Looking for authentic Cuban cuisine? You must check out Havana 1957, probably the most popular (definitely the best) restaurant for Cuban food in Miami Beach. In 2017, Miami was home to more than 700,000 cuban-born residents, the number has been steadily rising over the years. The largest population of Latinos in Miami are Cubans, making Cuban cuisine so popular.

Havana 1957 has five locations in Miami Beach, all located in the most popular places including; Lincoln Rd, Ocean Dr, and Española Way and more. No matter what location you choose, you are in the center of all the action and have amazing views of the city. All the restaurants are heavily decorated with a Cuban inspired theme making your experience feel more authentic. Each of the five restaurants combines the flavors of authentic Cuban cuisine, classic Cuban music and vintage memorabilia proving a feeling of Cuba in Miami.

Their entire menu is focused on traditional Cuban cuisine. Packed with flavor and served in a beautiful presentation, you will enjoy eating the best Cuban food. These Cuban dishes are prepared by renowned chef Juan Luis Rosales.

Most restaurants give you bread to start off with, but Havana 1957 serves Cuban Plantain chips, also knows as Cuban Mariquitas. These are fried plantain chips that sound a lot better than you would think. Also, you feel better eating them than heavy bread that makes you feel bloated, even through they are still fried.

Havana 1957 is also known for their mojitos. The Mojito Bar stocks over 120 varieties of rum from around the world. There is over 20 different mojitos favors and combinations. All their drinks even include a Cuban flare that you won’t find at many other places.

This place has so much, you definitely have to come more than once to try and enjoy new dishes!

Starving? Don’t want to spend a lot of money on dinner but want to eat so much food?? Perfect! The Knife Restaurant is an all-inclusive Argentinean steak house located in Miami Beach. Overlooking Bayside Marketplace, you have a breathing view of Downtown Miami and the bay where all the yachts and cruise ships are. Sounds expensive, right? Wrong! Only $40 per person for EVERYTHING!!

This restaurants only offers the all-inclusive experience. Dinner includes all-you-can-eat traditional Argentinean cold & warm appetizers, a wide variety of fresh and grilled vegetables and salads, a large selection of grilled meats, homemade desserts and drinks. It sounds like a lot and trust me it’s SO much food! I still am in shock every time I go, I feel like it is too good to be true!

To start off, you have the option to chose if you would like an entire bottle of wine, 2 beers, or unlimited soft drinks… yes per person! Then you start off with the cold & warm appetizers. The buffet of this is huge, you can easily become stuffed with just these foods. It is all traditional Agentian cuisine, a delicious culture that is extremely popular in Miami. This is a great way to try new food from a different culiture, you can have as much or as little of every single item as you want!

Hopefully you’re not full yet because its the best part now, the grilled meats. There is over 20 different meat options all cooked to how you prefer. Steaks, sausages, pork, fish and so many grilled vegetables. Let me just show you pictures because there’s no way to explain how good this is. You may think for $40 the quality won’t be that good, but I swear it is. All the meat is so tender and flavorful, I don’t understand how they make profit!

There’s still more! Dessert! You have about 25 desert items, all so unique, beautify presented and delicious. The only bad part about this restaurant is you can only have 1 dessert included. But you are beyond stuffed by this point, you don’t even think twice about it.

If you are still not full some how, go back and get more!!

I love a “hidden gem”. Bodega looks like a casual place to grab a taco & go…but no! There is so much more to this place than a casual taco. Bodega is a rustic, artsy restaurant and club located in Miami Beach, FL. It is the spot to come no matter if you just want to chill for a bite to eat, or have drinks and party.

First, tacos are always a good idea, especially at an authentic place like Bodega. These tacos are packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. With about 20 different taco options, you can try so many new combinations that you wouldn’t expect to be delicious. I love trying new foods and this is the place to learn new taco recipes that you don’t think of on your own! It’s so hard to just get the tacos when they have so many appetizers like chips, salsa, guacamole, elote, esquites, and so SO much more!

