This Mexican restaurant specializes in family-style servings. Their recipes use homemade sauces and locally grown ingredients whenever possible. They’re best known for their tacos al pastor.
Dockside dining is just one attraction at this eatery perched on the Intracoastal just south of Oakland Park Boulevard near A1A. The vibe is Florida-casual, and you can expect to see men in Hawaiian shirts disembarking from boats and strutting inside. Traditional bar bites, Floribbean fare, and international offerings comprise the menu, including crabcakes, fried calamari, coconut shrimp, seared ahi, and conch fritters. You can also order half-pound beef burgers, overstuffed wraps, and out-of-the-ordinary takes on fish, like the blackened mahi Reuben sandwich. Cocktails run the gamut, including fruity martinis, thick frozen margarita-like concoctions, and enormous fish bowls filled with fizzy, vodka-based drinks.
Thai – and Japanese – food, with a view of the ocean.
A fast-casual and traditional Italian restaurant featuring delicacies with high quality ingredients and a high level of service.
Located inside the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale, this beach-vibes restaurant combines full-service dining with cafe food items throughout the day.
A Caribbean-American fusion kitchen and bar, influenced by the multicultural island flavors of South Florida.
Park & Ocean sits in a shady grove on the southeast side of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, facing A1A and the ocean. Located in the park’s old, partially indoor beachside entrance, the place’s menu includes tacos, salads, burgers and fun bar food like the scrumptious, not-so-traditional grilled cheese sandwiches made with truffles, garlic shrimp and manchego cheese. There’s an extensive beer menu, including several local brewery favorites, as well as a good selection of wines and other beverages. You can also catch some live tunes – check the schedule, but Park & Ocean usually has live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. That’s not counting the music of the lapping waves while you enjoy a cool beverage.
Located in the Gallery ONE DoubleTree on the Intracoastal, this restaurant offers contemporary cuisine overlooking the water and hotel pool. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with seating indoors and on the 30-seat patio. Menu favorites include crab cakes, short ribs and swordfish.
Located on the fifth floor pool terrace of the Atlantic Hotel and Spa, SKY Bar offers the same easygoing vibe of the hotel’s restaurant, Coastal. It features a variety of appetizers and entrees, including Bimini coconut shrimp, a local mahi sandwich and a Mediterranean pita pocket. They even serve bananas Foster french toast as part of their brunch on Sundays. In addition, they partnered up with SKYY Vodka to create a specialty drink menu. The bar is open to guests and anyone with a day pass.
The Atlantic Hotel and Spa recently unleashed their newest dining concept, Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery. With oceanside views, the inviting atmosphere is perfect for an intimate dinner setting or large parties. The food includes land and sea – from lobster to rib-eye Philly cheesesteaks to whole charred octopus, you’ll find it all here.
Located in cool, laid-back North Beach Village, the wine garden offers beachgoers a place to “wine” down after a long day in the water or on the sand. Feel the ocean breeze while indulging in pizza, pasta, dessert and wine. Their pasta choices include salmon livornesa (linguine pasta with tomato sauce, olives, capers, onions, Italian parsley and fresh diced salmon) and one of their dessert options consists of yogurt Nutella chocolate mousse.
The Conrad’s Cornucopia is just that—a plentiful amount of fruits and vegetables all in one place. Located at the lobby, the gourmet market and bakery is ideal for a quick bite to get your day going or an evening snack right before you wind down. The morning menu includes fresh pressed juices, bacon and cheddar frittata and a huevos rancheros pizza. Finish your day with a selection of meats and cheese from the charcuterie menu or a green eggs “pizzetta.”
Located at the North Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, serving gourmet American dishes and cocktails.
Located on the sixth floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Ilios is open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Executive Chef Sean McDonald serves up Mediterranean cuisine with a Floridian influence. The Chef’s Three Course Tasting Menu showcases the restaurant’s current specialties.
YOLO on the beach (in the Hilton).
White tablecloths, dark wood accents, and landscape and portrait paintings adorning dark red and brown dining room walls give this chain in the Galleria Mall a classic, sophisticated ambience, as do the food and lengthy wine and spirits list. Appetizers like Wagyu beef carpaccio with wasabi arugula and the cold shellfish platter with fresh lobster, jumbo shrimp, and oysters are perfect for kicking off any VIP dinner. Entrees like the Kona coffee-crusted, dry-aged bone-in sirloin with shallot butter and porcini-rubbed Delmonico with 12-year-aged balsamic further stamp the feeling of luxury. Seafood lovers should try the seared citrus-glazed salmon with haricot verts, asparagus, and roasted cipollini onions with a side of decadent lobster mac and cheese. For dessert, try coconut cream pie, flourless chocolate espresso cake, or the trio of house-made ice creams.
