This Texas-style barbecue spot in Miami Lakes from pit master Mel Rodriguez and Miami native and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie has been a bonafide hit since its debut in 2020. Hungry diners line up at this counter-service restaurant to feast on dishes like the brisket sundae made with a mac and cheese base then layered with baked beans, cream corn, and topped with smoked brisket, cotija cheese, crema, and house sauce; platters and meat by the pound like smoked pulled pork, smoked sausage, pork spare ribs and Texas style brisket; and for some Miami and Texas fusion: brisket y queso empanadas and smoked pork rib croquettes.

Located inside the ritzy Bal Harbour Shops where what’s on the plate is more important than who’s sitting in front of it sounds almost as implausible as a half-off sale at Gucci, but thanks to chef Makoto Okuwa it’s the real deal. In addition to the pristine sushi and nigiri, Makoto’s modern Japanese dishes and bincho charcoal robata have hungry shoppers coming back for more.

Oozing with 1950s glamour, the Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller boasts nostalgic American cuisine with the world-renowned Keller touch. Start the night with a stiff martini or a well-chosen wine from the restaurant’s impressive selection of vintages. The throwback cuisine goes with the old-school feel of the space, with items like beef Wellington, Caesar salad, roast chicken, and a can’t-miss ice cream sundae.

As one of the restaurants credited with helping the resurgence of the historic MiMo district (and before that, it served as Miami’s OG pop-up restaurant), Phuc Yea offers a mix of Vietnamese food with Cajun influence — a reflection of the owner’s roots. The colorful and industrial setting serves as a perfect backdrop for dishes like caramel chicken wings, seafood curry, Viet-Cajun style fried chicken, and the simple but forever craveable PY noodles made with plenty of garlic and parmesan cheese. Another plus:its lively bar serves as a top spot for a post-meal drink or happy hour location.

What started as an incredibly popular weekend bagel pop-up has turned into a full blown brick-and-mortar outpost with just as strong of a following. The counter-service restaurant offers a variety of creative hand rolled bagels, schmears, and bagel sandwiches filled with everything from thick cut bacon and eggs to a nod to the Miami favorite, pastelito, made with guava marmalade, cream cheese, and potato sticks. Orders are strictly made online.

The best Greek and Turkish food in Miami is tucked away in the intimate, understated courtyard at Mandolin. Transport to the Greek isles with a menu of elegant small plates — no oven fried falafel here — entrees like lamb and beef meatballs, and an exceptional grilled octopus. Any meal here should be rounded out with one of the refreshing Greek wines on the menu. 

This Michelin-starred New York City import has won over the Magic City with its 45-day, dry-aged beef, presented in a Korean barbecue format that is prepared at the table on smokeless grills. The dimly lit, date-night perfect restaurant features high-end steaks, stiff martinis, and one of the most robust wine selections in town, but the most popular order at Cote is the butcher’s feast boasting a chef’s choice of cuts along with different vegetables and kimchi, egg souffle, two stews, rice, and soft serve for $64 per person. But for those who want to go more high-brow, a 10-course steak omakase is available for $185 per person. 

From its days inside the former St. Roch Market, this Japanese-Peruvian restaurant has grown into a larger space all its own in the Design District’s Palm Court. Led by a brother, sister, and father team lovingly referred to as the “Chang Gang,” Itamae is an ode to combining their Peruvian heritage with Japanese classics. Think a curated selection of specialty maki and rolls, sashimi, and rice bowls served alongside tiraditos and ceviches.

The first full-service restaurant and bar from the guys that brought us one of Miami’s most essential bars, the Broken Shaker, 27 Restaurant pays homage to Miami’s diversity with an eclectic menu filled with dishes from South America, the Caribbean, and even the Middle East with items like smoked pomegranate barbecue short ribs, a daily catch topped with a Caribbean curry sauce, and a halva brownie. Located in a historic two-story house adjacent to the Broken Shaker, it features the same laid-back spirit and inventive drinks its neighbor does in a hip (and air-conditioned) setting.

