Middle East Best Food Makes the Best Pita Bread in Miami

Ali Aziz of Middle East Best Food says, "I make best pita in all of Miami, whole state, maybe whole country." The humble baker has almost 40 years' experience as a shop owner and baker in Miami.But his roots go all the way back to Jerusalem. In the 1950s, he...

By Jacob Katel

July 9, 2010

We’re $600 away from our summer campaign goal,
with just 3 days left!

We’re ready to deliver—but we need the resources to do it right. If Miami New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today to help us expand our current events coverage when it’s needed most.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$6,000

$5,400

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "22004575",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "22595215",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17482312",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "23181625",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17720761",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Ali Aziz of Middle East Best Food says, "I make best pita in all of Miami, whole state, maybe whole country." The humble baker has almost 40 years' experience as a shop owner and baker in Miami.

But his roots go all the way back to Jerusalem. In the 1950s, he worked there as a baker at the Hotel InterContinental. On a recent visit, we heard a 30-something blue-jean-clad lady customer say, "Let me have the spinach falafel. I know my husband likes those." To which Ali quipped, "Of course he likes them, because they're good."

He bakes the old-fashioned way, hand forming his pita dough. Aziz explains, "Everybody else, they use a machine. But that changes the whole flavor. It's not right. Mine is better."

If you want to taste the real deal -- and trust us, it is awesome -- you better get there fast. "Next year, I retire. I have somebody wanna buy the shop." But for now, Aziz is working as hard as ever. "I will be 65 this year. You eat right, work hard, exercise, and you will live a good life too." Middle East Best Food's warbat is one of our favorites, and the shop stocks all sorts of foreign products and ingredients.

Here are some pictures showing the pita-baking process.

Middle East Best Food
1711 Coral Way, Miami
305-856-5657

Jacob Katel

A message from Food & Drink Editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Miami's evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

Support Today