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  • Image: Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen

    Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen

    864 Commerce St., Miami Beach South Beach

    239-933-6422

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    Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen, a partnership between chef Samuel "Sam" Gorenstein and Omer Horev, founder of Pura Vida Miami, might just be the most charming restaurant in Miami Beach. The eatery, inside a small house complete with a porch lined with flowing plants and cozy cushions, offers a plethora of bright fare. Start with a few mezze before moving on to more substantial fare like grilled lamb chops or a whole branzino. Gorenstein drew his inspiration from the cafés of Tel Aviv, a city he says is like Miami in style and climate. Abbalé is intimate, inviting, and altogether an extremely pleasant way to pass the time grazing on shareable plates while sipping a glass of wine (or two).
    5 articles
  • Image: Apocalypse BBQ

    Apocalypse BBQ

    8695 SW 124th Ave. East Kendall/Pinecrest

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    A business that began on a Weber Smokey Mountain has grown into one of the area's best barbecue restaurants. In 2022, Jeff Budnechky channeled his pandemic side hustle into a standalone location. Outside the restaurant, a small array of smokers billow aromas of pork and beef that betray Budnechky's Brazilian-Argentinian roots and his wife's Cuban heritage. Arrive early and you might snag an order of the brisket bacon: seasoned and smoked pork belly sliced thick and tossed on the flattop before serving. If you manage to resist ordering the St. Louis-cut ribs at first, you might change your mind after seeing platters emerge from the kitchen, slow-cooked and practically begging to be lacquered with Budnechky's colada-infused "oro negro" sauce. Cafecito-rubbed, Texas-style brisket or pulled pork shoulder pairs nicely with the chef's Carolina-inspired mustard sauce (not to mention classic sides like a pepper-flecked mac & cheese, sweet coleslaw, and honey-doused cornbread). Further upping the ante: a ten-seat bar offering tropical and classic cocktails. Try the house margarita, sweet, silky, and smooth, or a the berry-infused, housemade sangria.
    4 articles
  • Image: Arbetter's Hot Dogs

    Arbetter's Hot Dogs

    8747 SW 40th St. Westchester/West Miami

    305-207-0555

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    It's not necessarily the hot dogs themselves that are better at Arbetter's. Rather, these all-beef or pork-and-beef franks are ideal blank canvases for the three garnish combinations that solidified Arbetter's reputation when this family-run institution opened more than a half-century ago. The basic onion/relish dog is nicely tangy, and the sauerkraut/mustard dog, loaded with beautifully buttery, cooked-all-day-tender kraut, is even better. Along with the rich and flavorful but not overly hot all-meat chili topping from an old Arbetter family recipe, a garnish of diced raw onion adds that reassuring subliminal message that you're consuming a healthful greenish vegetable that certainly counteracts the menu's cholesterol count — so, hey, have another. For a taste of the 305, try a "Miami" dog with mustard, onion, cheese, tomato, and potato sticks. Or throw caution to the wind and order the "Zelda": a hot dog with "everything" on it.
    11 articles
  • Image: Ariete

    Ariete

    3540 Main Highway Coconut Grove

    305-640-5862

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    Chef Michael Beltran's Ariete adds an air of refinement to Coconut Grove not seen since the days when industrialist James Deering caroused its shores. Ariete serves dishes like foie gras with smoked plantains, but there's something more than fancy amid the elegance offered by Beltran, who trained under chefs Norman Van Aken and Michael Schwartz. The Little Havana native twists bits of Cuba and France into every dish, just the way his grandparents taught him. In 2022, Beltran's culinary craftsmanship earned Ariete a Michelin star.
    63 articles
  • Image: Awash Ethiopian Restaurant