That bread offered at nearly every restaurant in town? Odds are Zak baked it. In addition to a successful wholesale business, the popular kosher baker also boasts his own successful standalone shop. Expect his signature breads in addition to an assortment of soups, bagels, sandwiches, and pastries.

Get a taste of Spain’s Basque country at Leku, the chic on-site restaurant at the Rubbell Museum. The Allapattah restaurant offers a wide-ranging menu of dishes that are as eye-pleasing as the art inside the museum like creamy croquetas, whole branzino, beet tartare with olive oil caviar, and the must-order Iberico ham that sits on a puffed cracker. Pair the meal with one of its many gin and tonics on the restaurant’s always perfectly breezy garden to round out the meal.

A modern take on the classic seafood restaurant by Blue Collar chef Danny Serfer and partner Ryan Roman. This Edgewater restaurant, described by critics and guests as a “plain and fancy” oyster heaven, it also features plenty of other seafood items, as well as non-sea dwelling options like prime rib, chicken, and its famous veggie board.

Style is what sets Byblos apart from its South Beach neighbors. From the decor to the menu, every detail conveys Eastern Mediterranean sophistication at Byblos. Eats range from small to large plates and feature inspired dishes like Middle Eastern fried chicken and seared cauliflower prepared with duck fat and tahini sauce. The show stopping spirit-infused cold tea service is a must, and perfect for a group, offering creative cocktails theatrically poured out of beautiful tea pots.

Macchialina, which comes from the words “macchia,” meaning mark or spot, and “maialina,” meaning piglets, aims to be reminiscent of a “small rustic eatery in the heart of any Italian town.” Under chef and owner Michael Pirolo’s lead, it serves up well-executed Italian classics like veal parm, branzino, cacio pepe, alongside with some interesting twists, like broccolini Caesar salad.

NIU Kitchen has teamed up with its sister restaurant, Arson — conveniently located next door. They’ve combined the best of both menus including the eclectic Catalan cuisine of NIU, including its famous clams and gazpacho, with the best of Arson’s menu like many of its Josper-grill prepared dishes. An extensive wine list, featuring natural wines from around the world completes the menu.

Chic, minimalist hotspot and local favorite that overlooks the Miami River, Zuma offers an internationally acclaimed style of modern Japanese cuisine in the heart of Downtown. The Miami location of this chain was the first U.S. location and has been open for more than 10 years, but it’s still going stronger than ever — complete with a new look in honor of its decade in business. Whether you are looking to casually scope out the celeb scene at the lounge, hang out at the bar, taste a little bit of everything during its weekend brunch, or dine dockside, this restaurant is still the place that Miami’s chic-set still flocks to.

The South Beach location of Carbone serves up the same high-end takes on classic Italian-American dishes that has made its New York City counterpart such a hit since 2012. Yes, that famous spicy rigatoni is a must-order, but other highlights that shouldn’t be missed are the Caesar salad “alla ZZ” that is prepared tableside, baked clams, and lobster ravioli, paired with strong yet balanced cocktails and old-school vibes. Reservations are a very hot commodity and are usually booked a month or more in advance, but the superb people watching make the wait worth it.

The Miami institution prides itself in discovering the tasty crustacean some 100+ years ago and is still serving them every season in its iconic South Beach location. This season, Joe’s has added a 1,400-square-foot outdoor area for those wanting to dine outside on its claws and classic sides like hash-browns and creamed spinach or dishes like fried chicken and key lime pie. Joe’s has even offered a few nightly reservations on Resy, a first for the famously no-reservation restaurant. Don’t want to spend time waiting? Then head next door to Joe’s Takeway and eat the same caliber claws at home.

High-end, Hong Kong-based restaurant Hutong boasts a colorful outpost in the Magic City. The filled with vibes restaurant offers classics like Peking duck, which uses a recipe said to have been developed over one hundred years ago for the Emperor, and unique dishes like dumplings filled with everything from rose Champagne to prawn and black truffle. It’s also an excellent place for strong cocktails and top-notch of people watching.

