We know what you’re thinking: it’s about damn time we did a newsletter on takeout! Whether it’s a Sunday morning breakfast, power lunch between Zoom calls, or a standard weeknight dinner and a home movie, takeout is the culinary answer to many an at home occasion – because your couch is always a yummy place to be.
We’ll be highlighting more takeout spots from here on out, whether it’s tried and true neighborhood faves across Miami, perfect places for a crowd at home, or what to eat when you’re soaking up a hangover.
Here are just a handful of our every week go-tos, which include mostly places in the Edgewater/Little Haiti/Upper East Side Area around where we frequent. But, help us stay diverse! Share some of your faves with us on Instagram for your chance to be featured next time.
FRESH KITCHEN
Having recently opened in February, Fresh Kitchen is our new go-to takeout spot when we want a healthy, nutritious dish. It’s a build-your-own-bowl concept with four layers: bases like coconut ginger rice or cauliflower potato mash, proteins like almond baked chicken or herb grilled steak, veggies like golden spice chickpeas or maple sweet potatoes and sauces coconut sriracha or “holy kale.” The entire menu is gluten-free and everything is cooked in olive oil, and they’ve got a plethora of homemade teas and frescas with which to water it all down.
SUSHI MAS
Sushi Mas in Wynwood was built for takeout – the outpost boasts nothing but a touchscreen to order from, and a little window where sushi comes out. Its new Aventura location, however, does have indoor seating. Anyway, it has one of the best bo-go deals on Uber Eats: two for one rolls, and they don’t cheap out with a California option.
Some days it’s a spicy salmon or tuna, others it’s a cream-cheese, salmon and avocado New York roll. Is it a premium omakase experience with the most meticulously cut raw fish in town? Nah. Is it a great mid-week steal when you want to treat yourself while in your sweatpants? Absolutely.
TRAN AN
Noodles! Noodles! Noodles! Who doesn’t love a slurpy bowl of pho when they want to feel cradled like a babe? Or a pungent bánh mì when they want a sandwich, but to also feel frisky? We love ordering from this Little Hait locale for authentic Vietnamese fare. Do expand your horizons and try the hearty lemongrass beef stew noodles after snacking on some fresh spring rolls. And, when you’re ready to wash your face and put some pants on, a visit to their neon-lit Little Haiti outpost is totally worth the drive.
MOTEK
A people-free Sunday morning (or afternoon) can still be decadent with Motek’s all day brunch menu, which includes shakshuka, a crisp Malawach Yemenite pancake or the fan favored Jerusalem grilled cheese. Of course, you’ve gotta order the Motek sampler plate with hummus, babaganoush and roasted eggplant – then go for the gold with the Burger Bash-winning Areyes burger (a Lebanese beef stuffed pita) or spicy shnitzel sandwich. Of course, you can’t go wrong with a healthy spread: green pomegranate salad is really simple but super scrumptious and the schwarma bowls (chicken or lamb) are absolutely delish.
Right now, Motek’s got locations in Downtown, Aventura, and just opened in Coral Gables. Miami Beach – they’re coming for you next.
LIL LAOS
We’re assuming few South Floridians crave Laotian cuisine, but that’s only because they haven’t tried it yet. The country is landlocked between Thailand and Vietnam, so if you’re craving curries and noodle dishes but are tired of your standard green and reds, then give Lil Laos a try. And, since it’s at The Citadel, you could couple this order with that of any of their vendors if your roomies can’t decide on a single place to eat.
We’ve made our way down the Lil Laos menu and there’s nothing we don’t like. The Massaman curry is warm and comforting with spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and nutmeg and the lemongrass chicken plate is bright and refreshing with a simple block of sweet sticky rice. But what we really love are the laab plates. Laab is like a minced meat salad (read: dry picadillo for all of our Miami readers) and it’s tangy with a strong kick, so spice lovers will be totally smitten.