    Awash Ethiopian Restaurant

    19934 NW Second Ave. Miami Gardens

    305-770-5100

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    At Awash, owners Eka and Fouad Wassel want to take you to an authentic Ethiopian-style home kitchen called a gojo bait. Try the doro wot, a rich chicken dish with a depth of flavor similar to the moles of Mexico. The Awash River, from which this restaurant and many other Ethiopian eateries across the nation take their names, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The valley surrounding it was where researchers in 1974 found 52 fossilized bone fragments of the famed early hominid Lucy. Carbon dating put the partial skeleton's age at more than 3 million years, a fact almost every Ethiopian knows. But it's also one that brings home the history of this part of the world and the fact that much of human culture was born here. You might be tempted to visit only at night, but be sure to pop in during the daylight hours for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, the same one that's repeated up to three times a day in the Horn of Africa. Green coffee beans are pan-roasted, hand-ground, and then slowly brewed over hot coals. The point is to slow you to a stop in order to connect with the coffee and those with whom you're sharing it.
    4 articles
  • Image: Bachour

    Bachour

    2020 Salzedo St. Coral Gables/S. Miami

    305-203-0552

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    Bachour, the namesake restaurant and bakery from Antonio Bachour, is an oasis of the Instagram-worthy pastries that made the Puerto Rican pastry chef a national sensation. The clean, industrial setting is the perfect backdrop for the brightly hued pastries, cakes, and other confections. Open for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner, Bachour's all-day menu of salads, sandwiches, and hearty entrées earned the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in 2022. A meal can range from an egg sandwich or eggs Benedict to heartier fare, including a steak sandwich, lomo saltado, and fettuccine in a housemade cacio e pepe sauce. Be sure to grab a box of bonbons or macarons to take home. Since opening in Coral Gables in 2019, Bachour has added a location in Doral.
    12 articles
  • Image: Bali Café

    Bali Café

    109 NE Second Ave. Downtown/Overtown

    305-358-5751

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    Bali Café is a veritable downtown Miami gem, serving up the kind of Indonesian food you won't find anywhere else in the Magic City. The "Nasi Goreng Special" is the move, fried rice with opor ayam and rendang (chicken and beef cooked in coconut milk), steamed vegetables, pickled carrot and cucumber, and garlic crackers all tucked into a bento box — it looks almost too good to eat. (We said almost.) Regulars swear by Bali's sushi offerings, as well, like the "Downtown Roll" (eel, avocado, and cream cheese) washed down with a soda gembira (a popular Indonesian beverage of club soda with cocopandan syrup and condensed milk), while first-timers quickly learn that the coconut-sauced rendang sapi is life-changing. Factor in the friendly service, prices that don't make your wallet cry, and the barong masks (sacred, lionlike wooden masks that symbolize good fortune and health) on the walls, it's no wonder New Times crowned Bali Café Best Restaurant (Downtown) in 2024.
    10 articles
  • Image: Bar Bucce

    Bar Bucce

    7220 N. Miami Ave. Little Haiti/Liberty City

    305-202-2526

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    Part Italian market, part wine bar, and part pizza hang, Bar Bucce is the antithesis of what most people would consider a "hot spot" is in Miami, which is exactly why the IYKYK welcomed it with open arms in 2025. Founded by the team behind South Beach mainstay Macchialina, it's the spot where you can roll in with your coworkers for an after-work glass of wine, split a coal-charred pie with friends, or just wander the on-premises market for Italian delicacies and natural wines while pretending you're browsing in Tuscany. Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports pulled up and bestowed Bucce with an 8.1 score — a rating that sent pizza pilgrims trekking by the dozen to Little River. Thankfully, despite the Portnoy stamp of approval, Bar Bucce remains as chill as the other side of the pillow.
  • Image: Blue Collar

    Blue Collar

    6789 Biscayne Blvd. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

    305-756-0366

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    Now in classed-up digs across Biscayne Boulevard from the original site, Danny Serfer's Blue Collar still takes its cues from the classic American diner. The MiMo District stalwart offers daily specials and elevated comfort foods. Start with a gutsy New Orleans-style dish of shrimp and grits with bacon and Worcestershire-based barbecue sauce, or Hanukkah latkes (served year-round). Don’t miss the veggie plate, which allows you to build your own customized entrée. Order a coffee and a cheeseburger or the pasta of the day and make yourself as comfy as you’d be in your mom’s kitchen. Pro tip: Serfer's also the chef behind another of our faves, Mignonette, an oyster bar and all-around seafood gem just north of downtown.
    113 articles
  • Image: Boia De

