North Miami is often left out when tour guides and culinary experts name the great restaurants in South Florida. Though it’s far from downtown Miami, this suburban city of almost 63,000 people offers restaurants that vary from classic American to Haitian, Thai and Italian. It offers a more relaxed ambiance.
From authentic Thai curry dishes which will activate every taste bud, to fried chicken sandwich with special ‘boom boom’ sauce to dip in. Or spiced lamb chops marinated in onions and tomato sauce. Check out the top five list of fantastic restaurants from different regions of the world.
Ricky Thai Bistro
1617 N.E. 123 Street
North Miami, FL 33181
Right off of Biscayne and 123rd, Ricky Thai is a family-owned restaurant that prides itself with specialized delicious dishes across an authentic Thai menu. All meals are low sodium and tasty. An excellent dish offered is the basil fried duck ($20) with bamboo shoots and fresh vegetables. Aside from a juicy crunchy taste, this dish looks like a work of art. They also offer green and red curry dishes ($14) with fresh vegetables with meat or tofu. From personal experience, these dishes deliver on flavor. Every guest is warmly greeted and attended to throughout the experience. They do not skimp out on customer service or food presentation. They’ve recently added an addition to the restaurant, but they were still closed for indoor dining on Sept. 10.
Evio’s Pizza & Grill
12600 Biscayne Blvd
North Miami
Evio’s won’t disappoint your taste buds. The pizzas, subs, salads, and desserts offer some truly unique flavors. The fried chicken sandwich ($8.95) has a golden-brown outer crust and juicy insides and is served on a soft bun. And the signature ‘boom boom’ sauce, with a chipotle mayo flavor, pairs well with it. Are you a fan of big pizza? Try the 20’’, which will feed an entire family. They also have meat lover’s, veggie-loaded, Greek pizza and more. With toppings, these pizzas are heavy, yet delicious. My co-workers love the pizza here, even for occasions such as birthdays. This place is easy to spot as a big sign faces Biscayne.
Amarone
15400 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 107
North Miami
This is a recently opened Italian restaurant located on Biscayne Boulevard across the street from FIU’s north campus. It earns a spot on the list for both its wide selection of actual Italian dishes and its large selection of wine. The veal and chicken parmesan are cooked in a fresh sauce with just the right amount of cheese on top. Each meat is soft, tasty and made with high-quality ingredients. The parmesan dishes make this list because relatives and friends of mine enjoy the taste. The red wine, particularly the Amarone, pairs well with this dish as it has a rich strong taste. The owner walks around the restaurant to make sure everyone is enjoying the dishes and drinks. Don’t forget to try the cannoli dessert with powdered sugar.
Zaika Indian Restaurant
2176 NE 123rd St
North Miami, FL 33181
Indian food prepared here brings serious flavor in vegetarian, lamb, chicken, and seafood dishes to North Miami. For vegetarians, the palak paneer ($13.95) is made of cubes of homemade cheese placed in a spinach stew with onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and other spices. The spinach absorbs flavors of all the ingredients. The lamb chop masala ($22.95) is another tasty option as it is cooked with onions, ginger, garlic, and tomatoes. It is tender and rich in flavor. ready to be eaten off the bone. These particular dishes are recommended because they constantly taste good and have big portion sizes. For dessert, the pista kulfi ($4.95) is a little scoop of pistachio flavored ice cream with nuts inside it. Sweet, crunchy, and delicious, just careful as it is stronger in flavor than typical ice cream. Zaika deserves a high spot on this list as the food never fails to disappoint.
Little Havana Restaurant
12727 Biscayne Blvd
North Miami, FL 33181
Miamians may be familiar with Cuban food, but this place exceeds expectations when it comes to authentic dishes. Let’s start with the chicken tamarindo ($15.95), a house special, which includes a grilled, thin slice of chicken served with a sweet red salsa glaze. This dish is delicious as the sauce compliments the chicken. For a less sweet option, the breaded chicken filet ($13.99) eschews the sauce but adds a crunchy outer layer. These chicken dishes deserve a spot because they constantly have a tender flavor which is not always true at other restaurants. Entrees such as these are served with rice, black beans, and sometimes fried ripe plantains. There are many other options on the menu such as steak, pork, salads, soups, and yummy Cuban sandwiches. In the middle of a bustling city, the restaurant has a garden outside the window that contributes to a relaxing atmosphere inside.
