I’m not saying the food scene in South Florida is better than where I’m from (Chicago) but the food scene down here is such a contrast to there it makes a great place to visit (plus the beaches, warm weather and all that other stuff minus DeSantis). I guess I shouldn’t say I was surprised to find a handful of South African spots down here but it’s not something I was aware of until recently. It makes sense when you consider a place like Cape Town has very South Beach vibes in places like Camps Bay plus Durban is a big surfers town so South Florida might feel like home to a South African stuck in the States. Lots of the resort spots down here will bring over workers from South Africa so maybe that’s where all the South African spots in the region come from. From those who never returned home. Dutchy’s is outside FLL and it caught my eye bc they make boerewors sausage (and biltong) on site. Barbecue (grilling) aka Braai is a big part of South African culture and boerewors is one of those things you’ll find at every South African barbecue. The name derives from the Afrikaans words boer and wors. It’s a different sausage than most in texture and that’s bc it must be 90% meat to legally be called boerewors. Typically made with beef but sometimes other meats are included. Taste wise you’ll find hints of coriander, nutmeg, clove. Toppings can vary but here you get grilled onions, chutney mayo, cowboy candy. You won’t find anything like this place back home so I had to stop.
Boerewors at Dutchy's Gourmet Sausages
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925 Nuevos Cubanos (Fort Lauderdale)
The first thing (and last thing) I will typically do upon arriving in South Florida is grab a Cuban sandwich from somewhere. If you fly into or out of FLL you can do that at 925 Nuevos Cubanos which sports a long walk up window and a very respectable Cuban sandwich which I always make sure to order double pressed whether it's from here or elsewhere.
Cuban Sandwich at 935 Nuevo Cubanos
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Finster Murphy's (Fort Lauderdale)
A friend of mine flew down to hang out for a few days before driving back to Chicago with me. On one of those days we went down to Fort Lauderdale and hung out at the beach before meeting one of his old friends for a bite to eat. His friend took us to one of his favorite spots for seafood in Finster Murphy's. They're a fish market and restaurant. Aside from the menu which is filled with lunch options like sandwiches and salads they'll also grill any piece of fish you want from the display case. My friend got locally caught tuna and I did the fried grouper. Both dishes were fresh and delicious.
Lunch at Finster Murphy's
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Georgia Pig BBQ Restaurant (Fort Lauderdale)
While it does feel somewhat odd eating good old fashioned southern bbq under the palm trees surrounded by ocean air, South Florida is indeed a part of the south, it’s very own part but it’s still a part of it. I’ve always wanted to try the areas oldest barbecue restaurant which has been around these parts since 1953. That’s about as old as it gets down here when you don’t include some of the snowbirds themselves. A good sign that this place was going to be worth a stop was the smell of smoke upon arrival. Chopped bbq pork sandwich seems to be their thing so that’s what the order was. A fine one indeed. Lots of smoke with a really nice texture. It was similar to chopped carnitas.
BBQ Sandwich at the Georgia Pig Restaurant
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Little Cuban Cafe (Fort Lauderdale)
You’ll find places like Little Cuban Cafe in pretty much every South Florida town. It’s a small Cuban owned spot popular for home style Cuban food paired with Café Cubano. You can pretty much always find a good sandwich at these type of places. Pictured below is a really well made Cuban steak sandwich that was paired up with some classic Cuban croquettes.
Steak Sandwich at Little Cuban Cafe
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Primanti Brothers (Fort Lauderdale)
You can find Pittsburgh’s most iconic sandwich in a very non Iron City setting. Capicola and cheese is the move at Primanti Bros. Plus a fried egg, provolone, cole slaw and fries. Pretty much what I remember the original in the Strip District to be. Except these ones get a ton more sun and go great with a mango flavored Iron City or “ahn” as they say in Pittsburghese. Sitting directly across the street from Fort Lauderdale Beach. A 24/7 favorite of snowbirding’ yinzers and non yinzers alike.
Primanti Brothers in Florida
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Shuck N Dive (Fort Lauderdale)
Considering you can find the regional food offerings from places as far as New York and Chicago and down here it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to find some good Nola style food. Shuck N Dive was opened in 1999 by a New Orleans Louisiana guy who decided to bring some authentic Cajun flavors to the South Florida area. We enjoyed well represented plates of char grilled oysters and fried green tomatoes and I thought the crawfish Étouffée was a bit better than the gumbo which was still pretty good. You can expect a pretty lively atmosphere and some boozy drinks to go with it.
