Best Places To Eat In Little River

Little River might be one of the oldest neighborhoods in Greater Miami and Miami Beach, but its increasingly diverse, international food scene has made it one of the destination’s trendiest locales right now. Situated just north of Little Haiti, Little River has an industrial feel punctuated with residential pockets and a few leafy, walkable stretches. It’s filled with cute art galleries, eclectic coffee shops and an abundance of notable restaurants – including a few of the best restaurants in Miami.

From South American asado-style barbecue, herbaceous Vietnamese cuisine and Persian kebabs to a multi-level food hall and even one of our favorite MICHELIN restaurants in Miami, Little River’s food scene is on fire. These are the best restaurants in Little River to explore on your next Miami foodie adventure.

Sunny’s Steakhouse

This former pop-up can be credited with putting Little River’s booming food scene on the map, evolving from a “sometimes steakhouse” with excellent cocktails to a beautiful brick-and-mortar restaurant nestled under a twinkling banyan tree. With an impeccably curated menu of steaks and sides, raw bar selections, salads and pastas plus a festive atmosphere that never feels forced, it’s no surprise Sunny’s Steakhouse lands at the top of countless Miami restaurant guides.

Fooq’s

Fooq’s has made a comeback and Miami food lovers couldn’t be more excited. Once a tiny and laidback Downtown Miami favorite, the original Fooq’s closed in March 2021. This newer, giant version of the Persian mainstay, with its soaring ceilings, multiple bars and large patio, serves kebabs, ghormeh sabzi and tahdig alongside indulgent new favorites such as caviar-topped latkes. Start with the salty za'atar bread (it’s a must) and end with drinks and dancing at the Lion’s Den, the restaurant’s ’70s-inspired upstairs lounge.

Ogawa

Led by master chef Masayuki “Masa” Komatsu, Ogawa isn’t your average sushi place. If its walls covered in Japanese calligraphy scrolls and contemporary nihonga artworks don’t give you a clue, its MICHELIN star should. Ogawa serves a traditional omakase experience with surprise dishes and 8 to 10 nigiri courses chosen entirely by the chef.

Dining here isn’t a meal; it’s an experience. Ask the sommelier to pair what’s in front of you (cuttlefish crowned with caviar, perhaps?) with artisanal sake or rare Japanese whiskey, and don’t leave without visiting the private Japanese garden. Fun fact: Ogawa means “small river” in Japanese, a dual nod to its Little River location and Japanese heritage.

Gaucho Ranch Grill & Wines

“Gauchos” are South American cowboys who grill using a barbecue technique called “asado,” or live-fire cooking, in which meat is charred to perfection over an open flame. Lucky for Miami carnivores, Gaucho Ranch Grill & Wines brings that style of grilling to Little River.

Choose the grass-fed, organic meat that appeals most to you – you can’t go wrong with flap or rib eye steak, lamb picanha or honey-marinated chicken thighs. Pair it with lots of zesty and herbaceous chimichurri and a bottle of wine from the restaurant and wine shop’s curated collection. End your evening on a sweet note with yet another flame-kissed masterpiece: the grilled pineapple topped with honey goat cheese, coconut ice cream and toasted almonds.

The Citadel

The Citadel is an eclectic food hall and community hub where you’ll find some of the best eats in Miami, a rooftop bar, a funky thrift shop, a children’s play gym and a regular calendar of live music, games and events. Grab a bite to eat from one of 12 kitchens – they do well representing Miami’s diverse culinary offerings, from Manjay (Caribbean) and Pho Sho (Vietnamese) to Stanzione (Neapolitan pizza) and United States Burger Service (burgers).

Cocktail connoisseurs will want to stop in at the award-winning, monster-themed Bar Kaiju on the mezzanine, or mingle with the locals during the bustling happy hour at the main level bar. For a pick-me-up, order a matcha or cold brew from Vice City Bean and enjoy it up on the breezy rooftop.

Tran An

Named after chef Jon Nguyen’s grandfather and inspired by his Hanoi roots, Tran An is a groovy, 18-seat eatery where you can get traditional Vietnamese comfort food with a twist. Start with a Buffalo KFC banh mi (it’s on the “secret menu”) or Supreme Beef Pho – the latter floats Wagyu beef, brisket, all-beef meatballs, shredded beef necks and beef tendon in a rich bone marrow broth. Get the ooey-gooey Rice Krispy Treat with fruity pebbles, and don’t leave without a bottle of Nguyen’s special “Grandma Sauce,” which tastes good on almost everything.

The Plantisserie

The Plantisserie is a plant-based, organic deli and market where you can go for a casual meal or to shop for ingredients for tonight’s dinner. Grab a seat indoors or outdoors or get your food to-go. You can even get frozen versions of many of their entrées, along with vegan pizzas and lentil burger patties that you can throw in the oven later.

The chefs only use fresh, organic, plant-based ingredients that are free from chemicals, pesticides, additives and hormones. Vegetarians and vegans rave about the shepherd’s pie. Other notable favorites include the plant-based empanadas, lasagna and ropa vieja.

La Santa Taqueria

Chef Omar Montero – who reminds us to “build tacos, not walls” – has been impressing Miami diners with his creative take on traditional Mexican street tacos since 2017. What started as one of the most popular Miami food trucks, La Santa Taqueria is now a permanent fixture in Little River.

Go here and try the barbacoa tacos with lamb leg, salsa roja de guajillo, salsa verde de tomatillo cruda and cotija cheese, or perhaps the Villamelón tacos with dry cured meat, Mexican chorizo and pork chicharrón. Order queso fundido topped with chorizo for the table and everyone will love you.