Ariete in Coconut Grove is Michael Beltran's Michelin-starred Cuban-American room on Main Highway, holding a star four years running since 2022.
Signature dishes: Croqueta de jamon, Aged ribeye, Burger night
Must order: The croqueta de jamon to open, then whatever the chalkboard says is being aged that week.
Tip: Tuesday burger night is a hard ticket; book the brunch service if you want the kitchen at full curiosity.
Address: 3540 Main Highway, Miami, FL 33133
Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach is Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford's Michelin-starred South of Fifth dining room on Washington Avenue, holding a star every year since 2022.
Signature: Carolina gold rice with caviar, Hokkaido scallop, Aged duck
Order: The tasting menu if you have the time; otherwise the duck for two is the dish locals book ahead.
Tip: Bar seats take a la carte without the prepay; the dining room is set menu Friday and Saturday.
Hiden in Wynwood is the eight-seat Michelin omakase counter at 313 NW 25th, behind a passcode door, run by Chef Seijun Okano with fish flown from Tokyo.
Signature: Omakase nigiri, Toro hand roll, Tamago to close
Order: There is one order: the omakase. Choose seat, not course.
Tip: Wait list runs months; sign up the moment the calendar opens and accept any seat offered.
Zuma in Miami is Rainer Becker's modern Japanese izakaya at 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, on the Miami River at the Epic Hotel, open in Brickell since 2010.
Signature: Robata-grilled black cod miso, Spicy beef tenderloin, Wagyu sushi
Order: Robata-grilled black cod miso, the dish carried across every Zuma globally.
Tip: Sit on the river terrace at sunset; the indoor robata bar is the chef-counter alternative.
Mandolin Aegean Bistro in Miami's Buena Vista is the 1940s-bungalow Greek-Turkish dining room on NE 2nd Avenue, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 for taverna cooking.
Signature: Greek village salad, Chicken souvlaki, Whole grilled fish
Order: The Greek village salad and a whole grilled fish for two.
Tip: Sit in the garden under the bougainvillea. The takeaway shop next door sells Mandolin's house olive oil.
KYU in Wynwood is the wood-smoked Asian counter at 251 NW 25th Street, the kitchen that earned TIME's Best Restaurant in Florida in 2017 and still pulls a queue.
Signature: Korean fried chicken, Charred cauliflower, Brisket bao buns
Order: The duck-fat fried rice and the charred cauliflower with shishito-herb dressing.
Tip: Walk-ins seat fastest at the central bar facing the wood-grill; book the dining room two weeks out.
Macchialina in Miami Beach is Michael Pirolo's rustic Italian taverna at 820 Alton Road, open in South Beach since 2012 and built on house-made pasta.
Signature: Tagliatelle bolognese, Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, Burrata with confit tomatoes
Order: Tagliatelle bolognese with the slow-cooked meat ragu.
Tip: Sidewalk tables for breeze, dining room for noise; the Italian wine list runs deeper than the menu suggests.
