Genghis Cohen, the 42-year-old Los Angeles Chinese-American institution known for its red booths, bubbling fish tanks and theatrical tiki drinks, is packing up its vintage vibe for Miami Beach. The cult favorite is opening its first location outside California in Sunset Harbour, where the team says it will lean hard into the throwback 1980s energy while working more Florida seafood and outdoor seating into the mix. Owners Marc Rose and Med Abrous are teaming with hotelier Jason Pomeranc on the project, aiming for a year-round, neighborhood-first operation that plugs another legacy-driven concept into Sunset Harbour’s steadily evolving dining scene.
Where It Will Be
Set to open in late 2026, the Miami outpost will take over the former Sardinia space at 1801 Purdy Avenue in Sunset Harbour, according to Time Out. The plan is to recreate the original’s signature look, from the red booths to the retro 1980s décor, while retooling the setup to suit the waterfront neighborhood with an outdoor area and a menu that leans into fresh local seafood. Time Out also points to oversized egg rolls, queen chicken and crab rangoon as likely headliners when the Miami menu is finalized.
Menu And Cocktails
The operators are banking on big, shareable comfort plates and a theatrical bar program to carry over the L.A. energy. The original’s tiki-inspired “foo foo” cocktails are set to be dialed up for a tropical crowd, and many of the best-known dishes will travel with the brand, according to reporting in Observer. Marc Rose told Observer the menu “invokes nostalgia,” and the team plans to keep table-side theatrics like the volcano chicken while experimenting with how Florida seafood can be folded into the lineup. The owners are expecting a strong dinner crowd, plenty of walk-in neighborhood traffic and a solid takeout and delivery business once the doors open.
Why Sunset Harbour
Rose and Abrous say they searched Miami for years before settling on Sunset Harbour, drawn by its walkability and steady, year-round neighborhood energy. That decision fits into what local coverage calls the area’s ongoing dining build-out, according to What's Good Miami. The partners are framing Genghis Cohen as a true community restaurant rather than a one-night-only spectacle, and the pedestrian waterfront block is expected to play nicely with outdoor seating and cocktail service. With a mix of red-booth nostalgia and seafood-forward tweaks, the team is clearly angling for a sweet spot that works for both locals and visitors.
Timeline And What To Watch
The owners say they are aiming for a holiday-season debut and are “trying to open in time for Christmas,” according to Observer, although they caution that permits and construction timelines will ultimately dictate the exact date. Until then, the main signs of progress will be movement on permits, design reveal photos and the release of a finalized menu. As the project shifts from build-out to hiring and menu testing, expect more details to surface on what Genghis Cohen’s Miami era will actually taste like.
