Miami Beach With No Money-Where to Eat?

[jonkob]

I am staying at the Crescent Suites for a week. I wanted to go to a nice tropical place to enjoy the beach and soak up some sun and relax. Well I dont know why I booked this trip, I had no idea this area was so damn pricey. I got a good deal on the room and fortunately it has a full kitchen so I can do alot of in room cooking, but I still want to eat one meal a day out. Where would you guys recommend that will not break the bank? I love sushi by the way. Maybe I should go to Miami downtown to eat? I was not planning on renting a car, so I could take public transportation? My hotel in on 14th on the beach, thanks

[Flaco]

Any updates? I'll be a little north in Sunny Isles in February but plan on eating my way down to South Beach...

[tpigeon]

Matarello is cheap and outstanding and is new - a must try.

Liberty has moved locations and is still cheap but not sure how good it is.

I am hearing some pretty good reports on the fish tacos at the new taco place on lincoln.

Italian tacos - strange but pretty darn goood on 13th and washington -- each taco costs $1 and I would say 3 fills most people.

I am excited about 81/2 but don't think it is open quite yet. I hear any day...

[Skeeta]

I agree about Matarello. It is a very good choice for lunch...Washington just North of Espanola Way. No menu, you just eat whatever they have that day. They always have several choices. Always fresh and it's a little slice of Italy on the beach.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned Charlotte's Cafe on 15th Street and Washington. Argentine inspired menu. All entrees are $8.95 for both lunch and dinner. That's includes skirt steak or grilled chicken or tilapia with sides, bread and two great sauces; chimichurri and salsa criolla. A great buy and always yummy!

[tpigeon]

I honestly keep forgetting to go to that place. Its been 5 years now...

[YSL]

Well, looks like I'm going to be in Miami Beach for a few nights at the end of Feb (staying in North Miami Beach). Are these recommedations still holding good? I may feel a stabbing pain in my chest if I hear that San Loco is no more.. Is Pita Plus still there? All updates would be gratefully received

[tpigeon]

In north beach -- I am no expert on this area but you could go to
las vacas gordas and my favorite place in miami which is a trek -- yakko san

Not sure if the italian taco place is still open
here is a good list of what is in south beach that is not too expensive in no particular order
Martarello
El Chalan
Mirago
Alibi (cheese steak is the best there)
Lime (but have not tried it in a while)
The Spot
BBQ Beach
Le Sandwicherie
A la folie - either location
B&B
Barbu
Puerto sagua
Davids (I think davids has gotten better btw...)

I like every one of these places better than san loco btw. I still have not tried charlotte -- so make that 6 years.

shake shack may be open by then btw which is very good in ny
there is a 5 guys open now but I am not a huge fan - B&B is better...

I believe the pita place is still there btw (have not been in a while).

[YSL]

Thanks for your reply. Hiro's Yakko-San is an absolute must whenever I am in Miami, so I daresay I'll be eating there once (perhaps twice) whilst I'm over :)

[YSL]

Shake Shack are opening a branch in Miami? Oh wow! Do you know whereabouts?

Hmm, at this rate, I'm not sure I will have time to go to NAOE..

[Frodnesor]

Shake Shack is going to be in the new building going up at corner of Lincoln Road & Alton Road. Several months away is my guess.

[tpigeon]

NAOE is pretty expensive

Some of the stores in the buliding are opening up this month but they are not food places. The shake shack spot is pretty small and I think they have equipment boxes inside (could not tell for sure though) so who knows...

[Frodnesor]

Whether or not NAOE is expensive depends how you do it. If you just have the bento box it is $26 which is I think a phenomenal value, though perhaps a slightly dainty meal. Sushi afterwards can get very expensive (over $100) depending how much you have.

[tpigeon]

For me, the bento box is very very dainty. If you are a big eater, be warned. For the record I think NAOE is the best overall meal I have had in Miami btw. Another thing you need to be aware of though is the time committment will likely be somewhere between 2-3 hours for normal people. It was 4 for me.

[YSL]

NAOE was the one place I was willing to splash out a bit more on. Some of my friends don't really go for high-end restaurants as I do, but I'm going to an omakase-style restaurant in London later this week which has had pretty good write-ups too. Let's see if it alleviates me craving for excellent sushi thus meaning I'll give NAOE a miss for this year.

