Miami Beach is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, and some people might think you need a big vacation budget to try them. In fact, you can find fantastic restaurants all over Miami Beach that won’t empty your wallet. Check out our round-up of affordable dining spots, whether you’re looking for sushi, pizza, French food or Chinese cuisine.

Dine among the locals at South Beach diner Big Pink

Big Pink

Late-night dining in Miami Beach doesn’t get any better than Big Pink, a locals’ favorite diner that serves giant burgers and decadent waffles at almost any hour. The interior is awash in chrome and pastels, fusing a little bit of the beach into the traditional diner décor. The menu is enormous, too, boasting dozens of sandwiches, teriyaki chicken, ribs, steak, pizza, and anything else your body might crave, be it for an early breakfast or a second dinner at 2 a.m.

Treat yourself to tasty tacos & then slip into Bodega's hidden speakeasy

Bodega Taqueria y Tequila

You’ll find some of Miami Beach’s best (and most budget-friendly) tacos inside this unassuming spot just off Alton Road. Bodega boasts everything from traditional carne asada and al pastor to tequila-marinated shrimp and vegan Impossible chorizo tacos. Dare to peek behind what appears to be an outhouse door, and you’ll also discover a secret speakeasy, which on weekends is an even bigger draw than the tacos.

Fratelli La Bufala

Ask any Italian who has been here a while where to find the best pizza in Miami Beach, and many will tell you it’s at Fratelli La Bufula. This restaurant on the corner of 5th Street and Washington Avenue is great for an affordable meal too, as the pizzas cost far less than what you’d expect at a place so popular among Italian expats. The Neapolitan pies are what made Fratelli La Bufala (a nickname the owner received as the son of a renowned Italian cheese maker) famous, topped with gourmet meats and imported cheeses. But don’t overlook the fresh pastas or veal scallopini if you’re feeling like something other than pizza.

star pizza — Discover delicious Neapolitan-style pizza at Mister 01

Mister 01

When it first opened, this Neapolitan-style pizza place created by a first-generation Italian immigrant gained fame for its hidden location inside a South Beach office building. The secret has since gotten out, and Mister 01’s wood-fired pies are now a hot commodity. For something novel, try the “Scott,” topped with lemon chicken, onions and fresh tomatoes.

Moshi Moshi

There are many sushi restaurants in Miami Beach. One of the most popular is Moshi Moshi. Its reasonable prices are a big reason why. It offers an extensive selection of original rolls (try the lychee salmon and California Mango tempura) as well as a full menu of robata-grilled meats if you’re not feeling fishy.

Pasta-Go

Miami Beach has an abundance of places serving up fresh pasta. But Pasta Go is a best bet if you’re carb-craving on a budget, with its simple menu boasting more than a dozen sauces and nine types of noodles. You can create whatever combination you want, and never pay for extras you don’t need.

Semilla

Some might tell you this cozy Alton Road eatery is a French restaurant – and that’s easy to assume, given its selection of fresh-baked baguettes, hearty boeuf bourguignon and fresh grilled seafood. But Semilla's tours the Mediterranean like a week-long cruise ship, with Italian, Greek and Spanish dishes too. Stop in on the right night, and you may find the restaurant transformed into a full-on club, where the beautiful people of South Beach will help you dance to burn off your dinner.

Sum Yum Gai

You’ll find some of the tastiest Chinese food in Miami Beach at Sum Yum Gai, on Washington Avenue. The prices are sometimes half of those at similar “scenier” spots. Order some Chinese classics and go home with a wallet that’s not significantly lighter.

Taquiza

The blue corn tortillas that envelop Taquiza’s tacos are like little clouds of heaven, giving a warm, fluffy feel to every bite. Beyond its trademark tortillas, Taquiza also offers some of the most interesting taco fillings in Miami Beach, with ingredients such as chapulines (grasshoppers) and lengua (tongue), if you’re feeling adventurous.