The Most Undeniably Delicious Things We Ate in 2018

We don’t mean to brag (OK, maybe we do), but Miami is basically the Cubano capital of the world. Sanguich de Miami is the king of them all, churning out classic Calle Ocho fare like a pan con lechón (roasted pork sandwich) and a trigo batido (cereal milkshake), plus a few items with a modern twist.

We’ve been dreaming about a trip to Tokyo for years now. But hey, good things come to those who wait, right? In the meantime, we love dining at Azabu. The Michelin-starred concept from NYC is split between an elegant dining room, a chic cocktail bar and an 11-seat secluded sushi den inspired by a Tokyo izakaya. (Make sure to order the salmon tataki drizzled in a kelp dashi dressing.)

We’re never one to turn down the fun flavor creations like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, birthday cake or pumpkin spice on Night Owl’s ever-changing menu. But the Ave Maria has our heart, made with guava, Maria cookies (crunchy tea biscuits), white chocolate chips and a cream cheese frosting drizzle. (FYI: The South Miami shop is opening a satellite location in Wynwood sometime in 2019.)

Move over, NYC and Chicago. Miami’s got enough mouthwatering pizza spots to satisfy us all. Our absolute favorite is the buffalo mozzarella Margherita pizza with black crust at O’Munaciello. No, it’s not burned—the crust is actually infused with activated charcoal. Cool, right? 

We’re always down for the spicy rigatoni at Doc B’s. Made from scratch daily, this savory dish is topped with green peas and kale in a traditional brodo (broth). Mmm.

If you can judge a doughnut by the number of people waiting in line to eat it, consider these rounds the best in town. Tucked inside a charming Wynwood storefront, the Salty Donut whips up treats in flavors like guava-cheese, maple bacon and Nutella-stuffed. But the real winner here is the tres leches doughnut, made with white chocolate and lots of cream and then torched to perfection.

These bad boys are made with a toothsome strawberry jam made by chef Richard Hales’s wife. The recipe, passed down by her mother, makes the perfect sweet counterpoint to the biscuit’s savory dough. All you need now is an order of Nashville hot fried chicken and you’re good to go.

Ready for the most epic burger ever? This double cheeseburger is topped with Ariete’s secret sauce, along with lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado (if you request it, which you totally should), and served on a perfectly toasted bun.

Ice cream with pie is a good idea. Ice cream in pie is a great idea. This bakeshop turns out flavors like the aforementioned sundae pie, coconut custard, key lime and the notorious Crack Pie (dark salted caramel with powdered sugar). No matter which you choose, we guarantee it’ll be one of the best slices you’ve ever tasted.

This homemade cavatelli with baby meatballs, pork and pecorino is possibly our absolute favorite pasta from chef-owner Michael Pirolo. And that’s saying a lot, because he’s basically Miami’s own homegrown pasta king.

The menu has a million choices, so we’re here to help you out: Try the grilled mahi tacos with charred pineapple slaw and chipotle-cotija dressing. And don’t forget to visit the secret tequila bar in back.

Deciding to have ice cream from this Wynwood shop is easy. The hard part is choosing from the 18 rotating flavors. Coffee and doughnuts? Blackberry hibiscus? Coconut, sea salt and graham cracker crumble? We suggest doing it up with a combo.

This South Beach restaurant makes some of the tastiest chilaquiles we’ve ever tried. Maybe it’s because the recipe is inspired by the dish made by owner Richard Ampudia’s mother and grandmother (the latter being the restaurant’s namesake). All you need to know is this warm and comforting tortilla casserole is brimming with black beans, queso fresco, pico de gallo, avocado and fried eggs, and it’s worth every bite.

Fooq’s bucatini carbonara is a crowd favorite during brunch. But what you may not know is that the pasta can be ordered any day at any time—as long as the kitchen is stocked with fresh eggs (which it almost always is).

Yep, this isn’t just any neighborhood bar. Aubi & Ramsa in the Design District swaps pours of your favorite liquor with generous scoops of Champagne sorbet and bourbon ice cream. Um, say no more.