Classic Miami Restaurants Snubbed in NYTimes 305 City Guide

If there's one thing I, New Times food editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar, know about, it's restaurants in Miami. As a Miami native born at Jackson Memorial Hospital (I'll spare you the details), I've experienced the city's culinary landscape evolve with each passing decade. From the evolution of Wynwood, where at one point the only restaurant within a two-mile radius was Joey's Wynwood Cafe (if you know, you know), to the opening of the Shops at Midtown, where I even attended the opening of Five Guys (I'm not proud of this), I've truly seen it all. I've witnessed the rise and fall of frozen yogurt shops, the closure of Johnny Rockets at Sunset Place, and the end of Casa Larios at the Falls.

This is why when the New York Times dropped its updated list of the 25 Best Restaurants in Miami Right Now, I had six thoughts and concerns.

1. Let's Start With the Good

It's exciting to see local talent recognized on a national level. Cuban restaurant Amelia's 1931 and Miami's Ethiopian gem, Awash Ethiopian Restaurant, absolutely deserve the spotlight, and Mignonette continues to enchant with its fresh seafood in a quaint and romantic setting. Ghee Indian Kitchen has been a staple since it opened in Downtown Dadeland (it also won New Times' Best Indian Restaurant in 2020), and La Camaronera is arguably one of the best (if not the best) Cuban seafood spots in Miami.

2. Repeat Chefs Are an Issue

But here's where things get confusing: both chef Michelle Bernstein and chef Niven Patel received two spots on the same list, the former being Sra. Martinez and Cafe La Trova, the latter being Paya and Ghee Indian Kitchen) — an honor rarely seen and rarely warranted. Yes, they're talented, and their impact has no doubt helped shape Miami's culinary scene, especially chef Martinez since the '90s. However, in a city this diverse, doubling up on chefs leaves less room for others who deserve the shine.

3. No Authentic Japanese Restaurants or Miami Sushi Staples

Where is the love for Japanese cuisine? The Times' own subheading teases Miami's excellent Japanese food, and yet, not one sushi, omakase, or izakaya spot made the cut. No Matsuri (winner of New Times' Best Japanese Restaurant 2025), Hiden, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Hiyakawa, or Katana Japanese Restaurant. Not even one?

Although Zitz Sum is influenced by Japanese cuisine, the restaurant uses Italian ingredients for many of its dishes. I respect its addition to the list; however, there are true, authentic Japanese restaurants that feel noticeably absent — a glaring omission in a city where Japanese restaurants are thriving.

4. Where Are These Neighborhoods? And Where's the Peruvian Cuisine?

Also noticeably absent? Coconut Grove and Doral — two of Miami's most popular neighborhoods — yet not a single restaurant is mentioned. No Sapore di Mare. No Bouchon du Grove. No Aromas de Peru, Jaguar, or CVI.CHE 105, which not only has helped define Peruvian cuisine in Miami for over a decade but also won New Times' Best Peruvian Restaurant 2025? These omissions feel like the Miami spots locals know and love are truly missing. (What defines a great restaurant isn't just a celebrity chef.)

5. Where Are the Miami Institutions, Like Joe's, Flanny's, and Garcia's?

And where's legendary South Beach restaurant Joe's Stone Crab? Where's Flanigan's Seafood Bar & Grill? These institutions are as Miami as it gets. Not only are they reliable, consistently delicious, and special to those who reside here, but they are an excellent representation of Miami's culinary heartbeat.

Want something newer? How about Sunny's Steakhouse, arguably the hottest opening of the past year, mysteriously skipped over in favor of less buzzy picks like Paya. Even the seafood scene, a Miami hallmark, is underrepresented. There's also no mention of Garcia's, a family-owned classic that locals swear by for fresh fish and Miami River views.

6. Wine Bars Are Fabulous, But Restaurants Deserve the Spotlight Here

While I love Cuban hotspots like Happy Wine on Calle Ocho and Cafe La Trova, it's worth noting that some inclusions feel more like bars with great food than full-fledged restaurants. Cuban staples like Puerto Sagua or Sergio's are worthy of any trip.

So yes, while the list features talent we love and food we celebrate, it also feels like a New York lens on a Miami experience — one that misses some of the city's true flavors. Miami's food scene is evolving fast, and if you're going to name our "best," you better bring the full picture.