The Broke Baker

Category: Reviews

Restaurant Reviews

Taco Craft (A Review)

When a craving for tacos hits, no ordinary taco will do. This was the predicament that I found myself recently. It was a Tuesday afternoon, and the workday had been particularly long and eventful. Well, I needed no other excuse than that to treat myself to tacos on Taco Tuesday. So began my quest to find tacos on one fateful Tuesday.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t easy to find taco-centric restaurants in Miami that were also easy to get to after work AND observed Taco Tuesday. Taco Craft fit all of the criteria, and had the added bonus of being owned by the same company that runs my favorite burger joint. Okay, so that probably meant that they wouldn’t be authentic Mexican taqueria fare, but I am willing to make concessions if the flavor combinations are well-executed. It was also easy to find. It’s one block south of Sunset Place in South Miami.

Taco Craft is kind of a quirky little spot, with Day of the Dead inspired artwork peppering the walls and a layout that is sort of open but not. Their Taco Tuesday special is any taco for $3, excepting their Taco of the Day which is $4. Given the usual price of an individual taco is about $5, this is not a bad deal. It’s the perfect opportunity to try a variety of their tacos and see which you like best, which I did in two separate trips.

Even though we were there for the cheap tacos, we couldn’t say no to guacamole. While we were concerned that it would take up precious real estate in our stomachs that could be used for tacos, it was most definitely the right call. This is probably one of the better guacamoles that I have had in South Florida. It has the right balance of cilantro, lime, and seasonings. The chips are kind of thick and kind of hard, unlike the thinner and lightly crunchy tortilla chips that I prefer. Still, the guacamole is worth getting.

During my second visit, we talked ourselves out of getting guacamole again and opted to try the oxtail empanadas. They arrived steaming hot to the table, so be extra careful if you order these. My friend really enjoyed them once they were cool enough to eat, while I was immediately turned off the moment I realized the filling had olives and eggs in it. No bueno.

Since their Taco of the Day was only $1 more than the Taco Tuesday prices, I didn’t mind the “splurge” and started with one of those. Tuesdays they have their Mojo Pork taco. It’s topped with avocado cream, pork cracklings, and pickled onions. It is also the best taco from Taco Craft out of all of the ones that I tasted.

The skirt steak (left) and braised chicken (right) tacos were also good. I was skeptical about the chicken at first because chicken tacos almost always wind up being a letdown, but the chicken was moist and flavorful. The chicken appears to be the Taco Craft rendition of Chicken Tinga, only not called that because we apparently won’t know what that means. The steak chunks in the steak taco were tender, and the toppings melded well together.

The other tacos that I tried on my first trip were the brisket (left) and crispy pork (right) tacos. I wound up sending the brisket taco back and asking for another mojo pork taco in its place. The brisket was kind of dry and bland, and the taco had a sweet sauce that screamed too much “BBQ” and not enough “taco.” The crispy pork taco was sort of like an interpretation of tacos al pastor, as it had a pineapple sauce. The pork wasn’t completely crispy, but it had a good smokey flavor that made this taco my second favorite of the night.

There were enough tacos left on the menu that I hadn’t tried to make it worth a return trip. I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try a shrimp taco (left) and a mushroom taco (right). I had law expectations for the shrimp taco, because the menu described the shrimp as “tempura fried” and I expected to be chewing through lots of soggy batter. Instead, the shrimp have a very thin coating of batter, making them crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. I had them hold the sauce, but the mango salsa on top of the shrimp was more than enough flavor to carry this taco into my top three. The mushroom taco, on the other hand, was kind of one-note. I appreciate that they put forth an effort to accommodate herbivores, but I don’t think that this was a particularly successful taco. The mushrooms are kind of bland and soft, so there’s no plays on texture or flavor to help the taco be a little more exciting.

My greatest regret, though, was ordering the Gringo taco (left). As the name implies, this taco is reminiscent of the “typical American taco” with ground beef, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese on a flour tortilla. It basically tasted like it was made with a taco kit from the grocery store. Mind you, I don’t think that taco kit tacos are necessarily BAD, but I don’t want to go to a restaurant and pay for something that I can make at home. I expected some sort of twist or different spin on the interpretation of an American taco, but that didn’t happen. Fortunately, I had the foresight to order myself another Mojo Pork taco to go along with it, so my disappointment with the taco was soon forgotten.

