The Cuisine Scene of Greater Fort Lauderdale

The entirety of Greater Fort Lauderdale always has something new cooking

Greater Fort Lauderdale is well known as a highly diverse cultural hub, with districts and neighborhoods populated by residents with roots from around the globe. One only needs to look at the variety of ethnic culinary destinations in the region to recognize this.

Restaurants that represent, among other regions, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, create a unique mouth-watering map of the world, which is sure to pique the interest of business, leisure and entrepreneurial visitors alike, no matter their own ethnic backgrounds.

In celebration of this culturally rich cuisine scene, several dining establishments in area have garnered much-lauded MICHELIN praise, including the One Star recipient MAASS; the Bib Gourmand-awarded Heritage; and the MICHELIN Recommended Daniel’s—A Florida Steakhouse, Evelyn’s Fort Lauderdale, and Larb Thai-Isan.

Indeed, Greater Fort Lauderdale is an across-the-board foodie paradise. Just a few example dishes to add to your list of meals to try during a trip to the area  include the sweet and sour chicken at Thai Spice, the kibbeh at Al Natour Restaurant, the jerk pork at Island Joe’s Café, the Tashkent plov from Grandma’s Secret, the geprek from Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine, the doro wat at Red Sea Eritrean & Ethiopian Cuisine and the Galletto al limone from Casa D’Angelo.

Of course, Greater Fort Lauderdale is also well known—as it has been for years—for its delightful Hispanic/Latin American cuisine, which gives people yet another reason to visit the region—beyond the sun, sand and ocean that already attract so many others.

Although venues specializing in Latin American foods are open year-round, they become especially relevant during Hispanic Heritage Month, which in 2025 runs from Monday, September 15, through Wednesday, October 15. There are few better ways to celebrate and learn about the culture of Hispanics in the U.S. than by taking a deep and inspirational dive into their culturally traditional and modernized dishes.

That their cuisine varies from country to country and region to region makes such an exercise even more exciting to experience. Baires Grill on Las Olas Boulevard, for example, showcases the finest in Argentinian cuisine—so much so that soccer superstar Lionel Messi has dined there—while Luka Restaurant, Colombian Mountains Café and Típico Rinconcito Colombiano do the same for Columbian dishes.

Restaurants such as Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine and Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine—as their names imply—offer only the best in authentic Cuban dishes. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine, for example, has traditional lechon asado and vaca frita on its menu, and Padrino’s Restaurant serves uparroz relleno and Cuban picadillo. Both, of course, also feature the ever-popular Cuban sandwich.

Representing Mexico are El Guanaco Taqueria y Antojitos Restaurant (which also features Salvadoran dishes), Lona Cocina & Tequileria, Casa Maya Grill and Tulio’s Tacos & Tequila Bar. As one might expect, all of them serve tacos—excellent in themselves—but their menus also reveal much more complex dishes based on traditional Mexican recipes.

Peruvian restaurants are also well represented in Greater Fort Lauderdale, as exemplified by Bravo Peruvian Kitchen, Kousine Peruvian Kitchen and Aromas del Peru. Puerto Rican restaurants such as El Bayú de Wela Sara are also popular, as are El Salvadoran venues, including La Joya Latina Restaurant.

No matter the origins of their dishes, all of these venues proudly represent their respective cuisines and cultures. Indeed, Greater Fort Lauderdale has one of the most extensive, eclectic and authentic collection of ethnic restaurants in the country.

Nearly as important as the food available in the area are the locations where it’s served. Given its proximity to water, water everywhere, Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to a bevy of dock-and-dine restaurants. So, no matter if visitors are motoring up to a dock, taking a water taxi or are land-lubber boat enthusiasts, they have plenty of options available to sit back, enjoy a meal and relish the relaxed vibe of ocean life.

Some notable dock-and-dine examples include Cap’s Place, Kaluz Restaurant, Shooters Waterfront, Boathouse at the Riverside, Coconuts, Marina Village, 15th Street Fisheries, Southport Raw Bar & Restaurant, and YOT Bar & Kitchen. Although the types of meals they offer vary from venue to venue, visitors—whether in the area for business or leisure—are sure to find something to float their boat.

Always something new cooking

In fact, the entirety of Greater Fort Lauderdale always has something new cooking, whether it’s the addition of more MICHELIN-honored restaurants, new entries into its ethnic cuisine scene or the development of even more dock-and-dine venues. So, keep an eye on this space. More is sure to come.

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