Eat & Drink

Firmly pressed Cuban bread, crisp papitas, tender, thinly sliced beef, and a squirt of ketchup: These are the makings of Hialeah's National Supermarket #2's pan con bistec. Many cafeterias attempt this dish, but none crafts it as skillfully as this grocery store's corner café. The gargantuan sandwich overflows with papitas, an appetizer for the blessing soon to come. For most, it's a classic interpretation of the Cuban staple: tomatoes, papitas, and lettuce. But this market's touch of ketchup heightens an already juicy meal. It's like the icing on the cake, but really, it's the ketchup on the pan con bistec.

UM buddies for life Paul Massard and Chris Nolte took their friendship to another level when the two partnered in a coffee company. While Nolte has the business acumen, Massard is the chief when it comes to producing coffee. The Colombian native travels the world sourcing beans for the fledgling coffee company. His travels take him to Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya, and Brazil, with the coffee expert sometimes buying out an entire farm's crop to make sure there's consistency in the bean. The beans are then roasted at Per'La's facility just south of Coral Gables, and Massard tastes each and every batch. Cupping each coffee, Massard takes in the liquid with a mighty slurp as if he were born part Hoover. Only after he's perfectly satisfied with a batch will it be bagged and sold to a demanding public. Per'La sells its small-batch, single-origin coffees online and at the weekly Coral Gables Farmers Market for $22 a pound, and the coffees are turning up on Miami restaurant menus more and more frequently.

Brrrrrringgggg. Hit snooze. Brrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnggggg. Too tired. Can't move. It's not really morning, is it? It's hard to tell with the blinds drawn. OK. You can do this. Come on. One leg out of the bed; now the other. Toss on some shorts, a shirt, and sunglasses. It doesn't matter if they're clean. This is presentable, right? Only half a block to walk — you got this. There it is! The teal sign and rapid-fire Spanish. Then it hits you in the face. The sweet smell of sugar being stirred with diesel-strength coffee hot from the machine. Then comes the clatter of spoons followed by the milk foamer's hiss. Next is the gentle purr of your cup filling. That first sip of David's Cafe's café con leche ($2.45) snaps your eyes open and leaves a wisp of milk foam lingering on your upper lip. Now you're ready to face the day.

This is a story about espuma: Only the finest cafeterias can coax the perfect amount of sweet bronze effervescence from the humble combination of sugar and first-brewed Cuban coffee. At Las Olas Café, the ladies working the window conjure the fluffy magic with a steady stream of espresso. "¿Que quieres, papi?" one asks as you step up with a fistful of bills. You order a colada, but she's already on it. She was working on it when you entered the cola. The clinking of a weathered spoon stirring coffee and sugar lets you know your time is drawing near. A few moments later, you're clutching that palm-size Styrofoam cup. But first, a personal moment. You peel the plastic top off to find a thin film of this sweet, startling espumita clinging to the surface. Take a lick and find your happy place.

The name Embarek Ali-Bey may not ring a bell, but it should. Michael Schwartz knows him. Danny Serfer too. He's practically on speed dial at Daniel Boulud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Miami kitchens. So what's your excuse? OK, maybe we're being a little harsh. For years, this French baker has turned out crusty sourdoughs, hearty whole wheats, and buttery croissants for the city's best kitchens. In the early-morning hours in the bowels of a nondescript north Dade warehouse, he and a skeleton crew mix, shape, and bake hundreds of loaves. They begin making their way across the city just as most of us begin our days. For too long, you could get Alibay's products only while dropping serious coin at a fine-dining establishment. But he's expanding. He's grinding his own flour and making his decadent array of baked goods available to the public with a small café. Finally, a way to start your day off right.

Readers' choice: Zak the Baker

French bakeries tell an unrequited love story. Customers yearn for their sweet offerings, but the pastries don't return the passion. In fact, they produce a different kind of love — love handles. But that's nothing an oversized shirt and loose pants can't hide. Be sure to wear both at La Boulangerie Boul'Mich, a picture-perfect Miami-based French artisanal bakery spreading its oven lovin' from Key Biscayne to its newest location in Aventura. There are warm baguettes, chocolate-infused croissants, gourmet empanadas, fresh fruit tarts, and decadent cakes. There's also a full menu that boasts European-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from classic eggs Benedict ($13.95) to le club ($12.95), a French-style sandwich made with Black Forest ham, roast turkey, Brie, mushrooms, tomatoes, and lettuce. From the City of Lights to the Magic City, there's been no greater love than that of a quality French pastry shop. The patisserie opens its doors to helpless romantics Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Think about your happy place. Chances are there's a warm, fluffy bagel somewhere in there, and chances are it's from Mo's in Aventura. This spacious eatery serves every Jewish deli staple and boasts some of the softest, tastiest bagels in Miami. Go simple by adding some cream cheese spread to your bagel ($3.99), or get a scoop of tuna salad ($8.99). Other delicious options include the corned beef sandwich ($13.99) and the tuna melt ($14.49). At Mo's, everyone knows your name, but no matter how often you come — there's no way you can try everything on the menu.

Readers' choice: Roasters' n Toasters

The seemingly endless array of cafeterías across the 305 makes finding pastelitos easy. Locating fresh, warm pastries that are worth the calories, however, is a different story. And that, Miami, is where La Nueva Fe Bakery comes in. Baked fresh "de nuestro horno calientico para su casa," these flaky wonders come in all flavors. If you're craving a traditional pastelito, go for the pastelitos de guayaba (guava), queso (cheese), guayaba y queso (guava and cheese), or carne (beef). If you want a fresh, edgy spin on the original, try the coconut, coconut and cheese, or apple pastelito. If you're in the mood for something meatier, dig your teeth into the pastel de pollo (chicken pastry), cangrejo de jamón (ham pastry), cangrejo de chorizo (chorizo pastry), or the pizza pastel. Yes, pizza. And because each averages only $1, you really can't go wrong here.

Vanessa Diaz and Mariela Maldonado-Keen are purveyors of freshness and all-natural goodness. They are also owners of Brickell Key's beloved juice spot, the Juicery Bar. It was born in 2010 with the idea that healthful food could also taste good, make you feel good, and, most important, be affordable. Six years later, their dream continues to flourish with the help of knowledgeable staff who are equally passionate about healthy living and the desire to build a sense of community. Sip the Fountain of Youth, made with kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, green apple, and romaine, or the Hulk, prepared with kiwi, kale, blueberry, celery, chlorella, spirulina, pear, and coconut. You'll quickly feel the effects kicking in. No fad diets, processed sugars, or artificial flavors here. Just fresh, unpasteurized ingredients, made by people who focus on nourishment, education, growth, and the motto they live by: Juicing with a purpose. Visit this cheery health haven Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Miami has New York-style delis, French bakeries, Mexican taquerias, and Cuban sandwicheries. Add Threefold Cafe to the mix, and the 305 can boast Australian-inspired cafés too. The all-day breakfast eatery was created by Melbourne transplants Teresa and Nick Sharp, who wondered why a café of its kind wasn't already a Miami staple. Fast-forward two years, and Threefold Cafe has expanded to two locations, implemented a coffee program using local favorite Panther Coffee, and added dinner service. Enhancements aside, there's a reason the locally grown restaurant has quickly gained popularity: straightforward yet innovative breakfast that's conveniently served throughout the day. The menu includes classic items such as omelets, eggs, waffles, breads, and French toast, along with more creative options like the "Big Bad Aussie" ($19), made with fried eggs, house-baked beans, spinach, bacon, and toast; and the "Smashed Avo" ($13), a bestseller, which pours a mountain of avocado, feta, lime, basil, roasted mushrooms, and soft-poached eggs onto a thick slice of Zak the Baker bread.

Readers' choice: GreenStreet Cafe

You're midway through an order of Le Pain Perdu ($18), otherwise known as Nutella French toast, and all of a sudden the restaurant goes dark. Large black blinds are draped over the brasserie's floor-to-ceiling windows; you're left confused and accidentally spill Nutella on your clothes. Then you hear a loud thump, followed by another, and another. Brunch at Bagatelle is more than just eggs and bacon. It's a booze-filled, DJ-spinning soirée fit for the hippest brunchgoers in town. The menu includes traditional favorites like buttermilk pancakes ($19), a spicy crab Benedict ($24), and a turkey BLT ($22). There are kettles filled with warm tea and coffee, or you can opt for spirits, including vodka. Though the atmosphere is unconventional, it's exactly what you'd expect of Miami — rowdy, boozy, and surprisingly tasty.

Readers' choice: Biltmore Hotel

Prime Fish opened its doors more than two years ago, but it took more than a year and a half for its famed "Nemo brunch" to emerge. Nemo, the Asian-influenced seafood eatery by restaurateur Myles Chefetz, closed in 2010, and its popular brunch went with it. After a handful of years with die-hard brunchgoers wondering when it would return, the worm turned. If you're unfamiliar with what makes the weekend meal at this spot so special, think a full-service buffet serving both breakfast and lunch dishes, an entrée selection, and bottomless booze, all for $49. The buffet cold salads, freshly baked breads, meats, cheeses, and sweets. Eggs Benedict, omelets, fritatas, and raw bar selections (for an added price) are available on the á la carte menu. And that's not all. There's still a chunk of the buffet left to explore: dessert. Indulge in a medley of rotating sweets, including, but not limited to, chocolate Oreo squares, almond-caramel apple bars, homemade s'mores, chocolate coffee cake, and the signature chocolate and peanut butter bite topped with a Reese's peanut butter cup.

What looks like a bowl of yellow mush is actually chef Frank Ferreiro's latest brunch creation. It's called a deconstructed eggs Benedict casserole. In it, the gooeyness and taste of eggs Benedict collides with the design of a casserole, forming a flavorful and slightly messy weekend treat. It includes a Benedict's traditional ingredients, such as the egg, meat, English muffin, and lots of hollandaise sauce, but is baked in a terra cotta cazuela bowl. It's made to order and can include serrano ham, spinach, or salmon. Pair the egg-centric dish with a bloody mary from Nikki Beach's resident bloody mary bar. The plate is included in Nikki Beach's ongoing Sunday brunch buffet, priced at $49.95 per person.

Before the coffee shop came the coffee, and lots of it. Puroast, a coffee brand created in Southern California more than 25 years ago by brothers Kerry and Jim Sachs, has slowly expanded across the nation. Its Brickell location, which opened earlier this year, marks the brand's first local brick-and-mortar location, and others are expected. Puroast's coffee shop blends a classic and relaxed South American or European-style vibe with fast-paced service perfect for those on the run. Whether you're looking to get in and out as quickly as possible or want to grab a book and spend the afternoon, Puroast proudly welcomes both, which is unconventional for most coffee or bakery spots in town. Also on the menu besides the brothers' unique brews are fresh-squeezed juices, croissants, sandwiches, and salads, all under $10. Plus, there's a bevy of freshly baked breads and pastries.

Readers' choice: Panther Coffee

Executive chef Blair Wilson believes in simplicity. He knows how to make a straightforward brunch and prides himself on crafting plates that are approachable, relatable, and shamelessly delicious. That's where his famed breakfast sandwich ($17) comes in. It's the Social Club's bestselling plate, with about 400 orders from hungry diners each week. Wilson drew inspiration from a classic BLT but wanted to find a way to take it up a notch, which explains the spoonful of bacon jam spread across two thick pieces of challah bread. The jam is made each day from scratch and incorporates bacon, bourbon maple syrup, and coffee into a sweet and savory jelly. The sandwich itself is made with an over-easy egg, avocado, and heirloom tomatoes, with the jam smeared throughout, adding a sweet and smoky taste. Breakfast potatoes similar to tater tots are served alongside it even though Wilson's sandwich alone is enough to keep a diner full throughout the day.

Serendip-a-Tea, hidden inside a Kendall strip mall, is a scene you'd find in your favorite fairy tale. Vivid designs, playful decor, and bright colors ooze from the teahouse, which is nestled between stores in the Kings Creek Shopping Center. It's been open for a little more than a year, offering 32-plus varieties of tea, including green, white, black, and oolong. Order your choice hot or cold, in a small or large pot, or get it to go. Make it an afternoon by pairing bite-size tea sandwiches — such as egg salad, fig delight, and salmon and English cucumber — with a few cups of tea. Bigger bites, including a raspberry and goat cheese salad or a veggie burger, are offered too. Tea-timers with a sweet tooth should opt for a few freshly basked pastries like cookies, muffins, and madeleines. Everything on the menu, including large pots of tea, costs less than $11, transforming an afternoon at the storybook tea shop from a fantasy into an affordable reality.

A blend of old-fashioned, trendy, and nostalgic vibes, along with comfort food, makes for the perfect diner. Wynwood Diner is a little different but somehow is still a classic. The eatery adds an artistic and swank feel. Picture it as a trendier version of your great-grandmother's living room — clean, not overly contemporary, and weirdly chic. The space is expansive, offering indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. The menu is traditional with a few twists. Dishes include brisket sliders ($11), a bacon wedge salad ($9), chicken and waffles ($14), and a bevy of sandwiches and burgers combining ingredients such as Gruyère cheese, Fresno chilies, and grilled zucchini. Be sure to pair your order with the Brussels sprouts dish ($8), one of the restaurant's bestsellers. It combines apricot, hazelnut, ginger, and orange soy into a bowl of crunchy, half-burnt sprouts. There's often a wait, so plan accordingly.

Readers' choice: Big Pink

Few places in Miami have been around as long as Kosher Kingdom. And there's no place like it. Try the buttery, chocolate-laced rugelach or slices of smoked, delicious salty sable. Fred Einhorn opened the first Kosher Kingdom in 1952 on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. It was a time when you could barely take a step without finding a kosher household. Then, as much of South Beach's Jewish community moved north, Fred's son Mike headed for Aventura. No matter where the deli is located, it's the place to be for hard-to-find classics such as mushroom barley soup ($6.99) and a half-dozen casseroles called kugel, made with noodles ($7.99), zucchini ($7.99), or potato ($6.99). Refuse to try the stuff? You might find yourself being force-fed house-made gefilte fish ($12.99) by a fawning waitress.