Finished eating and ready to start drinking? Same. There is a hidden club in the back Bodega that you would never notice walking by. The club is still always packed and popular, you just have to know about to find it. the entrance to the club is what makes this place so unique. There is a blue “porta-potty” door that you have to pull to open. Once you make it through that door, there is two urinals hanging on the wall with a door on the other side. You would never think of being in that small room, unless you know about the club. When I first came here, I thought what if someone didn’t know those weren’t for use and went to the bathroom there, because it looks like it could be a real bathroom!! After I’ve been there a couple times, I’ve never seen anyone mistake it for the real bathroom, that would be so embarrassing…people are constantly passing through there to enter/exit the club. Once you walk through the two doors, you are in the club, a huge space you weren’t expecting after coming from a small restaurant area and an even smaller hallway. The club has such a nice vibe to it, all the furniture matches the rustic, vintage feel and the latino music matches food. The club is kept super clean, the pool table, couches and tables are all in perfect condition which makes this place even nicer. Even the crowd has always been classy and enjoyable.

Definitely a “must” if you are ever in the area!

Of course my first blog post is about sweets… I always have such a sweet tooth.

Maison Valentine is a French Bakery located in South Beach that has the BEST French pastries! Located in the middle of South Beach and walking distance to everything, there is no excuses why you can’t stop by… all the time!

After traveling to France, I fell in love with their sweets. Desserts here in America feel so heavy and you always regret eating them once your finished – not French desserts! Although there is still probably a lot of calories (I don’t want to know how many) you don’t feel bloated and regret having sweet cravings so often.

French is such a major part of the Miami culture. When ever I am there I always hear Spanish spoke the most, French the second most and English the third. Miami has became a popular place for the French to live because it is a warm, beautiful city that is a non-stop flight away. Although there are so so so many French people living in Miami, unfortunately I have yet to discover many French bakeries. That’s okay though, Maison Valentine is all I need to be happy!

Let’s talk first about Pâte à choux – my FAVORITE!!! A small pastry filled with cream, coated with a brown sugar crumble, then toped with a touch of fondant… you can’t stop after just one. No matter how much I try to describe the taste, it won’t be close to how good it really is. Every part of this pasty is so light and fluffy it keeps you coming back for more. There are so many flavors like Tropical, Raspberry, Blueberry, Lemon, Milk Chocolate, Hazelnut, Pistachio and so many more you’ll want to try them all. the only down fall is for one Pâte à choux it cost $3.50… probably a good thing so I don’t end up buying and eating so many. Still worth every penny, try it and you’ll understand why.

My second favorite pastry – Fruit Tart. Fruit tarts are everywhere but this one is incomparable. I am so picky about the filling taste of the tart. After trying too many tarts from other places, I can confidently say Maison Valentine has the best flavor. Topped with fresh fruits and a sweet lemon glaze, every bite of this tart is packed with delicious flavors. Again, this dessert is so light, you don’t regret eating it!

Careful when you come here, I promise you will become addicted!

Welcome to my blog! Here you can find unique foods from different cultures. Since I love to travel and try new food, I decided to make my blog about it! Who doesn’t love a going out for a nice dinner or enjoying sweets at any time of the day?! I wish I could cook, but I never find the motivation to do so, instead, I love going out to new restaurants. Since I’m always on-the-go, trying new places I have plenty of delicious places to share with you(: Come along and experience these places for yourself!

For the past 4 years I have been living in Miami Beach, Florida. Since I have now became addicted to the warm weather, I always find myself traveling back on the weekends. Adding up all the weekends I go, and all the summer months, I spend most of my time living there. This being said, I always am discovering new hidden gems all around the city of Miami to eat at. With a diversity city that keeps growing, the different styles and types of cuisines are endless! For the very few weekends I am in Peoria or Chicago, I look forward to sharing any food recommendations or highlights on my blog as well. I am exited to share my favorite places and the new restaurants I will soon discover!