"Chug's is a Coconut Grove Cuban diner that can be several different restaurants—sometimes all at once—and every winding path of the Chug’s experience will lead somewhere great. You can come early for a quick weekday breakfast of cafecito and the best pastelitos on this planet. Or maybe you want to have a lazy Sunday brunch with cocktails and a phenomenal cast iron pancake. A pan con bistec for lunch is a good call—as is a chill dinner with entrees like an outstanding masitas de puerco. You could even come solo, sit at the terrazzo counter, and let the classic diner nostalgia wash over you while you eat a Yoo-hoo tres leches and drink a martini. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings There’s something familiar and comforting about Chug’s. It has the DNA of a classic diner, with booths, counter seating, and laminated menus you can flip through on each table. But its familiarity stems from more than just design details. The restaurant is largely informed by Miami Cuban food, but it also isn’t afraid to riff on the staples. Their pastelitos are filled with unique rotating ingredients, including an unbelievably good PB&J version. They serve things like medianoche pierogies, a guava gimlet, and include an oxtail jus for dipping with the pan con bistec. It makes this place feel like the past, present, and future of Miami Cuban cuisine all at once. Food Rundown photo credit: Tasty Planet Medianoche Pierogi The pierogies have a beautiful golden brown crisp on the outside, and are stuffed with a fantastic filling that consists of lechón, ham, Swiss cheese, potato, and mojo onions. Whether it’s your first or fifth time here, order these. photo credit: Emily Schindler Pastelitos Chug’s pastelitos are our favorite versions in Miami—thanks to the delicious and interesting rotating ingredients they stuff them with. Our favorite is the PB&J, which they normally serve daily. Order them, whether you want something sweet for breakfast or use them as a side dish during dinner. photo credit: Sofía Grad Pan Con Bistec This is a pan con bistec that’s doing an impression of a French dip. There’s a side of veal jus for dipping and—unlike lots of versions in Miami—the Cuban bread isn’t pressed crispy, but is kept rather light and fluffy. This is a good thing, because it can absorb even more of the excellent veal jus. photo credit: Karli Evans Chug Burger This is one of the best burgers in all of Miami, and tastes like the highest aspiration of a fast food burger. It’s also huge, with two patties, American cheese, pickles, and a secret sauce between a sesame seed bun. Despite its size, it’s constructed masterfully and has never fallen apart on us." - Ryan Pfeffer