El Vez, from James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, offers a menu by chef Steven Menter that features Mexican favorites such as classic guacamole, crispy Mahi Mahi, tacos al carbon and others. The 300-seat Mexican eatery is located on the first floor of the W Fort Lauderdale and includes indoor and outdoor bars and an expansive lounge area. The W’s signature artistic décor and style are present and include a unique beer can wall art installation. If art’s not your thing, there’s also cornhole and shuffleboard.
Located inside the W Fort Lauderdale hotel, the quick and casual plant-based restaurant features healthy but tasty cuisine. They offer salads, power bowls, hot dogs and sausages, fries, shakes, coffee, beer and wine. Notable menu items include the buffalo bowl (crispy buffalo tenders, cherry tomatoes, diced carrots, celery, kale/quinoa blend and spicy blue cheese dressing) and the queso burger (SoBe Vegan cheese sauce, pico de gallo, fresno chili, crispy tortillas and lettuce).
Seasonal cuisine and an award-winning international wine list make this casual-chic chain at the Galleria a consistent draw for locals and out-of-towners. Nothing on the menu tops 475 calories, kept down either by portion control or careful ingredient selection. Flatbreads are popular, such as spicy chipotle shrimp with grilled pineapple, feta, and roasted poblano chilies, as are vibrant entrees like caramelized sea scallops, wood-fired pork tenderloin, and roasted artichoke-stuffed shrimp. Chef’s tables are available with an amuse bouche and a five-course meal with wine pairings for each course, as is private dining for special, intimate occasions. For dessert, go with guilt-free mini-indulgences – shot glass-sized sweet treats, such as Key lime pie, old-fashioned carrot cake, and chocolate peanut butter mousse.
STEAK 954 is a luxury boutique steakhouse inside the W Fort Lauderdale that faces the ocean. The restaurant features dry aged beef from hand-picked ranches, Tajima Kobe from Australia, locally caught seafood, and the finest wines and spirits with selections from all over the globe.
Inside the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Lona’s sister restaurant adds a Mexican-inspired breakfast experience. Tinta (which translates to “ink” in Spanish) serves breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Headed by Chef Pablo Salas, the menu offers omelets like the Yucatan (lump crab, cream cheese, chipotle béchamel, cotija cheese, pickled onion and cilantro) and burritos like the Smothered Burrito (stuffed with scrambled eggs, chorizo, poblano, queso, salsa roja, avocado and refried beans).
Don’t be fooled by the name, Tatts and Tacos Beer Garden isn’t a tattoo shop where you can also get your Mexican food fix. The relaxed hot spot will serve you authentic south-of-the-border cuisine while you play with one of their enticing outdoor games (Jenga, anyone?). If you’re not looking to eat, their wide variety of 40 craft beers on tap and full liquor bar might be what attracts you to this cool garden.
The new location in Southport Shopping Center on 17th Street offers what customers have come to love from the first location on North Federal Highway. The Mexican restaurant is inspired by the food originating from the Baja Coast Peninsula, to be specific. They strive to bring light and fresh Mexican food that can be eaten every day to South Florida.
This small, warm restaurant named for the artist Frida Kahlo enhances the typical Mexican menu with some harder-to-find dishes like chochinita pibil (roasted Mayan pork leg marinated in achiote citrus juice), fish Veracruz style and shrimp mole verde. The tortillas, like the guacamole, are homemade.
At this modern-day Mexican restaurant located in the heart of downtown, the menu includes everything you want to see on a Mexican eatery menu plus a barbecue pulled quesadilla, a buffalo chicken burrito and – wait for it – Nutella tacos (with strawberries and banana). They also serve up some tasty margaritas and craft cocktails.
Among the favorites here are the Sonora Burrito, featuring chicken sautéed in homemade sour cream and lime sauce, and chilaquiles (aka Mexican lasagna). On Wednesdays the Top Shelf Ultimate Golden Margaritas, made with freshly-squeezed lime juice, are $5.99.
This upscale casual eatery headed by chef Pablo Salas offers an eclectic, soulful menu that can be enjoyed outdoors with oceanfront views or indoors in an elegant dining room served in an a la carte manner. Located inside the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, the chic restaurant also features an outdoor bar and a special tequila tasting room.
Hip, modern Mexican place with urban cool.
