MIAGuide
Where To Eat In The Aventura Mall
photo credit: Courtesy Jrk!
So you’re going to the Aventura Mall, a shopping compound so busy it’d give Santa anxiety. Well, we can’t help you find a parking spot, but we can help you find some good things to eat. Aventura Mall actually has the most food options of any South Florida mall, and here are some of our favorite spots to check out. You deserve it after being verbally threatened by that mom in a minivan who claims you stole her spot.
Sit Down Restaurants
photo credit: Courtesy Motek
Motek is one of our favorite restaurants in Downtown Miami, and their Aventura restaurant has an identical menu—plus cocktails (which the Downtown location doesn’t have). If you’re looking to sit down and have a leisurely meal, you should do it here. There really aren't any misses on the Israeli menu, but the chicken schnitzel sandwich, shakshuka, and arayes burger always deliver.
Just like its South Beach location, Pubbelly is a solid choice for Japanese small plates. This isn’t a grab-and-go food court situation. You’re sitting down here and you will have a server. But the food tends to come out really fast, so it’s a good option if you’re in a rush. Come here for sushi (mostly rolls and sashimi), gyoza, various yakitori-inspired dishes, and also the one thing you should definitely order: the butter krab roll. It's basically just an efficient delivery system for warm clarified butter.
Tap 42 is a South Florida chain where you can consistently expect solid bar food staples (we like their burger), a long beer list, and an atmosphere that feels casual—but still nice enough to make you feel like you’re at a restaurant and not some generic sports bar. The nice thing about Tap 42’s Aventura Mall location is that it’s on a secluded rooftop patio. So it’s a good choice if you’re incredibly sick of crowds or if it’s a nice day and you want to sip a beer while you watch the chaos of the parking lot.
Vendors Inside Treat’s Food Hall On The Third Floor
Look for the word “yalla” in yellow neon lights. That’s where you’ll find Motek’s counter-service spot that lives upstairs in the Treats Food Hall. This place serves delicious, overflowing falafel sandwiches. Their spicy waffle fries are big, crispy, and come with a tangy sauce. And their lamb hummus is creamy and zesty. This is some of the prettiest (and tastiest) mall food court food we’ve ever had. You can also build your own rice, hummus, or salad bowl. And if you’re worried you won’t hear when they call your name, don’t worry—they have a bullhorn.
photo credit: Courtesy Jrk!
Jrk! is everything Chipotle (which is actually just 100 yards away) wishes it was. This isn’t tasteless food court chicken. The Treats Food Hall vendor is making very good Jamaican jerk chicken. It’s smokey, spicy, and a little sweet. You can have it in a bowl, like the classic jerk with rice and peas, cabbage slaw, and pineapple plantains. Or you can build your own. We never expected to find such a good Jamaican spot inside the Aventura Mall, but the oxtail, pepper steak, jerk chicken, and patties here almost make the parking lot traffic worth it.
If you don’t want a big meal, but need a little sugar boost to work up the courage to walk past that intimidating group of mall teens down the escalator, then swing by Little Brittany. They make crepes here—plus some other stuff, but stick to the crepes. They’re simple, satisfying, and come in sweet and savory versions. We like the classic lime, which has just a little powdered sugar, butter, and a touch of lime.
Ground Floor Kiosks
We usually try to avoid eye contact with mall kiosks, but Caviar And More near J. Crew is one you’ll want to visit for a fancy mall snack. They serve caviar with creme fraiche and bellinis, smoked salmon, champagne, foie gras, and some sandwiches. It’s absolutely Aventura Mall’s best (and bougiest) kept food secret.
photo credit: Courtesy of Aventura Mall
What does Ralph Lauren coffee taste like—a polo shirt? Cologne? On the lower level near the Ralph Lauren Store, you’ll find an answer: it just tastes like good coffee. They teamed up with La Colombe to roast blends created specifically for the brand. They offer regular and decaf drip coffees, espressos, as well as cold brew and iced coffee. You can slowly sip a latte at the long white benches or take it with you on the go. It’s a nice perk to shopping at Aventura Mall.