The whole point of dining at a buffet is to eat until they kick you out. So whether you need to refuel after kayaking at Oleta River State Park or desire a new celebratory spot, there's no better place than Ginza Japanese Buffet. This all-you-can-eat experience has a modern-day-cafeteria feel: pleasant and easy to navigate. Red lanterns hanging over each station guide guests to a smorgasbord of surf-and-turf delicacies. Start at the neatly arranged sushi bar manned by sushi chefs ready to restock colorful rows. Then let your nose guide you through myriad pan-Asian delights, from deep-fried sesame balls and tempura shrimp to miso-glazed salmon and lo mein. Or maybe you'll try the made-to-order hibachi station. Don't mind getting your hands dirty? Get to crackin', peelin', and slurpin' fresh crab legs, shrimp, and oysters. And if you don't have any room left for dessert, make some. Expect to pay $11.95 for lunch Monday through Friday and $12.95 Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dinner costs $18.95 Monday through Thursday and $20.95 Friday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Readers' choice: Rusty Pelican

You want chilies? Alan Zhang's got chilies. The soft-spoken owner of this West Dade Chinese spot has emblazoned his walls with the fiery peppers. In the kitchen, there's a gurgling pot bearing his signature chili oil. It's filled with an unholy mountain of the firecrackers, a handful of numbing Sichuan peppercorns, sesame seeds, and star anise pods. The rest is a secret. Find it throughout his menu, adding fragrant spice to almost every dish. He spoons it over thick, jiggly noodles ($7.95) made of soybean and tapioca starch. He uses it to braise shards of fatty beef that join boiled cabbage in a ripping-hot stew ($13.95). In Zhang's crowning dish, the oil is spiked with more dried chilies and then used to stir-fry pickled string beans with garlic slivers and minced beef intestine ($12.98). Sure, there's sweat cascading down your brow, your face is on fire, and your eyes are bloodshot and beginning to tear. Most normal people would ask for a glass of water, maybe even milk, to quash the heat. But not now. Now you want more chili oil.

Readers' choice: Tropical Chinese Restaurant

A pint of egg drop soup ($2.59) can warm the soul. An order of beef with black pepper ($14.99) opens the sinuses. A half-dozen barbecued spare ribs ($9.29) fills your belly. The fare at Canton Palace works wonders on the body, and you can even take it to go. If you're a regular, experienced waiters have your favorite orders memorized. If you're a newcomer, they're happy to recommend dishes ranging from dim sum platters to Szechuan delights and authentic Cantonese dishes to best suit your palate. Exploring on your own may lead to unexpected territory, but what the hell! It's worth a try. In any case, this stuff is best appreciated in the confines of your own home. Call for take-out Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.

When it comes to great Chinese takeout, there aren't many places in Miami that rival the eateries in the Big Apple. But North Miami's Empire Szechuan Gourmet of New York is as close as the 305 can get. It's cheap, it's fast, and it's delicious, which are three aspects of every great carry-out Chinese restaurant. The menu is the size of a small novel and lists every Asian-inspired dish your stomach might crave. There are dumplings, rolls, noodles, salads, soups, and rice, along with meats such as sweet-and-sour chicken ($10.95), moo shu pork ($11.95), pepper steak ($12.95), and Mongolian beef ($13.95). Portions are large enough to last four to five sittings, and if you're sharing, simply order one of each because it's bound to be enough. The restaurant offers weekly lunch platters too, where $6.45 to $9.45 gets you meat, rice, vegetables, and an egg or spring roll.

Vietnamese restaurants make up a very small part of Miami's culinary scene, so you have to know where to look for authentic cuisine. Enter Little Saigon. Although the exterior may be a bit deceiving, this North Miami Beach eatery has been serving no-frills Vietnamese at bargain prices since 1996. The menu offers a huge assortment of specialties, including phenomenal bowls of pho that range from $6.50 to $8.95. The goi cuon spring rolls ($3.95) are as fresh as they come, with see-through wrappers packing in delightful tastes of shrimp, pork, vermicelli, mint, and lettuce. From a hot serving of chao thit bo (beef congee soup) for $6.50 to dui ga nuong (a quarter leg of tender fried chicken) for $6.95, guests are guaranteed to leave with their stomachs and wallets full. Little Saigon is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from noon to 11:30 p.m.

This South Beach staple is a consistent and excellent stop for lunch, dinner, or a crazy late night. It serves until 5 every morning. The menu includes more than 60 appetizers ranging from tempuras to seaweed salads to a variety of miso soups. The entrées range in price from $8 for a bowl of udon noodles in clear broth to $32 for grilled lobster. The standout at Moshi Moshi is the selection of sushi, which is always imaginatively served, with prices varying from $6 for tuna or yellowtail rolls to $24 for a lobster roll consisting of lobster tail tempura, cream cheese tempura, cucumber, mango, and asparagus. The sake menu is extensive, and be sure to save room for dessert: green tea tiramisu and cheese cake tempura.

Brickell's Cantina La Veinte crafts Mexican favorites like tortillas, tostadas, and rice and beans in a gourmet and glamorous way. The large menu lacks staples such as burritos and enchiladas, but executive chef Santiago Gomez offers inventive twists. Dishes including tostadas de stone crab ($27), made with habanero mayo, green apple, and cilantro; tostadas de atun ($24), which uses fresh tuna marinated in a yellow-pepper-lime-soy sauce; and dobladitas de jaiba suave ($24), a deep-fried soft-shell crab taco served in a flour tortilla pooled in a green jalapeño sauce, blend Mexican flavors with an epicurean approach.

As you drive on SW Eighth Street toward the hub of Calle Ocho, there's one building in particular that lets you know you're almost at the epicenter of Miami's Cuban culture. On your left-hand side near Sixth Avenue stands a structure with a white roof and orange walls. Its towering sign featuring a prominent palm tree attracts the eye. La Palma Restaurant (not to be confused with one by the same name in Coral Gables) is a 37-year-old establishment that serves your abuela's homestyle Cuban cooking. Try the lechón asado. It comes with rice and beans as well as yuca for $8.50. Every day features three specials. Favorites are Monday's carne con papas ($8.95), Wednesday's tamal en cazuela con maduro ($5.99), and Sunday's chicken and rice ($8.50). For the most popular dessert, check out the churro y chocolate ($2). While other restaurants remodel their menus or interior designs, La Palma keeps things classic and homey. It even serves food in red plastic baskets. The coffees and hot chocolates come in thick white ceramic mugs that are just warm enough to the touch. Hipster cutting boards and Mason jars, get outta here.

Readers' choice: Versailles Restaurant

33 Kitchen in Coconut Grove is an Asian-leaning Peruvian restaurant helmed by chef-owner Sebastian Fernandez and his wife, Leslie Ames. The genesis of the casual 45-seat eatery's name has something to with its zip code, the boiling point of water, and the number of vertebrae in the human spine. But more important than the name is the food, and Chilean-born Fernandez is no stranger to the kitchen. In the "cold" tapas section, a highlight is the seared tuna with soba noodles, avocado, scallions, and miso ($16). Silky noodles wrap around fresh pieces of tuna, while a rich peanut and ají amarillo sauce tie it all together. The chef's chaufa, Peruvian-style fried rice, bursts with flavor and a pleasant hint of smokiness ($13). It tastes very much like Chinese fried rice and can be ordered with chicken, shrimp, or beef. Another winner is the grilled octopus, proffered with a creamy olive sauce and boniato chips ($14). There's only one ceviche on the menu, but what's most refreshing about this place is its focus on being different — 33 concentrates on being great.

Life in Miami can be pretty surreal. But a trip to this Bird Road eatery takes it to a whole new level. The tame-looking wooden exterior belies a colorful and dreamlike interior that transports visitors to the Andean countryside. Flowers, stuffed dolls, instruments, flags, and traditional Colombian clothing hang from the ceilings, while paintings, photographs, and a seemingly endless array of knickknacks line the walls. And the food on your plate is as delicious as the ambiance is enchanting. Start with an arepa or gordito, followed by a churrasco or bandeja pueblito — the latter being the restaurant's version of the famed bandeja paisa, a generous plate of beans, rice, fried pork rinds, beef, sweet plantains, avocado, and a fried egg. Finish it off with a sweet Colombian-style milk pudding called postre de natas. Not enough? A musical act or comedy show will most likely entertain you during your meal.

An old Argentine saying goes that when you're giving it all you've got, you've thrown all your meat on the grill. But at Kendall's La Nueva Argentina, you can have any cut of meat you want — straight from the parrilla and without having to sacrifice every dollar in your wallet. A favorite among office types and asado-loving Argentines alike, La Nueva Argentina's astounding daily lunch special offers diners 12 exceptionally grilled cuts of meat, ranging in price from $8.99 to $17 per plate. A juicy, eight-ounce bife de chorizo, identifiable among gringos as NY strip steak, is offered for just $13 and comes with French fries, a simple salad, and rice. Other favorites are milanesa a la napolitana ($23.99 at dinner), a thinly sliced cut of chicken or veal that's breaded, lightly fried, and then layered with ham, gobs of tomato sauce, and mozzarella. And La Nueva Argentina isn't just for eating in: Die-hard asadores know that the adjacent butcher shop is among the best in Miami, offering prime cuts of meat at this spot's signature affordable prices. It's open daily from 11:30 a.m to 10 p.m.

If you want a bite of Denise Paredes' baho ($10), you'd better ask in advance. Weeks in advance. In fact, there's a waiting list for it pinned to the icemaker at Las Mercedes Restaurant. The hopeful line up, desperate for this taste of home. This stomach-distending casserole is Central America's analog to Italy's timpano. A verdant banana leaf replaces the massive round of pasta dough. Indeed, there's no pasta, meatballs, or sausage here. Instead, spears of yuca are boiled into submission with heaps of garlic. Then come mounds of sliced beef brisket, ripe and unripe plantains, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and orange and lime juices. The whole thing is sealed up and boiled for hours. When it emerges, top it with the fermented cabbage slaw called encurtido, and dig in. But wait, before you do, secure yourself a good spot for the post-baho nap. Paredes says she makes it only once a month because it's so time-consuming. But the truth is, the stern master of this cafeteria knows sending her regulars back to their jobs in a food coma would be bad for business.

Ivan Dorvil has cooked for P. Diddy and Lil Wayne. He has manned the stoves at high-end South Beach spots and at Haitian institution Tap Tap. He has emerged victorious from reality cooking competitions. But the Haitian-born chef is at his best inside his eponymous North Dade restaurant, where he plays cook and host for a loyal crowd that returns time and again for a bill of fare that starts in the Caribbean and stretches out across the globe. Don't miss Dorvil's griot ($14) and tasso ($16). The fried chunks of pork and goat offer supremely crisp crusts encasing juicy meat. No other cook seems to have Ivan's ability to bring these Haitian classics to this perfect point of equilibrium. With a deft hand, he grills and fries red snapper ($22) and all other manner of Caribbean fish, leaving them supremely moist. Then comes a smattering of crunchy, blistering pikliz that hurts so good. He amps up a similarly styled seafood stew with funky salty miso. It's a quick visit to Asia, but soon you're back home with sweet boniato pudding á la mode ringed with sugary caramel ($7).

Readers' choice: Tap Tap

Warm naan that melts in your mouth, delicate and perfectly spiced tandoori and paneer, and sweet pistachio ice cream to top it all off. From start to finish, Zaika is an impressive mix of flavors and textures that will satisfy the palates of even the pickiest Indian food lover. In just a year, the eatery has become well known for its array of delicious cuisine, affordable prices, and cozy ambiance. It even offers outdoor seating. The chefs, who have worked in India's renowned Taj Mahal Hotel, offer innovative options of classic dishes, all cooked to order (i.e., as spicy or mild as you'd like). Meat lovers should try the chicken tikka masala ($16.95) and lamb vindaloo ($16.95), while vegetarians won't want to miss dal makhani ($12.95) and palak paneer ($13.95). For dessert, try the homemade pista kulfi ice cream ($4.95) or gulab jamun ($4.95) — milk dumplings in a rose-flavored sauce. A vegetarian lunch special, served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., runs $8.95, and one with meat goes for $9.95 to $12.95.

La Pupusa Factory has been bringing home-cooked Central American and Salvadoran grub to the 305 for more than two decades. The Hialeah eatery serves more than just stuffed corn tortillas that are the most traditional Salvadoran dish. Here, you'll find everything from baleadas Hondureñas — pancake-like flour tortillas replete with fried beans, cheese, and your choice of meat ($3.50 to $7.95) — to appetizers including a chicken cornmeal tamale ($3.75); fried tacos topped with Salvadoran-style coleslaw ($8.95); and chiles rellenos, green peppers stuffed with beef served with rice and beans ($14.95). But if you want to have a bite of it all, go for the bandeja Garcia ($14.95), which brings a pupusa, fried taco, tamale, cheese, fried beans, cream, chorizo, and a corn tortilla. The portions can feed an entire Central American country, so sharing is strongly encouraged. But whatever you do, leave room for el postre. Try the sweet corn pudding called atole de elote ($3.75) or the quesadia ($7 for a whole, $2 for a quarter). Not to be confused with the cheesy Mexican dish of similar name, the quesadia is a rich, sweet dessert cake. By the end of your meal, you'll feel so satisfied you'll forget you're in the middle of "La Ciudad Que Progresa."

Restaurateur Stephen Starr knows what people want. Indeed, when he opened Le Zoo in Bal Harbour Shops toward the end of 2015, he knew Miamians were hankering for a classic French eatery with great food and service. Naturally, he knew the vibe and decor were equally important, so he created a breezy and uplifting space that's a cross between an archetypal Parisian bistro and a seaside Saint-Tropez café. Starr, who also owns Makoto and Continental in Miami, along with more than 30 restaurants across the nation — also knew to hire the right chef: Craig Wallen. One of the toque's best dishes is the classic trout amandine ($27). A gorgeous trout fillet is evenly fried and coated in a hazelnut butter, lemon, and almond sauce and proffered with toasted almonds and al dente green beans. What makes it soar is that the fragrant sauce doesn't mask the fish, which is flaky and delicate on the inside and crisp on the outside.And surprise, surprise, Starr couldn't have picked a better-suited pastry chef than Kelli Payne. Her profiteroles ($11) will make you feel like a kid again.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, calzone, or even tortellini, there's Bella Napoli. The low-key restaurant has been serving tasty Italian treats at bargain prices in South Beach since 1980. It's harder to find a more delicious homemade gnocchi at any price in Florida than the one served in tomato, meat, pink, or alfredo sauce for $10 here. The pizzas are solid, and the calzones are exceptional not only in flavor but also in size. Though the wine list and ambiance won't make a first date think you are a baller, if that first date can appreciate the simplicity of a house chianti and garlic rolls that melt in your mouth, he or she might be a keeper.

The burning heart of northern Spain flickers on the edge of Little Havana. Here, at Asador 5 Jotas, owner Javier Eseverri has created a meat-wrapped wonderland flecked with nearly two dozen types of tapas and a veritable ocean of vino tinto spanning bright, reasonably priced malbecs to big, bold budget riojas. Where you fall is up to you, but don't even think of approaching the hulking chuletón de buey ($24 per person) without a full glass. The aged rib eye arrives sizzling on a hot stone paired with peppy roasted red peppers that add a hit of acidic freshness. Piquillo peppers play a similar role alongside grilled lamb chops that come thick with smoke and rosemary's grassy sweetness. If meat isn't your game, opt for a clay red cazuela of the hard-to-find baby eels called gulas ($11) laced with plenty of garlic and tiny sweet rock shrimp. Whichever way things go, Eseverri is there to ensure you get the finest Basque hospitality — and that you don't guzzle too much wine before heading for the door.