Dinner at Shuck N Dive
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Dairy Belle (Dania Beach)
The large flocks of east coast snowbirds that migrate to South Florida for winter isn’t limited to just the United States species. French Canadians are prevalent too down here to the extent that there’s a few locally published papers that are printed in French. Which left me wondering, where do the Québécois go for a taste of home? Well I found out in the form of a Dania Beach Cabane à Patates, these are traditional summertime snack shacks found throughout Quebec. They’ll typically serve poutine and ice cream at these type of spots on top of hot dogs and burgers and spaghetti and such. This one has “Michigans” on the menu which is what they call meat sauce topped hot dogs in some parts of Quebec and upstate New York by extension. So if you want to “eat like a local” the order here is a Michigan plus a picture perfect serving of the French-Canadian classic poutine followed up with a cone of maple soft serve. The majority of the people inside (customers + employees) were speaking French so you know it's a popular spot with the “Little Quebec” community that spends winters here.
Poutine and Hot Dog at Dairy Belle
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Saltenas Bolivian Kitchen (Hollywood)
Here’s a dish that’s nonexistent back in Chicago. Salteñas are a Bolivian version of empanadas except they’re best eaten with a spoon as a liquid beef stew resides inside. I got these beauties from a permanent stall at The Hollywood Farmers Market which is a huge food market open each wkd. Instead of baking them they’re air fried. Served with a side of zesty Bolivian salsa aka Llajua.
Saltena at Saltenas
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Sonny's Famous Steak Hogies (Hollywood)
I finally got a chance to stop by South Florida’s most iconic stop for cheesesteaks. It’s been on my radar going back to the earlier days of ‘DDD’ which is where I first found out about it. Samuel “Sonny” Nigro moved to South Florida after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He came from Philly where his parents ran a bakery and after attending the University of Miami he decided bread was in his blood and spent his savings opening a spot that eventually morphed into Sonny’s Famous Steak Hogies (hoagie is purposefully misspelled as a conversation starter). More than 60 years later it sits in the same spot and you can feel the history walking in. The entrance leads to the grill where fresh thinly shaved ribeye is applied. There’s lots of cheesesteak spots down here but many use the frozen sheets of meat that's similar to Steak-Umm. Also of note is the house baked roll which works really well with the rest of it. You can do a classic with nothing more than onions and your choice of cheese or add other stuff like marinara and green peppers both of which I got on the side. This was an awesome sandwich as is but I enjoyed a few bites of it dipped in the gravy with some of the green peppers plopped in. If you’re really hungry you can probably eat two of these and at around $10 each they’re a steal of a deal in an area where an order of rice and beans can cost the same. Since 1959.
Cheeset Steak at Sonny's
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Coney Island Joe's (Hollywood)
Most of the hot dog culture down here is driven by South American countries like Columbia and Brazil. But you can bet your Bentley that east coast style hot dogs can also be found. Coney Island Joe’s is one of a handful of permanent stands that sit in an empty lot in Hollywood. People pull in here for the snappy natural casing hot dogs made by Sabrett, “New York’s #1 Hot Dog.” The owner moved down from NY and his most popular offering is with onions and sauce aka onion sauce which is basically grilled onions cooked in tomato paste with each spot having its own recipe.
Hot Dog at Coney Island Joe's
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J28 Sandwich Bar (Hollywood)
The sandwich scene down here is one of the best anywhere. It's a product of the diversity in the region. For ex. South Florida is home to the largest Peruvian population in the US (from my understanding Patterson, NJ has a higher percentage but South Florida has a higher total). I think you can make a very case that Peruvian food is one of the worlds most underrated cuisines and part of that might play in the fact it’s not as common in other places as it is down here. Peruvians make some of the worlds best sandwich art and thus I was very intrigued with J28 Sandwich Bar where almost all of the ingredients are made from scratch including the bread which is a major component in building a perfect Peruvian sandwich. Peru is known for a handful of regional sandwiches with the Pan con Chicharrón being one of the most heralded. It uses a unique combination of crispy / tender pork belly sitting on top of thinly sliced sweet potato that’s typically fried. Toppings include a zesty red onion relish called salsa criolla. Ask for it “spicy” and they'll throw on a homemade spiced mayo based condiment. All of that goes on a light and fluffy but still sturdy Roseta roll. This was maybe the best sandwich I had all year. You’ll find it in Hollywood which is about 15 minutes south of FLL.
