122 June 27-July 3, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 4 with a sweet tooth, Dos Croquetas also has one hell of a mango shake, cloud coffees (with fla- vors from tiramisu to white chocolate cinna- mon), and even chocolate croqueta bites that you can dip in icing. For anyone and everyone looking for a fun remix on their abuela’s favor- ite snack, see ya at Dos Croquetas. BEST AREPAS La Latina 3509 NE Second Avenue Miami, 33137 305-571-9655 lalatinamiami.com Filled to the brim, the arepas at La Latina are easily the best in Miami. Made with gluten-free corn flour and antibiotic- and hormone-free meats, there’s nothing but flavor to savor with these babies. They’re crunchy on the outside, packed with juicy meats and melty cheeses, and complemented with delicious garlic and cilan- tro sauces that are made in house. Since 2011, this somewhat hidden gem has been cranking out these corny portable meals with more than a dozen filling options (think: cheese, sweet plantains, and avocado or shredded beef and cheese) in a cozy space just on the edge of ever- evolving Midtown. Perhaps the best part is how well they travel/deliver, making them the ideal poolside, party, or beach snack. BEST CEVICHE Dr. Limón 7 area locations, including: 13766 SW 84th Street Miami, 33183 305-382 9204 doctorlimon.com When the summer sun shines, it’s time to cool down with something refreshing and light to keep you from melting at high noon. Enter Dr. Limón, a Peruvian slice of paradise specializing in the coun- try’s signature meal of raw fish “cooked” in lime juice. If you’re a first-timer, try the “remedio ca- sero,” featuring a fresh catch of white fish bul- warked by sweet potato, choclo (large Peruvian corn), fried corn kernels, and a delicate topping of pickled onion. You could, of course, spice it up more with “Dr. Tokyo,” tuna, pineapple, and hot limo pepper inside a fried tortilla chip. The dish, whose history goes back thousands of years, is a beautiful pairing of flavors, prompting Dr. Limón to have thirteen ceviche options, all as deliciously sour and fatty as the last. BEST RAMEN Shimuja Ramen 4921 SW 148th Avenue Southwest Ranches, 33331 754-200-8941 shimujaflorida.com When it comes to ramen, nothing matters more than a good broth –– and no establishment in South Florida makes a ramen broth quite like Shimuja Ramen. Tucked away in a Southwest Ranches strip mall, the laid-back restaurant has been slinging bowls of authentic Japanese ra- men since 2018. It’s one of those places where everything on the menu is just right, like their flavorful Japanese curry, immaculately crisp karaage chicken, and addictive shishito peppers. However, most people make the journey deep into suburbia for one particular item: the Ka- goshima special ramen. A generous bowl con- sisting of an 18-hour pork-bone broth and rich pork belly, jammy boiled egg, and thick noodles, the hearty soup warms your soul and fills your belly (literally, it’s enough to feed at least two or three people). Starting at $20, it’s pricier than your average ramen, but we’d argue that’s be- cause it’s far better than your average ramen. BEST BREWERY (BROWARD) Tarpon River Brewing 280 SW Sixth Street Fort Lauderdale, 33301 954-353-3193 tarponriverbrewing.com With so much brewery goodness stemming from Broward County, picking a favorite one is like picking a favorite child. Well, let us choose. Tarpon River Brewing is the undisputed golden child for its consistent brews, community hap- penings, and badass space. Housed in what once was a 1929 horse barn, it’s an oft-open-air experience with a tap room, tasting room, brewery, kitchen, and plenty of seating for con- suming it all. Whereas other breweries are get- ting obnoxiously experimental, Tarpon River Brewing does the classics well. Its Deflated IPA and Morning Express stout are fool-proof and should never, ever leave the menu, period. Be- yond booze, its grub is upper-tier, with LOL- worthy named plates like the “Cluck Norris” fried chicken sandwich and “Et Tu, Brute” cae- sar salad. BEST BREWERY (MIAMI) Shōjō’s Dojo 4233 SW 75th Avenue Miami, 33155 786-519-1831 shojo.beer Open less than a year and already Miami’s best brewery? Yes, dreams come true when they are deserved. The brainchild of Haidar Hachem (of Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co. fame) and his amazing wife, Marilyn Orozco, Sho_jo_’s Dojo is Florida’s first sake brewery. It occupies the for- mer Ceiba space but has quickly made an iden- tity all its own. Beyond housemade sake brews, the spot has a killer craft beer selection. And, yes, you can order a sake bomb for $9 with your choice of a craft brewski and shot of sake. Pro- tip: Don’t skip out on a sake-infused cocktail ei- ther, with a menu curated by Giovanny Gutierrez (@ChatChowTV). Mari’s mule, with lemongrass-infused sake, lime, and ginger beer, and a dehydrated lime bedazzle is a chef’s kiss.