I think that Taco Craft is worth checking out at least once, but make sure you come on a Tuesday when you can afford to make a mistake or two in making your taco choices. Be prepared to wait, though. Both times that I have paid them a visit, the service has been on the slow side.

For more information on Taco Craft, please visit their web site at http://tacocraft.com/

February 27, 2017
Ichimi Ramen (A Review)

Before a certain ramen place opened up in Brickell, my experiences with ramen were limited to the cheap kind that comes in packets. You probably know the kind. That stuff has kept many college kids from starving to death. Hell, it even got me through a rough patch post-college. For a few months, my diet consisted almost entirely of ramen noodles and oranges (this is Florida and you can get a bulk bag of oranges for a decent price). My family lived about an hour away at the time, and they never had trouble convincing me to come to their house to help them with computer issues or my niece’s homework if there was the promise of a free meal and the chance to do my laundry for free. I remember being at my absolute thinnest back then. Poverty is truly the best weight loss plan, ha! I certainly don’t regret it. It gives me a very profound appreciation for everything that I get to eat as a mostly financially-stable adult. It also means that overpaying for mediocre food is a big no-no. When you’ve experienced a life where every penny counts, you just can’t justify throwing money away like that.

But, I digress. We were talking about ramen, and about how Brickell opened up my mind and my taste buds to the wonderful world of ACTUAL ramen. Rich, complex broth. Fresh noodles and vegetables. A comforting aroma that wafts into your nostrils and brings a smile to your face. Ah, real ramen is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, through the magic of inflation and supply and demand, the bowls that started at $18 are now $30. While they are still worth the price when I’m in the right mood and can afford the splurge, I was definitely keeping my eyes and palate open for alternatives. Plus, Brickell isn’t exactly around the corner, and I loathe driving. When I found out about Ichimi Ramen in Coral Gables (closer to where I live than Brickell), I thought my ramen prayers had been answered.

There aren’t really any signs on the street, so it’s hard to see if you are simply driving by. I happened to find it by accident while I was walking to the parking garage from an appointment.

The restaurant isn’t large, but it was cozy and the staff welcomed me in with a smile. I arrived not long after the restaurant opened for the day, so I had my pick of seating.

The other plus side of visiting during the day was finding out that they have a lunch special. You get a bowl of ramen, 3 gyoza, a salad, and homemade Japanese pickles for $14. Not a bad deal at all, especially not for Coral Gables.

Aside from the presence of bean sprouts, which I am not a fan of, the salad was my favorite part of the meal. Their Asian dressing was very refreshing.

The gyoza looked delicious and had beautiful plating. Unfortunately, I found them to be a bit bland and unremarkable when compared to gyoza that you can get elsewhere. Still, they were not bad. I ate them all, although I didn’t touch the pickles, so I can’t say if those were any good.

The moment of truth came when it was time for me to try the actual ramen. I forgot to ask them to hold the egg (don’t like eggs), but it was easy for me to scoop it out and set it to one side. It’s still a shame, since I know that someone else would have greatly appreciated it. For the price, I would say that the ramen was good. However, the broth lacked the richness and depth of flavor that I have enjoyed from other ramens. For some reason, it felt a little too watery. The pork belly in the ramen was great, so no complaints there. I just wish the broth would have had that richness that feels like it’s enveloping your mouth. Then again, for half the price of the other ramen, there had to be a trade-off.

Ichimi Ramen is a nice little spot to have a good and filling lunch at a decent price. I would go back if I wanted to satisfy my ramen fix on a tight budget.

January 27, 2017
Da Burger Shack (A Review)

Ah, burgers. Like most “All-American” foods, burgers are basically a balanced meal. You’ve got all of the primary food groups: meat, dairy, vegetables, fruit (yes, tomato is a fruit), and grain. It’s the balanced meal that you can hold in your hand! What more could you possibly ask for? Okay, maybe a delicious burger that’s zero calories is a bit much, but one can dream. A good burger is not necessarily difficult to come by in Miami, but it might require making a drive. And, sometimes you just don’t feel like doing all of that. So, it’s always nice to try and find new places that serve good burgers around Miami. That way, no matter where you are, there’s a good burger somewhere nearby.