Pan con Chicharrón at J28 Sandwich Bar
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Le Tub Saloon (Hollywood)
I’ve known about this spot that people like Oprah and pubs like GQ call the best burger in the country for a long time now. Despite numerous chances to try it I never have. Not that I didn't want to give it a go but it was never at the top of my list of things to try while down here. No way it’s going to live up to those claims especially with such a well rounded list like I already have going (I name the best by state and it’s an ever evolving list, the best in the country is always up for debate). So the story goes it was built up in 1975 when the original owner bought an old gas station and turned it into Le Tub which has grown into a bit of a local legend in these parts. They’re known for huge burgers served up in a very Floribbean setting with outdated ambiance and a location right on the water. The type of spot found down in the Keys and other parts of Florida but not as much in South Florida where real estate is mostly new and the waterfronts are over developed. Le Tub’s claim to fame are their famous 13 ounce burgers which are the antithesis of the currently trending smash burger. These are big ass burgers cooked to your liking and topped with nothing more than the classics. Is it the best burger I’ve ever had? No not at all but if you come with the taste for a large meaty and juicy backyard burger it will meet all the requirements. It’s a little piece of paradise hidden in a very touristy part of town (across the street from Hollywood Beach). Ironically it's almost completely engulfed by Margaritaville Beach Resort which sits across the street and has one of it’s five restaurants next door. But if you want a cheeseburger in Paradise, Le Tub is your spot. The serene setting certainly makes it better. No time to snap a pic of their delicious key lime pie as a mid afternoon sun shower had just moved in.
Cheeseburger at Le Tub Saloon
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Tropics Restaurant & Lounge (Pembroke Pines)
I very much enjoyed sitting at the bar eating West Indies style chicken fried rice while a bunch of regulars from Guyana drink Guyanese rum while watching cricket. Guyanese style Chinese fried chicken is pan fried, sauced, chopped, and served on top of an Indo-Chinese style fried rice. You can find a very nice rendition of this dish at this 25 year old bar that caters to Broward County's Guyanese community. It's ran by super nice people. Though Guyana is a part of South America it’s way more culturally connected to the Caribbean which includes it’s cuisine. There's also influence from India as many West Indies Caribbeans have an Indian heritage.
Dinner at Tropics Restaurant & Lounge
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Chef Tally's World Famous Jerk (West Park)
If you’ve ever tried jerk chicken from a roadside stand in Jamaica you know just how special it can be (one of the most transcendent eating experiences on earth). But for some reason its hard to translate that experience here in the States. Save for Chef Tally's. It's a permanently parked trailer sitting next to two huge smokers in a very industrial part of town. Surrounded by auto repair shops, and when open, lots of hungry customers most of whom are Jamaican (one good sign). The other good sign is the smoke that can be smelled when approaching - it smells like Jamaica, the grilling of jerk meats mixed with ganja. Jerk is so much more than a flavor. It’s “freedom manifested by food” as its origins can be traced to the 17th century when the Maroons (mountaineers) escaped slavery in the mountains of Jamaica. There they mingled with the islands original habitants, the TaÃno. Culinary practices were exchanged and the art of jerk was born. Most signs point to the name coming from “jerky” as the indigenous people taught Maroons how to preserve meats with spices and leaves and developed an underground cooking method to help evade enemies (no smoke left in the air). For decades the Maroons had to hunt, prepare, cook, preserve, and sustain while on the move. Chicken is by far the most popular food to jerk but the original jerked meat was wild boar and if you’ve ever had jerk pork in Jamaica you also know just how special that can be. So don't skip the pork here as it’s as good as the chicken. They do ribs too but I prefer the chopped up chunks of bone-in pork butt traditionally used. Chef Tally is “authentic” in every way except one. You’re not going to wait on island time for your food. It comes out rather fast and when it does you’re free to put as much jerk sauce on it as you want but if you want it on the side it’s .50 per cup. They offer 3 options incl. mild, hot, and pepper. The last of which is hot as hell for those that like to breathe fire. You can buy bottled sauce too. No hyperbole when I say this is the best jerk in the States and South Florida’s best barbecue.
