Gluten-Free Guide to Miami
I only came for two days of playing
But every time I come I always wind up stayin'
This the type of town I could spend a few days in
Miami the city that keeps the roof blazin'
- Modern day Shakespeare, Will Smith
It’s literally impossible for this song to not pop in your head when you think of Miami. I think my husband was one verse away from divorcing me because I could not stop singing it in anticipation for an upcoming trip to The Magic City. But lucky for him, I was soon distracted by so, so much amazing gluten-free food and insane cocktails as we made our way through the city.
Having Celiac disease, traveling can be pretttty tricky if you don’t put some advanced planning into where you’re going to eat, stay, and play. Well, consider me your GF concierge because I’m going to walk you through four of my very favorite gluten-free spots I dined and drank at in Miami.
Images from Los Felix, Conde Nast, The Infatuation
Los Félix
The description: At Los Félix, we honor the indigenous way by supporting Milpa farming, an ancestral tradition of cultivating the soil with awareness of the sacred connection between self and land. Through Milpa, we shine a spotlight on fresh, time-honored native ingredients like heirloom corn, cacao, chiles, and squash. Our homage continues with an in-house Molino where we cook and grind maiz daily to make tortillas from scratch, all in the living wisdom of Milpa to mesa, or farm to table.
The spot: Coconut Grove
The vibe: Welcoming, modern, warm
The food: Unreal (ahem, Los Félix is Michelin-starred). Everything on the menu has corn in it, so I was literally in paradise (my cocktail even had corn foam on top, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since). The menu doesn’t have GF designations, but our server was excellent at helping me order. I opted for the Day’s Catch Crudo (guanabana, pickled pineapple, avocado, finger lime, corn oil) and the Grilled Day’s Catch (grouper grilled in banana leaves, cherry tomatoes, oyster leaves, hazelnut emulsion, and crispy rice - pictured above). Both were insane - I think I pretty much licked the Grilled Day’s Catch plate clean. I also loved the heirloom corn totopos (cooked in grassfed beef tallow) and the three salsas with tiny wooden spoons that they accompanied. All in all, 10/10.
Images from CHICA, Eater
CHICA
The description: CHICA delivers the robust and vibrant flavors of Latin American cuisine combined with a dynamic wine and mixology program. CHICA’s menu was crafted by Celebrity Chef Lorena Garcia and draws inspiration from classic renditions of Latin dishes, giving guests the opportunity to explore the flavors of Latin American cuisine as one culture. CHICA’s menu features influences from Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, among many others.
The spot: MiMo District
The vibe: Colorful, tropical, fun
The food: We popped into CHICA for lunch, and it didn’t disappoint! This menu also did not have allergy symbols, but once again our server was super helpful in directing me to GF choices. I had the Smoked Cauliflower Salad (Crispy Chickpeas, Cucumber, Morita-Peanut Salsa Macha, Mezcal Raisins, Yogurt-Agave Dressing) and shared the Mexican “Mezze” (Guacamole, Yucatecan Pumpkin Seed Hummus, Oaxacan Pasilla Salsa, Salsa Negra Baked Goat Cheese Spread, Served with Tostada & Crudités). I could bathe myself in that salsa macha - I put it on everything I could! One thing to be aware of is that they use a shared fryer, so unless you’re dining there right when they change the fryer oil, your tortilla chips may have cross-contamination (one study showed this is the case about 20% of the time with shared fryers). My advice is to opt for something on the menu that’s naturally GF and doesn’t hit the fryer. If you’re into cocktails, make sure you try the Double Trouble (Astral Blanco Tequila, Los Vecinos Mezcal, Hibiscus Watermelon) and go take a couple pics by the outdoor mirror when you’re feelin’ a little tipsy.
Images from Trip Advisor, Time Out, Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish
The description: Sexy Fish is an Asian restaurant and bar located in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami, serving Japanese-inspired sushi, sashimi, seafood, fish, and meat cooked on a Robata grill and housing an extensive and curated agave collection alongside our impeccable list of champagne, wine, and cocktails. Sexy Fish is an underwater world inspired with creative menus, theatrical cocktails, and when the sun sets International DJ’s and thematic entertainment.