With three other South Florida locations already proving successful, this trendy Mexican restaurant chain is trying Fort Lauderdale. They serve tacos, burritos, bowls and brunch. Menu favorites include the Phili Burrito (grilled rib eye steak, Mexican rice, Oaxaca cheese, rajas, black bean refrito, potato sticks and red chili crema) and the Late-Night Burrito (guajillo braised short rib, roasted pork, roasted chicken, Mexican rice, black bean refrito, Oaxaca cheese, mariquita sticks and salsa rosada).
Festive Latin restaurant serving the essentials plus Spanish specialties.
El Vez, from James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, offers a menu by chef Steven Menter that features Mexican favorites such as classic guacamole, crispy Mahi Mahi, tacos al carbon and others. The 300-seat Mexican eatery is located on the first floor of the W Fort Lauderdale and includes indoor and outdoor bars and an expansive lounge area. The W’s signature artistic décor and style are present and include a unique beer can wall art installation. If art’s not your thing, there’s also cornhole and shuffleboard.
After a long four-year process, Bar Rita has finally opened its doors. The two-story, 5,500-square-foot restaurant serves up modern Mexican food with an eclectic margarita menu. You can enjoy rooftop city views alongside menu items such as build-your-own bodega bowls and a selection of tacos including truffle barbacoa and carne asada cheesesteak. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.
A modern take on Mexican food has hit Las Olas in a big way – 6,000 square feet to be exact. The highly anticipated Mezcal and tequila bar offers a modern take on “Mexican soul food” and also has more than 400 varieties of tequila and Mezcal along with specials like $3 margarita Mondays and $2 taco Tuesdays. Unique dishes include Swiss chard and hongos quesadillas (herbed mushrooms, Swiss chard, queso blanco and ranchero sauce), smoked brisket enchiladas and Nutella flan. They’ve also partnered up with Funky Buddha to create a New England-style IPA, which is available at the restaurant.
Texas-based Mexican restaurant chain Fuzzy Taco Shop offers all the right food for those who wish to experience the fuzzy feelings one gets by consuming fresh tacos, frozen margaritas and chips with queso. Specialty items include shredded brisket tacos, tempura fish tacos and breakfast items like chilaquiles.
This extremely popular Las Olas bar and restaurant offers traditional favorites: tamales, chimichangas, enchiladas and of course tacos. Guacamole is prepared table side, and 225 varieties of tequila are waiting to be tasted.
A menu completely comprised of Latin and Mexican flavors is sure to give your taste buds a ride. The family-owned restaurant prides itself in using the freshest ingredients while serving Honduran specialties such as Pollo Chuco – Honduran-style fried chicken available in dark or white meat, served over fried plantains, cabbage salad and carrots topped with fresh onions and cilantro.
Inside the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Lona’s sister restaurant adds a Mexican-inspired breakfast experience. Tinta (which translates to “ink” in Spanish) serves breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Headed by Chef Pablo Salas, the menu offers omelets like the Yucatan (lump crab, cream cheese, chipotle béchamel, cotija cheese, pickled onion and cilantro) and burritos like the Smothered Burrito (stuffed with scrambled eggs, chorizo, poblano, queso, salsa roja, avocado and refried beans).
Mexican spot with a large tequila menu.
This authentic Mexican restaurant will quench your hunger and satisfy your beer taste buds. It offers handcrafted Mexican delicacies such as burritos, fish tacos, shrimp ceviche tostadas and more. Their menu also features 22 different beers with local brews and happy hour starting at 3 p.m. If that’s not enough, once a month Quvo Tacos hosts a “craft beer bottle share” event where everyone’s invited to bring your own craft beer to share with others.
Located in the heart of the Drive, Tulio’s Tacos & Tequila Bar brings a vibrant take on Mexican cuisine. The restaurant strives to be a place where friends and family can come together at a casual setting to enjoy top quality south-of-the-border food and handcrafted cocktails – after all, three longtime friends are behind the concept. On the menu, you’ll find the Gringo Burger (house blend of chuck, brisket and short rib served with lettuce, tomato, pickle and fries) and a grouper taco (crispy grouper with purple cabbage, pickled onion, pico de gallo and avocado jalapeño sauce).
Not to be confused with Tex-Mex, a taqueria primarily focuses on tacos themselves. Short rib, prime rib-eye carne asada and other premium cuts of meat are brined, smoked and braised then stuffed into homemade corn masa tortillas for an upscale version of Mexican staples. Did we mention there’d be tequila? TacoCraft has a collection of more than 100 varieties of tequilas — blancos, reposados, anejos, and super anejos — ranging from $8 to $100 per shot.