Garcia's Seafood Grille in downtown Miami is the half-century-old Miami River fish house at 398 NW North River Drive, with a takeaway market attached.
Signature dishes: Whole fried snapper, Conch fritters, Stone crab claws in season
Must order: Whole fried snapper with a side of yellow rice and beans.
Tip: Sit on the river deck and watch the working boats unload. Cash and card both work; reservations accepted.
Address: 398 NW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128
La Mar by Gaston Acurio in Miami is the Peruvian flagship that relocated to 1451 South Miami Avenue in Brickell in 2025 after a decade at the Mandarin Oriental.
Signature: Cebiche clasico, Tiradito de pescado, Lomo saltado
Order: Cebiche clasico with sweet potato, choclo and red onion.
Tip: Book lunch on a weekday for the cebiche bar prix-fixe and a quieter dining room.
Sergio's in Coral Gables is the original family Cuban diner at 3252 SW 22nd Street, serving abuela-style Miami plates since 1975 across South Florida.
Signature: Cuban sandwich, Pan con bistec, Tres leches
Order: Pan con bistec with crispy potato sticks and a cafe con leche.
Tip: Open early for breakfast, late for after-show plates. The Coral Way location is the founding room.
La Carreta in Miami is the Calle Ocho Cuban diner at 3632 SW 8th Street, a sister room to Versailles serving abuela-style plates and cafe con leche from 8am.
Signature: Lechon asado, Vaca frita, Flan
Order: Lechon asado with moros y cristianos and a side of tostones.
Tip: The ventanita pours strong cafecito at any hour; the dining room is quieter than Versailles next door.
Lung Yai Thai Tapas in Little Havana is the no-reservation Thai street-food counter at 1731 SW 8th Street, a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick since 2022.
Signature: Crying tiger beef, Pad see ew, Mango sticky rice
Order: Crying tiger beef with sticky rice and the green papaya salad turned up two notches.
Tip: Arrive at 5pm or after 9pm to skip the queue. Cash and card both work.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Miami Beach reopened at the Andaz on Collins Avenue in 2025, serving the modernist Spanish small-plates canon to South Beach.
Signature: Liquid olives, Jamon iberico croquetas, Patatas bravas
Order: The liquid olives and the jamon iberico croquetas, two dishes the kitchen has refined for fifteen years.
Tip: Bar seats let you order a half tasting; the chef's counter requires the full menu.
Versailles in Miami is the Calle Ocho Cuban institution that has poured cafecito since 1971 and remains Little Havana's political water cooler at 3555 SW 8th Street.
Signature: Cuban sandwich, Vaca frita, Cafecito at the ventanita
Order: Vaca frita with maduros and a cafecito at the walk-up ventanita.
Tip: The dining room queues at lunch; the ventanita pours cafecito from 8am and pastelitos run all day.
