Miami’s food scene isn’t just about what’s trending or which celebrity chef just opened a new spot. It’s about the dishes people actually miss when they leave. The ones they grew up with, grabbed after school, or ordered at 2 a.m. without thinking twice. From crispy croquetas and stacked Cuban sandwiches to sticky cinnamon rolls and stone crabs, these are the foods that Miami does best.
Arepa
A staple dish of the Venezuelan community, arepas are corn based and cooked on a grill. The arepa itself (the equivalent of a sweet thin bagel) is a crunchy, sweet corn shell, and they can be prepared either sweet or savory. But for us, we love the ‘Reina Pepiada’ - shredded chicken filling with mashed avocado, mayonnaise, diced onion, and cilantro. Seasoned with salt, pepper, and lime juice, add some homemade hot sauce, it’s worth the calories and the nap you need after whilst digesting! —EMN
Where to get them: Doggi’s Arepa Bar
Chicken Fingers
Guaranteed to be the biggest shocker on this list, chicken fingers are having a moment - at least if you judge by the number of chicken finger restaurants that’ve opened in Miami this year. The most unsuspecting spot for some lengthy, meaty fried chicken and thick, crispy steak fries is behind a hotel in Bal Harbour. An old one for that matter. Enter the Seaview Hotel’s back patio where you find a dive-ish bar and the Seaview Terrace. Take a seat at the outdoor cafe and enjoy the salty air and take a bite into the best white-meat chicken that is somehow not greasy. Lastly, order a side of honey mustard and BBQ sauce and try them both. From that point onward, enjoy your newfound paradise on a plate - all in the heart of paradise. —EMN
Where to get them: The Seaview
Facebook/Chicken Kitchen
Chop Chop
You’d think something as simple as yellow rice and mojo-marinated chicken wouldn’t elicit much more than an eyebrow raise from food-savvy Miamians. But ask people who’ve moved away what food they miss most, and chop chop is usually at the top of the list. The familiar chop of metal knife on plastic cutting board just sounds like home, and for some reason it’s the odd dish that’s almost impossible to find outside South Florida. There are all kinds of variations on the saffron rice original, from Cuban to Mexican to bourbon chicken. But OG’s know the best way to get it is covered in curry mustard sauce. —MM
Where to get it: Chicken Kitchen
Cinnamon Rolls
You know it's the best time of year when Knaus Berry Farm reopens and those gooey, Amish-style cinnamon rolls start showing up around the city. These develop their own natural glaze as cinnamon-sugar filling bubbles out during baking - sticky, sweet perfection that's nothing like your mall food court version. The trek to their Homestead location is part of the experience, but locals know you can find them at markets and on delivery apps throughout Miami. —OF
Where to get them: Knaus Berry Farm
Croquetas
In the rest of the world, this deep fried, crispy-outside-and-creamy-meaty-inside snack is called a croquette. Of course, in the rest of the world they also don’t pronounce “supposedly” with a B. Adding an “a” at the end makes the croqueta a distinctly Dade Couty delicacy, a greasy day-starter best paired with Cuban coffee out of a plastic cup and maybe a pastelito. The beauty of the croqueta is that you can bring a bag of them to a breakfast meeting or a late-night hora loca, and you’ll pretty much be the hero of either event. Making these little fried gems Miami’s most versatile group snack. —MM
Where to get them: Islas Canarias
Cuban Sandwich
I was on an Allegiant Airlines flight recently and they had a little section on Miami in their in-flight magazine. In the “What to eat” blurb they suggested readers try a “Cubano” sandwich, which was almost as offensive as them charging $4 for water. No one, and I mean not a soul, in Miami ever calls this mix of roast pork, ham, mustard, and Swiss cheese on Cuban bread a “Cubano,” and ordering a “Cubano” will get you side-eyed almost as fast as expecting the person serving it to you to speak English. It’s a Cuban sandwich, or a Cuban if you must. And while Tampa may have invented it, Miami made it famous. —MM
Where to get one: Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop
