Cake Thai Kitchen

Miami isn't exactly brimming with great Thai restaurants, which is partly why Cake Thai Kitchen is such a novelty. At the front of the tiny eatery, crammed into a derelict Biscayne Boulevard strip mall, stands a buffet station that offers lemongrass-rubbed roasted chicken alongside roasted rice studded with crisp shallots and fried pork. Sometimes it's Penang curry or fried chicken. Otherwise, the menu consists mainly of curries, noodle dishes, salads, and fried rice. There's plenty to choose from. For dessert, try the Thai doughnuts or custard sticky rice. Insider tip: A true hole-in-the-wall, Cake Thai makes up for what it lacks in real estate and atmosphere with its authentic, flavor-packed Thai food. Parking is known to be tricky, but there's a small lot in the back that usually has spots. Cake doesn't serve alcohol, but you can pop across the street to CVS, buy a six-pack, and bring it over.