    Boia De

    5205 NE Second Ave. Little Haiti/Liberty City

    786-209-6310

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    This hip Little Haiti spot run by chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer offers an ever-changing lineup of pastas designed to comfort and enchant. Look for pappardelle "Alla Lepre" — unctuous shreds of braised rabbit tangled with wide ribbons of pasta. It's not all about noodles here, however. Boia De offers plenty of non-pasta delights, including meat and fish dishes and crisp potato skins filled with milky stracciatella cheese, caviar, and a hard-cooked egg. The editors of Florida's first Michelin Guide took note, awarding the strip-mall standout a star.
    11 articles
  • Image: Bombay Darbar

    Bombay Darbar

    2901 Florida Ave. Coconut Grove

    305-444-7272

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    What began as a mom-and-pop 30-seater has grown into an Indian-food mainstay with locations in Coconut Grove, Doral, and Fort Lauderdale. Diners crunch on crisp papadum wafers while watching Bollywood movies on a large screen and perusing the menu. That list is lengthy, but at its heart are the tikkas, tandooris, and vindaloos that fans of Indian food crave. Bright vegetable samosas are a good start, as are some of the tandoor-baked breads — try the soft, fluffy, onion-flecked kulcha naan. Most dishes can be ordered mild, medium, or hot. On that last count, Bombay Darbar thoughtfully offers cold Kingfisher beer to cool you down from even the spiciest of culinary adventures.
    14 articles
  • Image: Café Panisse

    Café Panisse

    7310 SW 57th Ave., South Miami Coral Gables/S. Miami

    305-665-3322

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    An impossibly tiny kitchen at this modest, unassuming eatery consistently turns out simple, hearty, satisfying French bistro fare at affordable prices. The bistro has been a staple in South Miami for more than two decades, serving delicious French cuisine inside a small yet intimate restaurant in an unassuming, blue awning-lined strip mall on Red Road. Until recently, the IYKYK crowd knew it as Café Pastis, but that all changed halfway through 2024 when the management got sufficiently fed up with being confused with Starr Restaurants' famed establishment of the same name, which carpetbagged from NYC to Wynwood in 2023. Name change notwithstanding, Café Panisse immediately transports its guests across the Atlantic with its bistro tables, French ambiance, and lovely decor. Try the first-rate steak frites or a superlative bouillabaisse, followed by a cookbook-perfect crème brûlée, and be thankful you're in Panisse’s neighborhood.
    12 articles
  • Image: Caffe Abbracci

    Caffe Abbracci

    318 Aragon Ave. Coral Gables/S. Miami

    305-441-0700

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    Ask anyone about Caffe Abbracci and the word "family" will likely come up. And no wonder: The doted-upon Italian restaurant has maintained its consistently excellent reputation for more than three decades, thanks to its late founder, revered restaurateur Nino Pernetti, who died from COVID complications in 2022 at age 76. The restaurant gracefully carries on in his memory, sticking to a fantastic formula of warm, inviting service and a steadfast menu of classic and contemporary Italian dishes. Abbracci is always filled with locals (including families) who know to order well-executed options like vitello tonnato, red snapper al cartoccio, and Pernetti's homages to his daughters: tortellini Tatiana and cappelletti Katerina.
    20 articles
  • Image: Captain's Tavern

