Pinecrest, once known more for its beautiful and quiet residential streets than its culinary offerings, is now joining the ranks of these emerging suburban hotspots, attracting a new crop of national franchises and chef-driven concepts.
First up is the long-awaited arrival of Chick-fil-A, which opened its doors in early January 2025 at 13001 S. Dixie Hwy. Owned and operated by West Palm Beach native Karyna Kaufmann, who started working at Chick-fil-A at age 15, this new location brings her closer to home. Kaufmann also runs outposts in Gainesville and Dadeland Mall, but the Pinecrest opening offers her a chance to give back to the community that shaped her.
"As the daughter of Ecuadorian parents, I'm incredibly honored to achieve this American dream and have the chance to serve the Pinecrest community along the way," says Kaufmann. "Helping others grow — both personally and professionally — is at the heart of what I do and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve our guests while supporting and developing my team."
In addition to serving the brand's signature chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, Chick-fil-A Pinecrest is making a positive impact on the local community, bringing approximately 110 new jobs to the area and offering a year of free meals to 100 local heroes.
Welcome to Pinecrest, Vale, Mister O1, and Rice
Chick-fil-A is joined by Vale, a growing, healthy, fast-casual restaurant that opened at 9537 S. Dixie Hwy. in Pinecrest this past June 2024. Featuring build-your-own protein bowls, açai bowls, poke bowls, and smoothies, this 2,000-square-foot outpost marks the Florida-based brand's ninth location in the Sunshine State. Standout items include smashed avocado toast, spicy tuna poke bowls, dragonfruit lemonade, and the fan-favorite Vale matcha latte. The Pinecrest location is also the first to introduce new menu items like signature wraps and breakfast burritos."Launching our inaugural venture into South Miami marks an exhilarating milestone for our brand," Vale CEO and founder Sunny Ilyas says. "With each success story from our existing Florida locations, the demand for health-conscious dining experiences has only amplified. This expansion reflects the root of Vale's inception, providing healthy, high-quality, and good-for-you dining options while fostering meaningful connections within the community."
Then there's Mister O1, the acclaimed artisanal pizzeria that has become a household name across Miami for its hand-crafted, Neapolitan-style pizzas. Also opened in June 2024, the Pinecrest outpost (8189 SW 117th St., Pinecrest) serves bestsellers like the "Star Luca," a star-shaped pie filled with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, Italian tomato sauce, and spicy salami calabrese; the "Elisa," drizzled in truffle oil and black pepper, and the house-favorite Nutella pizza. The sleek, modern design of the restaurant, complete with an open kitchen where guests can watch their pizzas come to life, adds to the overall dining experience.
Rice Mediterranean Kitchen, known for its vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired dishes, also opened in Pinecrest (12313 Pinecrest Pkwy., Pinecrest) this past summer, too. Offering a menu packed with fresh, bold flavors, Rice serves everything from grilled kebabs to colorful rice bowls, giving diners a fresh, fast-casual take on classic Mediterranean fare.
As more restaurants continue to set up shop in the area, Pinecrest is quickly becoming a dining destination in its own right, reshaping the local food scene and drawing food lovers away from Miami's more traditional hotspots.