The sun lingers high overhead. Heat mercilessly beats down on the Miami Beach sidewalk, and a crowd grows inside this pintsize café. They're restless with anticipation. It's only moments from the match between Brazilian soccer powerhouses Palmeiras and Santos. You can hear it in the announcers' voices. You can feel it in the room as wave after wave of frosty beer bottles emerge from behind the bar. Then come the baskets of puffy, stretchy pão de quejio ($14.95), followed by steaming bowls of moqueca ($16.95) trailing the pungent aroma of nutty dende oil. Boisterous tables seem to be quelled by their feijoada ($14.95), filled with knuckle-size hunks of pork. Then there's opening whistle and a piercing shout. You see a splash of beer mist through the air, followed by a volley of those little cheese balls. Just another weekend at Varanda's Brasil Café.

Too often, Asian cuisine means underseasoned rice, overly greasy noodles, and cloyingly sweet sauces. Enter Lung Yai Thai Tapas, where a small countertop offers guests an up-close view of chefs crafting refreshingly authentic dishes. It opened in Little Havana in late 2015 and has since been building a loyal base of customers who return for a true taste of Thai culture. The narrow indoor area and outdoor patio seem a modest space, but there's big power in the kitchen. Chef Veenuthri "Bas" Trisransri was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine in 2007 and has an extensive background in Asian cuisine that he learned from his grandfather. From his years in the restaurant industry, Chef Bas knows that the development of deep, complex flavors can't be rushed, which is why dishes such as the palo moo ($12) and tom yum soup ($5) take hours to reach perfection. It's quality Thai food that's both affordable and casual, and the tapas style will tempt diners to sample everything on the menu. A meal at Lung Yai Thai is a crash course for the palate; come with a sense of culinary adventure, and leave with a newfound appreciation for real Thai flavors and a full stomach. Lung Yai Thai is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. and ends at midnight except Friday and Saturday, when the restaurant stays open until 2 a.m.

Eat Greek Souvlaki owner and chef Dimotakis Vasilios was once just a small-business man. But over the years, he has extended his kitchen genius across Miami-Dade County with locations in South Beach, Wynwood, and Brickell. In addition to serving souvlaki, he also offers abundant portions of colorful salads, overflowing gyros, juicy meat, and fresh seafood platters, along with other Greek classics. There's even a special section for the calorie-conscious — "Spartan Health" — which consists of proteins like fish, turkey, and chicken paired with items such as olives, figs, grapes, green vegetables, whole grains, and wild rice. Think grilled shrimp with spinach brown rice and fresh beets served with dolmadakia, also known as grape leaves ($13.99 to $27.99). Forget the diet and get the baklava ($4.99) for dessert. One bite, and the urge to yell "Opa!" will strike. Don't resist.

For 16 years, Miami has been enamored with the 16 tables inside Pascal Oudin's eponymous Coral Gables restaurant. Here, the cook who at a tender age began training under culinary icons such as Alain Ducasse and Roger Vergé puts on a nightly master class in French gastronomy. The rich country duck terrine ($20.95) comes with a luscious core of foie gras. A handful of cavatelli made with creamy ricotta cheese ($19.95) swims in a buttery fricassee alongside tender snails tinted emerald thanks to a hefty dose of herb butter. Oudin also offers an ever-changing list of enticing tartares — ranging from short ribs to salmon. But there's more to this place's allure. The white tablecloths, the well-manicured clientele, and the spotless service will lure you back again and again, year after year.

Readers' choice: Swine Southern Table & Bar

For years, people have flocked to Miami's Upper Eastside neighborhoods like Miami Shores and Shorecrest to settle down and nest. The only thing missing from these tree-lined streets was a cozy neighborhood restaurant serving delicious food and drinks at reasonable prices. Enter Pinch. Partners John Gallo and Rene Reyes, both Pubbelly Restaurant Group alumni, joined forces to open what they term a "freestyle American eatery." What the heck does that mean? It's a restaurant that serves favorites such as burgers and mussels with just the right panache to make them interesting. A roasted half chicken ($18), served with hyper-local Little River Farm vegetables and mushroom jus, is a rich, flavorful bird, and roasted carrots are given a hit of mint and citrus for brightness ($13). Add a carefully curated local beer list and some good wines, and you've got a neighborhood eatery worth frequenting — even if you have to travel from another neighborhood.

Ever heard of Norman Van Aken or Michael Schwartz? Well, Ariete chef/partner Michael Beltran learned his way around the kitchen from both of those culinary icons. Now he has taken his talents to his own Coconut Grove restaurant. This warmly lit spot is cozy enough for a date, but make no mistake — there's no tweezer food on the menu, only things you want to eat: the juiciest chicken you've ever had, short rib cured pastrami-style ($25), and foie gras. Want to eat light? The chef's dinner-size green salad (price varies) changes daily depending upon what was just foraged from local farms. At Ariete, Beltran makes his mentors proud while walking his own straight line toward Miami's culinary future.

Readers' choice: GreenStreet Cafe

NaiYaRa's cuisine takes inspiration from Thailand's street vendors, who sell everything from skewers to noodles. The food is bright, delicious, and spicy — bold curries are toned down with hits of lime and coconut. The restaurant also serves fresh sushi and crudo flecked with gold flakes. But the main reason NaiYaRa is so damn busy every night is because of its chef/owner, Piyarat Potha Arreeratn, better known as Chef Bee. Like his namesake, Bee buzzes around the room, flying from the kitchen to the front of the house, stopping at table after table to speak with patrons and explain the origins of what they're eating. Thai beef jerky ($15) and Chiang Rai curry ($22) are likely recipes passed down from the chef's family back home. Don't be surprised if he asks to take a selfie with you as if you were a celebrity — to Bee you are. Speaking of celebrities, look around the room, and you're likely to spot famous athletes or chefs — many of whom are already regulars even though NaiYaRa has been open for only six months.

Readers' choice: Joe's Stone Crab

Your meal at Fooq's begins as soon as you enter — the scent of saffron and cinnamon entice and welcome you. The menu is a mix: Italian and American favorites are featured, but go with the Persian dishes that celebrate owner David Foulquier's roots. Persian lamb shank is served with spicy harissa hummus to get you hot, and herbed yogurt is there to cool you down ($46 for two). Or opt for the soul-soothing khoresh of the day. This simmering Persian stew could be made with lamb, chicken, beans, or any combination. It's a universal comfort food made exotic with fragrant herbs. Vegetarians' best bite, however, is an entrée of tahdig — crisp Persian rice "jeweled" with dried fruits, served with seasonal vegetables and pomegranate molasses ($26). Whatever you do, save room for the Persian sundae ($12), made with saffron and rosewater gelato, topped with halvah, dates, and chocolate pearls. It's the Middle Eastern version of an all-American kitchen-sink ice-cream treat — but with elegance and a touch of the exotic.

Readers' choice: Zuma Contemporary Japanese Cuisine

New restaurants sprout across Wynwood almost as fast as the art on its walls change. But as Wynwood flourishes into a mecca for food, drink, and art, it's time to give a shout-out to the restaurant that has continued to mature in the ever-changing and constantly growing district. It's kept its quirky charm and flavorful food consistent since opening more than five years ago. It's easily considered the area's quintessential meeting ground, and that's not because it shares the same name. It blends everything the arts district has become known for in a medium-size courtyard space. Wynwood Kitchen & Bar offers affordable Latin-American tapas-style cuisine, including ropa vieja empanadas, lemon-pepper calamari, roasted beets, shrimp ceviche, and 48-hour crispy pork ($15). It features a large bar space, with more than 40 international beers and a bevy of wine and spirits too. And, most important, it's situated amid a handful of murals, letting diners eat in the center of what makes Wynwood one of the most innovative areas in the nation.

Focaccia is pretty much served as an appetizer at every Italian restaurant and used as bread for sandwiches. Chances are you've had it a thousand times. Only you really haven't had focaccia unless you've been to Riviera. The small restaurant serves authentic focaccia from the Liguria region of Italy. The best way to describe this fiendishly delicious Genovese treat is to liken it to devouring a dreamy, cheesy cloud. This true version is a work of Italian craftwork. The secret? Two thin layers of dough are filled with imported stracchino cheese, which is flown in weekly from Italy. Order it as is ($17), or have it topped with all manner of Italian goodies such as prosciutto, speck, or sliced tomatoes for a nominal added cost. If you find it in your heart to share the focaccia and have room, try one of the half-dozen house-made pastas, such as pansoti al pesto di maggiorana, made with pine nuts, marjoram, and Parmigiano cheese pesto ($17), with a glass of wine. Dig into the steaming bowl of simple yet satisfying pasta as you fantasize about quitting your job and eating your way through Italy until your money or stomach runs out.

Readers' choice: Michael's Genuine Food & Drink

See Marion in the morning for a buttery croissant and a steaming café au lait. Return a few hours later, grab a seat on her sun-soaked patio, and watch the crowds go by as you sip white wine and nibble on a towering platter stuffed with half a lobster and a half-dozen each of oysters, shrimp, clams, and mussels ($59). Then, after the sun sets, find yourself back in the warm embrace of her gilded dining room draped in palm fronds. Dangling amber lamps and bronze cookware provide the backdrop for her pièce de résistance: a rotisserie chicken ($42) made in the kitchen under the watch of Michelin-pedigreed Jean Paul Lourdes. It's a crisp-skinned and juicy-fleshed treasure. Preparation is a lengthy process: Birds are pumped full of a sweet-salty brine and then gently roasted for an hour and a half. The mound of plump marble potatoes resting beneath them bastes in the bird's drippings to become rich and creamy. Finish things off with a scoop of homemade ice cream ($2) from a rotating selection that has included Valrhona chocolate and fresh mango, and spend your final waking hours dreaming about doing it all over again.

There is a French restaurant in Hialeah. Believe it. But just because Sandy Sanchez and Benoit Rablat's La Fresa Francesa Petit Café serves crepes and steak-frites doesn't mean it can't pay homage to the neighborhood. In fact, it does just that with the appropriately named Un Cubano in Paris ($9.75). A pork shoulder is soaked in milk, rubbed with garlic and paprika, and plunged into white wine for four hours. Once the meat is appropriately softened, it's shredded into silken threads and piled along with pickled red onion and creamy Dijon mustard onto a fluffy roll from Los Angeles' La Brea Bakery. Is it pan con lechón? Not really. Nor is it an archetypal French sandwich à la croque-monsieur. It's a beautiful example of the magic that can happen only in "La Ciudad Que Progresa."

South Miami's Station 5 has made a name by serving junk food. Regulars clamor for the short-rib tacos ($12) that are braised in red wine and malta for six hours before being cooked sous vide for another 12. They're topped with a rich gravy and then — wait for it — a smattering of Cheetos. Goofy, yes, but clever. The cheesy snack food adds a fantastic crunch and a tart taste. And Station 5 has sold tens of thousands of this dish. But finger food isn't all this quaint haunt does well. Crisp malanga chips can be loaded with tender smoked shrimp flecked with cilantro and jalapeño ($14). Meanwhile, a slow-cooked pork shoulder ($21) straddles Cuban and Southern sensibilities with black beans steeped with salty ham served alongside rice and wilted kale. All of this excitement draws a crowd. And, unfortunately, that means a wait. Again, the unexpected is a good thing. Now you have some time to slurp down a tumbler full of Boodles gin fortified with smoked honey and ginger ($13). It's perfect for cooling down.

Readers' choice: Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar

Corsair, tucked away in Aventura's Turnberry Isle Resort & Golf Club, is Scott Conant's Italian, Mediterranean, and American blend of garden-to-table dining. Menus vary based on the season, but a mix of light and airy with hearty and savory remains constant through heat waves and cold fronts. Dishes range from simple — like white bean soup with rosemary oil; roasted beets with whipped goat cheese; and gnocchi with pomodoro — to more intricate and inventive, like mac 'n' cheese with bacon, short rib, and wild mushroom; braised lamb shank with arugula-mint pesto; and broccoli rabe and sausage with red chili flakes. Be sure to order a side of Tuscan fries, which fuse crisp and fluffy into each golden-brown bite. Though dinner might fall on the pricier side, with dishes averaging about $20, the flavor, along with an atmosphere that's quaint and quiet compared to Conant's Scarpetta in SoBe, is worth the splurge.

When it comes to chicken wings, be like Galileo. Sure, the Italian thinker was castigated by the Catholic Church for claiming the Earth orbited the sun. But he was right, and he changed science and mathematics forever. Kindly remind your friends from Buffalo of this convenient fact the next time they claim anything other than their fried hometown wings are tops. Sports Grill's special grilled wings ($10.99 for ten) are the new truth. These are dipped in a slightly sweet, peppery sauce and then grilled. Yes, grilled. The wings take on the crispness of a fryer, only these are freckled with char, which imparts a touch of smoke. Finally, they take a quick rinse in some piquant, umami-laced Worcestershire sauce to add a layer of complexity. Buffalo be damned.

Fried food that's healthy for you? Yep, that's falafel! OK, it may not be the healthiest (because fried), but considering a scale that includes deep-fried Oreos, you have hit gold. At Miami Squeeze, an open-air eatery right off the railroad tracks on West Dixie Highway, Leron Shaaltiel and his crew have mastered the recipe to get crisp shells and soft, grainy interiors. What's inside? A mix of chickpeas, cilantro, garlic, parsley, and spices. Slather on some homemade sauce — oh, and there are many, from tahini and garlic dill mayo to curry and tzatziki — and they're ready to go! Eat these Middle Eastern treats in a salad ($8.95), pita sandwich ($7.95), or wrap ($8.95) or by themselves ($5.95); then wash them down with juice. After all, this place is called Miami Squeeze. So pair healthy eats with healthy drinks and choose from an array of wheatgrass concoctions and fresh-squeezed juices that go for $5.95 for a 16-ounce cup and $24.95 for a half-gallon. Here's to eating and squeezing your way to health! Miami Squeeze is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Francisco Anton's arepas are hidden treasures scattered throughout the menu inside Calle Ocho's Cardón y El Tirano. A troupe of them lines up in his arepitas ($11), waiting to be topped with the supple, salty white cheese called queso guayanes, followed by clams, mussels, tiger shrimp, and a dollop of avocado cream. They were also the foundation of his mariscada ($45); though no longer on the menu, the standout featured nearly a half-dozen of the neat yellow corn rounds sitting under succulent langoustines, heads-on shrimp, and fried squid — along with sofrito and guasacaca for dipping. There's no secret here. Like all others arepas, they're made of cornmeal, salt, and warm water. But unlike so many that are heated and scored on a griddle, these are plunked into Anton's vat of hot oil. Like magic, the insides fluff up like cumulonimbus clouds as their shell hardens to a crisp yellow crust. The only trick is making them stay out of your mouth.

