Photo by World Red Eye
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In a city where vegan and plant-based restaurants are often dismissed and frequently struggle to survive, the arrival of JaJaJa Mexicana in Wynwood feels like a symbolic moment.
It’s not just another restaurant opening, but a small victory for Miami’s evolving dining scene and for locals who follow a plant-based lifestyle in a traditionally meat- and seafood-forward city. Plant-based concepts, however, have historically had a tougher road here than in other major food cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or even Austin.
Even high profile restaurants such as Planta shuttered after relatively short runs, reinforcing the idea that vegan dining in Miami is niche at best. That context makes JaJaJa’s decision to open its first-ever location outside New York City right here in Miami a notable vote of confidence in local diners.
Photo by Jordan Braun
From NYC to Miami, Local Plant-Based Diners Are Hyped
“As a vegan, it can be tough to find options in Miami,” says nutritionist and influencer Annie Kimmelman of the Plant Collective. “When I heard one of my favorite NYC restaurants was making its way down, I immediately made a reservation. It does not disappoint. The churros and buffalo flower tacos are my guilty pleasure.”
Founded in New York’s Lower East Side in 2017, JaJaJa Mexicana quickly built a cult following for its vibrant plant-powered take on Mexican street food. What began as a single restaurant by longtime friends and business partners Koorosh Bakhtiar and Nima Garos has grown into six locations, including this new 4,500 square foot Wynwood restaurant and bar. The Miami outpost marks the brand’s first expansion outside New York City and a bold leap for a concept rooted entirely in plant-based cooking that appeals equally to vegans and omnivores.
Photo by Jordan Braun
From Vegan Tacos and Burrios, Everthing is Seed-Oil Free
JaJaJa’s Miami menu balances comfort and bold flavor using whole real ingredients. Under the direction of executive chef Ricky Huitzil, the Wynwood kitchen serves fan favorites like birria tacos with coco queso and consommé, a stacked “Chorizo Burrito,” and “Grande Nachos” loaded with chorizo and habanero queso.
The menu is entirely seed oil free, high in protein, and kosher, with Miami exclusive dishes inspired by Cuban, Caribbean, and coastal influences. Chef Huitzil is also developing a Cuban sandwich inspired quesadilla, slated to debut soon.
Photo by Jordan Braun
Fun Vegan Cocktails
The bar program at JaJaJa Wynwood may turn just as many heads as the food. The restaurant boasts the largest and most ambitious agave bar in the brand’s portfolio to date, featuring more than 100 selections of tequila, mezcal, sotol, and Mexican sake, along with inventive cocktails.
Miami-only drinks like the clarified “Pinche Lada,” a mezcal and cerveza spin on a michelada, and the mole infused “CDMX Manhattan” help position the space as a nightlife destination as much as a dining one. Weekend DJ sets further reinforce JaJaJa’s role as a social hangout in Wynwood’s energetic after-hours scene.
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Photo by World Red Eye
JaJaJa’s Signature Pastel Palette with a Miami Twist
The space itself leans into the neighborhood’s artistic DNA. Designed by Clear Studios in collaboration with Saladino Design Studios, the restaurant features JaJaJa’s signature pastel and turquoise palette with a Miami-forward tropical twist. Arch filled rooms, patterned textiles, and lush plant life create a bright transportive atmosphere meant to evoke the vibrant streets of Mexico. Anchoring the space is a recreated early 1900s penny tile mosaic inspired by historic floors uncovered during construction of JaJaJa’s original New York location. The restaurant seats approximately 130 guests, including about 40 at the bar, with outdoor seating planned.
That combination of bold visuals and bold flavors is what makes JaJaJa feel less like a novelty and more like a destination. In a dining landscape where vegan options are often treated as an afterthought, this feels intentional. A plant-based restaurant built without hesitation or compromise.
JaJaJa Wynwood is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to expand to seven days a week and introduce brunch and lunch service later in the season. Reservations are available on OpenTable, while the bar welcomes casual drop-ins for drinks and bites.
For a city that has traditionally treated plant-based dining as fringe, JaJaJa’s Miami debut could signal that local tastes and appetites are finally evolving.
JaJaJa Mexicana. 2775 NW Third Ave., Wynwood; jajajamexicana.com.