    Captain's Tavern

    9625 S. Dixie Highway East Kendall/Pinecrest

    305-666-5979

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    In 1971, Bill "The Captain" Bowers opened the doors of his seafood restaurant in the boondocks of southwest Miami-Dade, now known as Pinecrest, and has remained an institution for locals and tourists alike ever since. When Bowers died in 2020 at the age of 91, his wife, Audrey Palomino Bowers, and their son, Dale Palomino, who has worked at the Captain's Tavern since he was 16 years old and now serves as head chef, took over. So it has remained a family affair, and the patriarch's presence remains very much in evidence. The menu, the apotheosis of a seafood lover's delight, continues to offer the tried-and-true staples that made the Captain's Tavern famous: cracked conch, oysters Rockefeller, and, of course, a Tuesday two-for-one Maine lobster special. The restaurant also offers a full raw bar and sushi menu. Pretty much everything at the Captain's Tavern is housemade, from the sauces to the desserts.
    10 articles
  • Image: Carbone Vino

    Carbone Vino

    2911 Grand Ave., Ste. 194 Coconut Grove

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    Carbone Vino is the high-end Italian restaurant by Major Food Group that Coconut Grove needed, offering the brand’s signature glamour without the exclusivity of its South Beach counterpart. While the OG Miami Carbone on the Beach was reserved for milestone occasions, Carbone Vino feels more approachable — it's possible to snag a reservation, for one thing, and walk-ins are accommodated (though the dining room is always buzzing, as is the lively bar). The restaurant delivers its tried-and-true Italian-American dishes in a warm, stylish setting that suits the Grove's neighborhood vibe. And with the addition of lunch service, Carbone Vino cemented itself as a destination for celebrations and a go-to for everyday indulgence.
  • Image: Casa Isola Osteria

    Casa Isola Osteria

    1418 20th St., Miami Beach South Beach

    786-558-5787

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    When Pubbelly Noodle Bar closed in Miami Beach's Sunset Harbour neighborhood back in 2019, it left an empty space in the hearts of fans of José Mendín. Fortunately, the chef kept the lease, opening a quaint Italian bistro with longtime business partner Sergio Navarro and former Lucali chef Santo Agnello. The result, Casa Isola Osteria, is a charming spot that serves up red-sauce classics like linguini with white clams and pappardelle alla bolognese with braised Wagyu. The star of the show, however, is a stellar rigatoni alla vodka. The restaurant's décor attempts to replicate the ambiance of a tiny Italian village, so if you've been jonesing for some international travel, it's a chance to get away to Italy — if only for a meal.
  • Image: Chayhana Oasis

    Chayhana Oasis

    250 Sunny Isles Blvd., Sunny Isles Beach Miami-Dade - Northeast

    305-917-1133

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    A mural depicting a desert beneath a floating pair of eyes is the only sign that beckons passersby into this Uzbek-style hideaway, accessible only from one side of NE 163rd Street. Chayhana Oasis offers fare not only from Uzbekistan but also the entire central Eurasian region. Translation: You can eat your way around several nations. To keep the proceedings simple and entertaining, the menu contains quirky descriptions of lesser-known dishes. Begin with the dolmas, tender stuffed Turkish-style grape leaves; continue with shish kebabs of lamb, chicken, beef, or shrimp. For dessert, try gnezdo, a crunchy meringue topped with diced walnuts. In standard European fashion, wash it all down with a shot of top-shelf vodka. Go ahead — there's no shortage of fresh, chewy Uzbek-style bread to soak it up.
    7 articles
  • Image: Chefs on the Run

    Chefs on the Run

    10 E. Mowry Dr. Homestead/Florida City

    305-245-0085

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    Puerto Rican-born chef/owner Jodrick Ujaque took stints at well-known Caribbean-inspired Miami establishments before opening his Homestead restaurant in 2011. With influence, however, comes innovation, evidenced by a menu that displays a tasty blend of American, Taíno, Caribbean, and even Asian influences. The eight-table dining room is simple, dark, and rustic, if a tad cramped. Start with pa' picar — snacks like bolita de queso (deep-fried golden torpedos of stretchy cassava dough filled with Gouda and white cheddar) and alcapurria (delicate picadillo nestled in a plantain masa and fried to crisp perfection). Puerto Rican purists might pass on more unorthodox offerings like macarrones con res, a truffle and chipotle mac & cheese made with cotija cheese and birria-style braised beef. But they'll surely rejoice when presented with the mofongo, a Boricua staple of pounded green plantain mash mixed with nibs of pork-belly chicharrón and shaped into a sphere, whose starchy texture softens when dunked into the accompanying caldo de pollo. It can be served alongside chicken, shrimp, or steak and arroz con gandules, the Caribbean island's version of rice and beans.
  • Image: Chug's Diner

