The Florida Culinary Experience That’s Worth Crossing State Lines For

Miami is the kind of city that doesn’t need to convince people to visit. It simply attracts them with its exciting, diverse, and dynamic personality. Its year-round sunshine and long coastline don’t hurt its reputation either. But while most people come to the 305 for its parties and beautiful beaches, the city's coolest offering is something that is truly unique: a signature cuisine with dishes you won't find anywhere else in the world, and that might just be the best culinary experience in Florida.

Why This Culinary Experience Is Worth Traveling For

As an immigrant city and an international business hub, Miami has a very diverse food scene. You can have breakfast at a French cafe, lunch at a family-owned Salvadorian spot, and dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant. While I love this about the city, you could say the same about any major metropolis. Yet nowhere else in the world serves what I call Miami–style cuisine. Fusing world flavors (particularly from Latin America) with U.S. cuisine and South Florida’s tropical ingredients, it creates delicious and one-of-a-kind dishes you can only try if you visit. Fresh fruits like passion fruit and guava reign supreme, as does seafood, though anything is really fair game. As the city builds its culinary identity, the only rules seem to be that dishes need to be unique, distinctly Miamian, and, above all, delicious. And, yes, it’s worth hopping on a flight just to get a taste.

The Highlights You Cannot Miss

You’ll find Miami-style cuisine all over the city, especially in more residential areas that cater to locals. To start, I’d recommend checking out places that emphasize Cuban flavors, since the island’s culture permeates every aspect of the Magic City. A food tour of Little Havana is always a good idea, though if you’d rather go on your own, make sure to hit Sanguich for the city’s absolute best Miami-style Cuban sandwich (which is different from the Tampa version). I also love Ball & Chain because, while its identity is strongly Cuban, it dives into fusion with dishes like a tropical ceviche served in a hollowed-out pineapple or Cuban pork tacos. For drinks, you’ll see cocktails like a guava pastry daiquiri or a Miami mule made with vodka and Key lime juice. 

The city's signature cuisine is also on full display outside of Little Havana. One of my favorite places to see it in all of its glory is Chug’s Diner. The croqueta bao bun topped with kimchi would be enough to land this place on my list of must-visit food places in Florida. But the mamey (a tropical fruit) matcha, Mongolian beef pastelito pastry, and taro latkes seal the deal. Meanwhile, Ghee Indian Kitchen’s nihari short-rib beef tacos with avocado cream are some of the best in the city, beating even some authentic Mexican places. And I would personally walk a thousand miles for Miami-style BBQ at Apocalypse in Kendall. People line up for hours outside of this spot just to get a taste of the cafecito-rubbed ribs or the pulled pork tostones with a side of Mexican street corn. Similarly, Lala’s Burgers goes all in on Miami flavors by adding queso frito (fried cheese) and guava sauce to many of its best burgers and appetizers. Bold, interesting, and just a little weird, Miami-style cuisine is a reflection of the city’s soul.

What to Know Before You Go

Trying Miami’s fairly nascent yet incredibly exciting cuisines is probably one of the most unique things to do in Florida. But if you’re a picky eater, be aware that you’ll probably run into a lot of unfamiliar ingredients.

Also, don’t panic if you don’t have time to go to a place that specializes in Miami-style cuisine. While I believe the spots listed above are some of the best examples of the cuisine, you’ll likely stumble into it no matter where you go, as the city loves to use its own fresh ingredients. For instance, I recently visited Solei Beach Club at the Kimpton Surfcomber in South Beach and was happily surprised to see some of Miami’s signature flavors incorporated into the Mediterranean-inspired menu. Items like harissa churrasco wraps, passion fruit gelato, and an Italian margarita made with Campari and Cointreau gave away the chef's Miami roots right away. 

If you’re a foodie, the chance to get dishes that can only be found in Miami is definitely worth the trip to Florida. And if, in between your meals, you happen to see gators in the Everglades, get a tan at the beach, walk by beautiful Art Deco buildings, and dance salsa, it's even better.