROUP), CHŌ is built around three pillars: a whimsical vibe, stellar Asian food, and invigorating drinks. Drawing from culinary influences across Asia including, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, CHŌ‘s resulting menu is designed for exploring and lingering, with flavors, music and service propelling each night forward and ensuring it’s more than dinner, it’s a night out. The first concept under the MO MOMENTUM GROUP (MMG) umbrella, CHŌ is the embodiment of Mo’s approach to the industry, hospitality above all. He also possesses an unwavering commitment to quality (B&E chicken, Niman Ranch lamb, everything made in-house with no shortcuts) to approachability and an emphasis on a transportive experience. A night at CHŌ, by design, will linger in the memory but not break the bank.

“In an age consumed by the digital race, I’m doubling down on the human touch of hospitality,” says Alkassar. “CHŌ will radiate warmth, energy, and genuine care. You’ll walk out feeling better than when you walked in.”

Also promised, a helluva good time. “You can’t spell funky without fun,” noted Alkassar, a respected restaurateur recognized on the Observer’s 2024 Power List and a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Outstanding Restaurateur (2023), among others honors and accomplishments.

The name “CHŌ”, derived from myriad Asian languages, conveys the idea of going beyond or exceeding expectations, a principle that defines every element of the restaurant, especially the core philosophy of emphasizing hospitality above all. CHŌ’s mission is to create a high-energy dining experience where bold Asian flavors, funky music, and playful design come together to make people feel something. While the restaurant is committed to sourcing high-quality ingredients, from premium poultry to responsibly raised meats, the team is equally focused on keeping the overall dining  experience approachable, delivering elevated food, cocktails, and hospitality at a reasonable price point designed to welcome everyone to the table.

CHŌ’s menu travels through Asia assembling a lineup of the continent’s greatest hits alongside some edgier interpretations. The lineup spans craveable small plates, wok-fired favorites and flavor-filled entrees built on layered flavors and laser-guided spicing. To start, a section of “Snacks,” highlighting items like the Chicken Liver Pate ($19) with a True Loaf Bakery baguette and Granny Smith kaffir lime chutney; Pork Ribs ($21) with applewood smoked gochujang sauce; and Wood Ear Mushroom ($14) with black vinegar, chili oil and grated garlic. For lighter fare, the “Raw” portion of the menu offers Mango Coconut Salad ($14), tamarind vinaigrette, herbs, and cucumber; Scallop Crudo ($23), red curry oil, pandang, and kaffir lime; and Wasabi Cabbage Salad ($15), with  Korean pear, apple wasabi vinaigrette, and shallots; among others. “Dumplings & Friends” showcases  bitesized perfection including Vietnamese Shrimp Roll ($18) with peanut hoisin sauce, and nuoc cham; Eggplant Lumpia ($14) with chili garlic dip; Mushroom Dumpling ($15), with yuzu ponzu dip and sesame chili dip; and Duck Bao ($18) with honey soy glazed duck and house-made pickles.

From the “Wok”, a variety of sizzling plates including Pad See Ew ($26) stir-fried beef, Chinese broccoli, and rice noodles; and Duck Fried Rice ($32) with snow peas, sweet corn and eggs, served in a whimsical ceramic Chinese take-out box. Signature mains include Korean Fried Chicken ($26) with confit garlic kewpie, gochujang and house pickled daikon; Crab Curry ($42) with jackfruit, spaghetti squash, and Thai red curry; Cha Ca La Vong (a Vietnamese grilled fish, $36) with turmeric marinated daily catch, rice vermicelli noodles, and herbs; and Khao Soi Lamb Neck ($42) with egg noodles, crispy noodles and bean sprouts.

The beverage program matches the kitchen’s energy with a lineup of playful, Asian inspired cocktails just as memorable as the food. Expect vibrant flavors, unexpected combinations and shareable moments made for groups. Designed in collaboration with Miami’s acclaimed Unfiltered Hospitality, the include standouts such as the Golden Triangle ($16) – gin, Thai basil, yuzu, and prosecco; Neon Geisha ($16) – Suntory Toki, Japanese melon wildflower honey, yuzu sake, and egg white; and Night Market ($17) with Nikka Coffee whiskey, Licor 43, five spice dulce de leche, and Vietnamese coffee.  There is also an Asian spin on an American classic, the Silk Thai Manhattan ($18), made with rye whiskey, Thai tea, vermouth, banana, and cardamom bitters; and Easy Tiger! ($18)  with vodka, shochu, pandan, Calpico, and hibiscus. A large format cocktail, Spill the Tea ($45), serves four and consists of Haku vodka, nigori sake, lychee jasmine tea, lemon and grapefruit.

CHŌ’s decor leans fully into MO’s vision of creating moments throughout the entire experience and stimulating all the senses. Conceived by Mo and co-designer MokiBaby, the space pulls  you with an immersive, multi-layered blending of moody lighting, bold visual elements and eclectic design – details that reveal themselves over time. Signature touches ranging from trippy bathrooms and the nostalgia-inducing “fish tank TV” at the hostess stand to each individually, handpainted tabletop (all hiding easter eggs about friends and family of the owner) and crimson-lit bookshelves chockablock with more tchotchkes than a grandmother’s china closet. Together,  all these elements coalesce to deliver on Mo’s promise that the restaurant will be unlike anything else while simultaneously being 100% itself – transportive, cinematic, and unmistakably CHŌ. A street-facing kitchen framed by a glowing, pagoda-inspired structure puts the action on display, turning the culinary line into part of the nightlife. Inside, the room unfolds through a mix of deep red neon accents, mirrored surfaces and shelved curated objects that feel collected over time rather than placed all at once. Every corner offers something different, unexpected details, playful moments and design elements that demand a closer look. “I have a great eye for design, but MokiBaby brought my vision to life in a way that only a top tier creative who is also a friend could,” Alkassar explains. “MokiBaby elevated the experience by helping me create moments throughout the entire space, the street facing kitchen window has become a South Beach 17^th street moment!”

The CHŌ philosophy is VIBE – EAT – DRINK and the philosophy is made manifest in a space where all three pillars exist in seamless synergy. As the night deepens and the music builds, the energy begins to shift, drawing you deeper into the dining room’s aura; it’s moody, a little sexy, always upbeat. It’s not designed for a quick in-and-out dinner, it’s built for staying, settling in and letting the night take shape around you. That same thinking carries through the way CHŌ operates, with a clear focus on the in-person experience. The restaurant keeps its center of gravity in the dining room, creating a come-as-you-are space where the crowd, the sound and the atmosphere are all part of what makes it one of the most talked-about rooms in Miami right now. “CHŌ is everything I love about dining out: the food I love to eat in an energetic, sexy and funky dining room where the team genuinely value one another and the guest,” Alkassar adds. “It’s an extension of my personality; playfully mischievous, welcoming, and always upbeat”

CHŌ Funky Asian Bistro is located at 1209 17th Street on Miami Beach. Dinner is served Sundays through Thursdays from 6PM to 10:30PM; Fridays and Saturdays from 6PM to midnight. For more information or to make a reservation visit www.choasianbistro.com. Follow along on social media at @ChoAsianBistro on Instagram.