    Chug's Diner

    3444 Main Highway Coconut Grove

    786-353-2940

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    Michael Beltran distinctly remembers the day he got his nickname. It was his first day as a high school freshman; Beltran walked in late to class, a chocolate milk chug in hand. Today, Chug is the name of the restaurateur's Cuban-American diner, a successful pop-up he's since expanded into a permanent, full-service eatery and modern-day ventanita. Where once stood a tiny grab 'n' go, Chug's now shows off an airy, open design inviting morning, afternoon, or late-night dining, complete with diner-style booths and a bar with lounge-style seating. True to the diner ethos, a crave-worthy menu of Cuban-American eats covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While you can order lechón hash to start your day or grab a frita patty melt for lunch, don't miss out on the curated selection of Pastelito Papi's famous fruit- and meat-stuffed pastelitos, or the house Cubano sandwich served on fresh-baked Cuban bread from the diner's bakery. In 2022, Chug's was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its approachable, excellent fare.
    21 articles
  • Image: Claudie

    Claudie

    1101 Brickell Ave., Ste. 113 Brickell

    305-990-1101

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    Claudie is the Brickell showstopper Miami didn't know it was missing. It's a glamorous French-Mediterranean spot where every detail, from the design to the cocktails, feels intentional. The service is warm, the vibe is high-energy, and the menu (think escargots, pâtes au caviar, and a seafood tower that merits flexing on Instagram) delivers the Côte d'Azur without leaving Miami. Whether it's date night, a birthday dinner, or girls' night out, Claudie sets the tone with tableside gazpacho, expertly mixed cocktails, and an atmosphere built for celebration. It's the Brickell restaurant everyone's talking about right now — and that's saying something.
  • Image: Clive's Cafe

    Clive's Cafe

    5890 NW Second Ave., Ste. A Little Haiti/Liberty City

    305-757-6512

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    Clive's Cafe makes its mark with Jamaican favorites such as curry goat, oxtail, and jerk chicken. The original Wynwood location, which had been around for nearly four decades, closed, but the Little Haiti digs make for a colorful haven in which to eat some of the best Jamaican fare in Miami. The chicken is cooked to diner perfection and the curry is a smooth and subtle blend. The jerk chicken with rice and beans is a favorite menu item. The mood is laid-back — right down to the small radio pumping out reggae sounds. You just may catch Clive's fan Lenny Kravitz taking in the scene. The place is great for takeout but just as nice for a pit stop at any time of day.
    4 articles
  • Image: Cote Miami

    Cote Miami

    3900 NE Second Ave. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

    305-434-4668

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    Simon Kim has brought Cote, his New York cross between a Korean barbecue restaurant and a traditional steakhouse, to the Design District. The restaurant offers a selection of Waygu beef, including American Waygu and A5 Japanese Wagyu — the latter sourced from the Miyazaki prefecture, where true Wagyu are raised. The steaks are dry-aged for a minimum of 45 days in house and then seasoned with a mixture of British Maldon, Himalayan pink, and Korean thousand-day salts before being presented raw and cooked to order tableside. And if you have a taste for primo caviar, Cote has you covered. It came as no surprise in 2022 when Cote Miami earned a Michelin star.
    14 articles
  • Image: Cotoa

