By: Robert Lovi By: Robert Lovi | August 29, 2022 | Food & Drink
It has already been established that Miami is a global culinary destination. However, that doesn't mean great culinary experiences in the Magic City are reduced to dinner or brunch. In Miami, you can also indulge in delicious meals for lunch, whether you are exploring the city and need a break or working and feel like grabbing a delightful bite. Below find 12 of the best restaurants for lunch in Miami so you can experience what is like great eating mid-day.
See Also: The 15 Best Miami Attractions
9420 NW 41st St. / Website
Shoma Bazaar, a new dining, drinking, and entertainment establishment in Doral is home to food hall vendors like Pubbelly Sushi, Ash Pizza, BFF Burgers, and more. This is one of the best places in Miami to enjoy a selection of daily specials and unique lunch dishes due to its assortment of places you can choose from.
19565 Biscayne Blvd. Ste. FH10 / Website
Two Jamaicans founded and lead Jrk!, an establishment offering healthy but flavorful options for those constantly on the move. Jrk! caters to everyone with its locally sourced foods and energetic environment, whether you're looking for a home away from home or new authentic delicacies. Homemade classic recipes are made healthier without sacrificing regional flavors, and everything is made readily available.
915 Lincoln Road / Website
Whether you live or work in Miami, you'll need to find a quick and satisfying lunch location. The purpose of a lunch break is to revitalize and recharge for the remainder of the day. You can enjoy Playa's menu from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and indulge in the restaurant's Southern heritage. Here you will find unusual, varied specialties that are sure to capture even the most imaginative palates. Its unique cuisine created by Executive Chef Jon Wilson features sumptuous Southern takes on traditional Mediterranean dishes, a wide variety of plant-based options, and more. Fresh new lunch salads, soups, flatbreads, tacos, raw bar options, seafood main dishes, and more are available on the menu. New delicacies on the menu include the Burrata & Strawberry Salad, Grilled Octopus & Baby Fennel Salad, Lamb Skewer with Herb & Fruit Drizzle, Cajun Crab Cakes, Playa Burger, Blackened Fish, and Grilled Shrimp Tacos, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Pasta with Mussels, Chicken & Mushroom Risotto, and many others. Visitors are welcome to eat a delicious meal on the restaurant's freshly opened patio and take in the sights.
901 S Miami Ave / Website
No matter what time visitors arrive at Balan's, they will receive the whole experience: Balan's is the go-to neighborhood restaurant whether you're looking for a lunch option while wandering through Mary Brickell Village or the ideal location for a quick snack. There is something for everyone on the menu, and the food is excellent enough to satisfy even the pickiest diners. The menu includes everything from regional specialties like Chilean Sea Bass (pan-seared sea bass, coconut yam puree, braised Brussels, plum chutney, and beurre blanc) and Seared Ahi Tuna to international fare like Truffle Carbonara and Rigatoni Bolognese (banana leaf steamed aromatic rice, umeboshi aioli, petite cilantro & citrus dressing) among other delicious dishes. Guest can sip on Balan's $26 bottle of Rosé unique to wash it all down.
350 Ocean Drive / Website
The Balfour Hotel's hidden gem, Mehzcla, combines the various Latin American culinary inspirations prevalent throughout the hotel. Indulge in the Medianoche Croquetas ($17), which are made with swiss cheese, cotto-ham, pickles, and mustard aioli and are garnished with lime zest, and the Costillas ($23), which are baby-back ribs coated in a garlic-chili sauce and topped with scallions and sesame. Those are some of the delicious dishes available to guests.
1010 Brickell Ave Suite 200 / Website
The homemade Italian specialties served at this neighborhood pizzeria in the heart of Brickell are made with high-quality ingredients, and you must try its sauce that everyone loves. Here you will find New York-style pizza, grilled artichokes, pepperoni chips, a variety of fresh salads, and more. It's a terrific location for lunch dates, work meetings, or dining with friends. The cuisine is excellent, and the atmosphere is fantastic.La Santa Taqueria
201 NE 82nd St. / Website
La Santa Taqueria, a place where the food is always great, thanks to Chef Omar Montero, is a fantastic Mexican restaurant in Little River Miami. Here you will find traditional Mexican tacos, tostadas, and sharing appetizers. Because who said it's against the law to drink during lunch? the restaurant also provides premium tequilas and mezcals that go great with any meal.
2616 NW 5 Ave / Website
Love Life Cafe is a terrific choice if you're in the mood for a nutritious plant-based lunch. The restaurant, located in Wynwood, serves well-known and adored dishes in vegan and plant-based varieties that everyone will like. Consider tacos, stuffed arepas, burritos, bowls, pizza, and burgers. The setting is informal and ideal for gathering with friends, getting ready for the day's work, or holding meetings.
864 Commerce St. / Website
In Miami's hip South of Fifth area, the stylish Israeli-inspired restaurant Abbale Telavivian Kitchen is the ideal spot for a great and healthy lunch. The menu offers fresh food that highlights the fusion of flavors from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. It is similar to what one may find in a café in Tel Aviv. The restaurant offers a variety of foods that are ideal for sharing for lunch from Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.m, including several salatim, salads, sandwiches, and a fantastic range of entrée-sized plates, pitas, and Jerusalem bagels.
3444 Main Highway / Website
Chug's Diner is chef/restaurateur Michael Beltran's interpretation of an American diner with a Cuban twist, a tribute to traditional American cuisine and his rich Cuban heritage. It was recently named a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. The inside of Chug's features a grab-and-go counter, full diner-style counter seating, a café/lounge section, an indoor full-service dining room, and a ventanita for a morning, afternoon, or late-night pick-me-up. Chug's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week like an authentic diner, with a unique selection of breakfast foods available up until closing. The lunch menu highlights include the Frita Classic, created with a chorizo patty, mojo ketchup, papitas classic, and Swiss or American cheese, and the Pan with Lechn, which is made with tuna tonnatto, lechon asado, and mojo. Chug's also serves as the official home to Pastelito Papi, Chef Giovanni Fesser's wildly popular alter-ego and the mastermind behind some of Miami's most delicious pastelitos.
6789 Biscayne Bldv / Website
The new coastal Italian-inspired Patio Isola restaurant is the ideal MiMo location for lunch al fresco eating in the establishment's lovely garden getaway. The menu offers a selection of house-made pizzas and calzones, delicious pasta dishes, antipasti and main plates, salads, and desserts in addition to showcasing the strong flavors Mendin is known for. A selection of excellent sandwiches are also included on the vivid and colorful menu, but they are only offered during lunch. Chicken, Meatball, and Eggplant Parmesan, Italian Cold Cuts, Calamari Fritti, and Caprese are other delectable handheld options ($14–$18). A great location for lunch.
1601 Drexel Ave / Website
Based on the editorial curation for which Time Out has long been known, Market Time Out brings the best of Miami together under one roof, including the top restaurants, beverages, and cultural experiences. When you visit Time Out Market, you can experience local gourmet eating from various kitchens. This carefully curated combination gives visitors to Time Out Market an authentic taste of the city. There are currently 17 restaurants that serve a wide variety of local cuisine that is both reasonable and available to everyone. The carefully crafted menu features culinary references to various countries and cuisines, including contemporary Vietnamese cooking at Pho Mo, PizzElla, Chick'n Jones, Crew-Do by Jeremy Ford, and YU ME Japanese, all of which were prepared by several of Miami's award-winning chefs.
Photography by: Courtesy FilippoBacci/ Getty, Alessandro Biascioli/Getty, Shoma Bazaar, Jrk!, The Louis Collection, @antore, Antonella Re, Sebastian Hernandez, Mehzcla