The 21 Best Restaurants in Miami
A highly opinionated list of the best restaurants in Miami picked by our expert team
If you’ll allow us a little millennial nostalgia, finding the best restaurants in Miami is a little like standing at Blockbuster on a Friday night and trying to figure out the best movie to rent. There’s a lot of phenomenal stuff out there, but there’s also a lot of bloated, over-budget crap. And sometimes the best way to decide was to find that one video store employee who had the same taste as you did, and go with whatever was on their shelf of “special picks.”
Here at The Leftovers Miami, we’ve taken the same approach to guiding you through Miami’s dining scene. Do you like chic, sceney places that are always better on someone else’s dime? Look for Erin’s picks, noted with her initials ENM. Looking for the best chef-driven, foodie-favorites? Olee’s OF selections are for you. And if you want something laid back and more afforadable that’s still delcious, Matt’s “MM” selections are the move. Whoever you are, the Leftovers has inspiration for you. Just don’t ask us to also pick your movie.
Abbale TLV
Having lived in the Middle East, and experiencing the culinary expertise in Israel but also across the border in Beirut, I really do understand what it means to enjoy a good meal from that region. Enter Abbale TLV which is under the helm of Exec. Chef Samuel Gorenstein. And it’s mouth-wateringly incredible. From their onion dip (a fan favorite) to their hummus…to the imported Zaatar and Sumac that enhance the flavor profiles of his dishes, the Israeli Salad that we once before mentioned in ‘Dish of the Week,’ is worth the visit to enjoy just that. Even the fresh bread is as farm-to-table as it gets. —EMN
Pro tip: They have their own brand of Abbale TLV Rose. It’s dry and crisp and divine, so get it! They also have a private dining room in their Aventura outpost, so it is perfect for special occasions. @abbaletlv // 864 Commerce St., Miami Beach - or, 2956 NE 199th St., Aventura
Altamura Trattoria E Forno
Growing up in Miami, I never would have guessed that Doral would one day become a hub for incredible food. Enter Altamura Trattoria E Forno which opened a few months back and is most certainly worth the drive for their authentic homemade Italian pastas and pizza alike. Founded by the husband-wife dream team - the chef collective Elisabetta Callegaro and Massimo Tundo are local legends who excel in simplicity done right. —EMN
Pro tip: The Pomodoro spaghetti and the brick-oven prepared Margherita pizza take you on a one way ticket to heaven. @altamuratrattoria/ 7835 NW 107th Ave., Doral
AOKO
When an omakase is calling my name, I throw on my ON Cloud sneakers and strut on over to Aoko. It’s located in the heart of Edgewater and it’s a spot where simplicity shines and freshness prevails. The brainchild of two excellent fish masters, Chef’s Tomo and Daniel have it all down to a science and the staff behind the sushi bar who really know what they are doing. Lastly, aside from each bite being better than the last, the price doesn’t break the bank. For $75 you can enjoy the simple omakase; or at $125 sup on the decadence (I’m talking caviar, uni and Wagyu - the works)! –EMN
Pro tip: Note the playlist that is 30-hours long of Usher-style jams and do not leave without the Matcha Creme Brulee. @aokomiami // 2304 NE 2nd Ave., Miami.
