Before Miami became a global dining capital, Jeffrey Chodorow was already setting the scene. The legendary restaurateur helped usher in an era when dining out was as much about who was in the room as what was on the plate. His restaurants were glamorous, theatrical and unapologetically over the top—and few embodied that spirit quite like China Grill.
First opened in New York City in 1987, China Grill became a bona fide dining institution before bringing its signature brand of culinary theater to South Beach in 1995. With its dramatic interiors, globally inspired menu, enormous shareable plates and a celebrity clientele, China Grill wasn’t just a restaurant. It was the place to be.
Now, more than a decade after its Miami departure, the original hotspot is back. This time, Chodorow has set up shop at Bal Harbour Shops, bringing along the dishes that made China Grill famous—including its legendary Confucius chicken salad, lamb spareribs and Szechuan beef—while introducing a few new favorites.
As someone who ate the Confucius chicken salad at China Grill’s Midtown Manhattan location practically every single day (and would happily do so again), I can personally attest that this comeback is long overdue.
GRAZIA caught up with Chodorow to talk about bringing back an icon, the celebrity encounters that defined its heyday and why some restaurants never go out of style.
GRAZIA: How does it feel to bring China Grill back
after all these years?
Jeffrey Chodorow: China Grill was my first restaurant and really was the experience that turned what was supposed to be a hobby into a business. So obviously, I have a very strong emotional connection to it. Bringing it back was a goal of mine for a long time.
Why Bal Harbour Shops?
I’ve always believed Bal Harbour Shops was a special place. It’s designed in a way that makes it perfect for destination dining, or as part of a shopping experience, which is a bonus.
Which dishes are you most excited to have back on the menu?
If it’s on the menu, I really love it. Obviously, I’m partial to the classics like the lamb spareribs, Confucius chicken salad, calamari salad and Szechuan beef, but the new dishes will become new classics.
Speaking of the Confucius chicken salad, it’s arguably one of the most iconic dishes in China Grill history. What’s the story behind it?
I get more requests for the Confucius chicken salad recipe than any other dish. My chef presented it to me, I made a few changes, and I loved it. What can I say?
China Grill’s South Beach days were legendary. What’s one moment you’ll never forget?
So many. But one of the funniest happened when I was at home sleeping on a Saturday night and my phone rang. I answered it, and the voice on the other end said, “Hey man, this is Steven Tyler. I just wanted to tell you what a cool, great place you have.”
I thought it was a prank. I yelled at the guy and hung up. The phone rang again. It was a friend of mine, and he said, “You just hung up on Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.”
You’ve operated restaurants in both New York and Miami. What’s the biggest difference between the two cities?
The biggest differences are staffing and products, particularly produce. New York is a much bigger market for finding qualified staff. As for products, particularly produce, the gap has lessened, although it’s still easier to find high-quality items in New York. We do ship in a lot of specialty items from around the world.
The new space is stunning. How did you approach bringing China Grill’s signature aesthetic into a new setting?
It was a difficult space to work with, but I wanted to keep the key signature features that were part of China Grill’s DNA: the old map of the world, the Marco Polo journal and the lighting. Everything was designed around those features.
Now that China Grill is back in Miami, are there plans to bring it to other cities?
We’re working on Boca/West Palm and New York at the moment.
Can guests expect any special nights or recurring events?
Yes, but it’s too soon to announce.
China Grill is now open at Bal Harbour Shops. For more information, visit chinagrillbalharbour.com.