Dale wings
Interestingly enough, Sports Grill’s most popular wings aren’t pronounced like Pitbull interjecting himself into every song made between 2012-2018. Rather, they’re pronounced “DAY-ul” after a longtime regular who helped create the wings, which are fried, then grilled, then covered in Sports Grill’s special Miami Heat sauce. It’s a jolt of smoke and heat unlike any other wing in Miami. And though you really can’t go wrong with any wings on a football Sunday at this suburban sports bar staple, Dale is the undisputed king. —MM
Where to get them: Sports Gril
Empanadas
Because I was born and raised in Miami, the word “empanada” has been part of my vocabulary since I could talk. You’ll find them everywhere from the airport to Heat games, and even at Michelin-starred restaurant. But Gogo Fresh is my pick. They offer a slew of baked magic (yep, these puppies aren't fried), but don’t miss the steaming hot eggplant, the chicken fajita and most certainly the Nutella and banana. —EMN
Where to get them: Gogo Fresh
Fried Fish
The fried whole fish is a Caribbean standard, and you can find versions of it all over Miami. But the best place to find it is out on Key Biscayne, in the heart of Bill Baggs Park, where you’ll find a hidden, wooden gem that is worth the shlep over the bridge. And the toll, too! Lighthouse Cafe is ideal for those on the hunt for a Corona beer - and a catch of the day made to order. The last visit, we had a snapper that was as note-worthy as it gets. With a simple side salad, rice and fries, well what could go wrong? Also order the shrimp ceviche, it’s outstanding. —EMN
Where to get them: Lighthouse Cafe
Pan con Bistec
Pan con bistec is peak Miami comfort food - thinly sliced steak with garlic and sautéed onions on Cuban bread, topped with crispy potato sticks. You can find versions all over the city, but Mary's Laundry makes theirs special through pure authenticity. This 24/7 laundromat-café has been serving generously stuffed sandwiches through their sidewalk window since 1982 while locals fold clothes and catch up on gossip. The setting might seem random, but it's exactly the kind of family-run spot where Miami's real food culture thrives. —OF
Where to get it: Mary's Coin Laundry
Frita
El Rey de las Fritas didn't become the king of fritas by accident. While this Cuban take on a burger has its roots in Havana, Miami's version might just be better than the original - impossibly thin burger patties mixed with chorizo, topped with crispy shoestring potatoes and a sauce that tastes like elevated ketchup but absolutely isn't. This is decadent, messy perfection that's become as Miami as it is Cuban. At prices that make it your new regular order, not your once-in-a-while splurge. Original and still the best for a very good reason. —OF
Where to get it: El Rey de las Fritas
Rib Rolls
Really, THE iconic thing to get at Flannigan’s is a fountain soda, since it comes with the most recognizable piece of plastic drinkware in the known universe, the green Flannigan’s cup. But since Diet Coke is only a “dish” if you happen to be an Instagram “model,” we’re gonna go with the rib rolls. Flanny’s take meat from their second-most-popular menu item – baby back ribs – combine them with pulled pork and cheddar cheese, and stuff it all in deep-fried egg rolls. They’ve become a cult classic, so much so the Marlins serve them once a year at concession stands during their most attended game of the season – Flannigan’s Night. -MM
Where to get them: I think we’ve covered this.
Stone Crabs
Stone crabs are Miami's most treasured seasonal obsession - sweet, delicate claws that taste best when they're fresh from October through May. Sure, you can get them frozen year-round, but locals know there's nothing like peak season stone crabs that arrive pre-cracked and ice-cold, paired with tangy mustard sauce for the perfect bite. The ritual is half the appeal: cracking shells with mallets, getting messy with butter, and savoring every morsel of that impossibly tender meat. For Miami natives, stone crabs mark every celebration worth having. Skip the fancy dining rooms - grab takeout and crack them at sunset in a waterfront park like a true local. —OF
Where to get them: Joe's Stone Crab