I'm in Miami for a few days pre-cruise 17th - 21st Feb, fingers crossed Shake Shack will be open by then (although frodnesor thinks it's a few months away..) I'm also hoping to catch one of the mobile eateries like Gastropod that weekend.

Thank you both for your insights and suggestions.

[tpigeon]

Frod is right about SS unfortunately. I didn't even consider the extra time it takes to train staff (even if they get final inspection in february which is unlikely -- we are talking about south beach here). No way this thing opens in february.

[YSL]

Shame :( Perhaps next year...

Still, plenty of other great places to eat :)

[Frodnesor]

"Miami Beach" is different from "North Miami Beach" is sorta different from "North Beach".

Miami Beach = South Beach (i.e., 1st St. up to about 23rd ST.) + Mid-Beach (23rd St. - 62nd St.) + North Beach (62nd St. - ~85th St.)

North Miami Beach is several miles north = 163rd St. - 190th St. - and, oddly, is actually on the mainland side and not the beach side (on the beach side it's Sunny Isles Beach).

"North Beach" as mentioned above is the northern end of the city of Miami Beach.

If you're talking "North Beach," here's a map I put together with lots of suggestions ->
http://www.foodforthoughtmiami.com/20...

If you're talking South Beach, most of the places mentioned here are generally still around. If San Loco is the place across from Club Deuce, it has become "T-Mex".

And if you're going to be in North Miami Beach, you should search for North Miami Beach and/or Aventura threads.

[YSL]

Ah, my apologies. In that case, I meant North Beach. A few of my friends are staying in South Beach though and given I'll be spenidng some time with them, I wanted to see if places like San Loco were still about. I'm trying to talk them into going to Burger & Beer Joint based on posts here. As for North Beach, I have already used your map as a point of reference - Thanks for collating the information.

[Frodnesor]

Other newer options for cheap eats on South Beach that may not have been mentioned earlier on this thread include The Spot on Alton Rd. around 15th St. (good fried shrimp po'boy) and the Alibi, in Lost Weekend on Espanola Way. I actually see they're on tp's list above. Burger & Beer Joint makes a very good burger though it's the kind of place that somehow ends up being not nearly as cheap as it seems it ought to be.

[tpigeon]

I liked the fish and chicken poboy better than th shimp at the spot. But they are all very good.

Not to be overlooked at B&B is their mac & cheese. Spend an extra buck and add truffle oil. $7 total and filling.

[parva]

Is The Spot on Alton Rd. closed??
Just saw that on yelp...

[ddoonie]

Yeah it closed down over a month ago.

Shake Shack has opened.

[Frodnesor]

Here is another good thread on cheap South Beach eats, though many of the places mentioned there have already been covered here ->
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/431074

Has anyone tried the Colombian place, El Sitio?

[mialebven]

I have tried El Sitio... I thought it was pretty standard. Nothing extraordinary and nothing bad. Just okay. But that was a while ago and I don't even remember what I ate.

[pizzajunkie]

Is El Rancho Grande any good? My guidebook sure made it sound tasty!

[tpigeon]

El rancho grande is decent. Nothing amazing.

I loved the burger and especially the peanut butter shake I just had at fatburger last night. They were much better than I expected.

[pizzajunkie]

OMG a peanut butter shake sounds AWESOME! thanks for the info on el rancho grande. I won't go out of my way to eat there now.

[tpigeon]

I'd also like to add Presto Pizza. I keep forgetting this place. The slices are good.

[karmalaw]

El Rancho Grande is awful. Taco Bell is much better.

Cheap on the beach:

My best vote for cheap goes to Cafe Charlotte -- an argentine cafe on washington -- grilled steak and a side or two for well under $10. Some of my friends who live on the beach eat there several times a week.

Then there's:

the design your own salad or the pizza at Pizza Rustica.

Lime -- mexican food on Alton Road (not great -- but you'll be happier than at el rancho grande.)

Pollo Tropical -- yes -- it's a small chain -- but the chicken is good -- if you order the 1/4 chicken combo with black beans, white rice and a Caesar salad it's under $5 and not that horrible for fast food.