Da Burger Shack is one of those food truck success stories where a food truck business did well enough to open an actual storefront. They serve Chicago-inspired burgers, although I’m not exactly sure what that means. Given the amount of praise that is heaped onto this place, I’m surprised that it took me this long to discover them.

In case you forget where you’re eating while you’re waiting for your food.

The restaurant is probably about the size of a fast food chain restaurant. However, while you do order at a counter, your food is made-to-order. The person at the counter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, although I already had an idea of what I wanted.

I ordered the BBQ, Bacon, and Cheddar burger (otherwise known as my Burger Holy Trinity). As the name implies, it’s a burger with BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese. It was also topped with sauteed onions and a fried onion ring. The burger was cooked exactly how I asked (medium). It was juicy, tender, and flavorful. The bacon had the right amount of chewiness. The fries I found to be kind of average, but they are included with the burger so I won’t complain much. They were just fine with ketchup.

Da Burger Shack has not replaced my favorite burger place in Miami, but it is definitely worth a return trip.

For more information on Da Burger Shack, visit their web site at http://www.daburgershack.com/105089/home

December 28, 2016
Antojitos Mexicanos (A Review)

Decent Mexican food is very hard to come by in South Florida. Sure, there are pockets here and there, as well as the occasional “hidden gems,” but stellar Mexican food is not something that South Florida is known for. It sucks for people like me, who would eat tacos several times a week if I could get away with it.

Sometimes, you just really need a taco. That’s where I was one Tuesday afternoon, which is quite apt since “Taco Tuesday” is a thing even all the way over here in Miami. Through a streak of luck, I found a place that serves Mexican food not too far away. Antojitos Mexicanos Tenorio is located in the Olympia Heights area in Southwest Miami. It’s situated in a very nondescript shopping center on the corner of Bird Rd and 147th Ave. I drove by it twice before I finally spotted it.

The restaurant has that hole-in-the-wall dive kind of feel to it. There are no actual tables in here. Just two counters with stools. Thankfully, I came early enough and on a slow day, so I had no trouble finding a place to sit.

They had horchata on their menu, which is automatic bonus points for me. Their version of this rice drink had the perfect balance of richness and spice. No watery horchata here. Already, this place was showing some promise.

In addition to the daily specials, they also have specials on their menu that are available every day. They have a 3 taco special for a discounted price, but only if all three tacos are the same kind of meat. Since I wanted to try different meats, I ordered three tacos a la carte to try. I got steak, carnitas (shredded pork), and al pastor. Taking a bite out of these was like taking a bite out of a taco from a street vendor. I mean that in the best possible way. The corn tortillas were tender, yet held together. A squeeze of lime on the tacos rounded it out. Of these three, my favorite by far was the al pastor.

In fact, it was so good that I ordered another, along with a chicken taco to try. The shredded chicken, while flavorful, felt a bit on the dry side to me. The al pastor tacos were the clear winners for me.

The counter service was very polite, and the food is prepared to order but quick. Be prepared to wave someone down if you need something, though. Once you get your food, they kind of forget that you’re there. Still, next time I’m in the mood for some good tacos, I know that Antojitos Mexicanos where I need to go.

November 26, 2016
Fujiya (A Review)

In Miami, it’s sometimes hard to find a restaurant that specializes in one specific type of cuisine. Being the melting pot that it is, a lot of restaurants end up being “fusion” restaurants, or restaurants that offer dishes that originated in different countries. “Latin” restaurants will usually be a combination of Cuban cuisine and any other popular dishes from Latin American countries. Colombian restaurants might offer Venezuelan dishes and vice-versa (although, given the similarities in the cuisine, this is fairly justifiable). And, rarely do you find an Asian restaurant that isn’t a combination of at least two types of Asian cuisine (Japanese-Thai, Sushi and Korean, Vietnamese and Thai, etc.). It’s not impossible, but it’s just not very common.

