Michelin Chef to Open Coconut Grove Burger Joint with Cuban Flare

Since writing for New Times, I’ve been on a mission to spotlight Miami’s greatest comfort foods: the best burgers in Miami, the juiciest chicken tenders in the 305, and everything fried in between. Yet there’s one sandwich that always stops me in my tracks when I see it on a menu — the “Frita Cubana.”

What exactly is a “Frita Cubana?” Traditionally made with a seasoned blend of pork and beef, a Cuban frita is a burger-style sandwich grilled to juicy perfection, topped with crispy shoestring potatoes (papitas), onions, and finished with a smoky, slightly spicy ketchup-like sauce. All of it’s tucked into a toasted Cuban-style bun, creating a savory, crunchy, and saucy bite that’s pure Cuban comfort food. Fritas were first sold from carts around Cuba in the late 1920s, typically outside sporting events and public gatherings. When the frita made its way to Little Havana, it evolved slightly, with different-style Cuban bread, a spiced chorizo-beef patty, and that unmistakable crunch of papitas on top.

And now, you’ll be able to find this Cuban delicacy right in the heart of Coconut Grove at Michelin-starred chef Michael Beltran’s new spot, Chuggie’s.

A Menu Full of Cuban-American Sandwiches with a Twist

Inspired by Cuban comfort food, Beltran is no stranger to taking the essence of American fast food and infusing it with traditional Cuban flavors. Take, for instance, the “Frita Patty Melt” from his Michelin-recommended restaurant Chug’s Diner in Coconut Grove. A Reddit user even dedicated an entire post to the sandwich, writing, “What I love about this ‘Frita Patty Melt,’ other than how great it tastes, is that it takes two burger styles (‘Frita Cubana’ and ‘Patty Melt’) and successfully merges them into one sandwich.” 

Fans of this sando are in for a treat at Chuggie’s, where they’ll be able to order the “Chuggie’s Frita” and the “Frita Royale” (which Jules Winfield from the movie Pulp Fiction might refer to as a “Frita Royale with Cheese),” which consists of a chorizo patty, “New School” American cheese, mojo ketchup, pickled onions, and papitas. The menu also includes a couple of burgers, chicken sandwiches, nuggets, seasoned fries, and the “Happiest of Meals” for the kiddos.

Oh, and the mascot of Chuggie’s looks like a mischievous little guy who is deserving of a wedgie of epic proportions (like the one I gave my little cousin Gregory once).

The Grove’s New Burger Stop

Coconut Grove’s Fuller Street has turned into a charming pedestrian-only stretch lined with pastel-hued picnic tables and shaded sidewalks, which is the perfect setting for Chuggie’s. The new spot is located directly across from the legendary neighborhood bar Barracuda Taphouse & Grill, and is located right next door to its sister spot, Chug’s Diner.

Step inside, and the nostalgia hits first, followed by the scent of sizzling beef tallow. The floors are yellow-and-white checkered, the counters are tiled to match, and the “Refreshments” soda fountain resembles something out of a mid-century Miami postcard. The fountain machine features Maine Root drinks with generic names like lemon-lime, orange, and lemonade, flavors that sound straight out of a Marvel comic. A touch-screen ordering system keeps things moving, while a smiling, bow-tied mascot named Chuggie watches over the soft-serve machine like he owns the joint.

Inside, it’s a compact and efficient counter-service space with sunny yellow tile walls and a bright, nostalgic aesthetic that screams old-school Miami. The patio seating outside is the final piece: burgers, fries, sunshine (or clouds), and Grove locals catching up over paper trays of food. It’s small, unpretentious, and exactly what Beltran does best, honoring Miami’s past while keeping both feet planted firmly in the present.

The Menu: All Cooked Using Beef Tallow, The Old-School Way

Here’s what the menu is looking like:

• Classic Chuggie ($7.95): New-school American cheeseburger with Duke’s mayo.
• The O.G. ($9.45): Chef’s sauce, American cheese, dill pickles, shredded lettuce, and crispy onions.
• Chuggie’s Frita ($7.95): Chorizo patty, ketchup, and papitas.
• Frita Royale ($10.45): Chorizo patty, mojo ketchup, pickled onions, papitas, and melted American cheese, Beltran’s “royale with cheese.”
• Chicken Chuggie ($7.95): Fried chicken with Duke’s mayo and shredded lettuce.
• Mimi’s Sandwich (named after Beltran’s mom) ($8.45): Fried chicken with house honey mustard, shredded lettuce, and dill pickles.
• Chicken Nuggets ($6.45–$8.45): Available in four-, six-, or eight-piece portions.
• Fries ($2.95–$5.95): Chuggie’s standard fries or “The West Chugster,” a seasoned Grove-exclusive version.
• And for the young (or thrifty young at heart), there’s the Happiest of Meals ($9.95): a cheeseburger or nuggets, fries, a drink, and a kid’s prize.

Beltran’s kitchen cooks everything in beef tallow, the old-school way. It’s the kind of move that separates a forgettable burger from one that makes you want to order a second. This rich, nostalgic flavor, reminiscent of fast food abandoned more than 30 years ago, gives each bite a throwback quality that perfectly suits the restaurant’s tone.

It’s the quiet details that make Chuggie’s work. The use of Duke’s mayo, the balance of mojo ketchup, the care in how the papitas are layered — everything is deliberate but still casual. It’s fast food through the lens of a chef who actually cares about how fast food tastes.

The Details You Didn’t Know You Needed

There’s no indoor seating, so you’ll have to grab one of the picnic tables out front or enjoy your meal in the car, which honestly might be the move come the spring and summer months (right now it’s absolutely beautiful outside, which is perfect for the first few months of opening). But come summer, the Grove heat hits differently when you’re eating a hot frita, and nothing beats A/C and a head nodding playlist.

On the side hallway outside, there’s a pickup window where you can watch all the action, including a yellow rotary phone for to-go orders.

It’s the kind of place you can visit twice in one week and not feel guilty about, affordable, well-made, and rooted in the flavors that raised half this city. Chuggie’s isn’t trying to reinvent Miami’s fast food. It’s just a reminder of what made it great in the first place.

Chuggie’s. 3444 Main Hwy., Ste. 15, Coconut Grove; chuggiesmiami.com. Opening Monday, November 17.