This neighborhood taqueria has quickly become a Wynwood staple since its December 2014 opening, attracting hoards of hungry, Mexican-craving eaters to its quaint, artistically driven spot. Coyo Taco prides itself on being the freshest Mexican street food around, making it affordable, fast, hearty, and, most important, delicious. Guacamole is smashed to order, ingredients are locally sourced, and tortillas are made from scratch. Though the menu is taco-driven, the eatery lets diners convert taco orders into burritos, salad bowls, and burrito bowls. Menu items range from $3 to $12 and include unique ingredient pairings such as chicken and roasted pineapple, crispy duck and serrano salsa, and quinoa, queso falafel, and cucumber pico. Make your Coyo experience boozy by visiting the backroom; it hides a small bar that offers more than 50 tequila varieties.

When you imagine a burrito, don't limit yourself to a traditional tortilla-beans-meat-cheese concoction. At downtown's Burrito San, the classic Mexican dish is fused with a sushi concept to create the burrito-roll, a fist-size bite that you never knew you needed until now. Ten rolls, priced between $9 and $12, blend grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and a bevy of spices and sauces to create the ultimate burrito mashup. Guest favorites include the Buddha's Belly ($9.50), which combines roasted portobello mushrooms, crunchy eggplant, avocado, shredded carrots, organic greens, and garlic miso sauce. There's also the Mt. Fuji ($12), which uses raw tuna, avocado, crunchy wontons, masago caviar, and mango sauce. Or try the Filipino Breakfast ($10.50), which mixes braised pork, scrambled eggs, roasted garlic cloves, pickled onion, organic greens, and banana ketchup.

Readers' choice: Coyo Taco

"Hey, Ketchup, it's me, French Fries. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. It's been a crazy week of cutting, blanching, soaking, and frying. Yeah, I'm crisp, but is it worth all that effort? The guys at Neme Gastro Bar seem to think so, but I don't know. Anyway, I miss you. I miss us. I hope I see you soon."

"French Fries, French Fries? FRENCH FRIES? Oh, man, you need to hear what happened. There I was, chilling in the refrigerator, just being tangy, kind of sweet, mostly red. It was just another day. Then I smelled it — the unforgettable aroma of beef fat. And you know what happened? The bastards whipped it right into me. At first I was like, 'Whoa, this can't be kosher,' but then something changed. I was smoky. I was meaty. I was salty. I became the kind of ketchup I always wanted to be. I know things have been rough lately, but give Burger a call and let's all get together ($18). They're not going to believe what they taste."

Not to be dogmatic, but there are only a few ways to make a cheeseburger. The bun must be soft. The meat must be fatty and freshly ground; that way, the patty can be grilled medium-rare, giving it the color and juiciness of a peak-season strawberry. American cheese is the preferred choice. Cheddar doesn't melt right. For you aristocrats, blue cheese or pepper jack will do, but seriously? Danny Serfer's dry-aged cheeseburger at Blue Collar ($17) is his homage to the comforting excess of Americana, and it blows the roof off every category. The Portuguese muffin, sort of like an English muffin for the uninitiated, is bulky and tender enough to sop up the juices that pour out of a patty fashioned from prime New York strip. The kitchen is even magnanimous enough to let you have cheddar if you like. But don't, please. Get your burger with American so you can sink your teeth into perfection.

Readers' choice: LoKal Burgers & Beer

Nothing makes the steamed buns and skinless dogs at this Westchester institution sing like Arbetter's special chili. It's a bean-free creation, in true Texas form, with just the right amount of smoke and spice and a tinge of the tomato tang. Get a cup of it ($2.52) to take home. Here's a list of potential creations: scrambled eggs and chili, chili mac 'n' cheese, chili-smothered corn on the cob, chili cheeseburger, chili chicken hero sandwich, spaghetti and chili, chili tacos, chili nachos, chili enchiladas, chili-filled tamales, shrimp stewed in chili, chili sloppy Joes, and chili-topped meatloaf. Good luck getting the recipe. It's been a closely held secret since Arbetter's opened in 1959. (The eatery moved to the its Bird Road location in the early '70s). Make sure you stock up each time you visit, because anything is possible with a cup of Arbetter's chili in hand.

They come from Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and Boynton Beach — all for Terry Watts' cooking. When he first lit a grill more than two decades ago, he never thought he'd be "world-famous" as so many of his regulars now proclaim. He did, however, know he'd be called Mr. Boneless. As a lifelong Liberty City resident, Watts was no stranger to barbecue. It was a weekend staple. He eventually became one of the countless vendors plying grilled fatty meat on neighborhood street corners. But his was different. Watts had the good sense to liberate racks of ribs ($12) and chicken ($10) from their bones, making it easier to wolf down the succulent meat painted with his sweet, tangy barbecue sauce. It soon became a hot commodity, and legions tracked him down each weekend, hungry for a taste of Mr. Boneless. His phone was inundated with text messages. "Where you at?" was their battle cry. He silenced them all nearly a decade ago, when he opened an eatery inside a burnt-orange building guarded by a charcoal grill where all the meat is cooked. The hours vary, but the surest way to know Mr. Boneless is open is the smoking grill and the line stretching out the door.

Readers' choice: Shorty's Bar-B-Q

You'd expect to find genuine barbecue-pit baby-back ribs and juicy, tender brisket at Uncle Tom's BBQ, but there's one item on the menu that tends to get overlooked, and it's what you need to be eating right now: Uncle Tom's stuffed mac 'n' cheese. Not really stuffed per se, this plate of gooey goodness is served as a casserole-like platter, drizzled in a sweet-and-tangy barbecue sauce with your choice of meat (pulled pork, pulled chicken, or bacon for $10.95 or rib meat or brisket for $12.95) and just the right amount of cheese. If you prefer your mac 'n' cheese plain and on the side ($4.95), though, Uncle Tom's offers that too. But no matter which plate you choose, your taste buds will bask in the pure cheesy glory.

Esther and Clemente Palmarola opened a restaurant on NW Seventh Avenue in 1961 as a catering kitchen turning out boxed lunches for newly arrived Cuban immigrants. A decade later, they sold it to Pablo Suarez Sr., who kept the place mostly the same until the 1980 riots. Then more African-Americans began moving into the working-class neighborhood, which was previously dominated by Cubans. Many wandered into Esther's each day, wondering what smelled so good. Hence, the take-away business was born. Soon it became Miami's go-to spot for heaping, hearty portions of soul food. These days, Suarez's sons, Tony and Pablo Jr., oversee two restaurants — another was added in 2001 a couple of miles from Dolphin Stadium — where you can get fried fish and congri ($5.99) or the Cuban oxtail stew called rabo encendido ($14.97) with a heap of macaroni 'n' cheese. In the morning, there are scrambled eggs, buttery grits, a biscuit, and a choice of bacon, sausage links or patties, or ham ($4.29). For lunch, the sprawling steam tables are cleaned and reloaded with juicy palomilla steaks ($7.50) and meatloaf ($6.20) that can be accompanied by everything from black beans to stewed okra and tomatoes. What's not to love?

This Coral Way spot is confusing in the best sort of way. Step inside the sprawling space festooned with menacing bull silhouettes, and you're faced with two menus. On one, choose from a lineup of Indian classics like chicken korma ($15) and lamb rogan josh ($17). On the other, find an extensive array of Spanish favorites. But as you decide whether you want your tortilla filled with shrimp ($9) or jamón y queso ($5), don't forget to order the chorizo croquetas ($1 to $1.25). Each fat, crisp cylinder overflows with a creamy filling that can only be described as meat frosting. The savory, salty pork is the first thing to smack your palate. Then comes the salt, followed by intense smoke and spice courtesy of plenty of paprika and garlic. The rich béchamel tempers and ties it all together. This sets you up for the next bite — or maybe more of that rogan josh.

Jimmy Carey's heart is made of mofongo. Sure, the food at his growing list of Jimmy'z Kitchen restaurants spans American, Spanish, French, and Nuevo Latino dishes, but it's the Puerto Rican chow that has his ticker's rhythm. And from the panoply of platos puertorriqueños, it's that savory yellow/green plantain mash that really has the beat. You can find it at the Wynwood, Brickell, and Pinecrest locations throughout the week. There are so many selections. Perhaps you want your chicharrón-studded dome encircled by shrimp ($17.50) in a tangy creole tomato sauce. That same sauce spices and sweetens the starchy mass. But if you choose mojo roast pork ($17), the combination of the sour-orange marinade and the pig's savory juices softens the mofongo into an ultra-savory pile of decadence. Think of it as ice cream — some days, you want sprinkles; others, you want fudge. No matter how you dress it up, it's something you crave everyday.

Tripe is the food of poverty, desperation, and white-knuckled survival. But like so many unappealing cuts, it has been a focus of chefs who aim for the delicious. And at Cliff's, honeycomb tripe and fat butter beans ($5.50 at lunch, $10.43 at dinner) morph into something magical, urged on by enough pungent masala powder and enough ginger, garlic, and scallion to test the will of even the most dedicated curry fiend. The mixture is similar to that used in the curried goat. It could be considered the perfect hangover chaser or the ideal meal to wash away the memory of a rough day. There's nothing like it, and no dish in town comes with more bang for your buck.

Angel Torres' customers devour about 200 pounds of juicy pork a day, most of it in the Butcher Shop's pan con lechón ($2.99/$5.99). But that's not what makes this dish so addictive. It's the loaves of bread he constantly proofs and bakes in a sweltering kitchen where huge vats of black beans and yuca bubble away. Here's what happens: You place your order, and a mountain of glistening pork is spooned on top of the bread. Next come a few shards of crackly pig skin. Then it's to the griddle. Here's where the magic happens. The crust of Torres' bread is crisped into an impossibly thin wafer that somehow supports all the porcine delights. Each loaf soaks up the sandwich's juice along with as much of the tangy "mojito" sauce as you can squeeze out of the bottle. The magic continues after you've finished, when you find yourself back at the counter, begging for a sandwich to-go.

There's a reason Chopped judge and celebrity chef Amanda Freitag told New Times this place is her first stop when she lands in Miami. El Mago de las Fritas is casual and family-owned, with more than three decades of legacy. This spot does classic dishes best, especially the beloved frita, which is how owner Ortelio Cárdenas earned his nickname of "El Mago," or "The Magician." Cárdenas is 77 years old and handcrafts the patties himself. His fritas are perfectly sized, impeccably juicy and flavorful, and lack the grease that taints some Cuban burgers. Though he keeps his seasoning and sauce recipes a secret, Cárdenas is eager to share the renowned finished product, which sells for only $3.50 each. Miami has lots of options when it comes to this local staple, but choose the spot with the magic touch. El Mago de las Fritas is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. till the last customer leaves.

Most early mornings, a line of bicyclists snakes out of Oasis Café, a hole-in-the-wall Cuban cafeteria in Key Biscayne. It's one of the first stops on the Key. But the place is not just named after its beachside luxury — it's a beacon of hope, serving affordable and quality Cuban food to Key Biscayne's affluent residents. The empanadas here are the best in their class. A crisp shell gives way to a doughy center, oozing traditional fillings: cheese and onion, spinach, chicken, or beef. For bicyclists and beachgoers alike, this empanada is the handiest option, packing home-cooked flavor into a compact half-moon.

At this Little Haiti commissary and walk-up window, three pieces of fried chicken with a little plastic ramekin of searing pikliz are yours for $2.25. How do they do it? By using drumsticks, the most cost-effective and flavorful morsel the bird offers. That's the way it's been for nearly two decades for Kernizan Philias, who opened the place in the late '90s with his family. The recipe is simple: skin-on bird and hot oil. But the combination is a kind of immaculate conception. The chicken's skin bubbles and crisps and tightens into a crunchy shatter that you swear is triple-breaded. But it's not. This is what happens when you apply the ingenious method of making griot — Haitian fried pork — to chicken. Call it voodoo. Call it simple genius. Whatever you call it, don't forget the $1 side of crisp plantains.

Readers' choice: Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

It used to be that hamburgers got to have all the fun while hot dogs watched from the sidelines. But that was then, and this is now, and ketchup, mustard, and relish are no longer the only ways to jazz up a frank. At 41st Street Deli, the King Dog ($12, not on the regular menu) features two all-beef hot dogs accessorized with fatty beef bacon and served on a warm and crispy French baguette with a side of sauerkraut. The baguette makes all the difference, and naturally, two juicy dogs are better than one. Despite its name, this miniature kosher deli is tucked away in an alley running parallel to the main thruway, behind Ocean Bank. Practically everything is made in-house, and the pulled brisket sandwich is the most popular item ($16). The well-seasoned meat is braised for 12 hours and comes packed onto a hot baguette. It doesn't need any accoutrements, but you won't regret adding guacamole, mustard, and sriracha. Your best plan of action is to bring a friend and share the King Dog and pulled brisket sandwich. It's a win-win. Seriously.

Visa-O1's owner and head pizzaiolo, Renato Viola, is proudest of the thin pie sprinkled with Gorgonzola, honey, coffee grounds, and spicy salami ($16.90). Yet the 34-year-old presides over a stable of stunning creations that put all of Miami Beach's gummy, industrial-tasting versions to shame. His masterworks are star pizzas that come flecked with spicy salami ($14.90) and a vegetarian iteration layered with paper-thin shreds of eggplant and zucchini. The crusts are folded back and filled with milky ricotta that leeches onto the pie as it crisps in an imported Cuppone oven. This pie's roots trace to an epic international pizza-making competition. It was 2008, and Viola scrawled the recipe on the back of a cocktail napkin: mozzarella di bufala, an ultra-dense dried salami, porcini mushrooms, and the smoked-and-dried mozzarella called scamorza. It bested 10,000 competitors to ultimately take home the prize at a bake-off in Monaco. But you don't need to be royalty to try Viola's master creation. You can even eat it leftover for breakfast.

Readers' choice: Steve's Pizza

You would never guess that Miami's best tapas restaurant is located in one of its most oft-forgotten culinary neighborhoods. But this nearly 20-year-old restaurant, sandwiched between Goodwill and Tony's Banquet Hall in a nondescript Hialeah shopping center, is Miami's Spanish crown jewel. At La Taberna de Ignacio, a no-frills, dimly lit, cavernous den frequented by old Cuban families, patrons like to start with aceitunas alineadas ($3.95), an unusually diverse medley of olives lightly dressed and sprinkled with chili flakes, before moving on to the pulpo a la gallega ($11.95), the ultimate test of a tried-and-true tapas bar. Ignacio's octopus is served piping-hot — perfectly tender, lightly boiled, and drenched in extra-virgin cold-pressed olive oil smothered with paprika and coarse sea salt. If you're in the mood for something heartier, La Taberna de Ignacio offers an array of traditional Sevillian dishes, including a seafood paella for two ($18.95 per person). Wash it all down with a $25 bottle of house rioja. Hours aredaily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

It's difficult to find a bad bowl of pho. Many restaurants make the steaming-hot soup well, but few take advantage of its full potential. Basilic Vietnamese Grill is definitely one of the select restaurants doing authentic pho in an authentic way. It begins with a complex and tasteful broth that sets the tone. Deep flavors circle your taste buds as your lips and teeth dive into perfectly cooked noodles and meats of your choice. You can get chicken, beef, seafood, oxtail, and duck. Thinly sliced onions, bean sprouts, and other vegetables are piled high in Basilic's oversize bowls. Each ingredient plays a role, and all complement one another. Together, they form the most satisfying bowl of pho in Miami-Dade. Prices range from $10.50 to $16.

