Spicy Hospitality Group

About Spicy Hospitality Group

Spicy Hospitality Group was founded in Miami by Andre Sakhai, Marc Lotenberg, and Matt Herfield, a trio united by a shared commitment to craftsmanship, culture, and creating dining experiences that feel transportive in the most intentional way. Each concept within the group - the art-driven American dining room The Joyce, the Milan-born Le Specialità, the intimate omakase counter Yasu, and the kappo-style wagyu experience Karyu - is created in close collaboration with international culinary and design teams. This global partnership ensures that stepping into each restaurant feels true to place: the warmth and conviviality of coastal Italy, the disciplined refinement of Tokyo, the sculptural elegance of Ginza, and the modern American sensibility shaped by Miami’s creative culture. The group’s culinary talent brings significant pedigree to the table. At The Joyce, Chef James C. Taylor draws from his experience in acclaimed Michelin-starred kitchens, delivering a menu that balances tradition with modern technique, from the signature Joyce Burger to A5 wagyu offerings and refined seafood dishes. At Yasu, Chef Yasu Tanaka brings the precision and restraint of Japanese omakase, while Chef Haruka Katayanagi of Karyu introduces Miami to his celebrated kappo methodology and mastery of A5 wagyu, shaped by decades of training in Japan and multiple Michelin distinctions. With ongoing expansion into New York and Los Angeles on the horizon, Spicy Hospitality Group continues to evolve, building concepts that feel culturally rooted, thoughtfully executed, and unmistakably their own.