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 dishes: Lechon asado, Vaca frita, Flan
Must 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.
Address: 3632 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
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.
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.
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.
Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is the 1913 South of Fifth seafood cathedral, serving chilled stone crab claws with mustard sauce from October 15 to May 1 each year.
Signature: Stone crab claws with mustard sauce, Key lime pie, Hash browns
Order: Jumbo or large stone crab claws with the mustard sauce and a side of creamed spinach.
Tip: No reservations for dinner; arrive by 5pm or use the take-away counter next door for the same claws to-go.
Yardbird in Miami Beach is the Lenox Avenue Southern table that put 27-hour brined fried chicken on the South Beach map and runs brunch through dinner daily.
Signature: 27-hour brined fried chicken, Chicken n watermelon n waffles, Mama's biscuits
Order: The chicken n watermelon n waffles plate; the chicken alone is the order if you only want one bird.
Tip: Book the patio if it's open. Locals brunch Saturday before the queue takes the dining room past 1pm.
Cote Miami in the Design District is Simon Kim's Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, a smoke-and-fire room that opened on NE 2nd Avenue in 2021.
Signature: Butcher's Feast tasting, Galbi, Steak Omakase
Order: The Butcher's Feast; four cuts with banchan, stews and soft-serve to close.
Tip: Book three to four weeks ahead. Counter seats give you full kitchen view; the back banquettes are quieter for groups.