The words "sushi" and "food truck" don't seem to fit together well, but they sure do at Myumi. That's because sushi master Ryo Kato handpicks only the freshest fish daily, and serves it omakase-style, meaning chef's selection. Diners only get to choose their beverage and if they would like eight or 12 courses ($40 or $60). There are no faux-crab rolls here, simply pristine seafood on a bed of rice. And speaking of rice: Kato trained under Kazuo Yoshida from Brooklyn sushi spot 1 or 8, and it took the young toque a year to receive his master's approval of his rice. Dinner here lasts an hour, and there are only six barstools along the truck's counter, so prepare to get well acquainted with your seatmates. There's also a chance you may leave Myumi slightly hungry, but good news is the owners plan to open a brick-and-mortar location in the very near future and will offer a more extensive menu. It can't come soon enough.

Readers' choice: Pubbelly Sushi

At Coya, the stunning Peruvian spot from Zuma restaurateur Arjun Waney, there's an entire ceviche bar. Diners can grab a seat at the counter and marvel as the chefs make tiraditos, sushi, and, of course, ceviche. There are seven varieties of ceviche at Coya, including one with sea bass, slivers of red onion, sweet potato, and crunchy white corn. The base is a deliciously pungent leche de tigre, or tiger's milk, the Peruvian term for the citrus-based marinade used to cure the seafood in a ceviche. Called the clásico, it's perhaps the most Peruvian dish on the menu, and the pairing of sweet and acidic flavors is flawless. There's also a Chinese-inspired yellowfin tuna ceviche in soy sauce with sesame seeds and a rice cracker. Nothing cutting-edge here, but this raw dish is fresh and vivid. Running the kitchen is Sanjay Dwivedi, a chef whose London restaurant, Zaika, in 2001 became the first Indian eatery to earn a Michelin star. Dwivedi says the best way to experience Coya is via its $95 tasting menu, offering a half-dozen courses. Otherwise, ceviches and small plates average around $12, while main courses are in the $30 range. Gourmet food — especially raw fish — doesn't come cheap, but Coya's fare is well worth the price.

Readers' choice: Cvi.che 105

Garcia's is that quintessential Miami place where almost every Cuban can claim six degrees of separation: Maybe your dad used to sell his weekend Bimini catch to its picky owners, or your cousin David got on his feet as a waiter after landing in Miami from Havana. Garcia's is such a Miami institution that even the staunchest of developers wouldn't dream of tearing it down. The Miami River Landing is completely revitalizing the area around Garcia's historic riverside location, but this seafood restaurant and raw bar is here to stay. For more than 40 years, Garcia's has served the freshest local seafood at reasonable prices — even the stone crab is often served slightly below market value. From high-end to low-key, traditional favorites such as conch fritters ($6.95) and fried dolphin fingers ($10.95) are served alongside chilled oysters ($10.95/dozen), buttery shrimp cocktail ($7.95), and stone crabs (MP). Best of all, Garcia's famous fish dip is always a crowd pleaser, and it's free with your meal. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

When Captain Jim's Seafood Market Restaurant opened in 1995, only in-the-know locals flocked to the West Dixie Highway storefront for wholesale prices on fresh seafood selections from South Florida waters. Years later, the tide continues to roll into this North Miami mainstay. You can dine in on rotating daily catches that are filleted, fried, grilled, or broiled. Or you can cook a boat-to-table meal. Captain Jim's expert chefs and staff gladly offer tips and tricks on preparation. So take your time perusing freshly shucked oysters, stacked kingfish ($8.99), yellowtail snapper ($9.99), mahi-mahi ($9.99), and tuna ($21.99). It's all sold by the pound. But the main draw is the mouthwatering stone crabs (MP) that you can dip, drench in melted butter, or slather with Captain Jim's signature mustard sauce.

You don't take a shopping list to a proper farmers' market. You take your dog, your kids, or a cup of coffee. Why? Because at a proper farmers' market, the farmers — those all-too-rare souls whose sweat and love till and coax magic from the land — are the ones who know what you'll eat. These are the folks you'll find every Saturday at the Upper Eastside Farmers' Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. What might be Miami's smallest market includes some of the area's finest products. The good folks from the Urban Oasis Project are on one end, tempting you with purple mustard greens and plump plantains. Their table buckles under a massive foraged jackfruit that might've crushed some unlucky passerby had it not been plucked from its tree. Across the way is Little River Cooperative, where frisée, French breakfast radishes, and napa cabbage practically leap off the table and into your arms. Out of nowhere, the recipes begin creeping in. A few days and some salted shrimp will turn that cabbage to kimchee. Slivers of that jackfruit might go well with whatever fish looks nice at Casablanca. The market has become your shopping list, and life is about to get a lot better.

There are those who love Whole Foods Market and those who hate it. But folks who think the latter simply don't know what they're missing. For example, Whole Foods makes some of the best wood-oven pizza around, and its prepared food buffet is impressive in terms of both scope and taste. Further, the supermarket chain is committed to teaming with artisans in every location to support local communities. Thus at various markets in the 305, you can find Zak the Baker bread, Jugofresh stores within a store, sushi made by Miami-based Sushi Maki, and a plethora of other local goods. And though prices here are certainly higher than those at conventional grocery stores, it's comforting to know Whole Foods won't sell anything that has artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, or hydrogenated fats. What's more, the company has an in-house product line called 365, which has a lower price point than most brand names. The employees are just friendlier at Whole Foods, and there's always ample outdoor seating for shoppers to enjoy their purchases.

Little River Cooperative's fingerprints are all over town. From the garden at 27 Restaurant & Bar to the menus of Miami's finest restaurants, you've likely enjoyed Muriel Olivares and Tiffany Noe's handiwork without knowing it. Yet the heart of their operation, an urban farm, beats for you. It's the community-supported agriculture program that each year, from November through April, puts fruits and vegetables on tables across the community. One week it's blossom garlic chives, dinosaur kale, and dandelion greens. Another it's tat soi, lemongrass, and cilantro. All of them are grown by hand. That means Olivares and Noe's Biscayne Park farm is carefully weeded and tilled. When it's time to harvest, it's down on all fours. This is why so many people pony up anywhere from $500 to $700 to secure their goods each year.

Each day before dawn, Argentine cheese man Bruno Ponce and a skeleton crew arrive at his petite North Miami shop, Mimmo's Mozzarella, to plunge dozens of blocks of Wisconsin curd into piping-hot water. Then come hours of pulling and stretching the softened cheese into milky white lobes of mozzarella and burrata. Some are wrapped in cheesecloth and hung to dry until they become the aged version called scamorza. The vast majority of them used to be shipped out to Marky's Gourmet, the Biltmore Hotel, and Miami Beach's Juvia. But in 2015, Ponce converted his once-barren storefront into a quaint café. Here, you can order a cheese board for two ($25.99) piled high with a mozzarella pinwheel filled with basil and speck, salty ricotta salata, and homemade ricotta. Figure out a way to stop by weekly. Grab a cheese board for a quick lunch and some extra for the fridge.

Patrick Rebholz is a master of meat. The chef who presides over Quality Meats Miami Beach, an import from New York, transforms all manner of cow and pig into otherworldly creations with little more than salt and time. He has offered smoked soppressata and calf's liver mousse. There's cured foie gras torchon and sausage infused with Cigar City's beloved Jai-Alai IPA. Try one, if you possess such self-control, for $7. Or give in to your desires and splurge on the $36 "bouquet" that offers a bite of everything. The latter is served on a suave lazy Susan decorated with house-made pigs in blankets, duck bacon, and merguez-spiced prosciutto. And this is just the setup. Once Rebholz is done wooing you with all of these intensely flavored bites, he still has a cooler full of prime beef ready to fire up and launch across your bow.

On a busy night, Perricone's becomes a waiting room for the main dining area, but don't underestimate this gourmet shop. It's a specialty Italian grocery plus a catering service, infused with the sophisticated yet casual atmosphere of its restaurant counterpart. More than 100 types of domestic and international wines line the walls, and Italian delicacies, from prosciutto to veal parmigiana, are perched in glass cases. Owner Steven Perricone played a big role in pioneering the Brickell dining scene when he opened the restaurant/marketplace in 1995 before the area underwent gentrification. More than 20 years later, Perricone's Marketplace & Café still provides high-quality cuisine and everyday convenience. "It appeals to people on the go, and it's more full-service," Perricone says of the concept, "so it hopefully services more people's needs." Specials change daily, but comforting favorites such as lasagna ($14.95) and homemade gelato ($3.95 for a single scoop) are staples. The market opens at 7 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends. The restaurant operates Sunday through Thursday until the last seating at 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday till 11:30 p.m.

Do yourself a favor and invest in a good mother-of-pearl spoon. Why? The pricey little utensils are a must-have if you plan to savor even the least costly caviar. See, when a place serves you an ounce of the finest beluga or osetra roe with a dainty silver spoon, the easy-to-tarnish metal may impart a tinny flavor to your fancy eggs. But not mother-of-pearl. Now, with the proper tool in hand, you're ready to decide whether you want to drop $63.83 for a half-ounce of olive-black Kaluga Fusion Gold or an eye-popping $140 for the same amount of Russian Reserve osetra. If caviar isn't your guilty pleasure, Marky's Gourmet has every other stripe of sinful indulgence. Want a whole duck foie gras from Hudson Valley Farms? Yours for $148.78. A pound of dried French morel mushrooms? That'll be $266.50. Perhaps you're less flashy and like to cloak your refinement. For that, just go for one of Marky's fine cultured French butters. They're only about $20 a pound.

Mall food courts get a bad rap. At their worst, they bring us back to the dreaded days of mysterious cafeteria food served on plastic trays from questionable kitchens. But at their best, they provide convenient, flavorful cuisine that fuels shoppers without interrupting precious browsing and buying time. The ideal mall food court should have a pleasant dining atmosphere, a convenient location, and a diverse selection of price ranges and cuisines. Dolphin Mall's food court hits all the marks, offering everything from a full-service Italian kitchen and hibachi eatery to fast-food classics such as Burger King and Starbucks. Head to Texas de Brazil for a full steakhouse experience, and finish off the meal the traditional food-court way with self-served frozen yogurt from Yogurberry. Even the sit-down options have quick service and an affordable price range, leaving maximum time and money for your true mall motives.

Homemade hummus. Freshly baked pita bread. Straight-out-of-the-oven baklava. Ali Aziz has been hooking up Miami with fresh Middle Eastern goods for almost 40 years. And from the second you open the door to this Coral Way hole-in-the-wall, you'll be enthralled by the smell of exotic spices and Aziz's famed pita bread, which he claims to be the best in the nation. But you'll find more than yogurt drinks, sesame seeds, olive oil, and even hookahs at the Middle East Best Food. If you stick around long enough to spark conversation with Aziz, he'll likely tell you the story of how he got his start in the 1950s working as a baker at the Hotel InterContinental in Jerusalem. Though his Miami place is not a restaurant per se, you'll find a table at the entrance where you can enjoy a small plate of tabbouleh salad ($3.50), a shawarma sandwich ($10.95), or kibbeh ($1 each), all made by Aziz. So if you're looking for ingredients to make your own falafel or craving Middle Eastern sweets, the Middle East Best Food market has your back.

Bradley Kilgore has been searching for a unique cuisine his entire life. It began when he tried to make brownies out of a Betty Crocker cookbook and accidentally replaced salt with sugar. It continues today at Alter, his casual yet ambitious Wynwood restaurant. It's upending the Miami dining scene partly because of Kilgore's relentless dedication to well-sourced, humble ingredients such as chicken, leeks, and mushrooms. They're spiced, smoked, blanched, vacuum-packed, emulsified, cooked sous vide, and then whimsically arranged into delicate, edible artworks. You don't want to demolish them, but you can't help it. So how much should all of this cost? According to Kilgore, it's $30 or less. That may be steep, but not as astronomical as some of the Michelin-starred shops where he trained. Instead, Kilgore looks to bring Miami's most exciting food to the people. There's no need to wait for a special occasion.

Readers' choice: Adrianne Calvo of Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar

Fluid gels and foams are nice. But sometimes you want a good old-fashioned sugar bomb, no frills or xanthan gum included. So you turn to Joshua Gripper, Miami's sheikh of sweets, who has the ability to transform even the coolest diners at the Dutch into sugar-buzzed toddlers. He does it with slices of pie ($12) filled with salted lime custard, warm figs and apples, and banana cream. Sometimes Gripper unpacks a Boston cream doughnut and encases the buttery cake in vanilla custard ringed by macerated blueberries. Other nights, he may send you home with coconut-cream dreams. If there's no pie in your eye, don't worry. Gripper's extensive resumé includes work at two-Michelin-star restaurant Oustau de Baumanière, DB Bistro Moderne, Butter, and Café Boulud. He can turn out the elegant, buttery French cookies called palmiers with ease and then pair them with the best churros and funnel cakes the city has ever seen.

When Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth left for the bright lights of New York City, Miami culinary fans let out a collective sob. After all, we lost two wonderful young chefs in a single flight north. As expected, the partners (in business and in life) opened Root & Bone in Manhattan's Alphabet City neighborhood and were swiftly the talk of the town for both their sweet tea brined fried chicken and their megawatt personalities. The only drawback to the couple's success was the fact that Miamians had to take a flight for a meal. Fortunately, McInnis and Booth have returned to Miami with not one but two restaurants. Their Sarsaparilla Club at the Shelborne serves American dim sum and a tangy, Asian-inspired fried chicken, and the pair plans to open a seafood restaurant — complete with a sunset deck — in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood. Talk about a homecoming!

It's been a big year for foodstagramming, which made the competition in this category fierce. Yet when it comes to photos worth ogling, @fatgirlhedonist is queen. This mouthwatering feed shows off the city's scene in true Miami style: lighthearted and unapologetic, with a touch of Latin spice. The Hialeah-born woman behind the account isn't a local chef or big-name restaurateur; her posts are motivated purely by a passion for all things culinary. Yes, there are some shameless promotions from time to time, but the page features a wide variety of eateries and maintains just enough down-to-earth feel. Because the Fatgirl Hedonist Instagram and blog are operated by an average foodie, they feature uniquely honest commentary, including an "I Wouldn't Go There if Were You" list. Feast your eyes, but be warned: This Instagram is guaranteed to induce some serious cravings.

Rather than wasting time saying this restaurant's quirky mouthful of a name, let's get straight to the point: It's an internationally inspired joint open daily at 11:30 a.m. (Sunday at 11 a.m.) that offers an elevated, open-air experience in Mary Brickell Village. Yes, it is located in the old Firehouse Four building. Yes, it's only two stories. Yes, you still get stunning views despite its stature. No, it's not expensive. Long story short, Miami needs more places like Dolores, but You Can Call Me Lolita. Stylish, chic, and affordable is a triple threat. Choose the prix-fixe menu, priced from $19.99 to $32.99, which gives you an entrée and an appetizer of your choice. Start with the serrano ham croquettes or the vegetable spring rolls; then go for the applewood-grilled boneless short rib ($26.99) or pan-seared Chilean sea bass ($32.99). Inhaling all of this fresh air during lunch and dinner will make you thirsty, so Dolores has wines and specialty cocktails lined up and ready. Sigh. If only Dolores were a real person.

