This Israeli restaurant in Miami won Burger Bash twice. What’s the secret to its success?
The best burger in Miami doesn’t even come from a burger joint. It was born at an Israeli Mediterranean restaurant where shawarma and shakshuka reign, a restaurant dogged enough to survive a rough start and popular enough to capture the hearts and taste buds of local burger fanatics.
“Best” is a subjective term, of course. But Motek Café, which has locations in downtown Miami and Aventura, has won the People’s Choice Award at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash two years in a row. The people have spoken. The Arayes Burger is king.
“The burger went viral and got us a lot of buzz,” says Tessa Levy, who opened the first Motek in the historic Seybold Building in 2020 with her husband, Charlie Levy. “But we’re not a burger joint. We’re far from it. We have a cultured, inspired menu. Everything is authentic to Israel and its surrounding countries.”
Because it opened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Motek started with deliveries, including a clever do-it-yourself shakshuka kit with a mini cast iron skillet, eggs, shakshuka sauce, harissa and herbs and a recipe.
As indoor dining resumed, diners were able to finally come inside to order dishes like falafel, kebabs and dips like hummus and labneh and other Israeli specialties. The second Motek opened at the Aventura Mall early in 2022.
Chef Sasha Ariel, who worked at Motek in its first year, created the acclaimed Arayes Burger ($23). It’s a burger that doesn’t quite look or taste like a burger, with Lebanese-style meat that blends lamb, beef and a whole lot of herbs. It’s grilled and served inside pita bread with a mountain of crispy fries.
People expect layers of flavor when they grab a burger — bun, meat, maybe cheese, lettuce and tomato, onion or pickle or jalapeño, some sort of condiment. In the Arayes Burger, the flavor is all in the meat, with the pita acting as a convenient burger holder. It’s served with tahini and harissa aioli, but don’t be surprised if you don’t find it necessary to add anything.
“The herbs give it so much natural flavor,” Levy says. “They’re an homage to Middle Eastern and Israeli cooking. Our meatballs also have lots of herbs. It’s very lean but so flavorful, and it’s easy to eat.”
But while you may head to Motek in search of the unique burger, once you open the menu you will likely find yourself distracted by other intriguing choices. Go ahead and give in to temptation. Motek’s Israeli fare is where the restaurant truly shines (besides, the burger arrives in four pieces — get one for the table to share).
Start with any appetizer that involves the house bread. You can’t go wrong with the labneh za’atar ($11). An order of the fried halloumi ($10) is practically a requirement for cheese lovers, and who isn’t one, really?
The huge chicken schnitzel sandwich ($21) is a standout, crispy breaded chicken schnitzel in challah bread with cabbage slaw, pickles, tomato, lettuce, sumac onion and harissa aioli (there’s also a spicy version with eggplant for $24). If seafood is more your style, try the Moroccan fish ($29), Faroe Island salmon served in a skillet with harissa-spiced tomato sauce, kalamata olives, green peppers, chickpeas and, blessedly, served with challah so you can mop up the sauce.
You can also order kebabs ($25-$42) and salads ($7-$17). Levy says her favorite menu item is also one of the most popular: the crunchy cabbage salad ($14) with shredded cabbage, crispy shallots, toasted almonds, mint leaves, ja’ala seed mix and mint honey vinaigrette.
“I’m obsessed with it,” Levy confesses. “I have it every single day for lunch. I never get sick of it.”
Motek has also recently opened Yalla upstairs at Treats Food Hall. Think of it as a Motek Express, with a smaller menu and food you can get swiftly (including the shawarma and schnitzel but not the famous burger).
In a few weeks, the Aventura restaurant is moving to a bigger space next door at the mall, into the former space of Michael Mina’s Greek restaurant Ornos Estiatorio. Motek is also planning to expand to Coral Gables and Miami Beach as well, bringing its famous burger — and, happily, everything else, too.
Motek Miami
Where: 36 NE First St., Miami
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
More information: motekcafe.com or 786-953-7689
Motek Aventura
Where: Aventura Mall, 19565 Biscayne Blvd., #938, Aventura
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
More information: 305-974-2626