The spot: Brickell
The vibe: Opulent, energetic, and, well… sexy
The food: I was actually so surprised by how good the food was here! First I’ll say that because it’s such a trendy restaurant in a clubby neighborhood, it’s overpriced. For sure. And maybe other dishes wouldn’t have been as good as ours, but I can say we all loved the things we tried!
The menu was only marked with vegan and and vegetarian symbols, nothing for gluten-free. But once again, our server was fantastic. She was able to go through the menu with me to highlight every thing I could get. She was super confident which made me feel safe to dine there. I started with the Salt and Pepper Squid which was really tasty. It was breaded with potato starch, so totally gluten-free (although the fryer was shared). The pepper was peppering, and I practically drowned every piece in the aioli it came with, For my entrée, I had the Caramelized Black Cod (one of their signature dishes, paired with spicy miso) with a grilled sweet potato side. I’m not usually a black cod fan, but this was outstanding. A miso glaze is one of my favorite things ever on fish, and because soy sauce is often added, it’s not GF. Needless to say, I was a really happy girl this time.
I also got to see the Hiro Omakase Dinner, and while this can’t be modified for any allergies, I recommend it to those without any dietary restrictions because it’s a deal for what you pay. The amount of food you get is over the top, and as I drooled over everything that came to the table, I was told how yummy everything was by those who enjoyed it (the salmon bao buns, grilled tiger prawns, and sea bass were among the favorite dishes).
But then… I had my entire world rocked. When I tell you I had the best dessert of my life, I’m not kidding, I never kid about desserts. I don’t even know how to explain this entirely vegan and GF dessert, but they call it the Namelaka Milk Chocolate with Banana and Caramelized Pecans. But honestly that name hardly does it justice. It was this fish bowl with a chocolate hard shell cover on it. The server poured hot chocolate sauce on it, and it melted all over the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I can’t tell you what was all in there because I don’t even know myself, but imagine something like dirt pudding. The base was some kind of soft brownie-like texture, topped with the pecans and what felt like pieces of caramel brittle. There was banana ice cream and banana pieces, more chocolate drizzle, and something that was a cookie texture. Honestly I still don’t know what I was eating because it was literally gone in 60 seconds. Highly highly recommend.
Don’t be put off by the giant sparkly octopus and wax Daniel Craig figure… the food is actually very good! And if your meal isn’t great, the experience definitely will be. It’s a party! Just be ready to be asked to take a million pictures for IG influencers as you make your way to the bathroom.
Images from BAKAN, USA Today, Eater, Miami New Times, Pinterest
BAKAN
The description: Our 6,000 square-foot indoor and outdoor restaurant-bar will transport guests to Mexico with its earthy, artsy, modern space, including a cacti-lined outdoor bar and terrace covered with inverted wood pyramid canopies, along with illuminated brown and green hanging basket fixtures. Our 180 seat restaurant-bar conveys a fun, lively and warm environment to enjoy a true Mexican experience – from an open view kitchen allowing guests to witness the art of handcrafted tortilla making to the four-tiered glass case filled with more than 500 mezcals and tequilas. BAKAN’s Mexican dining experience is centered around three elements that date back to pre-hispanic times: nixtamal, mezcal and wood fire.
The spot: Wynwood
The vibe: Eclectic, casual, vibey
The food: It’s the perfect spot for a few drinks and snacks mid-day, so that’s exactly what we did (although it would also be a great sit-down spot too for dinner). First, their cocktails are so good. My favorite was the Verde Que Te Quiero Verde with its super fresh lime juice and big punch of cilantro. The Los Insectos is the most fun part of the menu. We tried the Tostada De Chapulines (crispy grasshoppers with guacamole, Cotija cheese on an organic blue corn tortilla toasted on wood fire). If you’ve never eaten insects before, I highly recommend these as an entry-level bug. Crunchy and savory! BAKAN makes all of its own blue corn tortillas, so definitely make sure to order them when you’re here (they’re of course GF!).
Traveling with dietary restrictions?
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Note: All information in this and all The Real Good Blog posts is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any health-related condition. Please check with your healthcare provider before making changes to your health plan.