Miami has many fantastic restaurants that have become staples among locals and visitors. Sometimes, part of a great culinary experience is visiting a new spot and getting lost in its menu, awaiting the unexpected. However, those who like things fast and delicious choose their favorite restaurants because they already know what to order. If you want recommendations and visit new spots, below, we present some dishes that people order without having to look at the menu at some of the Magic City’s most phenomenal spots.
See Also: 7 Miami Restaurants That Offer Dishes That Will Make You Think Of Summer Year-Round
901 S Miami Ave / Website
There is no place like home when it comes to cuisine. There's only so much you can do to alleviate your South Florida withdrawal symptoms. Even when we find similar eateries, they always fall short, and nothing compares to going home and eating your favorite comfort foods. Balan's was founded in 1987 as a 24-hour family-run diner in London. It is now owned and operated by second-generation husband and wife pair Keva and Jonathan Balan. It's a tasty haven for hungry locals, executive lunchers, exquisite diners, late-night drinkers, and celebratory brunchers. Balan's offers ALL-DAY eating as well as superb beverages. The chicken milanese (tomato, arugula, and basil salad, lime mayonnaise) or truffle carbonara pasta has been a must-order at Balan's since day one (parmesan crumble, bacon, cream, truffle confit 62.5 degree yolk). The classic eggs benedict (two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, toasted english muffin) and the mexico eggs are brunch staples.
1111 SW 1st Ave / Website
At Marion, where fresh American flavors meet Asian influences in an elite party atmosphere, people already know what to order without looking at the menu because it's just that good. One popular dish that every gets is its famous Risotto Hot Pot. Finish with a dessert meal with delectable alternatives, including Mango Passion Fruit with Tapioca Pudding.
2003 N Miami Ave / Website
Kush by Stephens, a Hialeah institution, is noted for its award-winning products. Sandwich lovers in South Florida know what's up and don't need a menu when they visit Kush Hialeah. The Newman's Jewban ($16) was named one of TimeOut Miami's "Top 25 Most Spectacular Sandwiches in the World" in 2021. It's made with pulled pork, corned beef, Swiss cheese, pickles, sauerkraut, yellow mustard, and Russian dressing and served on grilled rye. Next up is the acclaimed Frita Burger, which is available at all Kush Hospitality Group (KHG) restaurants and was named one of the Food Network's "Top 100 Burgers in America" and won the "People's Choice Award" at the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2021 Burger Bash event. Kush's Frita Burger ($15) is an over-the-top, Miami-fied variation on a classic frita Cubana cooked with a juicy all-beef patty covered with Swiss cheese, bacon, potato stix, and guava jam, and topped with its own LoKal sauce (named after one of the KHG's other restaurants).
3444 Main Highway / Website
Chug's Diner is chef/restaurateur Michael Beltran's take on an American diner with a Cuban twist, a tribute to classic American cuisine and his rich Cuban heritage. It was recently recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant and the Best Cuban Restaurant in Miami by USA Today 10Best. Chug's features an open, airy design with plenty of natural light, a ventanita for a morning, afternoon, or late-night pick-me-up, an inside grab 'n' go counter, full diner-style counter seating, a café/lounge section, and an indoor full-service dining room. Chug's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, with an exclusive selection of breakfast foods available until closing. The Chug Burger ($19), cooked with American cheese, b&b pickles, shaved lettuce, and Chug sauce on a house-made sesame bun, is the number one must-order item that guests don't need a menu for.
3540 Main Highway / Website
Ariete, Chef Michael Beltran's famous Coconut Grove restaurant, has received wonderful reviews and a slew of honors since its debut in 2016. Ariete was recently honored by the Michelin Guide as one of the first restaurants in Florida to receive a star (one star), as well as being named "Restaurant of the Year" by Eater Miami, crowned "Best New Restaurant" by the Miami New Times, featured in Bon Appetit magazine, and received multiple nods from The New York Times. The James Beard Foundation named the brilliant toque a semifinalist for "Best Chef: South" in 2020. The well-known neighborhood restaurant serves a modern menu of New American cuisine with strong Cuban influences. Dishes here are always changing to reflect the ever-changing abundance of each season and the almost limitless energy of Beltran's imagination. The Rohan Duck For Two ($135) is a popular go-to dish that doesn't require a menu; a 14-day dry-aged duck breast, pistachio dukkah, roasted calabaza duck tamal, wild mushroom and foie sauce, duck fricassée pastelitos and ariete salad (add foie gras for $25).
971 SW 8th St. / Website
Michelle Bernstein's famed Arroz with Pollo, made with bomba rice, saffron, cerveza, and a la plancha of free-range 1/2 boneless chicken.
1208 Washington Ave / Website
Toni's Sushi Bar, which recently celebrated its 35th year, is one of Miami Beach's oldest and most iconic eateries. A trip to New York isn't complete unless you order the legendary New York Spicy Tuna Roll.
Photography by: Courtesy Avi Richards/Unsplash, Balan’s Bar & Brasserie, Blue Shell Media, Michael Pisarri, Ruben Cabrera, Marion, Cafe La Trova, Toni’s Sushi Bar,
