Woody’s Famous Steak Sandwich

The lesson learned at this old-time burger stand, across the highway from Johnson & Wales University, is that “fast food” does not necessarily mean junk food. Nor is fast food always fast; you’ll wait awhile for your burger, Philly cheesesteak, fish sandwich, or sides (a large list of choices, ranging from half a dozen kinds […]

Woody’s West End Tavern

When you’re looking for a laid-back evening of food and booze, sometimes it’s best to get away from the bustle of South Beach and take a night off from hunting for parking in the Gables. Miami Springs might not be famous for hopping nightlife, but Woody’s West End Tavern offers an easygoing getaway from all […]

World Famous House of Mac

Derrick “Chef Teach” Turton graduated culinary school in 1998 but got sidelined by his other passion: music. That led to a stint managing Pitbull in the early 2000s. But Turton he never stopped cooking, and when he opened World Famous House of Mac, he discovered his true calling. Here, you will find mac and cheese […]

World Famous House of Mac

Derrick “Chef Teach” Turton graduated culinary school in 1998 but got sidelined by his other passion: music. That led to a stint managing Pitbull in the early 2000s. But Turton he never stopped cooking, and when he opened World Famous House of Mac, he discovered his true calling. Here, you will find mac and cheese […]

Xixón Spanish Restaurant

Whether you’re into almejas en salsa verde (steamed clams in green sauce), empanadas de atún (tuna empanadas), or gazpacho Andaluz (a spicy version of the classic chilled soup), Xixón Spanish Restaurant is one of the few places in Miami that serves northern Spanish fare. The restaurant opened in 2001 as a market but now includes […]

Yakko Bistro

At this izakaya in North Miami Beach, many of the best dishes begin and end in the deep fryer. Try the crispy pork onion salad, which combines savory deep-fried morsels of pork with sliced cherry tomatoes, radishes, red onions, and sprinkles of bitter watercress. Or opt for the crispy bok choy, served with a garlic-soy […]

Yambo Restaurant

This colorful Nicaraguan joint is one of those places you visit to feel like you’re on vacation even if you’re already on vacation. Yambo is as much about the atmosphere as it is about food. On the terrace, folk-art knickknacks – miniature guitars, hats, porcelain pots, even a mounted boar’s head – hang from and […]

Yard House

Everything about this place is large. There are big-screen TV sets, mammoth booths, cartoonish paintings on gigantic canvases, a colossal beer selection (110 varieties on tap), and Cheesecake Factory-size portions. Among our favorites was the spicy tuna roll appetizer ($10.95, and more like a jumbo tuna roll cake), comprising quality seared ahi, avocado, edamame, and […]

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

Yardbird’s appeal borrows from other factors beyond the buoyant bill of fare. The farmhouse decor, American blues music, and overall ambiance are synchronized with the Southern fare to the extent of enhancing the meals like some secret seasoning. Yardbird hits all the right notes with a menu of “small plates” and “big plates.” Delectable successes […]

Yiya’s Gourmet Cuban Bakery

Whenever some young, enterprising chef chooses to tamper with food basics, he or she runs the risk of popular revolt. And often the result is total failure. But now and then, a place such as Yiya’s Gourmet Cuban Bakery arrives, executing the essentials with high ambition balanced by common sense, style, and unparalleled craft. Since […]

Yoko’s Japanese Restaurant

Unlike other temples to Japanese food on South Beach, Yoko’s is a relatively humble pioneer that has consistently churned out high-quality staples such as nongreasy tempura, buttery raw fish, seared yakitori chicken skewers, and plump shrimp shumai. Come here for Japanese comfort food like fried pork katsu, barbecue eel, and heaping bowls of udon noodle […]

YOLO

YOLO stands for You Only Live Once, which is probably the owners’ way of saying, “Spend money and have another cocktail.” Kidding aside, YOLO is run by a group of Broward County power peeps who know how to run a solid business — the same guys who brought you Tarpon Bend, Himmarshee Bar & Grill, […]

Yuca

Yuca on Lincoln road offers Nuevo Latino cuisine with a focus on modernized Cuban dishes. There’s ample outdoor seating, a lounge area, and a dining room that is open and welcoming with big windows. This is a perfect place to order a mojito and watch the crowds go by. The lunch menu offers a selection […]

Yuga

At Yuga, the idea is for diners to order many dishes and share with a generosity of spirit, but the food is so exceptional it’s difficult to resist the urge to selfishly snare that last petite snippet. The flavors found at Yuga are subtle yet stunning, a dainty but daring calibration of sweet, tart, salty, […]