With an abundance of cultures from South and Central America as well as the Caribbean coming together in one place, Greater Miami & Miami Beach is considered one of the most diverse destinations in the country. One of the biggest upsides to this melting pot is the abundance of Latin food. In Miami, you can find dishes from Honduras, Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic all on a single block. The destination’s Latin American restaurants run the gamut from humble, family-run cafeterias to fine-dining establishments with MICHELIN-starred tasting menus. So, whether you’re looking for a delicious, simple meal or an over-the-top feast, here are some of the best Latin restaurants in Miami.

Salads, sausage, cheese and sides at Fogo de Chao — Try the traditional sides at Fogo de Chao

Fogo de Chão

Common in Brazilian steakhouses, “rodizio” is a style of service in which servers roam the dining room carrying skewers of savory, grilled meats and stop to carve portions whenever guests flag them down. It’s a true feast for the eyes and the stomach, and it’s best experienced at Fogo de Chão’s flagship restaurant in Coral Gables. The waiters – or gauchos, as they’re called – are all specially trained in preparing, cooking and cutting meat, bringing an exquisite level of service to the rodizio experience. You’ll also be treated to a full salad bar that could be a meal on its own plus plenty of traditional Brazilian sides, including rice, beans, polenta and farofa.

Hanging ribeye at Los Fuegos, by Juan Fernando Ayora — Try the grilled ribeye at Los Fuegos By Francis Mallmann

Los Fuegos By Francis Mallmann

“Chef’s Table” star Francis Mallmann operates his signature steakhouse inside the opulent Faena Hotel Miami Beach. You’ll know you’ve found Los Fuegos By Francis Mallmann when you smell the distinct aroma of its wood-burning grill, which fills the luxurious red and gold dining room. The steaks absorb the smoke of the grill, resulting in delicious cuts of prime beef with flavors unlike any other grilled meat in Miami. The balance of the menu is a tasty sampling of Argentine plancha cuisine (high-temperature searing with a small amount of smoking), with dishes such as wood-fired prawns, artichokes and beef empanadas.

Antigua Guatemala Restaurant

Named after one of the most stunning architectural cities in Central America, Antigua Guatemala Restaurant is a perfect place to try food from the city it’s named after. Step under the green awnings along West Flagler Street in Little Havana and you’ll find a simple, family-run restaurant where the owners serve dishes from their home country at an affordable price. Start with a selection of fresh ceviches or pressed juices, then move on to grilled beef or chicken fajitas that offer a Guatemalan take on what you’ve probably had in Mexican restaurants. Finish off with a creamy tres leches for dessert and you’ll still be out the door for under $30.

Casa Lenca Restaurante by Chef Victoria

This unassuming, small restaurant in a Hialeah strip mall is a true hidden gem of Honduran cuisine. The brainchild of a Honduran-born chef, Casa Lenca Restaurante by Chef Victoria brings a broad sampling of culturally traditional dishes to its menu. If you haven’t tried this Central American cuisine, you’ll discover a blend of tropical flavors and grilled meats, best experienced in the carne asada ceibeña – grilled skirt steak with green bananas, salad and a savory red sauce. You’ll also want to try Casa Lenca’s house-made tortillas with cheese or its pupusas (cornmeal or rice flatbread) served with pork belly or rice and cheese.

Club Típico Dominicano

To immerse yourself in Dominican food and culture, head to the longstanding Club Típico Dominicano in Allapattah. This restaurant-club has been the go-to for Miami’s Dominican community since the mid-1980s, offering up classic dishes, like stewed goat and fish in coconut sauce, by day then transforming into a Latin music club by night. It’s won the Miami New Times’ “Best Latin Club” award. Club Típico is totally family friendly and a perfect place to kick back and enjoy delicious food and the warmth of Dominican hospitality.

Doggi’s Arepa Bar

Arepas – cornmeal cakes typically filled with cheese and pressed on a grill – are a staple food in many Latin American countries. When it comes to the arepas served up at Doggi’s Arepa Bar, things get a little more interesting because they’re filled to the top with savory toppings, such as churrasco, picanha steak, pabellón (Venezuelan rice and beans) or fried plantains. The menu also includes a wide selection of traditional Latin American sides, from cheesy tequeños to empanadas and rice and beans. The best part about Doggi’s is that no matter where you are in Miami, you’re never far from one of its locations. Check out one of its brick-and-mortar shops or one of its roving food trucks in Coral Gables, Doral, Allapattah, Little River or Aventura.

Elcielo Miami

Chef and owner Juan Manuel Barrientos earned a MICHELIN star for his modern take on Colombian cuisine at this waterside Brickell beauty. Elcielo Miami's 19-course tasting menu provides a dining experience in which each dish outdoes the next, starting off with exotic drinks, like passion fruit Mistella and soursop champagne, then heading into a slew of delicious dishes, including crab empanadas, seasonal soups, cumin rice with duck and lobster rolls. This menu is for those who want a dining adventure like no other, as the experience also includes the Tree of Life, a yucca bread served to look like a bonsai tree, and Chocotherapy, in which the server pours chocolate directly into your hands. Elcielo, which is special occasion dining at its finest, will leave you with an experience you’ll talk about years after you’ve licked your chocolaty hands clean.

Francisca Charcoal Chicken & Meats

Latin American barbecue is considerably different from the sauce-covered ribs and brisket popular in the U.S. To see how grilled meats are done in Latin America, head to Francisca Charcoal Chicken & Meats in Doral, where you can buy a whole grilled chicken to share with the family. The menu is more than just chicken and steaks, though, and the appetizer menu is full of Latin-flavored dishes complete with stories about the people who inspired each dish. Francisca also has locations in Miami Lakes, Kendall and Wynwood.

La Ventana

Not to be confused with Miami’s many “ventanitas” – little windows around the city dispensing Cuban coffee and croquetas – La Ventana is an authentic Colombian restaurant on Washington Avenue in South Beach. Guests can enjoy their meals either inside the dining room, which is draped with flowers and Colombian art, or outside at a sunny sidewalk table. Wherever you decide to eat, you’ll find the menu to be a brilliant exploration of Colombian cuisine, with New York steak and chimichurri churrasco made with high-quality certified Angus beef. If you want a sampling of what La Ventana does best, order the Mix Grill, which delivers to your table steak, chicken breast, a selection of sausages and two traditional sides.

Taquiza

Miami has no shortage of fantastic taco shops, but if you’re looking for something a little different, head to Taquiza, just across Ocean Terrace from the beach in North Beach. The fluffy blue corn tortillas have earned this independent taco shop a loyal local following, and the tacos are filled to the brim with everything from barbacoa to grilled mahi. If you want to try something that’ll make for a good story to tell when you get home, try the chapulines taco, filled with toasted adobe-seasoned grasshoppers and guacamole.

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