Jerk Chicken and Pork at Chef Tally's
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S&N Vegetables (Hialeah)
Cuba’s sandwich arsenal has got to be tops in the world on a square mileage basis and they can all be found in Miami. There’s lots of amazing options and all of them start with that perfect bread. I’d tried most of them from the ‘Pan con’ collection with the exception of the Pan con Tortilla. It’s a breakfast sandwich of the omelette variety that can come made a number of ways but ham and cheese is probably the most popular combo. You can find a really good one at this produce store that doubles as a cafeteria. Heck I’m not sure you can find a better breakfast sandwich for just $4. Paired with an extra refreshing batido de mamey (mamey milkshake). A great stop before or after the beach.
Pan con Tortilla at S&N Vegetables
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Star Chigua's Pizza Cubana (Hialeah)
Cuban Pizza is by no means new but it has gotten quite popular down here. Unlike the Cuban sandwich it’s history can be traced back to an exact place - Varadero Beach in Cuba, a popular holiday destination where Cuban pizza is eaten at the beach. So the story goes the originator of this style moved from Cuba to Miami after the communist revolution and opened a pizza place which has since inspired many other spots to open up shop. First let’s go over what a Cuban pizza is not and that’s the ingredients of a Cuban sandwich in pizza form. The main characteristics of a Cuban pizza would be it’s thicker slightly sweet crust. The sauce can lean sweet but all the spots have their own recipe. Cuban pizza uses two types of cheese in Gouda and mozzarella while toppings can range from ham to chorizo to sausage to shrimp and so on. Most spots offer a personal size and a large but you always want to go the personal route. For whatever reason they just taste better. In some cases Cubans will fold it and eat it like a taco. Some folks in Miami will tell you the best Cuban pizza around can be found in Hialeah. Like most gems down this way it’s hidden in a busy shopping center. Fans of this place will tell you the dough is less thick than other spots around town. It’s made in house and for max crispness and frico factor you get the Pizza Estrella which allows for five toppings of your choice. This was the third spot I tried Pizza Cubana from down here but it was the first in Hialeah which is the hotbed for this style. What I like about it is that you can eat some without committing to an entire pizza. I’d put these beauties right in the middle of the Pizza Hut personal pan pizza and Detroit style pizza as far as structure and style. When in Rome I eat like the Romans and when in Hialeah I eat like the Cubans. By which I mean I’d much rather eat this kind of pizza when in Miami than some half assed Chicago style pizza or whatever. Food is supposed to be regional and Hialeah is home to the highest percentage of Cubans living in the United States.
Pizza Estrella at Star Chigua's Pizza Cubana
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Casa Lenca (Hialeah)
An online search for some Honduran style fried chicken aka Pollo Chuco led me to this Honduran spot with some really pretty looking plates of food. Pollo Chuco translates to "dirty chicken" and it gets it's name from fried chicken that sits atop thinly sliced and lightly fried plantain chips with an array of toppings both on the side and on top. A beloved dish found all around Honduras and places like South Florida where the country’s second largest Honduran population resides (behind NY/NJ).
Pollo Chuco at Casa Lenca
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Fritanga Las Piedrecitas (Hialeah)
This was my first time trying Nicaraguan food. I've never been to Nicaragua but I figure Miami is the second best spot to try it since it’s home to the largest Nicaraguan population outside of Nicaragua. I went with the classic - carne asada paired with gallo pinto and fried cheese. Nicaraguans tend to marinate their steak with a citrus forward blend of bitter and sour fruits like Seville oranges and limes which makes for an extremely flavorful piece of beef. A classic South Florida find aka located in a random strip mall and frequented almost exclusively by the people who’s cuisine is being served.
