Helmed by Chef Alejandra Espinoza, the culinary force behind Ecuadorian restaurant Somos, COTOA has been such a sensation in North Miami, it’s almost as if it were having a hard time keeping up.
“We opened quickly downtown last year to start building the brand,” co-owner Signo Uddenberg told What Now on Wednesday. “Then, in February, we were notified about the Michelin Guide, which was amazing, although, in the space we were in, we didn’t yet feel like we could fully deliver.”
Indeed, in February, COTOA had not yet moved into its own brick-and-mortar space. It opened at 12473 NE Sixth Court in North Miami back in April.
There, you can go check out COTOA’s streamlined menu, which includes Ceviches & More, including Crudo Salsero (Wahoo with sweet and spicy passion fruit sauce, black sesame, cilantro oil), the dish for which Somos, COTOA’s sister restaurant located in Quito, Ecuador, is most famous. Mains include El Pincho (Grilled Hanger Steak, smoked Chimichurri, papa chaucha and crunchy cucumber) and Tonga de Ecuadorian Langostinos (Grilled Ecuadorian Langostinos with tamarind vinaigrette, coconut rice and tonga sauce with sal prieta).
So far there’s really only been one problem: it can be hard to get a table. Which is why COTOA is now preparing to move into a bigger space located nearby, at 1111 NE 125th St.
“The main thing is having more seats,” Uddenberg said. “We’ve been having to turn too many people away, which is just not what you want as restaurant owner. Beyond that, our kitchen is still too small—which can be good. A small kitchen makes the menu more focused. But with the new layout, we’ll be able to do more, introduce some more of the dishes we serve at Somos, like our Ecuadorian pizza.”
The new location will allow COTOA to launch a prix fixe menu experience and a bar experience, and will feature work by artists, like Daniel Reinoso, whose works have made the space at Somos such a distinctive destination.
It’s worth mentioning that you can also check out Cotoita, COTOA’s spinoff, which features famous Ecuadorian dishes as fast-casual bowls. It’s located at Downtown Miami’s Brightline station.
“This may be a bit of a provocative statement, but I think Ecuador has a bigger gastronomic range even than Peru and other neighboring countries. There’s the coast, the mountains, the jungle, the Galapagos, and these ecosystems create so many different food styles,” said Uddenberg, who sees lots more possibilities on the horizon. “Chef Alejandra is uniquely qualified, having lived there and having spent ten years in France. She knows how to take this food and make it approachable to a modern audience globally. And she’s still just at the beginning of what she’s capable of.”
COTOA is working to launch in its new space on April 1, 2026.
You can keep up with all things COTOA by following @cotoa.rest on Instagram.
