There are few places in our fair city that send me into an instant time warp back to my childhood. Little Havana is one of them. For those of you not familiar with the area, Little Havana is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The approximate boundaries are the Miami River to the North, SW 16th Street to the South, 27th Avenue to the West, and I-95 to the East. Named "Little Havana", after the capital of Cuba because of the large concentration of Cuban immigrants that lived there during 1960's through the 1980's, Little Havana is noted as the center of social, cultural, and political activity in Miami. The streets are lined with famous Cuban/American sculptures, mom and pop furniture stores, cigar rolling shops, affordable and colorful storefronts that represent the rich and vibrant Cuban/American heritage.

Over the last few years, like most places in Miami, it too has been changing. With an influx of new businesses and nightclubs, the area has been booming with nightlife all on its own.  One of the most notable new businesses in the area is that of the new and trendy Asian Cuisine Restaurant, Mr. Yum located on 1945 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33135.

For me, personally, the main appeal of the restaurant is its unique and trendy look and style. The color scheme of the decorations is a crisp white contrasted against a bright red, giving the restaurant a very chic look. It has a small main dining area inside with the added bonus of an even smaller room off to the side of the main dining area with curtains for privacy for small parties of 6 to 8, which offers a very intimate dining experience. There is also a sitting area outside which expands along the south and east sides of the restaurant and allows you to sit outside, enjoy the warm Miami night sky, while sipping some House Sake with your friends, and listening to the hustle and bustle of Little Havana.

The menu is traditional Japanese and Thai cuisine but with a twist. If you'd like to try something different I highly recommend the ño Roll, which is a shrimp tempura and avocado roll topped with sweet plantain and mango sauce. The sweet flavors of the plantain and mango sauce makes the flavors burst in your mouth. If you are looking for something in the more Thai Cuisine variety I highly recommend the Pineapple Fried Rice which contains shrimp and pineapple sautéed with brown sauce onions, tomatoes, scallions and eggs and is served inside a half pineapple, as a dish. Each meal is prepared with the freshest ingredients and served by very knowledgeable staff eager to make your dining experience unforgettable.

I can go on and on describing each amazing dish to you, but instead, take a drive down to the heart of Miami, have a nice dinner at Mr. Yum, and then stop at one of the many local cuban cafeterias for a good shot of strong Cuban coffee to aid you on your drive home. I guarantee you'll enjoy the experience.

Mr. Yums is open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and for dinner from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, except for Friday nights when they are open until midnight and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm.