Miami Spice 2023 | Participating Michelin-Honored Restaurants

Eating at a Michelin-honored restaurant is something everyone should do at least once in their life. The Michelin star is one of the end-all honors in the culinary world. It’s like winning an Oscar, but for a dedicated and passionate chef. If you have not yet done so, now is definitely the time to do it.

A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants using top quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard, according to the Michelin Guide. For restaurants who offer a Michelin-quality experience with a more affordable cost, there is the Michelin Bib Gourmand.

We are fortunate in Miami to have many of these restaurants to choose from. For today’s list, we’ll go through six that are participating in Miami Spice.

By clicking on the name of any of these restaurants, you will be directed to their Miami Spice page, which details their prix-fixe menu with options, prices, days available as well as their website and a link to their OpenTable account in order to make reservations.

Phuc Yea | Photo Credit: Facebook/PhucYea

Phuc Yea – 7100 Biscayne Boulevard

This is a really fun place. Beginning in 2011, I believe they were Miami’s first pop-up. Rap music blared and the atmosphere was casual, plus the food was obviously amazing. Now that they have moved to the Upper Eastside and set more permanent roots, Phuc Yea has earned a Bib Gourmand award.

But do not go there looking for Pho. Their eclectic menu is deep in flavor but absolutely not traditional.

For Miami Spice they are offering a $45 dinner Wednesday – Sunday. My personal favorite appetizer is the Chu Jon Shrimp Toast. One thing I will say about the entrees, I’m sure they’re all good but I personally know someone who walked into the restaurant as a vegetarian, was convinced to try the smoked brisket short rib and left a meat-eater. And they’re still a meat-eater today. For dessert there is the Croissant Bread Pudding or the chef’s choice, which never disappoints.

Cote Miami Design District Tasting Menu | Photo Credit: Facebook/Cote Miami

Cote Miami – 3900 NE 2nd Street

We have spoken about Cote Miami before on this blog. It’s one of our favorite places. They were on our list of Michelin-starred restaurants to try this year and we did. I’m sure we will again too. They are one of only two restaurants to have a Michelin star in multiple cities, so they’re very consistent.

Their Miami Spice menu this year consists of a Monday – Friday lunch for $35. I would choose the tuna tartare for my appetizer, with the Optimus Prime for the main course. It is a thinly-sliced 8oz prime rib served on a ciabatta bun with horseradish cream and sweet & tangy cote galbicue™ sauce. Amazing steak sandwich. And to cool your palette when you’re done, there is vanilla soft serve with soy sauce caramel.

Doya Restaurant Miami | Photo Credit: Facebook/DoyaRestaurant

DOYA – 347 NW 24th Street

If you didn’t make it to the Mediterranean this summer, you at least need to make it to Doya and pretend. Their Bib Gourmand menu will make you feel like you took the trip. The dishes are made to be shared, and are inspired by the Grecian and Turkish Meze culture.

The Spice menu is a $30 lunch every day of the week and the offering is solid. I am incredibly picky about Greek house salads, but Doya has it right. So that is what I’d choose for my appetizer. The Turkish Kofta has a deep flavor and one of my favorites. For dessert you have the option of Turkish-style chocolate cake or homemade pistachio baklava.

Chug’s Diner | Photo Credit: Facebook/ChugsDiner

Chug’s Diner – 3444 Main Highway

Chug’s is a thoughtful mix of Cuban fare mixed with American diner food. Where else can you choose between croquetas and broccoli & cheese casserole? My American-yet-Miamian palette is confused already, but happy about it. A staple in Coconut Grove, Chef Michael Bertran’s Chug’s Diner has earned a Bib Gourmand honor from the Michelin Guide and it’s very well-deserved.

He is offering for Miami Spice both a $30 lunch menu Monday – Friday and a $45 dinner menu Thursday – Sunday. For the appetizer, I’m going to be confused between the Duck Croquetas and the Broccoli and Cheese Casserole. That’s probably never going to end, so I might as well try both. On the main courses, I am again confused. The wedge salad is a classic, but so is the burger, the flavors are so good and the meat is juicy, but the Pollo a la Milanesa is cooked so perfectly. I’m just going to have to go over there a few times. For dessert, the Trigo French Toast is so decadent at dinner. For lunch it will have to be the flan. Very classic and perfect.

Classic and happily confused seem to be my theme with Chug’s, and I kind of think that’s Chef Bertran’s aim.

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink | Photo Credit: Facebook/MichaelsGenuine

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – 130 NE 40th Street

You will not be issued your Miami Card until you have tried Michael’s Genuine. It’s a staple in the Design District and was there before the Design District was really all that. Chef Michael Schwartz has definitely made his mark on the Miami culinary scene, and this is where it started. Today he boasts a Bib Gourmand honor in his namesake eatery and you should check it out if you haven’t already.

Michael’s Genuine is offering a $35 lunch Monday – Friday and a $45 dinner menu every day of the week for Miami Spice. Some of the standouts that are my personal favorites are the Harissa Braised Lamb Meatballs and the Wood Oven Baked Cobia on the lunch menu. For dinner, my favorites are the Wood Roasted Shrimp with watermelon, jicama, jalapeno, lime, cilantro (it is refreshing and has a nice mix of textures) with the Fisherman’s Stew. And for dessert, nothing beats the Lava Cake. All are solid options.

Le Jardinier Miami | Photo Credit: Facebook/LeJardinierMiami

Le Jardinier Miami – 151 NE 41st Street

Retaining their Michelin Star again this year, Le Jardinier offers a light and sophisticated yet laid back atmosphere that is incredibly welcoming. I love the French garden theme (Le Jardinier), with incredibly fresh ingredients and the green decor sticks to the theme from the tables to the plates, but in a thoughtful way.

For Miami Spice, Chef Alain Verzeroli is offering a $35 lunch from Tuesday through Sunday and a $60 dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Everything is so fresh and beautiful here that it is difficult to choose. For the lunch appetizer, I’d have to go back and forth between the Golden Beets and the Salmon Tartare, each one is a dish I love. At dinner, it would have to be the Yellowfin Tuna, although the Murray’s Burrata also looks amazing.

On the main course, a lobster roll always hits the spot at lunch and this one is so beautiful and flavorful. The dinner has two exceptionally elegant options, European Sea Bass or the Filet Mignon Au Jus. Both are winners. And for me, there is just something neat about having a Key Lime Pie in a green-themed restaurant in Miami. It just fits.

There’s really no way to lose with this menu, it is a scene-stealer.

Miami Spice is one of the most anticipated Miami promotions of the year each year. It is something the locals look forward to and the restaurants depend upon in order to keep their staff happy and busy and the Miami economy turning during low season. We hope that you will make it out to try at least one of these options this year.