The second outpost of Stephen Starr's beloved Continental is straight out of AMC's hit show Mad Men. Sure, Starr's first great success was born in Philadelphia, but at the one in Miami, you'll feel like you're walking onto the set of that episode where protagonist Don Draper decamps to California. This acid trip back in time comes complete with a dining room crowned with fake plants, filled with brightly colored Formica tables, and servers donning chic poolside attire. And, ah, the menu. It's a throwback to an era when world cuisine was just beginning to blossom. The Hong Kong Fooey ($20) is a play on Chinese kung pao that offers enough sweet to balance out the spice. The same goes for the lettuce wraps ($30), which let you roll up funky Korean spicy chili paste and pickles with some sweet juicy skirt steak. There are plays on every stripe of cuisine, with nods to Jamaica, Mexico, and, of course, Cuba. Though most places in Miami Beach make eyes roll with exorbitant pricing and faux ambition, there's only one type of roll here: It's an homage to the Continental's birthplace, and it's a deliciously greasy cheesesteak wrapped in an egg roll ($17).

The problem with seafood is that it's usually not decadent enough. Sure, a piece of broiled grouper is good for you, but it's got no "it" factor. Enter Izzy's Fish & Oyster, the South Beach restaurant that takes its cues from New England clam shacks, where all manner of residents of the sea are either fried or cooked with heavy cream and butter. Take, for example, Izzy's warm lobster roll ($28): The meat of an entire lobster is drenched in lobster butter and placed on a pillowy toasted white-bread roll. Not enough sin for you? Go for the lobster poutine ($18) — a bright-yellow skillet filled with waffle fries, lobster, cheddar sauce, and bacon. For a taste of the sea, order a dozen fresh oysters ($38) or fried clam bellies (MP), boasting a juicy brine that pops in your mouth. Now that's a meal fit for King Neptune.

Restaurateur Michael Mina may be based in San Francisco, but he still knows what Miamians want in a steakhouse — restrained opulence that enhances rather than competes with the expensive cuts of beef you're about to masticate. Stripsteak shares a home base, the Fontainebleau Hotel, with the restaurateur's Michael Mina 74, but consider this place 74's more sophisticated brother. Leather booths and copper light fixtures give the room a warm glow, which is welcome after walking through the neon-tinged and cacophonous resort lobby. Relax and take a moment to enjoy the warm truffle-scented Parker House rolls as you peruse the extravagant wine list. Stripsteak is not the place to go on a fixed budget, but if you're game to splurge, the evening is well worth it. Steaks with pedigrees so long they might have had bovine ancestors on the Mayflower are poached in butter and finished on a wood-fired grill. Choose from all-American Angus beef from Moyer Farms ($44 to $118), or break the bank with Japanese Miyazaki Prefecture steaks, priced by the ounce. If for some reason you saunter into this palace of beef with seafood on the brain, fret not. The restaurant offers seafood caught on the resort's own daily charter boat, BleauFish. Stripsteak ain't cheap. But memories — and a butter-poached piece of perfect beef — can't be judged by the price tag.

Readers' choice: Prime One Twelve

When it comes to sitting and being fed into a happy stupor, the Vagabond Restaurant & Bar has it down to a science. First there's the venue itself. Rather than bulldoze a historic property, a time machine to the past, developer Avra Jain restored the Vagabond Hotel to its retro glory. Venezuelan-born Alvaro Perez Miranda outfitted the interior as an ever-hanging art gallery filled with furniture that perfectly captures midcentury designers' obsessions with the future. And the restaurant, overseen by wunderkind Alex Chang, is even more eclectic and spectacular. He has paid homage to Miami with a sweetbread milanesa that sees the milky glands crisped and served with added flavors of mustard and ham, incredibly replicating a Cuban sandwich. He uses tropical fruit with gusto, preserving young mangoes in salt to put his own spin on Japan's umeboshi. But it's not all ephemeral, intellectual cuisine. The young chef began his career cooking for friends in his college apartment. Cheeseburgers were a mainstay, and they still are. Except here, the cheeseburger's ($16) beef is dry-aged and the pickles are house-made. It's proof the Vagabond will delight you no matter what you're looking for.

Nino Pernetti's Italian hideaway in Coral Gables is like something out of a movie. The stained Tiffany-style glass dome covering the bar looks like it was rescued from a Parisian bistro during World War II. And the servers — oh, the servers. It's like they know your deepest desires. "You look like a 7 and 7 guy," one might say before laying a napkin in your lap and handing you an open menu. They seem to know the exact moment you and your table have decided on your meal. They're right there, pen and pad in hand. "Try the vitello tonnato ($12.75)," they say. And before you know it, the Piedmontese classic of sliced veal accompanied by tuna-infused mayonnaise is one of your new favorites. It makes sense, though. Few of Pernetti's waiters have been with him for less than a decade.

Readers' choice: The Forge

Gregory Pugin wants you to order his 11-course tasting menu. Sure, for $195 per person, it's expensive, but it's also the one where the young chef can express himself and experiment to the fullest. And you should let him do so. Why? The James Beard Foundation nominated him as a rising star. He trained under French culinary icon Joël Robuchon. Before he moved to Miami, he was a member of Robuchon's special forces, deployed around the world to oversee the openings of the chef's latest Michelin-starred spots. And here in Miami, he hasn't let up. That's why one meal could range from potato-scaled Dover sole with Jerusalem artichokes and artichoke emulsion to a flamed black truffle pie packed with pork belly and slow-cooked onions. And don't forget — this is the Biltmore Hotel. All of this comes with white-glove service.

There's so much to love about Dirt, not the least of which is that no single item costs more than $16. Such prices are rare in South Beach, especially when you consider Dirt isn't serving just run-of-the-mill fare. Indeed, this fast-casual concept is committed to offering clean food that's locally sourced whenever possible, and best of all — it tastes amazing. That's largely because the restaurant's director for culinary operations is Nicole Votano, a classically trained chef who was the top toque at Fooq's, where she garnered praise for her comforting yet chef-driven cuisine.Dirt has four menus: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and Paleo, but most dishes are built around vegetables and allow for a choice of protein. A favorite is the nourish bowl ($12), starring quinoa, sprouted chickpeas, lentils, roasted curried cauliflower, caramelized onions, roasted red pepper, golden raisins, shaved carrot, mole vinaigrette, and cucumber-mint yogurt. Throw in some orange-basil chicken, and call it a very healthy day.

Readers' choice: Batch Gastropub

Anytime restaurateur Arjun Waney is involved in a project, the decor is always impeccable. He's the man behind Zuma and Coya, and to open Tamarina, he teamed with husband and wife Tunu and Yona Puri. The upscale coastal Italian restaurant was designed by London-based David d'Almada and includes a beautifully landscaped wraparound terrace with views of Brickell Avenue. The dining room is outfitted with sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains, cinnamon-hued leather wingback chairs, a high ceiling, and a crystal centerpiece stocked with hollow glass decanters and carafes. Elegant dark-wood furnishings are paired with brass accents and antique mirrors to conjure the spirit of Italian glamour. And for emphasis, black-and-white Italian films are displayed on a massive projector. Order tagliatelle with lamb ragu ($23), followed by a grilled or salt-crusted branzino ($45); then sit back and take in the surroundings. Or stop by any Sunday, when there's a $45 all-you-can-eat brunch buffet with a side of live music.

No more pho. No more rolling cakes. No more lemongrass chicken, and no more bun thit. Miami's insatiable real-estate steam roller flattened Little Havana's beloved Hy Vong, but not its owners' spirits. For nearly four decades, Tung Nguyen and partner Kathy Manning ran the quaint, bamboo-lined space, serving intensely flavorful, heartwarming fare that could brighten even the gloomiest day. Nguyen fled war-torn Vietnam in 1975 with little more than family recipes etched into her memory. And for 36 years, the product of her great spirit came flooding out of Hy Vong's humble kitchen spiked with fish sauce. Regulars, after getting their fill of pho, knew to order the squash-and-pumpkin soup layered with flavor and spice. The depth and variety of cooking was what made Hy Vong such a treasure. It is now lost to the ages.

Not only is Soya e Pomodoro a delicious and authentic Italian restaurant, but it also offers one of the most unique dining atmospheres around. Owners Rosario Magrelli and Cristian D'oria left Italy with a Miami culinary career in mind, opening the downtown eatery in 2004. Nestled between two rundown watch repair stores, it's the kind of place where passersby stop to peer in and ask, "What is this?" The narrow interior looks like a combination of a thrift store and a Venetian coffee shop, lit almost entirely by sun that streams in through a floor-to-ceiling window. The open space, adorned with knickknacks and items such as clothes on a laundry line, creates the privacy and serenity of an Italian alleyway. The vintage aesthetic makes this restaurant distinct among Miami's ultra-contemporary buildings. Between the decor and the live music, this place is perfect for everything from a leisurely lunch to a hot date. A meal at Soya e Pomodoro is more than intimate — it's personal, and feels like you're eating in an Italian family's home. The restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and serves dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 6 to 11:30 p.m.

This new-age-meets-retro corner diner comes to life at night, catering to the after-hours crowd with all of the deep-fried, over-the-top, indulgent fare Miami craves. Located across the street from Story Nightclub on Collins Avenue, Big Pink has become a South Beach destination that buzzes through the early hours. Thursday through Saturday, the restaurant is open until 5:30 a.m., and clubgoers pack into shiny, old-school plastic booths. The menu is equally exciting and overwhelming, with more than 200 items that include virtually every dish imaginable, ranging from tamer late-night classics such as cheese pizza ($12.95) and patty melts ($14.50) to outrageous signature creations like the mac 'n' cheese waffle sandwich ($12.95) and bacon-wrapped barbecued meatloaf ($16.95). The big portions and big flavors have been attracting rowdy crowds for more than 20 years, and frankly, a meal at Big Pink is a party in itself.

Readers' choice: La Sandwicherie

In an area that's dominated by construction and busy offices, Seaspice is an elegant oasis. The extensive menu is globally influenced but seafood-focused, and the atmosphere feels like an upscale island vacation. Right beside the Miami River, guests can dine on plush couches shaded by overhangs in the daytime and surrounded by twinkling lights and candles at night. The indoor areas, including a spacious dining room, are housed in a renovated warehouse that gives an edgy touch of elegance to the nautical theme. The restaurant is inherently romantic and provides the tranquility of outdoor dining away from the crowds at more popular hot spots. The warm breeze off the river makes executive chef Angel Leon's ocean-inspired place even more pleasing and the meal's hefty price tag a little easier to take. Seafood standouts include the Chilean sea bass casserole ($45), presented in a charming cast-iron dish on a bed of thinly sliced Yukons, topped with a pâté-like mixture of truffles and porcini mushrooms. Enjoy waterfront luxury at Seaspice — no yacht required.

Readers' choice: Rusty Pelican

Every now and then, it's important to get away. If jumping on a plane doesn't sound realistic, sneak away to Palmeiras instead. This restaurant and beach club is located a quarter-mile off Coconut Grove — and can be reached only by crossing a bridge. What makes this spot so special is its dynamic, Mediterranean-inspired menu paired with sweeping, unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay. The menu, crafted by former Seaspice chef Alfredo Alvarez, highlights Spanish, French, Italian, and Greek influence with dishes such as wahoo crudo drizzled in tangerine vinaigrette, and red wine linguine in truffle oil, a must-try for first-timers here. Prices range from $12 to $32, but plates can easily be shared among two or three patrons. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, both with picturesque views in the most peaceful atmosphere. After your meal, take advantage of the resort's amenities to justify the restaurant's prices.

Lavish decor, low lights, and romantic Italian cuisine. The Delano's resident restaurant, Bianca, gives diners a break from South Beach craziness for an evening of luxury and flavor. Chef de cuisine Jason Bamford, who joined the restaurant more than a year ago, has developed a menu featuring simple yet innovative plates with bits of sexy and savory along the way. Menu items include steak tartare ($24) with lavender and bone marrow, bigeye tuna pizza ($26) showered in a light truffle oil, branzino ($44) served with roasted potato and herb salad, and a variety of pastas ($25 to $45), including a risotto of the day, a unique creation crafted by Bamford. Plan to dine slowly to take advantage of the eatery's seductive and swank atmosphere, and pair dinner dishes with wine and cocktail selections presented on an in-house iPad. The restaurant offers a Sunday-brunch soiree too, adding a Mediterranean and boozy flair to the age-old meal with a buffet, drink selections, and a DJ.

When Scotty's Landing, the cozy outdoor restaurant in Coconut Grove, closed its doors in 2013, our hearts mourned. It was the charming spot for Grovites, tourists, and locals from across the county. But in late 2015, the space underwent minor restorations, got a new name, and — bam — we had Grove Bay Grill. Despite the changes, it still feels like the same old home away from home — or rather, backyard away from your backyard. (It's a new idiom — just go with it). White plastic chairs and flimsy tables are crammed beneath a wooden roof. And while the random guitar player sings strange cover songs from the '80s, the sound of barks and woofs and heavy breathing fills the joint. Careful where you walk, or you might just trip over a water bowl. At Grove Bay Grill, the pups — of all shapes and sizes — are treated just as well as the human guests. "Another Blue Moon for me and some water for Itchy," you tell your server. And right away, she returns with a refreshing bowl for your lapdog and gives Itchy a good scratch behind the ears. On a weekend afternoon, it's not unusual to see a dog curled up under nearly every table. The place may have a new name, but your friends will still text you to meet at Scotty's Landing for drinks Sunday afternoon. Don't forget your pooch.

When it comes to dumplings, Sang's is king. On weekends, you'll find a ravenous crowd of fanatics. And the dim sum is anything but standard. Sure, the tender, translucent-skinned har gow — shrimp dumplings — ($3.35) are pristine, but it's the hard-to-find other options you want. Litter your table with dishes filled with pyramid-shaped spinach dumplings ($2.95) dotted with cubes of slightly bitter bamboo shoots. And don't miss the springy beef balls wrapped in tofu skins ($2.75) or the crisp, pan-fried noodles tossed in XO sauce ($8.50) that take on an intense umami funk thanks to plenty of dried scallops. Finish with a sugary pineapple bun ($2.55). Yes, in Hong Kong, people use them for a sugar jolt to start the day, but here there's nothing wrong with using them to put you in a food coma all afternoon.

