CHŌ Funky Asian Bistro has slid into the former Paya space on 17th Street in Miami Beach, swapping out the island vibe for a moody, neon-lit pan-Asian playground in Sunset Harbour. The solo project from restaurateur Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar pulls flavors from Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Indonesia, with shareable plates and a strong cocktail program built for lingering nights. The room leans into after-dark energy with low lighting, red banquettes and a pagoda-framed open kitchen that keeps the cook line squarely in the spotlight.
According to the Miami New Times, CHŌ opened at 1209 17th St. under Alkassar’s new Mo Momentum Group and marks his first solo restaurant after co-running Paya with chef Niven Patel. That report notes the menu is organized into five sections — Snacks, Raw, Dumplings & Friends, Wok and Mains — to make the whole thing easy to pass around the table…