So, after a bad experience with a sushi order from the local Sushi-Thai joint that I normally ordered from, I started looking around for alternatives. I found Fujiya on Kendall Drive and 137th Avenue through a fairly brief search on Yelp, and was convinced by the high reviews to give them a shot. That, and the fact that they were a straight Japanese restaurant and not mixed with something else. So, the next time that a sushi craving struck, I made my way over there. It’s in a tiny shopping center that’s kind of a pain to get into if you’re coming from the West, as it requires an awkward U-turn on Kendall Drive to reach the entrance.

Fujiya has the standard “diner” feel to it, despite the tables being covered with linen. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by someone on the staff and, when you’re seated, they bring you a hot towel to clean your hands with. They also bring you a small dish of sunomono, Japanese cucumber salad. In addition to cucumber, their version contains tomato, and sometimes mango or other fruits. The tang of the vinegar in the dressing is cut by sugar and a drizzle of sesame oil. A great way to get your palate ready for what’s to come.

The measure of a Japanese/sushi restaurant often comes from the quality of their fish. Sashimi, therefore, is an ideal litmus test for whether or not a place is worth its salt. In additional to the beautiful plating, all three types of fish in their sashimi appetizer (salmon, tuna, and hamachi) were exceptionally fresh and melted in your mouth.

With sushi, I like to keep it simple. I don’t need a roll with 10 different ingredients to appease me, especially when the ingredients are well-prepared. These salmon rolls were simple, yet satisfying.

The star of the meal, though, was the chicken katsu roll. It is a roll that contains breaded and fried chicken, avocado, and cream cheese. If you are a sushi purist that thinks that sushi should be seafood only, then I urge you to reconsider and try this roll. The roll is intended to be served with a cilantro mayo and eel sauce, both of which I declined (we all know how I feel about mayo). While I am sure that the sauces elevate it to new heights, the roll without the sauce is still strong enough to stand on its own. The chicken is fried to a great crispness without drying it out, so each bite of the roll is an orchestra of creamy from the avocado and cream cheese, crunch from the chicken, and chewy from the rice and nori.

Service is always warm and inviting at Fujiya, like a family-owned restaurant usually is. I will definitely be a repeat customer!

October 14, 2016
Sokai (A Review)

Japanese Peruvian fusion restaurants are a dime a dozen in Miami these days, and with good reason. Peruvian food has a lot of Japanese influences. I had been eyeing Sokai for a while, and even walked in once to take a look at their menu and felt my jaw drop at their prices. Still, I am okay with paying extra money for a meal if I feel like I got my money’s worth afterward.

Like most Japanese Peruvian restaurants, Sokai offers a selection of both sushi and ceviche. Being more of a fan of the latter, I decided to stick with dishes that were more traditionally Peruvian. One thing worth noting is that they give each table a tablet in which they can view the menu and place their order electronically, but also still have a server come by and take orders.

Our appetizer was a Cebiche Carretillero, which basically translates to “ceviche of the forklift driver.” I’m not sure why exactly the nae was chosen, but the ceviche itself is yellow pepper ceviche made with corvina and fried calamari. The calamari was, in my opinion, the star of the dish. The ceviche wasn’t bad, if maybe a bit bland as far as ceviches go. However, the calamari was fried perfectly. It had a nice crisp on the exterior and the interior ring was tender and not rubbery.

My go-to entree at Peruvian restaurants is always Lomo Saltado, so that is what I ordered. My first impression of the dish was that the pale crinkle fries were going to be a disappointment. Instead, the opposite happened. The fries were the best part of the dish. Despite looking undercooked, they were actually nice and crispy. The beef, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. The meat itself was a little bit dry and tough. The sauce helped with this, although the sauce itself lacked the depth of flavor that I expect from a lomo saltado. As with most white rice in Peruvian restaurants, the rice was more al dente than I prefer, but I think that’s just the way that rice is prepared by Peruvians.

Service was great at Sokai. Dirty plates didn’t stay on the table long, and someone was always passing by to check and see what we needed. If the food were just a little better, than I would be more likely to go back. As it stands, I am not in a hurry to try them again.