Apeiro Kitchen & Bar is named for the Latin word for "infinity," which also happens to be the amount of praise deserved by its lunch special. There are an uncountable number of options and pairings, with no plate exceeding $15. From bacon-wrapped dates ($9) to Moroccan-spiced chicken wings ($12) and forest mushroom flatbreads drizzled in truffle oil ($14), the midtown eatery offers choices galore. Portions are large, with plates like a lamb burger ($15) with tzatziki sauce and feta cheese or a prime rib gyro ($14) with shredded romaine and tomato bound to keep you full until happy hour. There's a ten-for-$10 menu too, where dishes such as chicken kebabs, crisp eggplant pitas, lamb sliders, and curry chicken salads are offered for $10 flat. Even with a drink, tax, and tip, this midday meal can be had for less than $20.

What do you get when you cross Miami's most beloved and creative pastry chefs with an innovative expert on savory stuff? You get a Miami win. Bachour Bakery + Bistro just opened and is already serving lunches that are both delicious and gorgeous. Chef Henry Hané is in charge of the savory side, and his dishes include gazpacho ($9), which is made creamy with olive oil powder and garnished with edible flowers that provide a fresh bite. It's vegan, but you'd never know it. A slaw consists of a rainbow of fresh veggies on a bed of carrot-ginger purée ($14), and a smoked salmon tartine ($17) is garnished with roe, crisp capers, and egg snow in a tribute to the iconic lox and bagels. The only warning is to save room for dessert because Antonio Bachour's creations are simply out of this world. A one-person mojito cake ($7) starts with mint cake and lime mousse, topped with Bacardi rum gelée. There are also macarons and Nutella croissants and freshly baked bread to take home — everything almost too beautiful to eat. Get over yourself and demolish these exquisite offerings. This art was meant to be viewed — and then consumed.

Both a shrine to the Miami Dolphins and to sliced deli meat, the Football Sandwich Shop has been churning out sports-themed sammies since 1972. Subs on amazingly soft hoagie rolls are named after players and positions. Think of it as a sportier version of New York's Carnegie Deli and its famous Woody Allen sandwich. Instead of a nosh named for a comedian, go for the the Zonker (or simply the #39), named for Dolphins running back Larry Csonka. It's piled high with ham, salami, and provolone, and at $6.29, it's large enough to feed a professional athlete. Other sandwich tributes include the Submarino ($8.79) and a turkey sub named for Mercury Morris ($8.69). Although not named for a Dolphin, the Superstrami — a hot sub filled with what seems like 20 pounds of pastrami, turkey, Swiss, tomato, and Thousand Island dressing ($10.49) — is one hearty meal. Add a side of homemade macaroni salad ($1.70) for a touchdown of a lunch.

Thanks to people like Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Liam Hemsworth, the prestige factor of a plant-based diet has seen a surge in recent years. (When Queen Bey gets onboard, everyone straps on their stilettos and follows suit.) Full Bloom, with its waterfront view and impossibly colorful, internationally inspired menu, might be Miami's Sasha Fierce-worthiest eatery. Owned by three passionate, gracious Italian gentlemen — with utterly charming accents — this elegant Miami Beach establishment was made for the sexy, the fashionable, and the Instagram-famous. Try the rich, savory cheese platter ($20.50); the fresh, spicy wasabi ginger nori rolls ($16.50); the buttery cashew ricotta and spinach ravioli ($24); and the decadent mocha salted caramel chocolate lava cake ($13.75). Gaze out at the glistening bay, dive headfirst into cruelty-free cuisine, and see and be seen alongside Miami's most compassionate, well-heeled residents. Vegan or meat-eater, you'll find lots to love here. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. weekdays and noon to 11 p.m. weekends.

Decades before hummus became as American a condiment as guacamole or salsa, the Oriental Bakery & Grocery was serving the chickpea tahini treat in South Florida. The Middle Eastern market off Coral Way goes at least as far back as 1954 (though one of the store's workers believes a version of the business began in 1939). Past the aisles of za'atar and jarred olives is a lunch counter serving food prepared onsite. You can have the hummus generously dabbed onto a falafel or shawarma sandwich, but it is flavorful enough that you will demand to take home a container of hummus to spread on loaves of bread or use as a dip for chips or carrot sticks. Made fresh every day, it sells for $6.99 a pound. You'd be wise to take them up on a sprinkling of olive oil and paprika on top.

Eating cow's flesh might be an American tradition, but when you consider the added hormones, fats, ammonia, and antibiotics common in a standard meat patty (not to mention it's literally a corpse) — the McDonald's-esque burger of yore doesn't sound so appetizing. Enter Plant Theory's sun burger ($14). This raw (yes, raw) alternative is everything that dead food isn't. Nuts are soaked and sprouted and then mixed with carrots, sweet peppers, beets, celery, and fresh herbs. The patty is dehydrated, turned, and dehydrated again (call it the raw, vegan alternative to flipping a burger). The result is piled onto onion flax bread; layered with cashew mayo, sprouts, and supergreens; and served with a fresh, crisp salad on the side. It's surprisingly filling and teeming with necessary nutrients — your bod will thank you for the boost. Sure, it's a nontraditional burger choice, but this is the year of the underdog.

According to the original bestseller, humans once lived in a glorious garden. As the story goes, our svelte progenitors roamed the verdant landscape, coexisted with animal friends, and ate from lush, bountiful fruit trees. There were no stoves, chemicals, or heart disease. If anything in real life approaches this paradisiacal paradigm, it's Matthew Kenney's Plant Food + Wine. In a quiet corner of Wynwood, this sleek, sprawling eatery is tucked into the aptly titled Sacred Space. Complete with a reflecting pool, towering trees, and minimalist decor, it's an oasis. Here, the plant-based cuisine is impossibly colorful, delightfully fresh, and wildly creative. Try the kimchee dumplings wrapped in emerald-hued spinach paper ($15); the spicy hearts of palm salad with leche de tigre and choclo (Peruvian corn) ($16); the crisp, flavorful zucchini lasagna ($22); and the tangy starfruit tart with macadamia mascarpone ($14). Eat all you want — plants are the ultimate diet food. Clearly, Adam and Eve were onto something. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If your workday menu looks anything like the average Miamian's, it probably goes something like this: cafecito, pastelito, colada, Cuban sandwich, café con leche. That's why the 305 is in desperate need of a siesta come 3:05. Instead of putting yourself to sleep (and gaining an unpleasant paunch), opt instead for life-affirming superfoods for lunch. At downtown's light and airy Manna Life Food, your food pyramid is the rainbow itself. Start with an iced lava latte, complete with golden masala mylk, cacao mojo mylk, vanilla zen mylk, and cacao matcha fudge ($8.50) — far from the average Starbucks swill. To fill your rumbling tummy, select a fresh avocado arepa with spiraling chimichurri and hemp hearts ($8); a power-packed red quinoa bowl with raw falafel, red pepper hummus, and açaí pickles ($11); or a colorful tofu nori wrap with edamame, bell pepper, carrots, coconut brown rice, and pad thai dressing ($9). To salve your sweet tooth, dig into the nana ice cream with banana cream, peanut brittle, cacao nibs, and cacao matcha fudge ($5.50) or the pecan protein square with peanut butter, almonds, oats, vanilla protein, date caramel, and dark chocolate ($6). After lunch, your co-workers will wonder what's gotten into you. Your answer: nutrients. Duh. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Exhausted from partying too hard? Head to Dr Smood and order anything with a blue label on it. The color is associated with food and beverages that boost your energy. Examples include the organic kale salad and gluten-free oatmeal. Complexion seem a bit dull? Look for a pink sticker denoting beauty. According to Dr Smood's team of researchers, a cucumber, celery, and grape juice should do the trick. The name "Dr Smood" actually stems from the words "smart"and "food," and the company's slogan is "smart food for a good mood." That's why every item sold is color-coded based on six health benefits. The healthy fast-casual concept opened its flagship in Wynwood at the end of 2015 and is expanding rapidly. Dr Smood is, above all, a lifestyle brand built around nutritious food and a sleek appearance. Thus, you can officially enjoy your dairy-free coffee and raw, vegan pastry in a seriously stylish space.

For a city where people obsess over achieving bikini-ready bodies, Miami certainly lacks great salad spots. Giardino is the exception, with salads made to order in hearty portions from exceptionally fresh ingredients. The dressings and toppings are crafted in-house and available in premade combinations or customizable versions. Giardino has more than a dozen locations around South Florida, so a satisfying lunch is never far away. But don't be mistaken — this isn't some big Saladworks type of chain. It was opened by a former teacher and her firefighter husband in 2004, and the two have maintained a menu of wholesome food.Favorites include the Tropical ($6.95) and Thai Thai ($8.95) salads, but Giardino's variety of add-ons and toppings creates myriad options, so mix and match to your healthy heart's desire. Giardino's hours vary by location.

Once upon a time, all food was organic. This sounds like the title of a new Netflix documentary, but it's actually the motto for Organic Bites, a socially conscious eatery in the MiMo District. Located next to Karma Car Wash, this spot differentiates itself from the competition by offering food that's 95 percent organic. What's more, nothing on the menu exceeds $14, and there's plenty of meat on there too. Try chef Gonçalo Costa's signature burger topped with caramelized onions and smoked truffle mozzarella on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries ($14). It's not particularly waist-friendly, but it's bursting with flavor. For something lighter, the grain salad featuring quinoa, spinach, mango, and black beans is hearty and healthy. ($11). Organic Bites serves breakfast and lunch daily and dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The place gets packed during lunchtime, so be sure to show up early to snag an outdoor seat on the secluded terrace.

Smoothies are a dynamic beverage. They can be indulgent and rich with peanut butter, healthy when mixed with protein powder or kale, or simply restorative, made of açaí berries and freshly squeezed orange juice. The guys at Smoothie Spot & Healthy Food in a tucked-away Kendall strip mall understand this dynamism. They offer a series of classic house blends, such as the exotic and refreshing "Passion Blast," made with maracuya, pineapple, kiwi, vanilla protein, and milk ($5.34). But more adventuresome smoothie drinkers can create their own blend from an extensive tableau of ingredients.

Everyone, from your doctor to Michelle Obama, says "eat the rainbow." To most people, that phrase suggests either downing a bag of Skittles or imagining kids ingesting unicorn poop in that Squatty Potty commercial. Eating the rainbow actually refers to consuming colorful fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients, and Della Bowls makes it easy to eat healthy. The food truck, conveniently parked at the Wynwood Yard, serves customized bowls ($9.50) where you start with a base of brown rice, quinoa, or greens and then add a plant-based protein like tofu, chickpeas, or tempeh; veggies; and sauce. For the undecided, there are house favorite bowls like Southwest, curry, or Mediterranean. The result is a tasty, nourishing, and surprisingly filling meal that's colorful and good for you. Look at you scarf down a day's supply of vegetables like a champ. Then comes dessert. Owner Della Heiman's sweet treats are indulgences that even the cleanest eater can allow. Gluten- and processed-sugar-free, these treats totally qualify as health food. There're the chocolate and vanilla macaroons, circular pillows of shredded coconut, maple syrup, and sea salt ($4); the delightfully spicy almond butter cups — like raw, vegan Reese's with a fiery kick ($4); the light, crunchy almond butter and coconut lime granola bites ($4) — or the fresh twist on a banana split, where the fruit is pressed through a juicer into a smooth, creamy treat ($4.50). Pick your pleasure, grab a seat in the sunshine, and feel good about your food choices. Eating clean never tasted so spectacular. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

Readers' choice: Ms. Cheezious

They came quietly, those Pubbelly Boys. In November 2010, partners Andreas Schreiner, Jose Mendin, and Sergio Navarro opened Pubbelly, a small pork-centric, Asian-inspired gastropub on the quiet, west side of South Beach known to locals as Sunset Harbour. The restaurant quickly built a following for its seemingly perfect menu of pork belly dumplings, pork belly mofongo, and the McBelly, a pork belly slider. As an encore, the trio opened Pubbelly Sushi and then Barceloneta on the same block — essentially monopolizing Sunset Harbour and turning it into one of the hottest dining destinations in Miami Beach. The three even opened a media group to handle both their own branding and that of outside clients. Of course, there have been glitches, with the closing of a few restaurants along the way. What makes these Pubbelly Boys special is that when there's a bump in the road, they dust themselves off and go forward, learning from their mistakes. In the past year, they collaborated with Norwegian Cruise Line to open Food Republic on the Norwegian Escape, where diners order dumplings and noodles from iPads while at sea. The guys also just opened their first restaurant on mainland Miami — PB Station — along with their first cocktail lounge. These boys might have come a long way from one tiny restaurant in SoBe, but their hearts — and their dumplings — are always firmly planted in Miami.

MC Kitchen chef/owner Dena Marino is obsessed with tomatoes. Look in the kitchen and you'll see a giant white bowl brimming with her favorite heirloom varieties. This is important to note, because MC Kitchen's bloody marys are made with the juice of these fine specimens. You'll find no Zing Zang or McClure's mixes behind the bar. MC Kitchen's bloody ($11) is a properly simple affair. An old-fashioned glass is filled with ice and a generous pour (one might say a pour and a half) of Tito's vodka. Then a lemon is juiced in the glass along with a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Chef Marino's freshly squeezed tomato juice is added. The final touches are black pepper and green olives. That's it — no bacon or shrimp or celery or drink umbrellas. Turns out a good bloody mary needs none of those accessories. Coco Chanel famously said everyone should remove one accessory before leaving the house. She would approve of this classic cocktail.

There are two kinds of food when you're hangry and drunk — soothing and fried. Luckily, Coral Gables' Ichimi serves both of your inner lushes. If you're the kind who wants the culinary equivalent of mom tucking you in with an aspirin and a hug, you need a steaming bowl of ramen, and you need it now. Ichimi Ramen has the cure for what ails you. The Coral Gables restaurant makes its own noodles with a dedicated machine that can pump out up to 200 servings per hour. Those noodles are served in a hearty stock. The veggie ramen, for instance, is served in a dark mushroom sauce with a bit of dehydrated pepper to give your senses a gentle boost back to reality ($19). When only a fried-food binge will sop up the excess alcohol, order Ichimi's chicken wings and the fried oyster buns (three for $12) with yuzu pepper aioli. There — you knew a human was still lurking in that booze-addled, dehydrated shell.

Sure, we have palm trees and the ability to wear bikinis year-round. The flip side, however, is the radioactive-intense sun and 99 percent humidity we get during Miami summers. And it's a good day when we're not being carried off by some tropical storm. So when the mercury hits 90 degrees, get thee to Drinkhouse Fire & Ice. Before you even walk inside, your core temperature seemingly drops at the sight of the cool blue lighting and pictures of what looks like a snow queen. Inside, you'll don a faux fur coat and hat before walking into what looks like a meat locker. Surprise! It's like being inside the Disney movie Frozen — except with cocktails! Sidle up to the ice bar (made of ice) and order a shot of vodka or a cocktail — served in a glass made of (what else?) ice. Sculptures change colors to the music, bathing you in a sea of frozen green and red. Admission to the ice bar costs $17 ($34 includes two drinks), and it's recommended you stay no longer than 45 minutes before your pampered Miami blood can't take the 23-degree freeze. But, oh, how delightful those 45 minutes in a crystalline wonderland will be.

