Eating and traveling are two of life’s greatest pleasures, so you can’t really go wrong combining the two. Getting to know a new city by taking a tour through its cuisine is a great way to learn more about its culture and customs.
Visiting Miami while enjoying a food tour is a good example of this growing trend, since the city’s varied gastronomic offer is heavily influenced by other cultures which migrated to the Sunshine State over the years. As a result, Miami’s cuisine fuses Latin American, Caribbean, Southern, Cuban and American styles.
The city is currently having a great gastronomic moment, boasting a Michelin starred restaurant and many others which come highly recommended. This is especially true of Miami Beach, the city’s touristic hotspot; its most popular avenues are crowded with foodies from across the globe, while some of the world’s leading chefs have opted to open their restaurants here.
Establishments serving Latino food are particularly popular – like “Larios on the beach”, owned by the singer Gloria Estefan. Here you can taste the best Cuban food in a very pleasant, cool atmosphere; the most classic dishes, such as Cuban empanadas, are among the most requested.
But that’s not all! As we have seen, Miami’s cuisine is extremely varied. Therefore, in this article we take a look at the most delicious dishes and coolest venues you should check out on a Miami food tour. Let’s get started!
Dishes and restaurants which you can’t miss during your visit to Miami
- Colombian breakfast at Loba
Loba is run by chef Jessica Sanchez. When she was a child Jessica helped her parents in their Colombian restaurant, but she never imagined that one day she would have her own restaurant in the city of Miami.
Jessica decided to open this beautiful establishment in the MiMo district, with a menu inspired by the ingredients of the southern regions. The restaurant’s forte is typical Colombian food, like Andean potato stew.
We recommend trying Loba’s fantastic breakfast of rib-eye steak with rice, beans and fried pork rinds. Don’t miss out if you’re considering a Florida food tour.
- Peruvian Sushi at Itamae
Itamae is located in St. Roch Market, where chef Fernando Chang and his two children, Valerie and Nando (known as the “Chang Gang”) serve delicious dishes inspired by Peruvian cuisine. The restaurant’s Peruvian sushi and rice casserole have long fascinated chefs and diners alike.
At Itamae, traditional sushi is blended with classic Peruvian flavors, such as sashimi garnished with “leche de tigre”, a typical Peruvian marinade made with citrus and pepper.
One dish which we recommend is the Rosita Tiradito; made with very thin, almost transparent slices of octopus soaked in olive aioli, with a sheet of avocado and fried capers and accompanied by Peruvian saltines.
Another fantastic dish is the Chiclayo Cebiche Bowl which contains sweet potatoes, hamachi, crispy Peruvian corn, and tender corn kernels. Don’t miss out… it’s absolutely delicious!
- Argentinean steak at Fiorito
Fiorito shares its name with one of Buenos Aires’ working neighborhoods, and its décor evokes one of the Argentines’ greatest passions: soccer. Murals with images of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi adorn this cozy restaurant, which aims to bring the best of Argentine food to the local culture of Miami.
The restaurant was founded by the Alvarez brothers, Maximiliano and Christian. It is well known for its passionate atmosphere, with soccer games playing in the background alongside Latin pop music, as Argentine expatriates meet up, laugh and chat effusively.
Fiorito’s menu is full of classic, simple grilled meat dishes from Buenos Aires. We recommend that you opt for the classics, such as the chorizo sandwich (“choripan”), provoleta, asado strip, grilled churrasco with chimichurri; and for dessert, pancakes with dulce de leche.
In addition, the restaurant’s dishes are accompanied by an excellent wine list focused on Malbecs, which pair ideally with this kind of menu.
- Venezuelan arepas at Budare Bistro
Miami’s Venezuelan community is growing and slowly introducing its culinary customs, such as arepas made with cornmeal, and sweet corn cachapas.
Budare Bistro is located in a mall at Coral Way, and serves some of the most delicious meals in the city. Best of all is the “Pabellon Criollo”, an arepa stuffed with pulled beef, rice, black beans and fried bananas.
Another great dish for you to try is the Pepito sandwich, which is stuffed with beef or chicken, covered in guasacasa sauce made from avocados, and accompanied by fried potatoes.
- Cuban cocktails at La Trova Café
Café La Trova is located on one of the most famous streets in Miami, Eight Street. The venue invites you to travel back in time thanks to its decoration, combining the pre-Castro Cuban style with an ‘80s Miami aesthetic.
Visiting this café is a fantastically fun experience, with live bands and people dancing between tables, while the barman waves their cocktail shaker and fashions the most delicious drinks in town.
Founded by Michelle Bernstein and the famous Cuban bartender Julio Cabrera, the Café’s cocktails are as notable as its food menu. We recommend sampling the Double Papa daiquiri, a proudly Cuban cocktail which stands apart from the sweet drinks sold on the beach nearby. While the cocktails served here are incredible, the food is just as good – check out the Duck leg confit tapa, or the foie gras torchon.