    Cotoa

    12475 NE Sixth Ct. North Miami

    786-328-1460

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    Cotoa is a breath of fresh air on Miami's dining scene, bringing a level of Ecuadorian cooking the likes of which the city has never seen. Chef Alejandra Espinoza has transformed a cozy 24-seat North Miami space into a culinary journey through the coast, the Andes, and the Amazon. From her "Humita de la Abuela" cornbread with palo santo butter straight through to a Cotopaxi-inspired chocolate lava cake, every dish feels rooted in heritage yet refined for today. It's easily the most authentic Ecuadorian restaurant in Miami right now — and one that feels both intimate and unforgettable. No wonder Cotoa earned a Michelin star in 2025 — the first such honor bestowed upon an Ecuadorian restaurant.
  • Image: Cvi.che 105

    Cvi.che 105

    105 NE Third Ave. Downtown/Overtown

    305-577-3454

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    A fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors meets an immersive atmosphere inspired by gold luxury and the ocean at Cvi.che 105. Chef and owner Juan Chipoco has opened six locations across South Florida, each more popular than the last. New Times editors' choice for "Best Ceviche" in 2024, the restaurant is also a perennial Readers' Choice in the same category. That's likely due to the menu, which showcases the best flavors of Japanese cuisine melded with Chipoco's creativity and background in authentic Peruvian dishes.
    22 articles
  • Image: Daniel's Miami

    Daniel's Miami

    1500 San Ignacio Ave. Coral Gables/S. Miami

    305-912-2639

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    Daniel's Miami might have just opened in July 2025, but it quickly locked in a New Times Top 100 spot thanks to its flawless hospitality, stunning atmosphere, and chef Daniel Ganem's passion poured into every plate. The Coral Gables newcomer (he also holds down the fort at Daniel's, a Florida Steakhouse, in Fort Lauderdale) took over the former Fiola space, reimagining it with a world-class steak program, knockout pastas, and a raw bar that ranks among the tops in town. It's swanky but never stuffy; it's the sort of place that works for date nights, business dinners, or celebrating with friends over a tomahawk and too much tongue-staining wine. In short, Daniel's isn't just the new kid on the block; it's the restaurant Coral Gables and South Miami diners will be bragging about for some time to come.
  • Image: Doce Provisions

    Doce Provisions

    541 SW 12th Ave. Little Havana

    786-452-0161

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    Lisetty Llampalla and Justin Sherrer run Doce Provisions, a gastropub that epitomizes Miami in a nutshell: part Cuban, part American. The original restaurant, located in the center of bustling Little Havana, seats only about a dozen patrons, who come for this perfect marriage of dishes: Cuban sandwiches and fried chicken, tostones and disco truffle fries, lechón asado buns and shrimp po' boy tacos.
    1 article
  • Image: Doggi's Arepa Bar

    Doggi's Arepa Bar

    7281 Biscayne Blvd. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

    786-558-9538

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    Winner of New Times' Best Arepas honors in 2022, Doggi's Arepa Bar captures Miami's unique mix of grit, flavor, and living out the American dream. Founded by Venezuelan immigrants as a humble hot-dog cart in 2010, the family-owned business has blossomed into a powerhouse arepa destination, now with multiple locations across the Magic City — and nationwide shipping on GoldBelly. The menu highlights true Venezuelan comfort food, from its best-selling arepas like the "Santa Bárbara" to indulgent cachapas overflowing with cheese. In a city filled with bold flavors, Doggi's has set the bar for what real-deal Venezuelan dining in Miami tastes like.
    6 articles
  • Image: Dōma

    Dōma

    35 NE 26th St. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

    786-953-6946

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    Tucked into Miami’s ever-evolving Wynwood neighborhood, Dōma has blended classic Italian flavors with a dash of innovation since opening in 2018. The chic, minimalist ambiance is warmly welcoming, great for a date night, hanging out with friends, or meeting the in-laws. Bucatini cacio e pepe, a signature dish, surprises with a delicate floral twist from Szechuan black pepper, while the soft egg, a starter, is abetted by a Parmesan foam. Topnotch cuisine and attentive service have earned Dōma its rightful spot as a vibrant player in the neighborhood, drawing devoted locals and curious newcomers alike.
    10 articles
  • Image: Doya