Ocean Drive is perhaps the most touristy strip in all of Miami-Dade, but there's something to be said about being a tourist in your own city. (The hashtag #ilivewhereyouvacation was created for a reason.) But in a sea of overpriced drinks, Mango's Tropical Café reigns supreme. And because of its Tropicana vibe, the drink of choice here is the mojito, which come in 19 varieties. However, stick to the classic, because the mixture of muddled mint leaves, sugar, lime juice, rum, and a splash of soda is magical and doesn't need any bells or whistles. And the price, $12.25, is comparable to drinks on either side of the causeway. For an extra $3.50, you can sip that mojito from a souvenir hurricane glass so you can remember your staycation after the 15-minute Uber drive home.

Readers' choice: Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

Although owner Eddie Leon and brewers Michael Demetrius and Piero Rodriguez have been making beer for quite a few years, it's been just one year since the company's taproom opened to the public. While most Miami breweries chose Wynwood as their operational hub, Leon picked Doral, which has turned out to be one of the fastest-growing cities in Miami-Dade. Call it foresight or luck, but the move worked well. His taproom is so busy that it's already too small. Leon is planning a mega-taproom and brewery expansion. When complete sometime this summer, the brewery will have 21,000 square feet of space, with 1,700 square feet devoted to the taproom. Expansion means more amenities, such as a full bar featuring beer and craft cocktails, a kitchen serving food, and space for private parties. Leon has always been innovative, starting his own distribution company and then signing with Cavalier Distributing to expand his beer's scope. MIA has always made great beer with an eye to the tastes of its home city. Now, with an expanded taproom and distribution options, the sky's the limit.

If you want to tap into the best beers, you'd best go to the source — Wynwood. There's no denying that this artistic neighborhood is the epicenter of Miami's brewing scene. It also stands to reason that Wynwood has a kick-ass beer bar. Don't go to Boxelder seeking a massive 30-page binder full of beers — do you really need to peruse thousands of artificially flavored fruit beers? Instead, you'll find a well-thought-out selection of about two dozen beers you want to drink. The selection rotates, so check the TV screens, which list each beer available that day on tap, along with a description, price (usually $7 to $11), ABV, and which glass will be used to serve it. Selections from local breweries such as J. Wakefield and MIA share the board with beers from California and Colorado — after all, there's a big country to explore one pint at a time. If you can't make up your mind, just ask the person sitting next to you. The room is always filled with lively chatter about hops and malt. If you fall in love with a particular brew, Boxelder also sells growlers, so you can sip your favorite in the privacy of your own porch or balcony. With a food truck usually parked in back and a convivial outdoor area, it's a great place to hang out. Put your feet up and order another. The beer is cold, and the atmosphere is warm.

Martinis are both cocktail and lifestyle. As such, they must be respected and enjoyed. This is not a drink to be guzzled from a red Solo cup while Anthrax plays on the juke in some crummy dive bar. For a proper experience, grab a seat at the Traymore Gin Bar. A soothing nod to Miami Beach's art deco era, the room features silver tones, and bottles of gin are the main decoration. Your bartender greets you with a warm welcome, along with shiny platters of assorted nuts and olives. Ladies are offered freestanding racks for their handbags alongside their barstools. Though there are other cocktails, you're here for a well-crafted martini. Order it dry or dirty with blue cheese olives ($15). For a true experience, select a special spirit from the bar's collection of more than 30 gins from around the world. As you sip this elixir of the gods, Sinatra croons softly as palm trees sway gently outside. This is as far from downing hootch in a red Solo cup as it gets.

Readers' choice: The Capital Grille

Tom Colicchio isn't just any celebrity chef. The multiple James Beard Award winner also holds an Emmy for his work on Top Chef and is heavily involved in social and political activism, especially on issues such as GMO labeling and the use of antibiotics in our foods. It stands to reason, then, that his Miami Beach restaurant, Beachcraft, sources only the best produce for its kitchens. This fresh and local mentality also works its way onto Colicchio's bar menu. The drinks use fresh fruits, herbs, and flowers to create unique and delicious cocktails. The cocktail menu changes with the seasons to use what's fresh, such as a bright Jalisco Kiss, with tequila and juniper-rose water syrup, ($15) and a Where There's Smoke There's Fire, with rye and blood-orange juice ($16). One can't-miss is the Tom's Flip on Collins, a frothy take on the classic cocktail for which the bar is named ($14). Whatever you order, know that each drink is made with the same care that the Beard winner takes on his food menu.

Have you ever gone out for a few glasses of wine with a friend and then lamented when the check came: "I could've had an entire freaking bottle for this price!" Actually, at Happy Wine in Coconut Grove, you can get a bottle of wine for the price of a few glasses. It's a lovely old two-story house converted into a wine bar. Choose a bottle and pull up a stool made from wine crates at a wine-barrel table. If you have trouble choosing, the friendly staff will help. Though prices vary, there's a good selection of wines less than $25 per bottle from around the world. Even with an $8 corkage fee, it's a bargain. Add to this a wonderful tapas menu that ranges from a cheese board ($24.99) to fried oysters ($15.99), and live music most evenings, and you'll swear you're in some hideaway in Barcelona instead of the Grove. Happy Wine also has a well-stocked wine shop, so if you fall in love with a Barolo, you can take it home.

You stayed out too late last night and had a few too many. Now the Miami sun is burning your retinas, your heart is racing, and your skull is beating out an angry tribal message of death. You need La Perrada de Edgar's famous Colombianos — Colombian hot dogs topped with otherworldly creations. Some here are named after countries, some after owner Edgar Gomez, but none of the monikers makes sense. Take, for example, the Swiss hot dog ($6.49), topped with mozzarella, corn, bacon, pink sauce, and potato sticks (none of which Switzerland is known for), or the Super Edgar, which gets freaky by topping a dog with cheese, pineapple, blackberry, plum, and whipped cream ($6.49). Somehow it works. The seemingly insane combinations both taste great and serve a utilitarian purpose of replenishing your shriveled-up hull with much-needed sodium and protein. If you're not feeling up for an adventure, get the salchipapa — an order of fries mixed with plain hot-dog chunks ($6.99) — and you'll be feeling right in no time.

Serendipity, a hole-in-the-wall ice-cream shop in Wynwood, started out as a rogue pop-up during Art Basel 2014. Now it's a permanent fixture, which means its boozy, one-of-a-kind flavor pairings are always at your fingertips. The artisanal shop is owned by Jessica Levison, who has learned that the Wynwood area has a big appetite for alcohol-infused ice cream. She says flavors such as rum raisin, white Russian, and dark chocolate whiskey are much more popular than her nonalcoholic flavors. This has prompted her to experiment and develop recipes using local beers and spirits. She offers special-order popsicle varieties such as mojito, strawberry daiquiri, piña colada, and passionfruit vodka too. Her flagship location is in Surfside, but most of her alcohol-inspired treats are offered at her Wynwood spot.

Yo, fro-yo. Why are you so tasty? So versatile? So good at just about any time of the day? MC Hammer should've made a song about you. Vanilla Ice was on the right track. And so is Yuzu Frozen Yogurt & Crêpes (open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily except Sunday, when hours are noon to midnight). Grab a friend. Take your boo. Then head to Brickell for a healthier way to chill out. The homemade recipes are dope. Check out fresh mint, raspberry, or salted caramel. Or snag the classics: cookies 'n' cream, vanilla, and dulce de leche. Twelve all-natural rotating flavors come in low-fat or nonfat and are made with probiotics. Eat 'em how you like — by themselves or with fresh fruit and other sweet toppings. Whichever way you decide to dip, flip, or spin it, you definitely can't touch this.

Miami is a hotbed for frozen treats. Walk through any touristy part of town, and you're likely to encounter all manner of fro-yo and ice cream. Just because you want to indulge in something cool and creamy doesn't mean you should settle for anything less than freshly made and organic gelato. Federico Di Franco's family has been making the Italian version of ice cream for years. The gelato maestro brought his family recipe from Milan to Coconut Grove. And just like back in Italy, DiFranco uses only organic ingredients — antibiotic-free milk, local fruit, Italian nuts, and Belgian chocolate. Bianco Gelato also has dairy-free gelatos and granitas for vegans and the lactose-intolerant; delicious and exotic flavors include pineapple-mint and pistachio. With prices ranging from $5 for a piccolo (small) to $7 for a grande (large), it's a tiny trip to Italy with a price tag you can afford.

Angel food isn't cake, and chocolate is just too sweet. "But what about funfetti and red velvet?" you ask. Chemicals, through and through. No, my friends, it's carrot cake you want. And not just any carrot cake. You want yours prepared under the guidance of French gastronomic luminary Jean-Georges Vongerichten. At the slick-haired toque's Mediterranean bazaar tucked inside Miami Beach's Edition hotel, each slice ($8) seems as if it came straight from Heaven. Sure, the cream cheese frosting is rich and sugary, but there's an unexpected lightness, like a sweet cloud. Strands of earthy cinnamon, nutmeg, and bright-orange carrots are woven throughout each bite. Then, when you think it's all over, you get a bite of dulce de leche Rice Krispies. Soon you're texting your friends, letting them know where to get your next birthday cake.

Readers' choice: Fireman Derek's Bake Shop & Cafe

At the Coconut Grove Organic Market every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Glaser Organic Farms serves out of what looks like a nuclear-containment cylinder some of the most refreshing frozen desserts around. This ice cream is made with churned organic nut milk and coconuts sweetened with agave and dates instead of sugar. You can treat yourself to a couple of scoops without worrying about your waistline. Flavors, all of which are delicious, include banana walnut, chocolate mousse, pistachio, strawberry macadamia, and maple pecan. If you can't make it to the farmers' market, Glaser's website offers 16-ounce containers of ice cream for $12 each if you're willing to pay for UPS ground shipping and a charge for dry ice starting at $8.

For the past few years, Bunnie Cakes has challenged South Florida palates. The Wynwood bakery has a menu of more than 20 flavors of cupcake. They are baked without eggs, butter, soy, or peanuts. The kosher and vegan establishment also offers gluten-free goods. The minicupcakes go for $2 a pop. The large ones cost $3.75. They look like your garden-variety cupcakes, tucked snugly into liners and topped with a swirl of frosting, but their taste is tremendous. They offer uniquely South Florida flavors such as guava, passionfruit, key lime, and dulce no leche, along with more traditional varieties like vanilla, double chocolate, and red velvet.

Imagine a vanilla-bean popsicle dunked in milk chocolate and topped with pretzels, hazelnuts, and chocolate sprinkles. HipPOP's, a South Florida-born gourmet icy dessert truck, brings sweet and savory handcrafted popsicles using a bevy of innovative flavors, dips, and toppings. Customize yours by choosing from gelato, sorbet, or yogurt varieties in flavors such as hazelnut, pistachio, pineapple, strawberry, Mexican chocolate chip, and gianduia, a mix of chocolate and hazelnut. Then dip your stick into milk, dark, or white chocolate and choose a topping, including shredded coconut, crushed pistachios, or rainbow sprinkles. Voilà! You've created a 100 percent all-natural and gluten-free artisanal treat for $5. The truck sells POPshakes ($8) too, which transforms any pop into a shake and adds whipped cream. There's also frozen hot chocolate, which blends Belgian chocolate gelato, cocoa powder, and a dash of sea salt topped with mini marshmallows and whipped cream. The truck can be found driving around town and frequenting food truck get-togethers in local neighborhoods.

If anything is worth an extended drive south on U.S. 1, this is it. Blond Giraffe creates the pinnacle of key lime pie: heavenly peaks of meringue atop a silky pie filling with just the right sweetness-to-tang ratio, held together by a buttery crust. Owners Roberto Madeira and Tania Beguinati opened the shop in Key West in 1999 — but as a small vegetarian restaurant. When the two decided to add a dessert to their otherwise healthy menu, they called on a treasured family recipe for key lime pie. The dish became a huge hit and an overnight sensation after it beat 17 other varieties in a Key West contest. Soon, Madeira and Beguinati renamed the store "Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory." They moved to the Tavernier location in 2014. Though its bright-green walls and shack-like structure feel like a neighborhood joint, Blond Giraffe is far from a local secret. Their pie has earned repeated appearances on Food Network and acclaimed mentions in national publications, including Southern Living and National Geographic Traveler. A full pie costs $18.25 — settle for a single piece only if it's the signature frozen dark-chocolate-dipped slice on a stick ($4.95). Blond Giraffe is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ma-Ka-Rohn, an online macaron store based in Miami, is all about love. The company was created by pastry chefs Romain Montsarrat and Alexandra Moller, who continue to craft with love, using ingredients imported from France, chocolate from Switzerland, and all flavors (besides cookies and cream) made 100 percent gluten-free. In the past six years, they've traveled around the United States and France, taste-testing as many macarons as possible, fusing everything they've learned (and devoured) into 17 varieties sold online and delivered to your door. Flavors include blue vanilla, cotton candy, maple bacon, pistachio, and fruity pebble. Choose a box size or upgrade to a tower ($1.99 to $110), and because Ma-Ka-Rohn is based in the 305, snag your order within 30 minutes from its kitchen in the Miller Heights Shopping Center.

Amanda Pizarro and Andy Rodriguez love doughnuts so much that they set out to open their own craft shop, the Salty Donut. In less than six months, their small artisanal doughnut and coffee bar had taken over Miami, generating a buzz the city had never experienced. They've tapped into the hearts and stomachs of young and old sweets-lovers through handcrafted varieties such as traditional glazed buttermilk. There are savory choices like maple bacon, gluten-free versions, and even alcohol-infused treats like mimosa-style or spiked doughnut holes (prices vary). Along with Pizarro and Rodriguez, executive pastry chef Max Santiago is behind the Salty Donut's production. Each treat is made in-house from scratch, with no ingredient ever frozen. Batches are made throughout the day, ensuring freshness. There's even a good chance your sweetness will still be warm by the time you get your hands (and mouth) on it.

Most flan recipes are deeply rooted in Latin America, but at Gringa Flan, the dessert is crafted by an all-American home cook with no culinary training, simply a love of Miami's Latin flair. The result is a refreshing twist on a traditional dessert that converts even the most adamant of flan haters. Owner Jessica Welsh moved to Miami from the D.C. area more than 25 years ago and had never tried flan. She quickly fell in love with the local culture and cuisine and began baking her own version of the custard confection before opening for business. Gringa Flan incorporates coconut milk into the base for a dish that's less "eggy" and sweet, and creamier and richer than its traditional counterpart. The signature flan is topped with a golden caramel sauce and crunchy coconut flakes, but flavors continue to evolve. Options include chocolate, coffee, mango, and pumpkin. Welsh still works as a project analyst for a human resources company, but flan is her hobby and passion. She sells her treats at local markets and festivals, as well as in a shared location with Wendy's Chocolates. The flan is available either whole ($24) or by the slice ($3) — just give her a call ahead of time because each one is made to order.