Must-Try Miami Food

In Greater Miami and Miami Beach, croquetas are a mainstay, stone crab is practically a rite of passage and the best meal you’ll have might come from a strip mall. No matter how many times you visit, locals will happily point you toward their favorite bites, showcasing local ingredients and multicultural flavors across Miami's many vibrant neighborhoods. Together, they tell the story of Miami one plate at a time.

Cuban Specialties

Few cities do Cuban food as well as Miami. The Cuban sandwich is a staple: roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed into Cuban bread until it’s perfectly golden.

Whether you frequent counters like Sanguich and Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop near Wynwood or Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana, you can’t go wrong. Cuban comfort food shows up in many forms, too, from cafecito window stops at Tinta y Café (located in Coral Gables and Miami Shores) to nostalgic diner plates at Chug’s Diner in Coconut Grove.

Stone Crabs at Joe’s Stone Crab

Joe’s Stone Crab has been a Miami Beach favorite since 1913, best known for making stone crab claws a must-try meal, along with its legendary mustard sauce that’ll make even the most devoted butter-dipper reconsider.

Friendly staff who’ve worked there for decades (yes, they’ll help with your paper bib) and a menu of classics like hash browns, grilled tomatoes and creamed spinach round out the experience.

Stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 1, when claws are caught fresh daily in the Florida Keys. Off-season visits are worth the trip for a chilled dirty martini, crispy half-fried chicken and flash-frozen claws.

Pastelito Paradise

Pastelitos are a big part of Cuban-American culture and ventanita life in Miami. Locals can’t get enough of these glazed, flaky puff pastries, usually filled with savory or sweet fillings like guava and cheese. At nearly any hour, you’ll find locals stopping by their go-to bakery for a quick fix. Try one at Ricky Bakery on Coral Way, Cakeland Bakery in Kendall, Pinecrest Bakery or Vicky Bakery, which both have locations across the destination.

Fritanga at Cana Brava

Next time you’re in Little Havana, stop by Cana Brava for lunch to try fritanga, a favorite Nicaraguan street food known for its generous portions. Cana Brava turns out classic plates piled with grilled meats like carne asada, chicken and fried pork alongside rice and beans, a massive piece of fried cheese and other comforting sides. Don’t forget to grab a bolis from the fridge: nostalgic frozen treats made from fruit or creamy blends sealed in small plastic bags.

Cinnamon Rolls At Knaus Berry Farm

Before you visit Knaus Berry Farm in the Redland, it helps to know a bit of its story. The Knaus family started the Homestead farm as a you-pick strawberry field and then began baking ginormous sticky-sweet cinnamon rolls so good they became the stuff of local lore. They recently reopened in a new location, still using the same family recipe.

Buy one bun or a whole dozen to share, and don’t leave without a strawberry milkshake. The farm is open seasonally, so plan your visit between October and May.

A Venezuelan Empanada Unlike Any Other

If you ask people in Miami to name the best empanada, you’ll get loads of answers, but Venezuelans will likely send you to La Uchireña in Doral. Inspired by the coastal town of Boca de Uchire, where beachside kiosks fry up snacks just steps from the Caribbean, this unassuming haunt brings that same flavor stateside.

Each corn dough empanada is fried to order and stuffed with everything from classic cheese to pabellón-style shredded beef with plantain, best paired with garlic sauce or guasacaca, a creamy avocado-cilantro sauce.

Haitian Griot At Chef Creole

Wilkinson “Ken” Sejour brings his Haitian and Bahamian heritage to life at Chef Creole, with locations in Little Haiti and across Miami. The Bahamian-style conch fritters are delicious, but his Haitian specialty, griot, is the quintessential favorite. These tender fried pork chunks are marinated in lemon and spices and go well with pikliz, a spicy, tangy slaw, plus peas and rice on the side.

A Slice of Key Lime Pie

The Keys get most of the credit, but Miami is making its own case for the perfect Key lime pie. With outposts in Wynwood and Coconut Grove, Fireman Derek’s (yes, helmed by an actual Miami firefighter) was born after Derek Kaplan’s pies became such a hit with his firehouse crew that he turned it into a business.

Fookem’s Fabulous in West Coconut Grove is also worth the drive. Joshua Abril’s sea-salt graham-cracker crust has garnered a devoted following that began as a pop-up.

Croquetas for All

Crunchy, salty, creamy – these are some of the words used to describe a croqueta, the fried ham or chicken–stuffed cylinders Miamians eat daily, often for under $2. They’re good on their own with a squeeze of lime, or smashed between a sandwich.

Regulars swear by Islas Canarias first thing in the morning for a taste of the traditional family recipe. Trigo Café in Hialeah and La Casita in Coral Gables are also worth adding to your list.

Fresh Peruvian Ceviche

Miami is home to one of the largest Peruvian populations in the U.S., so it’s no surprise that Peruvian cuisine has become a big part of the local flavor. Its influences range from the indigenous Incas and the Spanish to generations of Japanese and Chinese immigrants.

A must is the ceviche: fresh fish “cooked” in lime juice with seasonings, typically served with sweet potato and choclo corn. We recommend Sabor a Perú near Wynwood or Mar y Tierra in Downtown Miami, where the portions are famously generous.