Lunch at Fritanga Las Piedrecitas
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Tio Colo (Hialeah)
Hialeah is home to the largest Hispanic population of any city or town in the United States and around 75% of it's residents are Cuban. This means you can find all sorts of spots catering to the local Cuban community. I got turned onto this gem by my guy Sef Gonzales aka Burger Beast. He’s a local blogger / burger maker / restaurateur and all around good guy that knows just about every Cuban spot in the area. His knowledge of restaurants down here runs deep and he shares a lot of it on his blog at
BurgerBeast.com. That’s where I leaned about these absolutely amazing Cuban style ice cream sandwiches served alongside Cuban style pizza in an otherwise industrial part of town.
Bocadito de Helado (guayaba) at Tio Colo
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La Uchirena (Doral)
The world of empanadas runs far and wide. While I enjoy all of them, there’s some that stand out above the others. For example I think the Venezuelan variety is near the top of the power list with their corn dough offering that are stuffed with a variety of fillings before being deep fried which in my experience is usually to order. The dough gets crisp on the outside and stays soft and tender within. I’m also partial to seafood empanadas which are big in Mexico’s Nayarit region. So when a Venezuelan friend of mine suggested we grab some seafood empanadas and go to the beach one day last winter I was all in. It was on the ride to La Uchirena that I learned empanadas are a popular beach snack in Venezuela and empanadas de cazon (shark meat) are what most Venezuelans eat while beaching. These are made with shredded shark steak which is legal to use here in the States where shark meat is outlawed. They taste like the beach in that they’re the flavors one meets when somewhere warm on the ocean. Some of the best empanadas I’ve had. The pop. of Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S has risen 54% since the oil industry fallout and majority of them live in South Florida where the town of Doral aka “Doralzuela” hosts the regions largest Venezuelan community.
Empanada de Cazon at La Uchirena
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La Esquina Del Lechon (Doral)Next up is another strip mall spot in Doral serving up some of the city's best suckling pig. La Esquina Del Lechon is a Cuban restaurant where the lechon sits front and center. Crowds come from all over the city to get a chunk of perfectly roasted pork with extra crisp chicharrones. The lechon comes served with a bunch of lard grilled onions as well as white rice and Cuban black beans. Pure Miami.
Lunch at La Esquina Del Lechon
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El Palacio de Los Jugos (Miami)
If I'm in Miami I gotta make a special stop at El Palacio De Los Jugos
for some fresh juice. The Juice Palace is a pretty one of a kind stop in
the States. It's much more reflective to what you might find somewhere
in the Caribbean or Colombia and the likes. They started out as a small
spot to grab the food and juices like Cuban grandmothers like to make.
Today they have a handful of locations in the Miami area. The food is
pretty good but the juice is the reason I stop in whenever I can. They
got all the tropical options and they sell them in a number of sizes. I
always bring a liter or two home.
Fresh Squeezed Juice at Palacio De Los Jugos
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Sanguich De Miami (Miami)
First stop in Miami is a mandatory any time I'm in town. As far as “souped-up” Cuban sandwiches go this spot takes them to the absolute max. I first visited Sanguich De Miami in it’s shipping container days and it’s been a must stop spot any time I’m in town since then. They make what’s pretty much a perfect Cuban sandwich using the best all around quality ingredients. All the spots down here have access to the otherworldly Cuban bread but there’s only so many of them that dress it and then press it so perfectly. Two tips - 1) Always get it double pressed. 2) Get a mamey milkshake to go with it.
Cuban Sandwich at Sanguich de Miami
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El Rey De Las Fritas (Miami)
While the Cuban sandwich is typically mentioned as Miami’s most iconic eat it’s something you can find in other parts of the state not to mention in other states entirely. But the Frita Cubana (the Cuban Burger) is something you’ll rarely find outside the 305. You can find one of the most iconic at El Rey De Las Fritas, an old school Cuban diner in the middle of Little Havana. They make their own potato sticks in house which makes for a big difference when compared to the canned products. The meat is ground beef but some spots add chorizo and paprika for color. Common toppings on a Frita Cubana include diced onion, ketchup, and the julienned potato sticks. Cheese isn’t traditional but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Though other stuff like lettuce and tomato is a big no. Best followed up with an always refreshing batido de mamey (a sapote milkshake). Since 1976.