After shutting down his spot on Sunny Isles sushi chef Kevin Cory relocated his acclaimed NAOE to Brickell Key, and he hasn’t missed a beat. While not an inexpensive meal by any means, the tiny, eight-seat NAOE offers one of the best sushi experiences in Miami, always fresh and never disappointing.

For more than 40 years people have been flocking to this Little Havana spot for the original frita Cubana packing all the Cuban style beef, sauteed onions, and crispy shoe string fries that can fit inside a fluffy Cuban Roll. The no frills diner style setup offers a feeling of years past, with most of the burgers and sandwiches ringing in under $5. Complete the meal with some corn or malanga fritters for a proper experience. 

Sure, Cuban sandwiches aren’t exactly hard to come by in Miami. But ones that create lines out of the door? Well that’s another story. Sanguich quickly gained a following for its modern takes on classic Cuban sandwiches like the Cubano, pan con lechon (a Cuban version of a pulled pork sandwich), pan con croqueta (ham, Swiss, and croquetas housed inside Cuban bread), and pan con bistec (a thinly cut seasoned steak sandwich topped with onions and potato sticks) that appease even the most stringent of sandwich purists. Everything inside the sandwiches, from the pork to the ham to the mustard, is made in-house, which adds a special touch to the commonly found sandwiches. Pair the sandwiches with one of its five batidos (aka milkshakes) with flavors like trigo, mamey, and banana and enjoy a proper Miami meal.

Located on Brickell Key inside the Mandarin Oriental, La Mar is Gaston Acurio’s temple offering a combo of well-executed upscale novo-Andean fare and Asian-Peruvian fusion dishes. You’ll find classics like lomo saltado, local offerings like yellowtail snapper, and several ceviche options. Make sure to grab a table on its expansive patio for some of the best views of the Miami skyline in town.

Chef Monica Leon’s beloved Cuban tacos found a permanent Coral Gables restaurant; though you can still visit the taco truck in Design District. Not only does the restaurant serve up its Cuban tacos filled with everything from chicken to gator, it also offers croquetas, bowls, quesadillas, and empanadas — all of which pair perfectly with its signature herby green sauce, so make sure to order extra.

This chic Brickell restaurant boasts high-end French brasserie fare with Mediterranean touches. Guests can expect to dine among the socialite and business crowds, who are all in search of one thing: delicious food. Stars of the menu include the creamy burrata, fresh yellowtail carpaccio, and butter and herb soaked traditional escargot. Don’t forget to save room for light-as-air cheesecake.

While the now-shuttered Eating House, which closed after a decade long run in 2021, put chef Giorgio Rapicavoli on the culinary map — Luca Osteria is what solidified his place in Miami’s food scene for years to come. While the restaurant offers a considerably more refined dishes from Rapicavoli highlighting his Italian roots, guests can still find the irreverence and humor that made Eating House such a hit sprinkled throughout the menu. Located on pedestrian friendly Giralda Avenue, it features Italian classics updated with modern techniques and flavors. Think items like pappardelle with beef short rib bolognese, wagyu beef carpaccio, bluefin tuna caprese, alongside spruced up versions of Italian-influenced cocktails. 

Led by chef Michael Beltran, this Coconut Grove mainstay features a menu of inventive yet hearty comfort-food dishes with a Cuban flair that reflects Beltran’s upbringing. Highlights include the grilled oysters drenched in bone marrow butter, on-the-bone pastrami-style short rib, and a duck press meant for two. It’s an ideal option for a hungry group.

Possibly one of the most glamorous restaurants in Miami this Michelin-starred, D.C. import has been wowing crowds since its debut. It boasts a menu filled with pristine seafood and house-made pastas (which are all offered in gluten-free varieties) such as short rib agnolotti. Guests will also find heartier dishes like lamb rack, branzino, and perfectly cooked steak paired with an extensive wine selection. For those looking to impress a date or celebrate a special occasion, Fiola is guaranteed to make the night memorable.