Puerto Sagua for cuban food

[taiga]

Sandwicherie!

[tangelo]

Even better than Lime is Texas Taco, if it's still there. It's around 16th and Alton near a pet shop. They once forgot to charge us for our second margaritas. Food's not bad, either.

[Miami Danny]

Babe, you're right by Taco Loco-best drunken late night cheap food-across from the Deuce-great classic bar, also. There's a couple of dinky little grocery stores around there as well, on Washington, that have cheap food, and cheap groceries. Don't rent a car. Parking is tuff on weekends especially-take the bus if you have to, but staying on the beach is the smart move. For late night drinks, try The Room-down on 2nd (I think) . And don't forget Zeke's-$3.00 beers, on Lincoln Rd. Have breakfast at the Front Porch, and spend your morning girl/guy-watching(14th and Ocean). Buy a dollar cooler at Walgreens and bring cold beers to the beach-best way to meet people. Sat or Sun morning, go to La Folie on Espanola Way-cheap crepes and French bistro fare-ask anyone where it is. Good luck...

[jonkob]

the Girl watching sounds great, but my wife and daughter will probably get in the way, lol......

[tpigeon]

Wear sunglasses :).

Edit, also check out Joes Takeout. Especially fried or bbq chicken...great prices for the quality.

[tpigeon]

I would add el chalan to the cheap list. Also bbq beach during football season had ayce ribs on sundays and they might have it for the pro bowl.

Liberty steakhouse is another solid choice as is Pita Loca or the Pita place between 10th and 11th on washington whose name I forgot.

Zekes the place for beers if you want to hang outside at night. Not sure it is open in the daytime.

[kmills9408]

Zeke's opens at five everyday, if I'm not mistaken.

[tpigeon]

I love the room but their beers tend to be pricey (but great as they are really solid imported beers). Keep in mind that the beers are pricey relative to budwiser but the place itself does not overcharge for the quality beers it offers.

[keysrat]

MD has it right. San Loco is great! Beware the hot sauce they call "stupid sauce". Although it is my favorite, it is way too hot for many.
Also try Pita Plus at 9th & Washington. Great shwarma and Mid East goodies.
Puerto Sagua at 7th & Washington for the best Cuban food on the beach.
Another cuban place (name escapes me) at Lincoln Rd. and Meridian Avenue has a decent breakfast cheap.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

San Loco is one of my favorite late night spots as well. (been yelled at on the boards though) I would also recommend grabbing a salami provolone next door at Sandwicherie. (Don't forget the toppings) http://www.lasandwicherie.com/
Grab a slice at Pizza Rustica (Washington or Lincoln Road
)Stop by Puerto Sagua or David's Cafe II for a Cuban sandwich and/or a meal.
Agree with Zeke's for beers and Front Porch for breakfast.
Inexpensive sushi will be tough. That said, some of the places near your hotel have reasonable lunch specials.

-----
David's Cafe II
1654 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

La Sandwicherie
229 14th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Front Porch Cafe
1418 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Puerto Sagua Restaurant
700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Pizza Rustica
863 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL

Pizza Rustica Lincoln Rd
667 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

San Loco Taqueria
235 14th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Zeke's Roadhouse
625 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

[tpigeon]

I have to say I am not a big fan of san loco. I think people rate it highly because many go there after a night at the clubs. I will leave it at that :).

Pita plus is the name of the pita place I forgot. It is between 10th and 11th on washington though...

Rustica is a good choice unless you are from nyc then I would skip pizza altoghether.

It was silly of me to forget davids off lincoln and puerto sagua. Puerto sagua is better and is a better value too. Davids is generally solid and I believe they still serve an ayce lunch buffet, but I have actually never tried it.

Front porch may be your best value bet for breakfast and it is very convenient for you as the portions are huge.

The beach is usually crowded but not so crowded you have no room. Some weekends are worse than others walk north on the beach until you get past the hotels if you want peace and quiet. Should be about 10 blocks or so...

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

Yes San Loco improves after 2 a.m.... That said, I've enjoyed it sober too. Ok here comes the bashing

[YSL]

Another vote for San Loco from me - It's one of the places I head for whenever I'm in Miami Beach