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Not so long ago we said Miami and Miami Beach were having a major foodie moment, and we were somewhat wrong. After naming Miami our 2023 Food City of the Year, it would be more accurate to say the “moment” has officially solidified into something permanent. In a country full of big cities touting incredible restaurants, the Greater Miami area has evolved into a culinary fixture—and if you’ve visited anytime in recent years, you’ll understand why.
Where New York has a sheer volume of restaurants and Los Angeles has a health-conscious flair, Miami has a standout personality of its own, one that has proven to be the most exciting of all. Miami is still considered a young city, which means it is continually evolving and pushing boundaries. The attention hasn’t gone unnoticed; the city is attracting everyone from the world’s most talented chefs to the up-and-coming stars. If Miami were part of a proverbial culinary family, it would be the ambitious younger sibling; already primed to outshine its predecessors thanks to its energy and momentum.
We spoke to six chefs, restaurant owners, and food industry professionals from a handful of our favorite restaurants in Miami and Miami Beach about what to order at their restaurants, what inspires them, and what makes Miami the go-to culinary destination of the moment. Fair warning—if you weren’t already hungry, you’re about to be.
Some of the best restaurants are born out of a need to create something different, and North Miami Beach’s Smith & Webster is one such place. When former NFL player Kayvon Webster retired from the LA Rams and moved back to Miami to run a food truck business, he invited Starex Smith of food media company The Hungry Black Man to review the spot—and it didn’t go well. After the review, Webster asked Smith to partner up on a new restaurant that would be unlike anything else in Miami. Together, the pair settled on a semi-fine dining concept pairing soulful African diaspora food pathways with traditional French cooking techniques—and thus, Smith & Webster was born.
The atmosphere is lively and the dishes are equal parts soulful and intentional. For proof, look to co-founder Starex Smith’s favorite dish on the menu, the braised oxtail lasagna. “It’s a beautiful red wine braised oxtail that is slow-cooked for hours with an in-house marinara with locally sourced herbs and vegetables,” Smith said. Another must-try is the biscuits. ”The best in the state of Florida,” according to Smith. Chef and TV personality Carla Hall came to the restaurant to teach the entire kitchen team how to make a proper Angel biscuit, the classic southern staple that is a cross between a buttermilk biscuit and a soft yeast roll.
On Miami’s Deep Roots | Smith grew up in Miami, and long before he launched The Hungry Black Man and opened Smith & Webster, some of his earliest memories revolve around picking up pastelitos from Vicky Bakery before school. “You can literally travel the globe in Miami on just one of our major avenues,” Smith said. “Our food scene is creative, spirited, and unpretentious. It is a true reflection of our ability to be a great host city without losing our core identity.”
The original location of Fiola, based in Washington D.C., has earned a Michelin star every year since 2018. Needless to say, the Coral Gables outpost of the elegant Italian eatery is nothing short of impeccable. Fiola hits all of the marks for a top-tier restaurant: incredible dishes, a stellar wine program, and service that manages to be attentive and warm but never stuffy. The Amalfi Coast raw bar offers delicate, quality-sourced fresh seafood, while dinner consists of dishes like a milk-fed veal chop topped with fresh truffle, plump lobster ravioli, and a unique tableside caviar flight featuring three different types of caviar, among others. Despite the relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, Fiola is a fine dining restaurant at its core. Truffle, caviar, and other luxurious ingredients find their way into several worthwhile dishes here, making dining at Fiola feel like a special occasion on any given evening. To up the ante even more, the restaurant hosts monthly wine dinners featuring vineyards from around the world. “We have had 65 wine dinners to date, including visits from Gaja, Vega Sicilia, Penfolds, and Paul Hobbs,” said Fiola Miami’s owner, Tom Angelo.
If Miami were a person, they would be the life of the party, high-spirited and authentic. If that person were to dine at a quintessential Miami-based restaurant that matches their energy, it’d be Dukunoo Jamaican Restaurant in Wynwood. Dining at Miami’s first upscale Caribbean restaurant is a two-fold experience; you get incredibly authentic Jamaican cuisine and the vibrant, good-time energy that emits the essence of island vibes. “Our Afro-Caribbean culinary culture embodies a true Jamaican destination experience through its food, music, service, and fun,” said Dukunoo’s co-owner, Dr. Shrusan Gray. “With Miami being one of the top-rated cities in the country, we try to create the best authentic Jamaican destination experience possible for guests.”