Ava Mediterragean
Miami is among the greatest cities in the world for restaurants where you can drop $300 on a glass of water and two hot dogs. So when people ask “Where’s a spot that’s actually worth the money?” that list is painfully short. Sitting atop it is AVA, an upscale Greek island-inspired spot where everything that comes out is even better than expect. Does $30 seem like a lot for a cheese pizza? Yes it does, but the wood-fired burrata one here is exceptional. Ditto for the $85 two-pound branzino, that is just as good as you’ll find at those Euro-fancy places in SoFi. The vibe is buzzy without being pretentious, colorful without being obnoxious, and upscale without being exclusive. And a safe bet any time someone else is paying. -MM
Pro tip: Sit at the bar. The scene at Ava is as much a part of the show as the food, and the bar offers an elevated vantagepoinf for some of Miami’s best people watching. @avacoconutgrove // 2889 MacFarlane Rd. Coconut Grove
Apocalypse BBQ
Look, I enjoy standing in line for food about as much as I enjoy toenail fungus, but the only place that I might even consider queuing up for dinner is Apocalypse Barbecue. It’s because Chef Jeff Bud (our 2025 Chef Of The Year, nbd) has mastered doing perhaps the hardest thing in the culinary world – smoking a good brisket – and his menu has almost nothing you’ll see on any other menu. The Cafecito ribs bring a coffee rub that works better than any barbecue sauce I’ve ever had, and the skull-shaped cornbread is more than just an Instagram fad. -MM
Pro tip: Get it to go, and if you don’t live in Kendall eat it in your car. The food travels well and, voila, no line! @apocalypsebbq // 8695 SW 124th Ave., Kendall
Casa MX
It takes a lot for me to forgive a place for not having free chips and salsa. And if Casa MX could just bring a big basket of chips before dinner, the place would be just about perfect. The converted house in Coral Gables was the best of spring’s glut of new Mexican spots, putting out noticeably fresher salsas and guacs, as well a wood-grilled steaks that make for brilliant carne asada tacos. The seafood dishes are solid, too, and the Ceviche de Atun Sinaloa is the way to lead off any meal. But Casa MX doesn’t lean on seafood dishes or fatty meats for its flavors, letting its brilliant moles and salsas make its case as the best upscale Mexican in Miami. -MM
Pro tip: The carne asada with mole negro strikes the perfect balance of smoky, fatty, and sweet, and is an absolute must if you go here. @casamxmiami // 2345 Douglas Road, Coral Gables
Cote Korean Steakhouse
Considering consistency isn’t often ‘a thing’ in the Magic City, COTE is a no-brainer for meat eaters looking for a heavenly meal paired with a killer vibe. Naturally, within this meat-centric destination, there are non-meat options. But the purpose of COTE is to order the ‘Butcher’s Feast’ as it comes with four meats that your server prepares for you table side. A hefty selection of USDA Prime and American Wagyu cuts, along with Korean side dishes like the heavenly scallion salad, kimchi and soup - well, save room for the soft-serve at the end. Although it has some MSG (um, yea) - it’s worth that salivating taste of vanilla to cleanse the palate at the end of the dining experience. —EMN
Pro Tip: Notice the John Boos wood cutting boards that the Butcher’s Board is served on. It’s a collaborative project between Simon Kim’s Cote and Boos. So for those in-the-know (or not), we told you first! @cotekoreansteakhouse // 3900 NE 2nd Ave. Design District.
Daniel’s Miami
The Fort Lauderdale original was a standout hit from day one, so the expectations for this Coral Gables expansion were incredibly high. Daniel’s Miami, taking over the old Fiola space with the same team was a genius move that resulted in a room that is beautiful, sexy, and always buzzing with a gorgeous, Coral Gables crowd. This “Florida Steakhouse” is a true special occasion restaurant where the bill is steep but the experience is genuinely worth the splurge. Start with the Florida oysters Rockefeller or the rock shrimp-filled crab cake before committing to the main event. The herb-crusted dry-aged ribeye is the star of the menu, but the real surprise is the foie gras crème brûlée. It sounds weird with cashews and mango, but the flavors work perfectly. —OF
Pro Tip: If you want to experience the food without the formality, grab a seat at the bar. The bar menu features a ‘frita style’ burger and wagyu empanadas that are perfect for a more casual night, sans reservation. @danielsmiami // 1500 San Ignacio Ave., Coral Gables
Doya
There’s a certain amount of overwhelm one gets when trying to figure out where to eat in Wynwood. Whatever mood you’re in, and whatever you’re looking to do, Doya is always the right answer. Want a beautiful bar with inventive cocktails for a fun first date? Doya’s drink menu is meant for meet-cutes. Big meal with friends? The massive menu is full of wood-fired kebabs and vegetable dishes that everyone in your group can enjoy. Eating outside? The plant filled patio feels a world away from Wynwood’s busy streets. —MM
Pro tip: Go on Thursday when the chef steps out of the kitchen and plays DJ in the dining room. Only in Miami, bro. @doyamiami // 347 NW 24th St.
