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11 of Miami's Iconic Greasy Spoons

by Eater Staff
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by Eater Staff
Photo via bluffton.edu

Everyone wants something different in a diner. Some people crave pie, others want stacked club sandwiches, and everyone wants fries with that. Here in Miami, though, diners can expect a little more than the typical diner fare—here, you'll find diners that offer pan con bistec and curry goat across the road from greasy spoons with all your usual favorites. Luckily for you, we like all diner food. And we're bringing you the longest lasting, most iconic, and most delicioso greasy spoons that Miami has to offer.

— Sara Faber


· All Coverage Greasy Spoons Week 2013 [ ~EMIA~ ] Read More
Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Jerry's Famous Deli

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1450 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 532-8030
(305) 532-8030
Visit Website
A South Beach mainstay, Jerry’s has been the go-to place for bagels, lox, and blintzes since opening in 1996. The waitresses may be brusque, but the food will be worth the sass.

2. El Mago de las Fritas

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5828 SW 8th St.
West Miami, FL 33144
(305) 520-9605
(305) 520-9605
Visit Website
All you need to do is watch this video of the long-time owner and chef of El Mago de las Fritas making his famed Frita Cubana—a hamburger topped with a secret sauce, thinly sliced onions and thinly sliced fried potatoes—to realize that you cannot live without visiting this Cuban greasy spoon.

3. Arbetter Hot Dogs

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8747 SW 40th St
Miami, FL 33165
(305) 207-0555
(305) 207-0555
Hot dogs sometimes get a bad rap, but let’s be real—they’re totally delicious. And Arbetters is definitely the best place to get them in Miami. They’ve been in the same location for decades, and the hot dogs have stayed the same too. Try it with chili and a side of perfectly cooked French fries. Thank us later.

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4. 11th Street Diner

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1065 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 354-6373
(305) 354-6373
Visit Website
There’s a reason the 11th Street Diner certainly looks like a real deal diner—it is one. It was built in the 1940s and shipped to South Beach in 1992. The menu is equally retro, feautring fried chicken, cobb salad, and breakfast all day.

5. Papa Llego Y Pon

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2928 Northwest 17th Street
Miami, FL 33125
Two words: pork sandwich. Be aware that there is no sign to indicate where this restaurant is, but once you find it, it is so worth the search.

6. Donut Gallery Diner

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83 Harbor Dr
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
There are four different types of grilled cheese on the menu at the Donut Gallery Diner, and since it’s open daily, you have ample time to try them all. And the other 60+ menu items, including corned beef hash, huevos rancheros, and palomilla steak.

7. El Rey de las Fritas

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1821 SW 8th St.
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 644-6054
(305) 644-6054
Visit Website
This authentic Cuban café features bunch of sandwiches, all covered in fritas, thinly sliced fried potatoes. What more could you want? I know—a mango shake. They’re luscious.

Also Featured in:

8. Lester's

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250 Florida 84
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
(954) 525-5641
(954) 525-5641
We'd like to thank Lester's for numerous late night cups of coffee, milk shakes, and tuna melts. If those aren’t your cup of tea, don’t worry—they have tea, too. And sandwiches, eggs, burgers, Italian food, and a whole menu of seafood. Classic but not typical.

9. Luis Galindo Latin American

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898 Southwest 57th Avenue
Miami, FL 33144
(305) 227-7002
(305) 227-7002
This restaurant might be the definition of a greasy spoon—the food is cheap, the restaurant is tiny, and the food is amazing. Let me repeat that, the food is incredible. All the Cuban food you could want, with café con leche and flan on the side.

10. Diana's Cafe

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99 NW 1st St
Miami, FL 33128
(305) 577-0838
(305) 577-0838
You know downtown is full of little Cuban places, but go to this one—the tostones and pastelitos are incredible, and the silverware is plastic, so you know it’s a real greasy spoon.

