A Gulf Coast Mexican restaurant chain known for its birria tacos and tequila-forward bar is set to open its first Miami-Dade County location on Miracle Mile this fall. Azul of Coral Gables will take over the second-generation space at 127 Miracle Mile, seating roughly 200 guests once it opens, with owner Franklin Andrade pushing for an October debut.
Andrade told Business Debut that the team is pushing everything to be ready for an October opening, though an exact date has not yet been announced. The full-service restaurant will offer table service, a full liquor bar, and an extensive menu built around dishes that already perform well at Azul's existing locations, according to the same report. Andrade said the brand opened first in Cape Coral, then Fort Myers, and is now going to Miami.
The Coral Gables location marks Azul's third Florida outpost. Andrade launched the original restaurant in Cape Coral in early 2024 before opening a larger, two-story location in October 2025 at Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, which took over a former Mexican restaurant site, according to Gulfshore Business.
A Former Sushi Spot Gets a Mexican Makeover
The 127 Miracle Mile storefront previously housed Kao Sushi & Grill, an Argentine-Asian fusion concept out of Buenos Aires that served sushi alongside Latin grilled meats before closing earlier this year, per The Burn Miami. Real estate listings describe the 4,600-square-foot space as a second-generation restaurant, meaning it already comes equipped with kitchen and bar infrastructure, according to Commercial Search — a setup that typically lowers upfront costs for an incoming operator.
Commercial real estate firm Colliers represented landlord Ryan Kaplan in negotiating the lease, while Adriano Gonzalez of Miami Gables Realty represented Franklin and Alondra Andrade, the same outlet reports. Negotiations reportedly wrapped up in mid-2026 ahead of the planned autumn launch.
Birria Tacos and a Bar Built Around Tequila
Once open, Azul of Coral Gables will lean on the menu items that have made the brand a hit elsewhere. Birria tacos and birria burritos are among the restaurant's most ordered dishes, with the birria menu building a strong following, per Business Debut. Chicken spinach enchiladas are also popular at Azul's existing locations. The bar program will center on tequila and other spirits, complementing the full liquor license planned for the new location.
The name and blue color scheme running through Azul's branding are meant as a tribute to Mexican heritage. Restaurant representatives say the aesthetic draws inspiration from blue corn, blue agave, and traditional Talavera pottery, according to The Burn Miami's earlier report on the concept.
Miracle Mile's Rent Advantage Draws Regional Chains
Azul's arrival fits into a broader pattern of regional operators expanding into downtown Coral Gables. Miracle Mile retail asking rents ranged from $65 to $95 per square foot in early 2026, positioning the corridor as a cheaper alternative to Miami Beach, where rents hit $113 per square foot, and Brickell, where they reached $90 per square foot, according to the Coral Gables Gazette. Major corridor landlords executed nearly 100,000 square feet of new leases in early 2026 alone, per the same report.
The strip already packs in more than 150 ground-floor storefronts and over 70 dining establishments across four walkable blocks, according to the Coral Gables Museum, which notes Miracle Mile was formally designated a commercial strip back in 1955. Just doors away at 135 Miracle Mile, David Chang's fast-casual chicken concept Fuku opened earlier this year, underscoring how active the block has been with new tenants.
What's Left Before Opening Day
Azul's website is not active yet but is expected to launch at azulofcoralgables.com, per Business Debut. Before the restaurant can welcome its first guests, the team will still need to clear standard municipal checkpoints, including liquor permitting and compliance with Coral Gables' sidewalk dining rules, which require at least six feet of clear pedestrian pathway between outdoor tables and the building line, according to the City of Coral Gables.
Coral Gables citywide carries nearly 1 million square feet of commercial space available for lease across 68 properties, according to PropertyShark, underscoring how much competition Azul will face for foot traffic even as it banks on Miracle Mile's density to drive business. The opening adds to a string of recent debuts and expansions along the strip, following Hoodline's coverage of Ecuadorian restaurant El Ñaño's arrival and Moxies' two-story buildout on the same corridor.
