La Industria photo
Audio By Carbonatix
Miami’s love affair with celebrity-owned restaurants runs deep — and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. From sleek Japanese-fusion lounges backed by global superstars to soulful Southern kitchens serving comfort food, these spots prove that Miami’s dining scene is as star-studded as its nightlife. Each restaurant carries the signature of a chart-topper, blending culinary creativity with showbiz flair in a way that feels perfectly on-brand for the 305: bold, flashy, and impossible to ignore.
But among all the high-profile openings and A-list investments, one homegrown name stands out — not because it’s new, but because it’s been quietly beloved by Miamians for decades. Below, check out Miami’s most well-known restaurants owned by celebrities.
Screenshot via Instagram/@gekko
Gekko
Couldn’t score tickets to Bad Bunny’s sold-out Puerto Rico shows this year? Gekko in Brickell is a solid backup. Opened in 2021 with nightlife operator David Grutman, the Japanese steakhouse blends club energy with serious cooking. The menu features lobster dumplings and Wagyu crispy rice, as well as the $598 “Wagyu Experience” tasting, which includes four Japanese cuts. Between the red lighting, gold-trimmed plates, and photo-ready crowd, it’s every bit as Miami as the star who owns it. Eight SE Eighth St., Miami; 305-423-8884; gekkomiami.com.
Miami Grill photo
Miami Grill
Pitbull turned nostalgia into a fast-food empire by reviving the longtime Miami Subs brand as Miami Grill in 2014. In the ’90s, no sight was more welcome among angst-ridden suburban teens than the diner disguised in neon and palm fronds known as Miami Subs. Thanks to Pitbull, the chain still delivers exactly what it always has: Philly cheesesteaks, gyros, wings, burgers, and hot and cold subs, plus shakes and fries. It’s the kind of meal that feels best eaten in your car while listening to “Fireball.” Multiple area locations, including 14001 SW 88th St., Miami; mymiamigrill.com.
Estefan Kitchen Express photo
Estefan Kitchen Express
Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the unofficial king and queen of Miami, may have closed their full-scale Design District restaurant, but their Estefan Kitchen Express inside Miami International Airport keeps the rhythm going. Travelers can grab Cuban sandwiches, croquetas, guava pastelitos, and ropa vieja bowls before takeoff. The “Cuban Party Box in the Sky,” a mix of a croqueta, a half sandwich, and a pastelito, might be one of the best deals at the airport. 1961 Miad Cir., Concourse D, Gate 27, Miami; estefankitchenexpress.com.
La Industria Bakery & Cafe
La Industria Bakery & Café
Nicky Jam’s La Industria Bakery & Café is part bakery and part brunch show. Located at Bayside Marketplace, it opens daily at 8 a.m. and draws crowds for its massive pancakes and waffles. The “Nicky Jam’s Favorite” comes covered in guava sauce, cream cheese, and graham cracker crumbs, while the Ferrero Rocher pancakes come topped with hazelnut chocolate. On the savory side, there’s the La Boricua Burger with plantains and bacon, El Fenix with slow-roasted pork belly, and a steak and eggs plate with a 14-ounce ribeye. Add a milkshake piled high with cookies or cake, and you get the idea. 401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-803-8333; laindustriabakery.com.
Screenshot via TikTok/@vibinwithleesha and @thebrowardscene
Sunday’s Eatery
Trick Daddy’s Sundays Eatery in Miami Gardens feels like a family kitchen turned restaurant. The menu features baked turkey wings, fried pork ribs, catfish, and T-bone steak, served with macaroni and cheese, collard greens, or candied yams. Sweet tea and blue lemonade flow nonstop, and every meal comes with cornbread and dessert. Trick Daddy often works the line himself, making sure the food still tastes like the Sunday dinners he grew up with. 2675 NW 207th St., Miami Gardens; sundayseatery.com.