Frita Cubana at El Rey De Las Fritas
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Itamea (Miami)
I stopped into this award winning Peruvian spot for a quick and fashionable snack in Miami’s swanky Design District which is where you’ll find most of the high end clothing shops. But I’m not here for luxury clothing. I come for fashion in the form of food at Itamea. This was the one reservation I made sure to make while down here as the food really caught my eye when I first learned of the place. Ran by a Peruvian family of Japanese descent which means Nikkei cuisine is front and center. Nikkei being the food of Peru (Lima in particular) that’s been influenced by Japanese immigrants. When it comes to seafood both Peruvians and the Japanese are at the top of the game in terms of putting it to use. So you can expect some flawless offerings here. Served up based on what's fresh and local.
Grouper Cebiche - Murasaki Potato, Concha, Choclo, Red Onion
Wahoo Tiradito - Roasted Turnip, Red Kampot, Red Onion
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Japow Kakigori (Miami)
Kakigori is without a doubt my favorite dessert on earth. The Japanese
shaved ice flavored with syrups and sweeteners is an art in Japan where
it's consumed year round. It's starting to take off in other places
including the States although the product served over here and elsewhere
is not anything close to what you'll find in Japan. But I thought what I
got from this little trailer permanently parked in the Design District
was legit nonetheless. They had some interesting flavors which is part
of it's appeal in Japan which in the summer can get pretty damn hot. The
same can be said for Florida.
Kakigori at Japow
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Motek (Miami)
This “Kosher Style” restaurant is hidden amongst some 400 jewelry dealers in the historic Seybold Building located in downtown Miami. The menu showcases Middle Eastern and Mediterranean offerings including a delicious part burger, part kebab specimen that some say is of Lebanese descent while others claim it’s Palestinian. Either way what we do know is that the Arayes Burger became extremely popular in Tel Aviv and now Miami too. This is a beef stuffed pita but lamb is also common. You know you’re in the right spot when you can smell the pungent smoke coming from the grill (they sell a ton of them). Terrific when dipped in harissa aioli served on side. I just wish I had the stomach space to try some more of their offerings. I plan to be back for that sabich and a schnitzel.
Arayes Burger at Motek
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Captain Jim's Seafood (Miami)
There’s not as much fresh seafood served up in Miami as there maybe should be. It seems like the local mom and pop type seafood markets are fading fast in a fast changing city. Captain Jim’s is owned by the same guy that owns La Camaronera, an iconic restaurant / market founded by a family of Cuban fisherman (as seen in this previous report). Captain Jim’s has a big display case of fresh seafood that can be bought raw or cooked up and served on site. We stopped here so my friend that was visting could try some cracked conch as I'd heard they fried up a nice version. Not bad at all.
Fried Conch at Captain Jim's Seafood
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Majestic Cafe & Bakery (Miami)
A rare Francesinha sighting in the States! This massive sized sandwich from Porto requires a knife and a fork as it consists of ham, linguica, fresh sausage, steak, cheese, and bread with a fried egg on top. All of that is then drowned in a spiced tomato and beer and cheese based sauce. They always come with what’s usually fresh cut fries though typically those come served on the side. I enjoyed one of these in Porto and haven’t seen them anywhere over here including when I was in New England - home to the largest Portuguese community in the States. Though I do know you can find one in Newark which also has a large Portuguese population. You’ll find quite a few Portuguese restaurants in South Florida too as they never seem to settle too far away from the ocean. Portugal might be my favorite European country to visit and the city of Porto plays a big role in that.
Francesinha at Majestic Cafe & Bakery
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There’s lots of options for Caribbean food in Miami but Manjay is the spot you should make a point of checking out if you want to try some of it. The team behind this place take a chef driven approach without taking away any of the spices or flavors food in the Caribbean is known for. The menu leans Haitian and I highly recommend the coco loco curried shrimp dish which comes served up with red beans and rice, banane peze and the most perfect order of Pikliz. Caribbean food down here does not disappoint. What does is Caribbean food elsewhere after you’ve spent enough time down here.
