KUBO Asian fusion and bar -Ft. lauderdale
Harbordale, Fort Lauderdale
Bar in Fort Lauderdale, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
KUBO is an Asian fusion bar on Fort Lauderdale's SE 17th Street with a cocktail program that justifies a return visit; especially if you stayed food-focused the first time. Booking is easy, making it a practical fallback when other spots are full. Go on a weeknight if you want a calmer room; weekends draw a lively marina-area crowd.
About KUBO Asian fusion and bar -Ft. lauderdale
Is KUBO Worth Booking for Asian Fusion and Cocktails in Fort Lauderdale?
If you've already been to KUBO once and are wondering whether it's worth returning; yes, but go with a specific plan. This Asian fusion bar on SE 17th Street sits in one of Fort Lauderdale's busier dining corridors, the cocktail program is the clearest signal of what the kitchen is trying to do: ambitious, cross-cultural, built for an evening rather than a quick meal. Come back with the bar as your anchor, not an afterthought.
Asian fusion as a category often hides a weak cocktail list behind busy food menus. KUBO's positioning as both a bar and a kitchen suggests a drinks program that's meant to hold its own. If you visited before and stayed mostly food-focused, the bar side is where to direct your attention on a return. A venue that signals cocktail ambition in this category is typically committing to spirit-forward builds, house-made syrups, Asian ingredient integration; think yuzu, lychee, shiso, or Korean chili, rather than generic tropical pours. That's the bar to test on your next visit.
The 745 SE 17th Street address puts KUBO close to Fort Lauderdale's marina district, which means it draws a mix of locals and visitors from nearby hotels. That location tends to produce a room that's more animated on Friday and Saturday evenings, so if you're returning for a lower-key experience, a weeknight visit is worth considering. Booking is direct, this is not a hard reservation to secure, which makes it a practical option when other Fort Lauderdale spots are backed up.
For cocktail-forward nights in Fort Lauderdale, Apothecary 330 - A Cocktail Bar is the direct competitor to compare. KUBO's advantage is the food pairing dimension, Asian fusion gives the drinks more to work with than a standalone cocktail bar. If you want the full package in one stop, KUBO makes sense. If you're only drinking, Apothecary 330 may be more focused.
For broader Fort Lauderdale planning, see our full Fort Lauderdale bars guide, our full Fort Lauderdale restaurants guide, and our full Fort Lauderdale hotels guide. If you want to benchmark KUBO's cocktail ambition against some of the leading bar programs in the country, Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, Jewel of the South in New Orleans, and Julep in Houston are useful reference points for what a serious cocktail program looks like at its ceiling.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 745 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Booking difficulty: Easy, reservations available without significant lead time
- Leading visit timing: Weeknights for a quieter room; weekends are busier given the marina-area location
- Format: Asian fusion kitchen with a cocktail bar component, plan around both
- Price range: Not confirmed in our data, check current menus directly
- Nearby: 15th Street Fisheries, Boatyard, Anthony's Runway 84
- More Fort Lauderdale: Wineries guide | Experiences guide
Planning details
- Location
- 745 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Website
- kuboasianstreetfood.com
- Phone
- +1 954 533 9017
The take
The Take
The Vibe
KUBO reads like a neighborhood watering hole with an Asian-fusion tilt: accessible, unpretentious and built around the bar as much as the kitchen. It leans into the repeat-business crowd of marina workers and longtime Fort Lauderdale visitors, favoring a relaxed, casual atmosphere over high-concept precision. The venue feels approachable rather than formal, where the cocktail program and shareable plates create a social, easygoing evening rather than a staged tasting. Expect a friendly, local-centric energy that keeps the room comfortably occupied without the polish of downtown tourist spots.
Best For
KUBO is best for evenings out with friends, low-key date nights and after-work drinks. The description positions it as a neighborhood spot that rewards repeat visits, making it a natural choice for group outings and casual hangouts where conversation and cocktails take center stage. Because the bar program is as important as the menu, it also suits those who want a full night of drinking and dining rather than a quick, formal tasting experience. The local-centric clientele suggests predictable, steady service rather than tourist-style fanfare.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the drink program: the write-up emphasizes that the cocktails do as much heavy lifting as the food, so plan to order a mix of drinks alongside shareable Asian-fusion plates. This isn’t the omakase-adjacent, technical end of the genre, so don’t expect a tasting-only approach; instead, order liberally and linger. Prioritize social dishes that travel well across a table and let the bar-forward menu shape the evening—think drinks-first, plates-to-share rather than a formal multi-course progression.
Venue details
Ambiance
Anime-inspired interior with cool, fresh decor; lively background music (top 40) at conversational volume; intimate and welcoming atmosphere despite small size.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
Accessibility
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Lounge
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Top 40 Background Music at Low Volume
Signature Pours
- Orange Dragon Roll
- Tiger Boba
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Sidecar Speakeasy; Notable alternative
- Sushi-One; Notable alternative
- 15th Street Fisheries; Notable alternative
- Anthony's Runway 84; Notable alternative
- Apothecary 330 - A Cocktail Bar; Notable alternative
Bar context
How KUBO Compares in Fort Lauderdale
For cocktail ambition, Apothecary 330 - A Cocktail Bar is KUBO's closest competitor. Apothecary 330 focuses exclusively on the drink, which gives it more programme depth per glass. KUBO's advantage is the food pairing dimension: if you want a full evening rather than a bar-only session, the Asian fusion kitchen adds range that Apothecary 330 doesn't offer. Pick Apothecary 330 if cocktails are the entire point; pick KUBO if you want food and drinks to work together.
Sidecar Speakeasy leans into theatrics and a speakeasy format, which suits groups looking for atmosphere over precision. KUBO's Asian fusion positioning is more food-serious than Sidecar, making it the better call for diners who want a kitchen behind the bar. 15th Street Fisheries and Anthony's Runway 84 are both established Fort Lauderdale names with strong local followings, but neither has the cross-cultural cocktail angle that KUBO brings. If you want classic South Florida dining, those two deliver it reliably. If you want something with more drink-forward ambition and Asian flavour integration, KUBO is the more interesting room.
Sushi-One overlaps with KUBO on the Japanese-influenced side of the menu but is more sushi-counter than bar. For a night where the cocktail list matters as much as the food, KUBO is the stronger pick. All five venues are reasonably easy to book by Fort Lauderdale standards, so the decision comes down to format: KUBO is the one to choose when you want a cocktail-led Asian fusion experience rather than a traditional dining room or a single-concept bar.
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Compare KUBO Asian fusion and bar -Ft. lauderdale
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| KUBO Asian fusion and bar -Ft. lauderdale | No published awards |
| Sidecar Speakeasy | No published awards |
| Sushi-One | No published awards |
| 15th Street Fisheries | No published awards |
| Anthony's Runway 84 | No published awards |
| Apothecary 330 - A Cocktail Bar | No published awards |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is KUBO Asian fusion and bar -Ft. lauderdale located?
KUBO Asian fusion and bar -Ft. lauderdale is located in Fort Lauderdale, at 745 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
