With its recent takeover (and rightfully so) of Michelin stars, Miami is fastly becoming an international culinary destination with some of the best cuisine. In the Magic City, you will find hidden gems away from the city's busy touristy areas, inviting you to explore Miami deep into its roots and rich culture. Every month, there are new restaurant openings, but that is a sign of how fast the city is growing and to accommodate the influx of people that have come to maim from different parts of the country and the world, Miami must offer a varied and delightful culinary scene. Below you will find 9 Miami restaurants you must try right now and enjoy a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.
See Also: 13 Spots Where You Can Enjoy The Best Fried Chicken In Miami
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5205 NE 2nd Ave / Website
If you blink once, you might miss this spot popular among locals. However its newton pink sign will guide you to this Michelin-starred restaurant squeezed in between a laundromat and a medical center in a plaza in Little Haiti. But that is what makes Boia De so special and inviting. At this restaurant, Chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer's charisma and talent will elevate your palate and transport you to a culinary destination that you haven't explored before. Even though the restaurant’s roots are Italian, its innovative menu will have you wondering if that is the case. Some of the staples include fried potato skins with stracciatella and caviar. Beef tartare is topped with a tonnato-style sauce and garlic-shallot crumble. There is plenty of pasta, such as the chilled tagliolini nero tossed with king crab and vin jaune and more. Regardless of what you choose to eat, you will enjoy delicious food and have fun with the chefs and the staff.
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101 Washington Ave / Website
Stubborn Seed, located on a busy corner in Miami beach, delights guests with sexy, sleek, industrial-chic décor and a glass-fronted display kitchen. At this Michelin-starred restaurant, Chef Jeremy Ford brings the heat, inviting guests to experience his ambitious and brashly creative cooking. At this restaurant, you will experience some of the most innovative culinary offerings, such as the aged cheddar and jalapeno biscuit brushed with honey and served with bread and butter pickles. Other fantastic menu items include the Yellowfin crudo served with tangy Asian pear slices and topped with a creamy buttermilk sauce, while black grouper tartare is spiced just right. Don't forget about trying the truffle chicken—a well-deserved signature, among other dishes. If you are into culinary experiences and edgy food, this is the spot.
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31 SE 5th St. / Website
This gem located in the heart of Brickell, has garnered international success with more locations in the U.S. and Colombia. Elcielo’s menu combines traditional Colombian cuisine with a modern twist. The tableside "chocotherapy" to the "Tree of Life" bread service are all dramatic but something everyone has to experience. A silken corn purée poured over garam masala-sprinkled popcorn and curds of queso fresco, as well as local, seared-to-crisp grouper plated with a salsa criolla-dressed tamal, have been some menu favorite among people who have visited this Michelin-starred restaurant. When you visit Elcielo, you are in for an immersive culinary experience that will awaken your senses, and towards the end, you will be delighted by some of the most innovative and delicious desserts that will have every sweet tooth foodie wanting more.
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3242 Charles Ave / Website
This new location in one of Miami’s most charming neighborhoods, is one of those places you have to try, but if you do, you better be on the lookout for a reservation because they are going by fast. Sushi By Scratch is Scratch Restaurants Group Michelin-starred 10-seat omakase concept in Coconut Grove. Staffed by three chefs and one bartender. Dinner at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants is a hands-on experience you won't want to miss, with three seatings per night (5PM, 7:15PM, and 9:30PM). Each bite is handcrafted and placed by the chefs, who interact with guests directly over 17 courses that last approximately two hours. A complimentary welcome cocktail is served 20 minutes before the scheduled seating time. Following that, a progressive, intoxicating, and alluring tasting experience of strictly nigiri, each item handmade and served as is - no extras, no soy sauce or wasabi sidecars. In fact, everything is made from scratch, including the soy sauce, vinegars, and other condiments. A place you have to experience for yourself.
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3480 Main Highway / Website
This is the place for you if you are looking for modern Lebanese food. At Amal, the passing of its mezze and the breaking of freshly baked pita bread initiates a new conversation, an invitation to experience authentic Lebanese cuisine. Here, Executive Chef Wissam Baki prepares a vibrant cuisine with a distinct selection of generous and easily shareable dishes that honor Lebanon's traditional spices and coastal flavors while showcasing our contemporary culinary vision. Amal's menu celebrates Lebanon's most beloved dishes, peppered with earthy spices, fresh herbs, and the highest quality ingredients. Genuine in character and components, but innovative and contemporary in taste and presentation. And who doesn't love enjoying a delicious meal in a comfortable seat inside a beautifully-decorated space? Because that is what you will find at Amal.
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2057 SW 8th St. / Website
What began in 2017 as a small shipping container has become a buzzing hotspot in Little Havana. It was recently awarded a Bib Gourmand for its good quality, good value cooking. The narrow space, designed with emerald-green walls, vibrant tile, and sleek brass trimmings, is almost always crowded, but rightfully so. Guests who visit come for the same reason: a fantastic Cuban sandwich made with pork butt marinated for a week in garlic and spices and pressed between expertly grilled slices of house-made bread. The Lechon, a heavier but equally flavorful alternative, features tender shredded pork slathered in garlic-cilantro aioli. You also must try the croquetas, a Cuban staple that will make you want more.
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7289 NW 2nd Ave / Website
You wouldn't believe it if someone told you there is an excellent spot for fantastic pizzas in Little River. But that is a wrong assumption because La Natural is just that, and that is why crowds come to this popular hangout with concrete floors and dim lighting, giving it the feel of an underground party. Some staples you must try are the picture-perfect pies zealously charred in a wood-burning oven hidden behind the bar and inventive toppings like za'atar and Sichuan peppercorns sing. Also, the classic burrata and basil pie arrive puffy and pillowy thanks to the signature crust, which is cold-fermented for 48 hours. Here you will find an excellent selection of appetizers like the papaya with kumquat and one of the city's most extensive natural wine lists that add to the allure of this homey but phenomenal pizzeria.
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8965 SW 72nd Place, Kendall / Website
You must come to Chef Niven Patel's smash-hit restaurant in the middle of a shopping mall in Kendall that recently was awarded a Bib Gourmand. At Ghee Indian Kitchen, warehouse floors, mango wood tables, and a wall lined with rows of spice jars will surely get diners in the mood for the team's well-seasoned cuisine. The kitchen takes no cues from its suburban setting, offering a small menu of flavor-packed dishes made with ingredients from Chef Patel's farm. A fiery, puff-pastry-like riff is ghost pepper-cheddar seed naan. At the same time, yellowfin tuna bhel with avocado is a zesty first course you must try. The menu also features delicious items like Kerala lamb with tomato and coconut, offering a hearty dish with layered flavors, soft basmati rice, and meltingly tender meat. You must visit this location if you are into bold and exciting delicious flavors.
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1200 Brickell Ave / Website
Dirty French Steakhouse is a glamorous, energetic, and extraordinary interpretation of the classic steakhouse, honoring its French roots. This fantastic restaurant was opened in Brickell by the globally acclaimed hospitality brand that has taken over Miami's restaurant scene. Dirty French has become one of America's most celebrated and sought-after steakhouses, offering the most delicate meat and fish from the world's most prestigious purveyors with French influences and an irresistible flair for bold flavors. Dirty French Steakhouse has everything you'd expect from a high-end steakhouse: an abundance of raw bar options, elegant seafood entrées, indulgent aged steaks, and an array of unique sides—all executed to perfection, with a Dirty French twist that makes them more satisfying and seductive than ever. A must-visit location in the heart of the city.
Photography by: Courtesy Farhad Ibrahimzade/Unsplash,