September 26, 2016
Zest (A Review)

Zest is the sister restaurant of Ortanique on the Mile, which I enjoy very much. It opened up not too long ago downtown, and I really wanted to check it out and see if it was as good as Ortanique. It’s August in Miami, which means it’s Miami Spice time. That seemed like a perfect opportunity to check out the place without blowing half of my paycheck.

To my surprise and delight, the delicious “green bread” that is served at Ortanique is served at Zest as well. The buttery green spread still eludes me as to the ingredients, but I have been able to glean from the servers that it contains garlic, parsley, and onion. I’m pretty sure there’s something else in there, though.

We ordered a ceviche appetizer for the table, which was made with Corvina. The texture of the fish was kind of firm and chewy, and the marinade was less citrusy than what I expect from ceviche. Instead, a lot of the tart came from passion fruit, which actually was a good counterpoint for the creamy guacamole and fried plantain strips that were included with the dish. I think it played well with the texture of the corvina.

My entree was a cocoa and coffee brisket. It was served on a bed of polenta with brussel sprouts. I couldn’t taste cocoa or coffee in the brisket, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The brisket had a little hint of “something,” but not overwhelmingly of coffee or cocoa, which probably would have been off-putting. As expected for brisket, it was positively fall-apart tender, although my specific portion had more fat than I would have cared to have in my brisket.

My friend’s ribeye was also good. It was cooked to a perfect medium, and the chili butter that they served on top gave it a richness and a kick that really took the meatiness of the steak over the top. However, the real start of the dish for me were the loaded baked potatoes. It was like a potato skin and mashed potatoes had a baby, and that baby was made of bacon, scallions, and happiness.

Despite being too full to finish my entree, I didn’t want to leave without having dessert. The passion fruit panna cotta caught my eye when I saw it on the menu, and I didn’t want to leave without trying it. Even now, it is the part of the meal that I remember the most fondly. The tart hint of passion fruit in the rich and creamy panna cotta worked in perfect harmony. All of the fruits that were served with the dessert were at the peak of ripeness. Each piece of fruit was perfectly sweet and firm, and the mango sauce tied everything together. It has been a long time since I enjoy a restaurant dessert as much as I enjoyed this one. I’m still dreaming about this silky custardy goodness.

Chef Cindy Huston does it again with Zest. Their Sunday brunch should be coming back in the Fall, so I will definitely be checking that out. You should, too.

For more information on Zest, visit the web site at http://zestmiami.com/

August 30, 2016
Honeybee Doughnuts (A Review)

When I first discovered Mojo Donuts, I felt like I had struck gold. But, despite being an amazing donut shop, it is also about an hour away from where I live. So, when Honeybee Doughnuts opened in South Miami, I thought that my days of driving to Pembroke Pines for doughnuts were finally over.

The tiny little donut shop is about a block southeast of Sunset Place. You probably won’t be able to see it from the street.

Like a certain other doughnut shop one county over, they only make a certain amount of doughnuts a day and then close once they have sold out. It’s not a bad business model, and their doughnuts are absolutely gorgeous. You almost feel bad about eating them.

South Miami has certainly felt the doughnut craze, as my options were limited the first time that I came to visit this shop. It makes you kind of sad to see a sign for a doughnut that sounds delicious, but there are none left.

Clockwise from top left: Dulce de Leche with Almonds, Cinnamon Sugar, Nutella, Maple Bacon, Mixed Berry, Apple

A box of a half dozen doughnuts costs about $16, which is a few dollars more than an entire dozen costs you at Mojo Donuts. I can write that off as the cost of doing business in ritzy South Miami. Taste-wise, the doughnuts left a lot to be desired. Most of them tasted like a plain doughnut with a hint of whatever flavor they were supposed to be. The doughnuts themselves are kind of dense and more bread-like than the soft, pillowy doughnuts that I prefer. And, since the toppings on the donuts don’t offer a significant punch of flavor, these have proved to be kind of a let-down.

If I am in the area and craving a donut, I would probably go back. However, for a SERIOUS donut craving, I will continue to drive to Pembroke Pines to Mojo Donuts. That is, until they open their Miami location next month.

