Where are Miami’s best neighborhood restaurants? Miami Herald staffers share favorites

New restaurants are opening in Miami every day, but there’s nothing like your favorite neighborhood spot — the hole in the wall down the street where the owner knows you and your dog, the menu is solid and you don’t have to fight tourists for tables.

These neighborhood gems are hard to find if you don’t live in the area. They require insider knowledge from a local who frequents the place enough to know why it’s worth a shot. We wanted to find some of the under-the-radar local gems in Miami-Dade County, so we decided to start in-house. We asked our Miami Herald colleagues to tell us about their favorite local haunts, where they go for a stress-free meal when they don’t feel fussy, don’t want to drive too far and don’t want to spend too much money.

What our colleagues gave us were little spots from Cutler Bay to Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah to North Beach. They are in nondescript strip malls, marinas, and cute little buildings that locals pray don’t get bought up by developers. So take a look at some of the places you might find Miami Herald staff dining on any given night, and down below make sure you fill out our questionnaire about your favorite local restaurant.

Miami and the beaches

Edda León, audience engagement producer for the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald, likes a little spot called Cafe Croissant in Miami’s Shenandoah area, which she picked because you can get a cheap brunch and the best sweet or savory crepes she’s ever had in Miami. “You can take your out-of-town friends to this hidden gem and look like the coolest local they’ve ever known,” she says.

C. Isaiah Smalls II, who covers the Dolphins, likes iKrave in Liberty City, calling it “both affordable and exceptional.” He points to the combination of Southern and Caribbean cooking, which captures the “flavor of Black Miami.” Try the oxtail and grits or the array of chicken and waffle choices (some for just $10).

Charles Rabin, crime and courts reporter for the Miami Herald, picked Italian spot ‘O Munaciello on Miami’s Upper East Side: “We’ve never had a bad meal there. Seafood plates and pizza. Even the Caesar salad tastes special, which — I know — seems a bit weird.”

Denise Hruby, who covers climate change, likes Naomi’s Garden in Little Haiti which she says has “real Haitian food, quick, easy, and budget-friendly.” She likes the vegetarian and vegan options and the fact that they try to limit single-use plastic.

Amanda Rosa, our Broward reporter, has been going to Alaska Coffee Roasting in North Miami since high school. The baristas know her family and will start her grandparents’ orders the minute they walk in the door. Despite the name, it’s just as much of a pizzeria as it is a quality coffee joint. “Get the Barcelona pie,” she says.

Lauren Costantino, the Miami Herald religion reporter, chose Katana Japanese Restaurant in Miami Beach, which she loves for its “deliciously fresh sushi and whimsical service style.” Here’s her pro-tip: Reserve your spot and then wait next door at Bob’s Your Uncle to grab a cocktail or two. “I feel lucky to be able to walk to these amazing local spots, and love everyone who works hard to make them so special,” she says.

Other cities and the ‘burbs:

Carolina Zamora, senior audience growth producer, thinks La Bodeguita in Hialeah is great because of its “creative take on classic Cuban dishes, cocktails plus good crowd, ambiance.”

Al Diaz from the photo team recommends ittle Litaly in Coral Gables for anyone who likes health-conscious Italian. “The kale salad is superb, and the coal-fired oven bakes up tasty pizzas,” he says.

Audience development editor Adrian Ruhi likes Di Papa’s Italian Restaurant, which has been a Kendall institution for almost 30 years. “For years, my family religiously ordered pizza and garlic bread every Friday to go, and it remains one of the best (and most under-the-radar) pizzas in the area.”

Andre C. Fernandez, deputy sports editor, loves Kimbop in Kendall: “For my wife and I, it’s one of our favorite spots for Asian food. They are really friendly and even gave us a free snack box one of the first times we went.”

David Goodhue, breaking news reporter, recommends Black Point Ocean Grill in Cutler Bay, which is a waterfront spot at Black Point Marina that gives Florida Keys vibes. He loves the fresh fish, fish tacos and burgers.

Entertainment reporter Madeleine Marr would send you to another Cutler Bay institution, Golden Rule Seafood, which has been around since 1943. The restaurant has a tiki hut, koi pond, tropical foliage and all the fresh seafood you could want. There’s a seafood market next door, too. “Just a casual, chill vibe. Plus ample parking!”

Broward

The Miami Herald’s Broward residents had a few suggestions as well.

Matias J. Ocner, visual journalist, says he loves Marumi Sushi in Plantation for the vibe and the authentic dishes. “They are the definition of a small, cozy hole-in-the-wall,” he says. Try the crispy bok choy, spider roll, breaded fried oyster, angel hair pasta with uni & ikura and the chef’s specials.

David Smiley, politics editor, says to try Ushio in Davie: “Killer sushi. Excellent ramen.”

Jim Varsallone, high school sports writer, says to head to Tom Jenkins’ Bar-B-Q in Fort Lauderdale for “some of the best southern style barbecue south of the Mississippi.”

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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 4:30 AM.