Imoto Coral Gables Brings Sushi and Sashimi to Clay Conley's New Complex

Imoto opened in Coral Gables on June 8, two and a half weeks after chef Clay Conley's Buccan debuted next door at the same address. The name translates to "little sister" in Japanese, and the restaurant plays that role literally: a sushi and small-plates concept built to complement Buccan rather than compete with it.

A format with a track record

Imoto isn't a new idea for Conley. The concept has operated alongside the original Buccan in Palm Beach since 2012, giving the Coral Gables version a proven format rather than an untested one. Expect sashimi, a sushi counter, and a run of creative small plates built around the same graze-through-courses philosophy that defines Buccan next door.

Part of a three-restaurant address

Imoto, Buccan, and a fast-casual Buccan Sandwich Shop all share the same Coral Gables complex, giving the block three distinct registers: a sushi counter, a small-plates dining room, and a quick-service counter, all from the same kitchen team. For sushi specifically, that means a serious Japanese program landing in a part of Coral Gables that hasn't had one at this level before.

Why it matters

Pairing a long-running Palm Beach favorite with a brand-new Miami-area audience is a low-risk, high-upside move, and Imoto's opening alongside Buccan gives Coral Gables diners a real reason to treat the block as a destination rather than a stop on the way somewhere else.