Coco Curried Shrimp at Manjay
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There’s very few spots to get a taste of Paraguay here in the States but one of them is here in Miami where a husband and wife team run one of the city’s best food trailers. He’s from Uruguay and she’s from Paraguay and together they serve the food of their homelands at 1811 Miami. The menu has two sides with Uruguayan classics on one and Paraguayan classics on the other. The Chivito from the former of the two is supposed to be one of the best in South Florida but I couldn’t resist trying some Paraguayan specialties for the first time ever. So I did so with two of their chipa offerings. From what I read chipa in it’s most common form is a small baked cheesy corn roll popular in Paraguay as a quick snack. But there’s many variations of the chipa many of which are popular side dishes commonly served with steak. So I tried both the chipa gausu and the chipa so’o. Chipa Guasu is made with Paraguayan corn, milk, cheese, onions in a souffle style cake. This was good enough to be enjoyed as an entrée alongside a salad or such but I bet it’s even better next to a juicy cut of vacÃo. The Chipa So’o is another cornbread variation stuffed with meat and other stuff like red peppers, onion and hard boiled egg. Also excellent. Next time I’m going to try the Lomito Arabe which is a popular street food in Paraguay that was developed over time by the country’s Middle Eastern immigrants. It’s basically a shawarma wrap seasoned to Paraguayan palates. 1811 is a popular spot with tourists from Paraguay who can’t get enough of what Miami has to offer.
Chipas at 1811 Miami
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Chifa Du Kang (Miami)
I have a huge fascination with fusion cuisine, Chinese fusion to be more specific, so Chifa Du Kang is right up my alley. There aren't many spots on the globe where the Chinese have not set up shop and when they do they always bring their recipes with them but over time they morph into a mix of elements fused with local ingredients and traditions from the country in which they settled. Perhaps none of them are more interesting than Peruvian-Chinese aka Chifa cuisine. There's literally 1000's of Chifa restaurants in Lima and a few of them in South Florida. None more famous than this Miami spot which started as a restaurant in Lima. Pictured below is the classic Chifa dish known as Pollo Chi Jau Kay. It's a crispy chopped chicken dish served with peapods in an oyster gravy laced with five spice powder. On the side are crispy pork wontons and arroz chaufa otherwise known as Peruvian fried rice. The chicken reminded me a lot of an American-Chinese regional favorite - War Sue Gai aka ABC Chicken. Enjoyed in one of those classic old school Cantonese style dining rooms.
Peruvian Chinese food at Chifa Du Kang
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Pamela's Restaurant (Miami)
La Estacion Cafe (Miami)
I've been in search of Arepas con Huevo y Carne ever since a trip to Cartagena a few years back. It's one of the city's signature dishes and as I've come to learn it can be hard to find outside of there and Colombia in general. But if there was one place in the States I was going to find one it was going to be in Miami where I came across a popular breakfast spot in Brickell that serves them. Aside from the fact I had to wait a half hour for it to arrive it was an awesome way to start the day.
Arepa Con Huevo y Carne at La Estacion Cafe
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Sweet Delights Bakery (Florida City)
There’s no such thing as a hidden gem in todays day and age where you can find anything online. Nonetheless this bakery hidden within a beauty boutique inside a large strip mall is as close as it gets. Sweet Delights is known for pretty much one thing - Key Lime Pie. It’s owned by a very friendly baker who hails from the U.S Virgin Islands. She makes the best key lime pie I’ve tried down here and it comes in all sorts of tropical flavors made with locally grown fruit like Mamey (sapote).
Mamey Flavored Key Lime Pie
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Robert Is Here Fruit Stand (Homestead)
Our last stop up is always my first stop whenever driving from Miami to
the Florida Keys. In fact I sometimes just drive to Robert Is Here is
from Miami and then turn back. It’s in Homestead which is a part of the
Caribbean basin which means you can grow all sorts of tropical fruits in
the area and this classic roadside stand is where you can go to buy
them and try them. The best way to do so is in the form of their
terrific milk shakes which come served in all sorts of tropical flavors
including my favorite - guanabana which tastes like a mix of citrus and
banana. Some people would call this spot a tourist trap and it kind of
is but it’s also unlike anything else around here in that you can buy
some interesting exotic fruits you just won’t find elsewhere. Yes
they’re marked up but where else can you find them all under one roof
like this? Plus the shakes are well worth their double digit pricetag as
they’re both big and delicious. This is an iconic Florida spot that
everyone should stop in at if making the drive from Miami to Key West or
anywhere in between. That’s it for this trip! See y'all in March.
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Fruits and Milkshake at Robert is Here
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Click HERE to continue the journey with an old Key West post -
Click HERE for my Google Maps guide to South Florida -
See ya next time @chibbqking
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