Ghee
People who say they “love” Indian food usually just love chicken tikka masala and naan. If you wanna see what Indian food can truly be, check out the tasting menu at this Dadeland spot from chef Niven Patel. Sure, he’ll make CTM if you really want him to, but this would be kinda like ordering a hamburger at the world’s finest steakhouse. See what Patel can do with ingredients fresh from his Homestead farm, and you too will start sneering at people who have the nerve to ask for papadum. —MM
Pro tip: Pair your dinner at Ghee with a bottle of Indian wine. You won’t find it many other places in Miami, and it’s the perfect companion to Patel’s complex flavors. @gheemiami // 8965 SW 72nd Pl., Kendall
Kojin 2.0
Some restaurants feel like you’re eating an assembly line that happened to invest in very expensive tablecloths. Others feel like you’re eating in someone’s living room. Kojin 2.0 is very much the latter, where chef/owner Pedro Mederos goes from table to table, cracking jokes like he’s everyone’s bad pun-making dad. The menu is tiny, which means Mederos can make every dish a hit, with no extra stuff to placate picky eaters. Because Pedro is equal parts chef and social butterfly, the food can sometimes take a while as he spends time touching tables. Even as an impatient eater, I barely even noticed. —MM
Pro tip: Sit at the bar. The bartender treats the wine list like their own personal collection, and on the right night dinner can be a wine-tasting journey too. @kojinmiami // 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
La Traila Barbecue
Somehow we went from having “no good barbecue places in Miami’ to having heated arguments about who cooks the city’s best brisket. And as heated arguments go, that’s one I’m happy to have. My pick? Mel Rodriguez, who helms the kitchen at La Traila Barbecue. The Austin native slow smokes his brisket like they do out in Texas, bringing the best flavor with the least fat of any in the city. He also adds some Miami touches to his menu, like smoked brisket empanadas, smoked beef cheek tostadas, and smoked carnitas sandwiches and platters. -MM
Pro tip: Sit inside, unless you want whatever you wore smelling like smoke for the rest of the day. It’s a nice smell, but you also don’t want everyone at your after lunch meeting saying, “Who smells like brisket?”@latrailabarbecue // 5840 SW 71st St., South Miami
LPM Miami
This French Mediterranean stunner makes you feel like you're lunching on the Cote d'Azur, minus the seven-hour flight and European attitude. LPM’s Brickell location serves craweworthy escargot and grilled branzino in a marble-accented dining room that attracts everyone from power-lunching executives to Instagram influencers chasing the perfect shot. But the real star is the Tomatini — a tomato-vodka-balsamic concoction that's somehow both refreshing and sophisticated, easily earning the title of one of the best drinks in the city. —OF
Pro Tip: The weekday business lunch prix fixe (Wednesday-Friday, 12-3 PM) gets you the same quality for way less cash. The outdoor patio is prime real estate for people-watching. @lpmrestaurants_us // 1300 Brickell Bay Dr., Brickell
Mutra
When Mutra in San Souci opened its doors just last year, I read an article in the Miami Herald by Connie Ogle on this little establishment in a strip shopping center. I went. I paid. It was wonderful. But with my busy schedule of media dines, I just never made my way back in. Fast forward, just last week I was invited in and kindly accepted the invite. My life forevermore changed. I am still dreaming of the Chicken Liver (which took Chef Raz 20 minutes to convince me to agree to trying one bite of). Low and behold, I ate the whole plate. And let it be known that Chicken Liver gives me the ICK. It brought back the PTSD from my childhood…however under the new management of Chef Raz, I bit the bullet. It’s a specific dish made with the help of a blender and dates, cornichon and some insane sourdough toasted bread, pistachio crumbs…. I mean, never have I ever. Every dish is farm to table and Chef Raz, who named the restaurant after his grandmother in Jerusalem lived in Israel, Thailand, Manhattan where he worked at 11 Madison, for Adam Neumann as his private chef is the man with the magic. Every. Single. Ingredient. Is. Perfection. Try the Deconstructed Beet dish (it’s a piece of art), the upside down falafel and the Thai Steak Salad. –EMN
Pro tip: Sit at the bar. You get to watch the culinary excellence and interact with their team of wizards behind the counter. @mutra_miami by @razxmutra // 2188 NE 123rd St., San Souci.