Dukunoo’s menu is full of favorites. The jerk chicken sliders are a standout appetizer, while the DJK whole snapper, known as Escovitch fish in Jamaica, is a must-order main. “It’s parallel to the initial Jamaican style of healthy nourishment,” said Gray. “It captures a perfect combination of flavors from most of our specialty herbs, vegetables, and spices, much like the freshly caught fish found on the coastlines of Jamaica.” The Wild Side rum punch is perfect for rounding out the meal’s flavors and for keeping the vibes going.
When Michelin finally made their way to Florida by way of Miami in the summer of 2022, it marked a palpable shift in the credibility of the city’s culinary scene, cementing the city as a force to be reckoned with. The Den at Azabu Miami Beach was one of the ten recognized restaurants in Miami, earning itself a coveted Michelin star. The hidden sushi counter, tucked into an unsuspecting corner of the Marriott Stanton South Beach Hotel, is a 12-course omakase experience helmed by top Tokyo-trained chefs.
From the elegant, simplistic decor to the incredibly fresh fish flown in daily from Tokyo’s legendary Toyosu Fish Market, everything about the experience exudes the essence of Japanese elegance. At the heart of the restaurant’s operation is the Japanese concept of omotenashi, or selfless service with a spirit of warmth and respect. “It’s what I call chef-theater at its best,” said Mahmood Abousalem, vice president of Tokyo-based PDS Hospitality.
On Miami’s Culinary Evolution | “I’ve seen the culinary scene in Miami get better and better over the past 10 years,” said Abousalem. “A lot of top-tier restaurant groups from NYC and other areas of the country are coming here, and that’s a good thing. The competition challenges everyone to stay on top of their game; it pushes the limits of creativity, service, and quality.”
When acclaimed European Chef Tristan Brandt was presented with the opportunity to open his first US-based restaurant in Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, he was thrilled at the prospect. “I’ve always loved the energy of Miami," Brandt said, “it’s such an eclectic, open-minded city.” Nearly 65 years after the original Tambourine Room graced Miami Beach, Brandt’s reimagined version manifested as an 18-seat fine dining experience serving modern French cuisine with Asian influences.
Dining at Tambourine Room by Tristan Brandt is not your average dinner; it’s an ever-changing culinary journey designed to surprise guests and encourage exploration of the palette. Seatings vary by day— Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, a six-course tasting menu is served at 7 pm, whereas Saturday and Sunday offer a three-course tasting menu at 6 pm and a six-course at 8:30 pm. The menu rotates by season but can include dishes like veal with potato and truffle and fresh king salmon with sorrel and juniper. One dish guests will always find on the menu is Brandt’s signature dinner enhancement, a thinly sliced beef tartare tucked under a layer of caviar served with kimizu, whipped crème fraîche, and sourdough chips.
On Getting Support From Other Chefs | One thing Brandt appreciates about Miami is the sense of support; chefs are always trying out new restaurants in the city, getting inspired by and supporting one another. “The fact that many chefs from other restaurants have already dined with us is a great confirmation of the work we have done so far,” Brandt said. He also does his part to support other Miami establishments. “The best bar in Miami is Sweet Liberty,” he said. The trendy bar was originally opened by the late, beloved Miami-based mixologist, John Lermayer.
In 2020, Rubell Museum moved from Wynwood to Miami’s up-and-coming Allapattah neighborhood, bringing with it an exciting addition: Leku. Specializing in Spanish-modernist style cuisine from Basque Country, Leku is a fine dining concept offering guests a menu of dishes that are simply prepared and full-flavored using fresh, seasonal ingredients. The centerpiece of Leku's alfresco dining area is a wood-fired Basque grill, where meat and seafood dishes are transformed with flavor from the embers and open flame.
One dish you can’t leave without trying is the cochinillo crujiente con piperrada ahumada or crispy confit suckling pig. The nine-pound Iberian pig is cooked under sous vide for 12 hours. “This leaves the skin super crunchy and the meat very sweet and juicy,” said Leku's Executive Chef, Carlos Garcia. The sauce is made with a reduction of roasted peppers’ juice and the bones of the suckling pig, resulting in a sweet and lightly gamey flavor. After dinner, order the Basque cheesecake—a melting cheesecake topped with caramelized custard and served alongside raspberry sorbet, which happens to be one of the most photographed desserts in Miami
To learn more and start planning your trip to Miami and Miami Beach, click here.