11. S & S Diner

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1757 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 373-4291
(305) 373-4291
S & S Diner has been open since 1938, and it hasn’t changed much since. The diner is small—there’s only one semi-circular counter where everyone sits—and cash-only, making the atmosphere homey and old-fashioned. Get there before 11:30 am to get the best breakfast deals—eggs, toast, coffee, potatoes and bacon for under $8. Greasy spoon gold.

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1. Jerry's Famous Deli

1450 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
A South Beach mainstay, Jerry’s has been the go-to place for bagels, lox, and blintzes since opening in 1996. The waitresses may be brusque, but the food will be worth the sass.
1450 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 532-8030
Visit Website

2. El Mago de las Fritas

5828 SW 8th St., West Miami, FL 33144
All you need to do is watch this video of the long-time owner and chef of El Mago de las Fritas making his famed Frita Cubana—a hamburger topped with a secret sauce, thinly sliced onions and thinly sliced fried potatoes—to realize that you cannot live without visiting this Cuban greasy spoon.
5828 SW 8th St.
West Miami, FL 33144
(305) 520-9605
Visit Website

3. Arbetter Hot Dogs

8747 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165
Hot dogs sometimes get a bad rap, but let’s be real—they’re totally delicious. And Arbetters is definitely the best place to get them in Miami. They’ve been in the same location for decades, and the hot dogs have stayed the same too. Try it with chili and a side of perfectly cooked French fries. Thank us later.
8747 SW 40th St
Miami, FL 33165
(305) 207-0555

4. 11th Street Diner

1065 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
There’s a reason the 11th Street Diner certainly looks like a real deal diner—it is one. It was built in the 1940s and shipped to South Beach in 1992. The menu is equally retro, feautring fried chicken, cobb salad, and breakfast all day.
1065 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 354-6373
Visit Website

5. Papa Llego Y Pon

2928 Northwest 17th Street, Miami, FL 33125
Two words: pork sandwich. Be aware that there is no sign to indicate where this restaurant is, but once you find it, it is so worth the search.
2928 Northwest 17th Street
Miami, FL 33125

6. Donut Gallery Diner

83 Harbor Dr, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
There are four different types of grilled cheese on the menu at the Donut Gallery Diner, and since it’s open daily, you have ample time to try them all. And the other 60+ menu items, including corned beef hash, huevos rancheros, and palomilla steak.
83 Harbor Dr
Key Biscayne, FL 33149

7. El Rey de las Fritas

1821 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
This authentic Cuban café features bunch of sandwiches, all covered in fritas, thinly sliced fried potatoes. What more could you want? I know—a mango shake. They’re luscious.
1821 SW 8th St.
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 644-6054
Visit Website

8. Lester's

250 Florida 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
We'd like to thank Lester's for numerous late night cups of coffee, milk shakes, and tuna melts. If those aren’t your cup of tea, don’t worry—they have tea, too. And sandwiches, eggs, burgers, Italian food, and a whole menu of seafood. Classic but not typical.
250 Florida 84
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
(954) 525-5641

9. Luis Galindo Latin American

898 Southwest 57th Avenue, Miami, FL 33144
This restaurant might be the definition of a greasy spoon—the food is cheap, the restaurant is tiny, and the food is amazing. Let me repeat that, the food is incredible. All the Cuban food you could want, with café con leche and flan on the side.
898 Southwest 57th Avenue
Miami, FL 33144
(305) 227-7002

10. Diana's Cafe

99 NW 1st St, Miami, FL 33128
You know downtown is full of little Cuban places, but go to this one—the tostones and pastelitos are incredible, and the silverware is plastic, so you know it’s a real greasy spoon.
99 NW 1st St
Miami, FL 33128
(305) 577-0838

11. S & S Diner

1757 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
S & S Diner has been open since 1938, and it hasn’t changed much since. The diner is small—there’s only one semi-circular counter where everyone sits—and cash-only, making the atmosphere homey and old-fashioned. Get there before 11:30 am to get the best breakfast deals—eggs, toast, coffee, potatoes and bacon for under $8. Greasy spoon gold.
1757 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 373-4291

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