I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (2024)

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Homepage

Newsletters

Subscribe

Food

Dana Rozansky

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (1)

  • I'm a Miami local who's tried over 1,000 restaurants in the city. These are some of my favorites.
  • I love the pizza at Miami Slice and brunch at La Mar.
  • Edan Bistro, Apocalypse BBQ, and Boia de have really impressed me.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (2)

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (3)

Thanks for signing up! Go to newsletter preferences

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (4)

Advertisement

If dining out as often as possible is wrong, I don't wanna be right —and with a side hustle like Miami Food Porn, where I showcase the best eats in my city, it's more than just my favorite pastime.

As a Miami native, I've tried well over 1,000 restaurants here, from casual spots to fine-dining eateries.

Here are 10 of my favorite places to eat in Miami.

Advertisement

When it comes to French fare, LPM is the crème de la crème.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (5)

LPM has a few locations around the globe, and its Miami one has a level of elegance and service that's hard to come by in the city.

Start with one of the French-Mediterranean spot's expertly crafted cocktails to immediately understand the LPM hype. Then, indulge in an array of French delicacies that will transport you far away from Miami.

The escargot, warm prawns, and duck confit are not to be missed. Finish off with cheesecake for a perfect meal.

Advertisement

Doya has some of the best Aegean food in town

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (6)

Set in the heart of Wynwood, Doya is always pulsating with good energy.

I suggest ordering many shareable dishes of all shapes, sizes, and colors, from dips with pita to grilled seafood and veggies. Just when you think you can't eat anymore, magically find space for the chocolate baklava and pistachio ice cream.

If you're doing things right, the length of your final bill will rival that of a CVS receipt, and you won't regret it.

Advertisement

Edan Bistro is incredible.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (7)

No need to travel to Spain to get an authentic taste of Basque cuisine.

Edan Bistro is as unassuming as they come, nestled on a corner in North Miami right across from a Taco Bell. But don't be fooled — this tiny spot packs a serious punch, serving up a European-style brunch, an eight-course tasting menu, and à la carte options.

Standouts include the scallop carpaccio, mushroom croquetas, and creamy pumpkin rice. The real showstopper, though, is the Basque cheesecake. Ordering it is non-negotiable.

Advertisement

If you think you can't get good barbecue outside the actual South, try Apocalypse BBQ.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (8)

Apocalypse started as a small pop-up in Wynwood.

Now, the team behind it owns a proper barbecue joint in Kendall, where crowds swarm to get a taste of the best brisket, ribs, and pulled pork in town.

Plus, its skull-shaped cornbread is simply to die for (couldn't help myself).

Advertisement

I usually find steak houses to be a bore … but Cote isn't at all.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (9)

It's easy to see why Korean steak house Cote has a Michelin star.

It has a few locations around the world, but the one in Miami is excellent. From the minute I walk in, I feel like a sophisticated queen who deserves the best martini and steak in town.

I recommend kicking things off at the bar, which has a daily "Magic Hour" from 5 to 7 p.m. with cocktails and small bites for less than $10 — a total steal.

As for dinner, order the multicourse Butcher's Feast and thank me later.

Advertisement

It's worth waiting in line for some Miami Slice.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (10)

Miami is known for many things, but pizza by the slice has not historically been one of them. Miami Slice has changed the game, though, serving pizza with a great crunch and flavor that even New Yorkers can appreciate.

This downtown spot is known for attracting quite a crowd. Lines form before it opens, as it only accepts walk-ins. But as we know, good things come to those who wait.

The Pepperoni Proper with mozzarella and hot honey is a fan-favorite, but you've also got to try La Salsera and Mushroom Truffle.

Advertisement

Boia de has a Michelin star.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (11)

When a tiny spot inside a strip mall earns itself a Michelin star, you know it's the real deal.

Boia de is one of the toughest reservations to get in town because it's small and really that good. I'm as impatient as they come, and I've even humbled myself by waiting over an hour just to get a coveted seat at Boia de's bar.

Expect a small but mighty menu featuring Italian dishes with a twist. The chicken liver and foie-gras pate may leave you speechless, and the potato skins with stracciatella and caviar can have you wondering why you don't put caviar on everything.

Advertisement

You must try Sanguich de Miami.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (12)

Eating a Cuban sandwich while in Miami is not a recommendation but a rite of passage. There's one foolproof way to do it: Go to Sanguich.

With locations in Little Havana (the original) and Coral Gables, you'll have multiple opportunities to get your fix.

If it's your first time, keep it classic and go with the Cubano — city ham, lechon, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread.

If you want to venture out, give the Pan con Bistec or Croqueta Preparada a whirl. And if you're really feelin' frisky, wash it all down with one of Sanguich's batidos (milkshakes).

Advertisement

Casa Isola just gives me the warm and fuzzies.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (13)

As its name suggests, Casa Isola has "mi casa es su casa" energy oozing throughout the space. It's cozy, it's comfortable, and to top it off, its food is downright delicious.

Casa Isola is the brainchild of José Mendín, a five-time James Beard Award-nominated chef who has blessed Miami by bringing this unique taste of Italy to Sunset Harbour. You can't go wrong ordering any variety of the Isola classics.

Advertisement

La Mar is one of the few restaurants in Miami where the food is as impressive as the views.

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (14)

I mean, where else can you sip on a pisco sour with the sweeping backdrop of Biscayne Bay?

Located at the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key, La Mar is something special — thanks in large part to Chef Diego Oka's touch. Each dish he creates is as flavorful as the next.

My favorite way to experience La Mar is with a Sunday brunch, where I can try countless dishes in one sitting while enjoying cocktails, wine, or beer.

Read next

Florida Food Restaurants

Advertisement

I've eaten at over 1,000 restaurants in Miami. You have to try these 10. (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 5563

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.