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When Googling “Flanigan’s,” the first question that appears is: “Is Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill a Florida thing?” You’re goddamn right it is. Whether you call it Flanny’s, Big Daddy, Flan, the Flanster, the ‘Gans, Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill (boring), or even old-school names like Piranha Pat’s or Laughing Loggerhead (cool), Flanigan’s has been a beloved South Florida institution since 1959. Founded by Joseph “Big Daddy” Flanigan, he started the chain with Big Daddy lounges and liquor stores before teaming up with his son, James “Jimmy” Flanigan, to open the first Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill in Pompano Beach in 1985. And the rest is history.
If you grew up in Miami, you didn’t just go to Flanigan’s; you were raised at Flanigan’s. Heck, some people even celebrate their weddings at Flanigan’s. From birthday dinners and post-boat day feasts to Miami Hurricanes games and those random weeknights that somehow end at 1 a.m., it’s our home away from home.
This is why when New Times dropped its annual ranking of the ten best Flanigan’s menu items in 2025, the response was immediate. The comments section on Instagram turned into a battleground. The DMs rolled in, and yes, we heard you. We definitely missed some major players. The tumbleweed onions deserved their moment, the mile-high nachos should have never been overlooked, and the Cajun pasta? That one hurt.
This year, we’re fixing it. We’re going bigger with 15 menu items, reshuffling the rankings, and giving some long-overdue dishes the spotlight they deserve. A few fan favorites have moved, and a few surprises have entered the list. This is your ultimate 2026 guide, and yes, it’s still up for debate. Without further ado, New Times presents the top 15 menu items at Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill.
The “Award Winning Baby Back Ribs” is the dish that started it all at Flanigan’s back in the late 1980s.
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1. Award-Winning Baby Back Ribs
The dish that started it all. A Flanigan favorite, these tender beauties are slow-cooked, coated in Flanigan’s tangy-sweet barbecue sauce, and finished with a perfect char on the grill. One messy bite into a rib and you’ll wonder why you hadn’t ordered the ribs sooner-the meat simply falls off the bone. The ribs come with a choice of curly French fries, a baked potato, or dirty rice. Complimentary house-made coleslaw is available upon request.
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2. Chicken Wings
Another award-winning menu item, Flanny’s chicken wings are hard to beat in South Florida. The famous finger-licking-good wings come in “Hot,” “Medium,” “Mild,” or “BBQ. ” For an additional $0.99, you can add garlic. (We definitely recommend it.)
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3. Lemon Chicken & Pasta
The Holy Trinity dish at Flanny’s: Chicken breast sautéed in butter and a lemon pepper cream sauce, served over linguine with three fresh-baked garlic rolls – yes, three. This dish might go down in history. Order this if you’re hungry after a long day out on the boat or at work. You’ll thank us later.
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4. Joe’s Rockin’ Rib Rolls
Let’s be real – Flanigan’s even trademarked “Joe’s Rockin’ Rib Rolls,” so you know it has to be good. The deep-fried egg rolls are stuffed with the meat from the aforementioned famous baby back ribs, pulled pork, cheddar cheese, onions, and Flanigan’s barbecue sauce – need we say more? Just make sure to secure your rib roll the moment your server drops off the tray at your table, as they’ll be gone in a flash.
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5. Loaded Nachos
The “Loaded Nachos” from Flanigan’s put all other nachos sold around town to shame. This mammoth-sized mountain of nachos features a mountain of Flanny’s crispy, housemade white corn tortilla chips, piled with beef-and-bean chili, melted cheese, pico de gallo, jalapeños, shredded lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. Share it among friends or order the whole thing for yourself. The world is your cheesy oyster.
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6. Philadelphia Cheesesteak (or the Blacked Chicken Filly)
As someone who has seen plenty of hungry folks chowing down on a gorgeous cheesesteak at Flanny’s, it’s more than worthy of a mention. An underdog on the menu, it’s about time it gets its chance to shine. It’s composed of sautéed beef with onions and mushrooms, topped with melted Swiss American cheese on a hoagie roll. Pro-tip: the “Blackened Chicken Philly” is just as good. Maybe even better.
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7. Firecracker Shrimp
Another “trademarker,” these plump, deep-fried shrimp are perfectly tossed in a ridiculously delicious, slightly spicy cream sauce before being nestled over a bed of iceberg lettuce and topped with pico de gallo. Not ordering the “Firecracker Shrimp” for the table is sacrilegious.
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8. Cajun Shrimp & Pasta
Ask any Flanigan’s regular about the “Cajun Shrimp & Pasta,” and you’re going to get scuffs and nods in approval. This legendary dish is simple, yet perfectly executed at Flanny’s. It features a dozen sautéed shrimp and veggies, pan-tossed in their slightly spicy Cajun sauce, served over linguine with three fresh-baked garlic rolls. Perfection.
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9. Tumbleweed Onions
These had to crack the top ten on this list, and for good reason. These deliciously thin, crispy, and hot fried onions are tossed in Flanigan’s housemade batter and fried to order for your snacking pleasure. They’re simply irresistible, so you may have to guard them at the dinner table.
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10. Garlic Rolls
So, you may be thinking, “Garlic rolls? Really?” Yes, really. These aren’t just any old, diner-style garlic rolls. They’re fully loaded with garlic and butter and simply irresistible. Even if you’re full, dip these bad boys into your leftover barbecue sauce, pasta sauce, or dolphin drippings. It’s a religious experience.
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11. Texas Burger
One of the numerous ten-ounce USDA Choice beef burgers on the menu, this one stands out from the rest. The burger comes with crispy bacon, crumbled bleu cheese, and a stack of “Tumbleweed Onions,” all drizzled with Flanny’s house-made wing sauce. This burger might be one of the best in South Florida, hands down. P.S. – Hardcore fans order this one “rare.”
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12. Curly French Fries
A Flanigan’s signature menu item, when ordering curly fries at Flanny’s, expect a giant plate of perfectly seasoned, crispy, and hot curly fries that will instantly make you drool (and have your date a little worried). These fries will make everything better in your life. Trust us. (Or at least temporarily during that hour you’re having lunch or dinner.)
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13. Dolphin Sandwich
Whether you order this bad boy blackened (our favorite), fried, or grilled, the dolphin sandwich with lettuce and tomato on a Kaiser roll is ridiculously simple yet expertly done. Tartar sauce is available upon request, and if ordering for a group, go for the dolphin fingers. They’re a must for any table.
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14. Pasta Caesar (Add Grilled Mahi, Tuna, or Chicken)
This is one of the most popular dishes at Flanigan’s, but not necessarily the first one out-of-towners should go for. However, it’s incredible in its own right. It features a perfect blend of Flanny’s Caesar salad mixed with its pasta salad, spiral-shaped pasta tossed with red peppers, broccoli, black olives, red onions, Parmesan cheese, and our classic Caesar dressing.
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15. Banzai Brownie
OK, so this one is only down here at No. 15 because it’s the only dessert, but it’s in the top five in my heart. This legendary, trademarked dessert is made with a massive, warm triple-chocolate brownie, a heap of vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookie chunks, Kit Kat bars, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. It’s a sweetooth’s dream.
