16 Restaurants That Could Only Exist In Miami - Miami - The Infatuation

"There’s lore behind Amelia’s that you’ll only understand if you live in Miami. It starts with a different restaurant in the same strip mall: Islas Canarias, a family-run spot that built a Cuban croqueta empire. The next generation opened Amelia’s 1931 next door and stuffed those crunchy meat sticks with short rib. Other than giving croqueta connoisseurs something new to debate at ventanitas, Amelia’s also mixes Asian flavors into classic Cuban dishes, like a tamal en cazuela with oxtail and chili oil. And their take on a timba Miamifies the dessert so many Cuban-Americans grew up eating by piping fresh guava onto fluffy, whipped cream cheese sprinkled with coconut shavings and Maria cookies." - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer