In July, a study by Skyscanner gathered Yelp data from 47,526 restaurants in the top 50 most populated cities in the United States to determine each city's most common cuisine type. Other variables in the study included ratings and prices.
The study revealed that New York has the best falafels, Austin has the best food truck cuisine, and Nashville is the best place to eat Southern food. Miami is the best city for Italian food, followed by Boston and Fort Worth. Tampa has the most highly rated (246) and least expensive (194) restaurants per 100,000 residents; Miami was the fifth most highly rated with 205 restaurants.
Miami also has some of the best Cuban and Peruvian cuisine, as over a dozen delicious Peruvian restaurants, ranging from traditional to trendy, can be found throughout this multicultural city.
Moving west, Austin is an excellent destination for food truck enthusiasts. Throughout the year, the city hosts food truck festivals where you can support local businesses while sampling their delectable fare. Austin, like Miami, has excellent South American and Mexican cuisine; their top cuisine types are Venezuelan, Brazilian, tacos, and Tex-Mex.
Because one in every ten Americans does not consume meat, vegan restaurants are becoming increasingly popular. Portland, Oregon, is the go-to city for meat-free eats, with vegan options covering all cuisines. Meanwhile, those without dietary restrictions should visit Aurora, Colorado, to discover a hotbed of excellent comfort food. Your favorite traditional and nostalgic foods are probably available in Oakland and Long Beach.
Breakfast serves some of the best comfort food, which is likely one reason brunch is so popular. Stay in Colorado, where Denver is your best bet for a fantastic breakfast or brunch. Early risers and brunch lovers can also find plenty of options in the East at places like The Rustic Spoon in Virginia Beach or the Oxford Exchange in Tampa.
Below found our six iconic restaurant recommendations from the top 6 cuisines in Miami, according to the study.
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3555 SW 8th St. / Website
It is no surprise that Cuban food was going to be on the list of top cuisines in Miami due to the country’s influence on the city. For many, Versailles is the most iconic Cuban restaurant in the world. This family-owned restaurant in Little Havana has been open since 1971. It is always packed with locals who have been eating there for ages. The restaurant serves authentic Cuban cuisine and is known as a gathering place for the Cuban diaspora and a neighborhood standby where locals and visitors can rely on friendly service and traditional Cuban fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Diners can choose from an extensive menu that includes Cuban comfort classics such as croquetas and vaca frita, as well as an assortment of Cuban sandwich favorites and a diverse selection of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood entrees accompanied by traditional staples such as black beans and rice, moros, and/or sweet plantains. On the go, visitors can order a potent shot of sweet Cuban coffee from the restaurant's old Havana-style ventanita (little window). Those with a sweet tooth can satisfy their cravings with Cuban pastelitos (pastries) from the restaurant's bakery and more. Undoubtedly, a destination every must-visit when in Miami.
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9011 Collins Ave / Website
Previously the name of The Surf Club's restaurant before its reimagining, Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club celebrates its place as the best oceanfront dining experience in the Miami Beaches by evoking the leisurely lifestyle of an Italian summer. Michael White, the New York City chef behind Michelin-starred restaurants, brings his stylized and sophisticated coastal Italian cuisine to a Miami icon. Chef Michael White has learned the flavors and traditions of Italian cooking in the same way that most people learn languages. His fluency shows in fresh, refreshing takes on classics that inspire guests to see and appreciate them in new ways. Some of this can be attributed to his American roots, while others to his formal French training during his formative years. But, above all, it reflects his unrivaled love of Italian food and the years he spent perfecting it. From caviar and oysters to rigatoni and branzino, Lido will give you an unforgettable elevated experience.
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Multiple Locations / Website
Although fast food encompasses many areas, a Miami fan favorite is the health-focused restaurant Pura Vida, inspired by its owner Omer Horev's Mediterranean roots. The Magic City is all about fresh and healthy but also fast and delicious. So when you visit this iconic staple with multiple locations across the region, you may indulge in delicious dishes like the Mediterranean Salad and Simple & Fit Plates, which are new additions to the band's menu. But also, a roma and cherry tomato blend, sliced cucumber, red onion, bell peppers, arugula, marinated olive tapenade, crumbled feta, and lemon vinaigrette top the Mediterranean Salad. Alternatively, the new Simple & Fit Plates allow guests to create their bowl using their preferred base, protein, and many more.
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Multiple Locations / Website
Everyone seems to be into the healthy, freshly pressed juice craze in Miami. However, not everyone has achieved the brand recognition and widespread presence that Pure Green has. It was founded in 2014 by Miami-based Ross Franklin and is now the fastest-growing juice bar in the United States for good reason. Pure Green has become the go-to health craze in South Florida and beyond, thanks to its wholesome and recognizable ingredients and unparalleled wellness products. The brand specializes in immune-boosting cold pressed juices, superfood smoothies, wellness shots, acai bowls, oatmeal bowls, superfood toasts, and juice cleanses. Its signature items include the Coconut Chia Acai Bowl, Blue Royale Smoothie, and Wake Up Call cold-pressed juice.
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1300 Brickell Bay Drive / Website
If you love peruvian japanese-inspired food, then this iconic Miami staple si the place. Osaka Nikkei is a Brickell hotspot that offers guests a multi-sensory Nikkei experience. The restaurant perfectly combines the millenary precision of Japanese techniques with the distinct flavors of Peruvian cuisine. The dinner menu includes raw, cooked, cold, hot, seafood, and meat dishes such as popular ceviches, tiraditos, Peruvian Izakaya dishes, and others. Osaka Miami, with popular locations in Latin America's most prominent cities such as Lima, Buenos Aires, and Bogota, will bring the same culinary concept and experience to North America with a Miami twist.
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Multiple Locations / Website
As if the Miami trend wasn;t healthy options, salads also made the list as one the top cuisines in the city. We recommend you visit the popular healthy food company founded in 2007 by then-Georgetown students Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet, and Nathaniel Ru (who met in an entrepreneurship class) after they became tired of the unhealthy and uninspiring food options on campus and decided to do something about it. The Sweetgreen concept involves fast but healthy meals that taste good and feature ingredients from local farmers. Therefore, you will find some decadent healthy foods and want more.
Photography by: Courtesy of Alessandro Biascioli/Getty, Skyscanner, Aamulya, Yelp
