Miami’s best burgers live in all kinds of places: Cuban cafeterias, late‑night bars, chef‑driven restaurants, and beachside joints. Ask locals and you’ll hear a lot of opinions, but these five names come up again and again.
1. Kush (Wynwood & other locations)
Kush is practically Miami burger canon at this point. It’s a craft‑beer bar with a slightly grungy, Wynwood‑appropriate vibe and a burger menu people get obsessed with.
The Kush Burger itself is made with Florida grass‑fed beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles, plus their house sauce on a fluffy bun. The Johnny Utah and Frita‑inspired specials also get a lot of love—especially from locals who want something with a little Miami flair. Add in excellent fries, fried pickles, and a big list of local beers and you’ve basically got the platonic ideal of a Miami burger bar.
2. Le Chick (Wynwood)
Le Chick might initially look more like a rotisserie chicken and cocktail spot, but ask around and you’ll hear a lot of “oh, their burger is insane.” It’s stylish, dimly lit, and feels very “night out in Miami,” but the food backs it up.
The Royale With Cheese burger is the star: two smash‑style patties, melty cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles, and special sauce on a soft bun. The balance of salty, tangy, and rich is spot‑on, and the meat gets that crispy edge while staying juicy inside. Truffle fries or sweet potato fries on the side and a cocktail from the bar make this feel way more elevated than your average burger run.
3. Lokal (Coconut Grove)
From the same folks behind Kush, Lokal in Coconut Grove leans heavily into local ingredients and environmental focus, but the end result is just a ridiculously good burger.
The Classic is made with Florida grass‑fed beef, and from there you can move into more adventurous territory, like the Frita‑inspired versions with chorizo or guava jelly. Toppings like house‑made sauces, Florida cheddar, and local produce keep everything feeling fresh and unique to Miami. Dog‑friendly patio, cold beer, and a very Grove‑y laid‑back vibe seal the deal.
4. El Mago de las Fritas
You can’t talk about burgers in Miami without talking about the Cuban frita, and El Mago is one of the most iconic places to get one. The space is small, old‑school, and utterly unpretentious—a counter, some stools, and a grill working non‑stop.
A frita is a Cuban‑style burger: a spiced beef (often mixed with chorizo) patty on a soft roll, topped with onion and a mountain of crispy shoestring potatoes, plus a secret red sauce. It’s smaller than an American pub burger, but the flavor is massive—smoky, sweet, salty, and crunchy. Locals will tell you that if you haven’t had a frita, you haven’t really done the Miami burger scene right.
5. Pincho (formerly Pincho Factory)
Pincho started as a small local concept and spread because Miamians fell in love with its hybrid Latin/American street‑food approach. It’s casual and fast‑casual in format, but the burgers are way more interesting than your average chain.
The Toston Burger—served between two fried green plantains instead of a bun—is a Miami classic at this point. You get a juicy beef patty, cheese, sauce, and toppings, but the crunchy, salty plantains turn it into something special. The Quesadilla Burger (wrapped in a tortilla with cheese) is another local favorite. It’s affordable, fun, and very “Miami” in its mash‑up style.
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