    Doya

    347 NW 24th St. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

    305-501-2848

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    With modern Aegean cuisine hailing from the shores of Greece and Turkey, Doya inspires with its dishes and its setup. Maybe it's the bohemian decor, impressive wooden tables, lush patio for dining al fresco, and giant windows that usher in the perfect amount of light from dawn to dusk, but this is one of the most handsome restaurants in Wynwood. And the food is divine. You're guaranteed to savor both big and small plates, from branzino ceviche to the baked feta. Make sure to order meats and veggies prepared over wood fire and coals, lending a distinct flavor that will ship you off mentally to a sea-sprayed, sparkling evening on the Aegean Sea.
    5 articles
  • Image: El Carajo International Tapas & Wine

    El Carajo International Tapas & Wine

    2465 SW 17th Ave. Coral Gables/S. Miami

    305-856-2424

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    Some of the best tapas in Miami can be found in a gas station convenience store at the corner of South Dixie Highway and SW 17th Avenue. Past the shelves of motor oil, sodas, and potato chips, you'll find El Carajo, a thoroughly charming wine and tapas bar that offers a 2,000-bottle wine list and a roster of tapas and main plates that's nearly as extensive. Even better, wine and food alike are exceptional values. The tabla de carne, an assortment of grilled skirt steak, lamb and pork chops, chicken breast, sausages, potatoes, and roasted peppers, will easily feed three hungry diners. Finish with a rich, creamy caramel flan.
    15 articles
  • Image: El Mago de las Fritas

    El Mago de las Fritas

    5828 SW Eighth St. Westchester/West Miami

    305-266-8486

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    Sure, El Mago de las Fritas dispenses diner-like fare from its old-school cafeteria-esque dining room. But you're not here for just any dish. You're here for the Cuban hamburgers, AKA fritas. From the orange-hued beef chorizo patties to the almost-too-soft Cuban rolls and the topping of handmade potato sticks, El Mago's frita is one of the best iterations in the Magic City. You can order a basic frita, but seriously consider a double with cheese. Whatever you do, don't forget to add a fried egg on top. Look for the "Big Magic" — a Big Mac-like frita with a tostone as the middle bun. Most of the staff members don't speak English, but if you're uncomfortable ordering in Spanish, just point at what you want on the menu.
    18 articles
  • Image: El Turco Turkish Food

    El Turco Turkish Food

    5026 NE Second Ave. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

    305-846-7510

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    With an outdoor dining room nestled under a hut adorned with swaying straw lanterns, El Turco beckons with a charming Istanbul-meets-Tulum ambiance. The focus isn't on innovation at this Turkish restaurant nestled off NE Second Avenue in the Upper Buena Vista complex, but rather on familiar, comforting flavors reminiscent of family meals. If you're looking to kick-start your day with indulgence, opt for an assortment of mezze. In need of something a little more substantial? Graze from the all-day menu, which highlights small appetizers, enticing "simit'' sandwiches on sesame-coated Turkish bagels, and classic dishes like beef kebabs and delicate, meat-filled manti dumplings. Not to be missed: dessert. Try the baked cheese borek — crisp layers of house-made phyllo enfolding a gooey interior of Balkan cheese — or pistachio-filled baklava delivered each week from Turkey.
    2 articles
  • Image: Elastika

    Elastika

    191 NE 40th St. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

    305-209-3100

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    his sleek, modern space on the first floor of the iconic Moore building in the Design District takes its name from the sprawling sculpture by Zaha Hadid that looms above. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Elastika brings a Mediterranean twist to American staples, ensuring that you can treat yourself to a meal made with fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, no matter the time of day. For breakfast, try the steak, egg, and cheese "burrito," featuring quinoa and cheese. For lunch, try the pizza of the day. Or bring a date for dinner, and splurge on a Australian Waygu pichana steak for two.
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