Pasta
Yes, PASTA is the name of the restaurant. And can you guess what it serves? Well, let’s just say it’s not cheeseburgers. Start with the razor clams (housemade ‘nduja, salsa verde) and the stracciatella, before moving on to the main event — the pasta, duh. The pici cacio e pepe is the reason to book: thick, hand-rolled noodles in cheese and pepper, nothing else, and exactly enough. —OF
Pro Tip: Book the counter seats on Resy; they face the open kitchen. The room fills fast. @pasta.us // 124 NW 28th St., Wynwood
Santorini by Giorgios
About the last place anyone would expect to find a restaurant with over-the-top friendly hospitality and epic, reasonably priced portions would be Ocean Drive. But wander behind the Hilton Bentley Hotel and you’ll find a little slice of the Greek Islands, where the kebabs, pitas and fresh seafood platters are enough for two to three hungry people. Sure, there’s the requisite Greek music and plate-breaking, but what sets Santorini by Giorgios apart is the warm hospitality of the family that runs it. You’re guaranteed to have a conversation with Giorgios himself at some point during your meal. Go enough times, and he may invite you to stay with his family at their home in the isles. —MM
Pro tip: Order half as much food as you think you need to. Every portion is double sized, and you’ll end up with food for a week if you order like you would normally. @santorinibygiorgios // 101E Ocean Drive., South Beach
Sunny’s Steakhouse
The former Jaguar Sun team brought their greatest hits to this Little River stunner, including the legendary Green Ghoul Goblin cocktail that made the original a cult favorite. Sunny’s is built around a majestic banyan tree that's been the centerpiece since pandemic pop-up days, this steakhouse blends chic old-meets-new Florida vibes with a good-looking crowd that knows where to find the best cuts in town. The Parker House rolls are mandatory, the bone marrow vinaigrette will ruin you for other sauces, and save room for the decadent kouign-amann ice cream sandwich. —OF
Pro Tip: Free parking is a rare luxury in Miami, so don't take it for granted here. The russet potatoes fried in chicken schmaltz are the sleeper hit side dish everyone's talking about. @sunnysmia // 7357 N.W. Miami Ct., Miami
Tâm Tâm
This Vietnamese quán nhậu (think drinking and snacking spot) from husband-and-husband team Tam Pham and Harrison Ramhofer turns dinner into a delightfully messy affair. Fish sauce caramel wings that'll make you lick your fingers, tamarind-glazed pork ribs that slide off the bone, and a "lamb wrap situation" that's exactly as fun as it sounds. Of course, Tâm Tâm is set in a former Cuban diner with a karaoke-equipped bathroom, because why not make it weird? —OF
Pro Tip: Embrace the mess — half these dishes are meant to be eaten with your hands. The bathroom karaoke machine is real, and yes, people use it. Multiple hand-washing trips are encouraged and expected (and encouraged). @tam.tam.mia // 99 N.W. 1st St., Miami
Tropical Chinese
A South Miami staple, Tropical Chinese by Mei Yu is an elevated, yet casual, red-clad hole-in-the-wall destination for foodies in the know. They just so happen to have some of the best Chinese food outside of Beijing, too. Tropical’s daily dim-sum menu is what keeps the crowds piling in. And their ala-carte is beyond incredible. They also have MSG-free options, including shrimp and vegetables, a fried noodle dish and a tofu and vegetable plate that makes the hour-long drive worthwhile. —EMN
Pro tip: Their dumplings are outstanding. And they have a full bar of libations, so enjoy! @tropicalchinesemiami // 7991 Bird Road. Miami.
Walrus Rodeo
While some might look at Walrus Rodeo as the little sibling restaurant to Boia De, it’s carved out much more of a name for itself than that since opening a few years ago. The 32-seat room is louder and more casual than Boia De, and easier to snag a resy at. The wood-fired oven here is the star, with each dish getting ‘kissed’ by the oven in some capacity before heading to the table. The mustard green lasagna with lamb ragu and stracchino béchamel is the one to order, but don’t overlook the bone-in pork chop with romesco, a smoky, market-priced slab that feeds two. —OF
Pro Tip: The ‘roni za with ricotta and salsa negra is my fav if you’re looking for a pizza And it’s considerably easier to snag a reservation here than at Boia De next door. @walrusrodeo // 5143 NE Second Ave., Miami