Top 19 Foods Is Miami Known For

Miami is popular for its pristine beaches, warm climate, bustling nightlife, and amazing food. It’s no surprise that it’s become one of the country’s most visited cities, with one of the highlights of every trip being food. So what foods make Miami stand out?

Miami is known for various foods, including seafood, ceviche, stone crabs, fried snapper, and fish sandwiches. Other examples include chicharron, croquetas, frog legs, alligator bites, and Cuban food. Cuban sandwiches, fritas, and jerk chicken are also favorites.

So if you happen to be visiting Miami soon, keep reading this article to know which food items you shouldn’t miss out on, why you should try them, and which spots make the best food. Let’s get started!

1. Seafood

Seafood on ice, at a market, — Fresh seafood

Since Miami is home to plenty of breathtaking beaches, it’s only natural that they offer some of the best and freshest seafood dishes you can try, including oysters, stone crabs, and fried snapper.

Mignonette Downtown and The River Oyster Bar are both excellent seafood restaurants if you’re in the mood for a delicious lunch or dinner.

And if you want raw, fresh seafood for dishes you want to cook, you can get them in some of the best seafood markets in the area, including:

Plaza Seafood Market
Fresh Florida Fisheries
Shore to Door Fish Market
Casablanca Fish Market

2. Ceviche

Zesty Miami Ceviche — Tangy Seafood Delight

Ceviche is a popular seafood dish that originated in Peru. It is commonly prepared using diced fresh raw fish immersed in either lime or lemon, mixed with red onions, chili peppers, and cilantro, and then seasoned with salt and other spices.

Since Miami is known for its fresh seafood, you are sure to get some of the best-tasting ceviche. There are plenty of restaurants serving this delicious and refreshing dish, but one of the most popular spots with locals is CVI.CHE 105 and Itamae.

CVI.CHE 105 is an award-winning Peruvian restaurant in Miami that serves different variations of ceviche, and it has garnered multiple 5-star reviews from its customers. So regardless of the ceviche variety, you try at CVI.CHE 105, you’ll surely enjoy it.

The other restaurant I mentioned above is Itamae, which serves delicious ceviche. What makes this restaurant’s ceviche stand out is their perfect execution of using a Japanese-style approach in creating this beloved Peruvian dish, keeping its authenticity intact.

3. Stone Crabs

Succulent Miami Stone Crab — A Prized Delicacy: Stone Crab

Stone Crabs is another dish for which Miami is popular. If you want to eat the best quality stone crab dish, I suggest trying it from May 15 until June 1. This is when the crustacean is in season, well-priced, and deliciously fresh.

This tasty dish is often steamed, boiled, or sauteed and served with mustard sauce, lime, and butter. Stone crabs can also be served fresh over ice, depending on where you get them. Some restaurants that serve impeccable stone crab dishes include Joe’s Stone Crabs and Stiltsville Fish Bar.

Joe’s Stone Crab serves some of the best-tasting stone crabs in Miami. You can eat them with the restaurant’s signature sauce, hashbrowns, sweet potato, coleslaw, and garlic creamed spinach. Meanwhile, at Stiltsville Fish Bar, they serve their stone crabs with their own version of the mustard sauce.

4. Fried Snapper

Fried snapper is one of the dishes that Miami is most well-known for. It’s simple yet delicious, especially when the fish used is fresh and prepared the right way. Since Miami is a seafood haven, there’s no question that the fried snapper served is fresh.

This dish is a hit for fish and fried food lovers since the snapper is well-crusted and fried to perfection. If you want to try some fried snappers, visit Catch of the Day, where they serve their snappers whole. One customer’s review stated that it’s the “best fried snapper ever!”

For a more affordable yet tasty option, Snappers Fish & Chicken is a must-try. Their fried snappers come with fries and salad for a more filling meal.

5. Fish Sandwich

As mentioned above, Miami is a must-visit travel destination for seafood lovers. If fish sandwiches are one of your favorite seafood dishes, you shouldn’t miss out on them when you visit.

Fish sandwiches might sound plain and boring, but once you try what Miami offers, I’m certain you’ll change your mind. This dish is made with various fresh fish, ranging from salmon to snapper to mahi-mahi.

It’s then fried until golden brown before being placed between a roll, other vegetables, and some sauce. Some restaurants even serve the fish sandwich with the tail still on!

If you want to get the best fish sandwiches in Miami, I recommend you try La Camaronera Seafood Joint And Fish Market or Hole In The Wall.

6. Chicharron

Chicharron is a well-loved dish in Latin America and has become a crowd-favorite in Miami. It is prepared with either pork belly or only the pork rind, which is fried until insanely (in a good way) crispy.

It’s one of the best finger foods you can enjoy, especially when paired with your favorite beer or cocktail.

If you want to taste the best chicharron in Miami, I highly suggest visiting El Mago De Las Fritas and El Palacio de Los Jugos. These 2 restaurants have been go-to’s for many locals and tourists, so don’t miss out on them!

7. Croquetas

Croquetas is a popular Cuban dish that has made its way to Miami, becoming one of the dishes the city is known for. It is made with your choice of filling, thrown together with mashed potatoes or bechamel, and then rolled in breadcrumbs before deep frying.

In Miami, restaurants have created their own variation, taking this delicious dish to a new level. Some use ham, cheese, mushrooms, and bacon as their filling.

If you’d like to try this famous Miami food, visit Dos Croquetas or Sergio’s Restaurant.