For more information about Honeybee Doughnuts, visit their web site at http://honeybeedoughnuts.com/

July 22, 2016
Olivos (A Review)

I’m not sure how it works in other parts of the country, but Miami has a penchant for hiding snazzy little restaurants in place where you would least expect them to be. That’s where Olivos comes in. It’s a small Argentinian-fusion type restaurant located in a shopping plaza that contains one a very poorly organized grocery store and several hole-in-the-wall type restaurants. We had dinner here after work one day, and I definitely felt underdressed when I walked in. Fortunately, Olivos is in Doral, not South Beach. So, they don’t turn you away if you’re not dressed the part.

They started the table off with bread, which I dug into right away because I was hungry, and also because I was in a group and can never be sure who does and does not wash their hands. It was bread. Not much else to say about it.

Since it was a group of us, we ordered some appetizers. The empanadas were traditional Argentinian-style, which means they were full of things that I didn’t like. The calamari was gigantic rings of crispy, tender goodness. They didn’t even need any of the sauces that it came with, so I didn’t try them.

We also ordered some scallops, which were paired with a fruity sweet sauce that actually complemented the scallops quite well. Plus, the scallops themselves were cooked perfectly. I forgot what the black stuff was, except that it was something mixed with squid ink. At the other diners’ insistence, I gave it a taste, and immediately regretted it. Not a fan.

My first entree (grilled short ribs that were very bland and not very tender) was a bust, but I sent it back and got the NY Strip steak at the server’s recommendation. It was a definite improvement, and I really enjoyed it. It was cooked to the perfect Medium, and the homemade steak sauce was superb.

I didn’t try the dessert that was ordered for the table because it was a coconut panna cotta, but I had to take a picture because they made it look like an egg! The “bowl” was made of white chocolate and the “yolk” was a passion fruit jelly. Very creative!

The prices are pretty high, so I wouldn’t go back unless I just got paid and had something nice to celebrate, but it’s definitely worth checking out!

For more information on Olivos, visit http://olivosrestaurant.com/.

June 30, 2016
Super Arepa (A Review)

Super Arepa, located around Kendale Lakes, is a counter-service joint that serves Venezuelan-style casual fare. As the name implies, their signature offering is the Super Arepa, an arepa (you remember what an arepa is, don’t you?) stuffed with your choice of meat, pico de gallo, grated cheese and special house sauce. I had heard Super Arepa name-dropped several times by several different people for quite some time. It has been one of those places that is on my list of places to try, but I just never got around to it. What finally got me to go there was a phone call from a friend who was nearby and wanted to meet for dinner, and me being too broke to afford a sit-down restaurant.

Super Arepa definitely seems to be one of those places that you have to be “in the know” for. It’s located in the back part of a strip mall, and isn’t even visible from the street. I went to that strip mall once to eat at another place and never even noticed that it was there.

You order at a counter, and the counter attendant is more than happy to answer any questions. Thanks to her, I found out that the special sauce that they serve on the Super Arepas contains mayonnaise, so I asked them to leave it off of mine. I got a steak Super Arepa combo, which comes with fries and a drink. If you’re eating it there, you can have a seat after you’ve paid for your food and they will bring it out to your table.

First, let’s start with the fries, which were kind of bland and boring. You can skip those when you pay this place a visit. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s go to the arepa. This was definitely unlike anything I have ever eaten. I’m used to arepas that are kind of firm and have a slight crunch to their exterior. This arepa was soft and flexible, like a fat tortilla. Stuffed arepas are normally an arepa opened up like a clamshell and filled that way. The meat that it was filled with was flavorful, but a little bit on the dry side. I imagine that the “special sauce” fixes the moisture issue, but we all know how I feel about mayo. The cheese didn’t taste like it was your standard “queso blanco.” It had a bit of a sharpness and tang to it that was closer to like a parmesan cheese. The pico de gallo was made with green tomatoes. Not sure if this is intentional, or if they were just out of ripe tomatoes. Either way, it stopped the arepa from tasting more Mexican than Venezuelan.

I am curious to go back and try some of their other offerings, but I’m in no hurry.

You can visit Super Arepa at 14417 SW 42nd St, Miami, FL 33175. They also have a Pembroke Pines location.

April 15, 2016