8. Frog Legs

Frog legs are another well-loved dish in Miami and are often served fried. Some even say they tastes just like chicken. People who haven’t tried frog legs might find the thought of them a bit unpleasant. However, once you try them, you’ll find yourself wanting more!

Although the meat is denser and more elastic than chicken, you won’t be put off by its texture. So, if you’re into unusual food, you should try some frog legs at Yardbird Table & Bar or The Original Crab House.

9. Alligator Bites

Like frog legs, alligator bites are probably not what you have in mind when you head out to eat. But trust me, you’ll love them! This dish is popular in Miami for a good reason — it’s unique and packed with flavor, the qualities you want in food.

Alligator bites are commonly served breaded and deep-fried, just like frog legs. However, they taste similar to fish instead of chicken. Either way, they are a delicious local delicacy, and you shouldn’t miss out when you’re in Miami.

Restaurants that make fantastic alligator bites include Miccosukee Restaurant and Yardbird Southern Table & Bar.

10. Cuban Food

The food in Miami is heavily influenced by Latin America, specifically Cuba. If you’d like to try some Cuban food, plenty of restaurants in Miami serve it. Some popular Cuban dishes and drinks include:

Lechon asado
Arroz con pollo
Ropa vieja
Vaca frita
Cuban coffee

If you want to get a taste of Cuba without traveling too far, head to either Havana Harry’s or Versailles and try some authentic Cuban food. These restaurants have definitely brought Cuba to Miami.

11. Cuban Sandwich

Aside from the dishes mentioned above, the Cuban sandwich is another dish Miami has adapted from the country’s cuisine. The popular Cuban sandwich is made using the following ingredients:

Roast pork
Swiss cheese
Mustard
Ham
Pickles
Fresh Cuban bread

A Cuban sandwich is a simple dish, but don’t underestimate its flavor. The combination of its filling blends perfectly well, creating a party in your mouth. If you want to get your hands on this delicious sandwich, head on to Sanguich De Miami or Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop.

12. Fritas

After you have tried a tasty Cuban sandwich, move on to another popular Cuban dish: fritas.

This Cuban dish resembles a basic burger in appearance but is quite different in taste as its patty is made using stronger flavors, such as cumin and paprika.

And instead of a regular hamburger bun, fritas have a crisp Cuban roll to hold the beef patty. It’s also often topped with some thinly-sliced fried potatoes and some white onions. If you want to try this Cuban dish, visit Polo Norte or the Cuban Guys.

13. Jerk Chicken

Aside from Latin American countries, the Caribbean has also influenced Miami’s food scene, specifically Jamaica. That said, jerk chicken has become one of the most popular dishes in Miami, and with good reason.

This dish is prepared by rubbing scotch bonnet peppers, herbs, and spices on the chicken before it is smoked or grilled. Once it’s cooked, you’re left with a flavor-packed chicken dish.

If you want to taste authentic jerk chicken, you should visit Clive’s Cafe or Naomi’s Garden Restaurant & Lounge.

14. Pastelitos

Going back to Cuban cuisine, Miami is also well-known for its beloved Cuban pastry, pastelitos. This dish’s original version has a beef filling. However, modern versions use

both savory and sweet fillings from guava, chicken, coconut, and more.

Some restaurants that offer delicious pastelitos include Bakery Pastelmania and Islas Canarias Cafe.

15. Empanadas

Empanadas are similar to pastiletos, but a different type of dough is used to hold the filling. They are made using a denser dough, which can hold more filling inside. Aside from the dough, empanadas look different because they resemble bread, while pastiletos are flaky.

Empanadas can be fried or baked, depending on where you get them. Some places I recommend if you want to try empanadas are Half Moon Empanadas or Graziano’s.

16. Arepas

Arepas is a popular Latin dish that has also become part of Miami’s local cuisine. This dish is like a sandwich, hot pocket, and burger in one. Its dough is made using arepa flour or pre-cooked corn flour, which creates a crispy interior and a soft exterior when cooked.

Arepas can be filled with practically anything you like. But some popular fillings include steak, cheese, pork, and chicken. You can try some of the tastiest arepas in Miami at Doggi’s Arepa Bar or Saman Arepas.

17. Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie is a popular American dish, especially in Florida. Floridians love key lime pie so much that they declared the delicious dessert the official state pie. That said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if you see key lime pie on every menu in Miami.

Key lime pie has a buttery graham crust filled with decadent lime custard and topped with dollops of whipped cream. If you have a sweet tooth and love extra tanginess, you’ll fall in love with key lime pie.

Although you can try key lime pie just about anywhere in Miami, Blue Collar and Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies offer top-tier key lime pie.

18. Churrasco

Churrasco is another dish from Latin America that was adapted into Miami’s cuisine. This dish is similar to barbecue but uses a different method than what you might be familiar with. The chef will pierce a huge piece of meat (usually beef, chicken, or pork) and place it on a skewer. The skewer will then cook in an open pit.

This process allows the meat to cook evenly since it constantly rotates, and the fire hits all sides of the meat. The best places to get churrasco are from El Churrascaso Grill and Steak Brasil Churrascaria.

19. Mofongo

Mofongo is a popular dish in Puerto Rico. It’s made using mashed deep-fried green plantains and other ingredients, such as meat, seafood, or vegetables. Traditional mofongo is made using the same mashed deep-fried plantains but also with garlic and chicharrones.

This dish is said to be the Latin American counterpart of another beloved dish in the country, mashed potatoes. So if you want to know what mofongo tastes like, you can get it at Mofongos Restaurant or Jimmy’z Kitchen when you’re in Miami.