10 OctOber 30 - NOvember 5, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ FORT LAUDERDALE KIMCHI FOR MILES Fort Lauderdale just got a major addition to its food scene. Kimchi Mart, one of South Florida’s most popular Asian grocery chains and winner of New Times’ Best Asian Market 2023, opened its newest and largest location this past Friday in Fort Lauderdale. The mas- sive new location opened at 510 NW Seventh Ave. with plenty of fanfare. Crowds packed the aisles on opening day, with shoppers lin- ing up to grab boxes of honey butter chips, fresh seafood, and imported pantry staples straight from Korea and Japan. Kimchi Mart first opened in South Dade at 15355 S. Dixie Hwy., but has since gained popularity and now operates stores through- out South Florida, including Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs (which was once its largest lo- cation), Hollywood, and, most recently, Fort Lauderdale. The new Broward location is the biggest one yet and the first full-scale Korean market in the city. Each store features a mix of Korean essentials, items from other Asian countries, as well as grocery staples, vegeta- bles, and household goods. But this mega store takes the cake (or the kimchi). Inside, the setup is familiar to the other lo- cations: spotless aisles, bright lights, and shelves stacked high with Korean pantry sta- ples, produce, and household goods. Each lo- cation is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering the same mix of variety and low prices that has quickly made Kimchi Mart one of the most popular markets in the area. Kimchi Mart is known for its authenticity, affordability, and variety. Shoppers can find Korean staples such as gochugaru, soy paste, sesame oil, and freshly packed kimchi, along with imported ramen, sauces, and condi- ments. The snack aisles are probably the most visited, stocked with honey butter chips, shrimp crackers, corn cheese chips, and tteokbokki-flavored crisps. Many customers come specifically for limited-edition imports tied to K-pop, including BTS-branded choco pies and specialty sweets from Seoul. Seafood is another major draw of Kimichi Mart. The counter features sushi-grade tuna, salmon, and red snapper, as well as Korean fa- vorites like squid, baby octopus, and abalone. The Fort Lauderdale store, like several others, also includes a café corner offering milk tea, mochi doughnuts, and Korean baked goods, offering a quick break during a shopping trip. Kimchi Mart’s success shows the steady rise of Korean food culture across South Florida. Social media is certainly helping, as customers regularly share “K-snack hauls” and grocery finds from Kimchi Mart, which has helped the brand grow a large online following. The Fort Lauderdale opening extends that reach, offer- ing one of Broward County’s largest selections of Korean and Asian goods to date. Kimchi Mart Fort Lauderdale. 510 NW Sev- enth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 754-216-0106; mi- amikimchi.com. OLEE FOWLER ▼ SOUTH FLORIDA IN PLAIN SIGHT Some of South Florida’s best meals aren’t hid- ing behind month-long waitlists; they’re hiding in plain sight. Gas-station kitchens serving up five-star flavors, strip-mall counters with lines out the door, and coin laundries that smell less like detergent and more like perfectly pressed Cuban sandwiches. These are restaurants lov- ingly known as “hidden gems,” and down in South Florida, we’ve got a whole bunch of them -- like these 15 hidden gems in Miami. Now, Tripadvisor is showing South Flori- da’s hidden gems some well-deserved love, too. The travel media company has just re- leased its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards, and within its Best of the Best Restaurants - Hidden Gems category, two local spots made the top 25 in the entire country. In a food scene where flashy openings tend to steal the spot- light, these two favorites prove that South Florida’s real culinary treasures don’t come with dress codes or tasting menus. Sometimes, the best bite in town is just a quick drive, a great view, and a really good cocktail away. No. 6: Bungalow by the Sea, Miami Beach- Coming in at No. 6 is Bungalow By the Sea in Miami Beach, which has earned a 4.9 rating from over 650 reviews on Tripadvisor. Accord- ing to Tripadvisor, “Bungalow By The Sea gives you front-row seats to a scenic water- front and a menu full of creative dishes. The ribs stand out, and the bartenders know their way around a cocktail, especially during happy hour. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the staff keep things relaxed and friendly.” You may not have heard of this spot be- cause the only way to access it is by walking on the sand. Bungalow By the Sea in Miami Beach opened in October 2018 as the seaside dining and cocktail destination at the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club. It was launched along- side the hotel, which debuted around the same time. The restaurant is situated within an oceanside palapa (tiki hut), offering direct views of the sand and sea. It’s known for its fresh juices and small-batch coffee in the morning, a solid raw bar, chilled wines, fro- zen cocktails, and light bites in the afternoon and at sunset. Although it’s located in a high- end side of town, it seems to have a low-pro- file and laid-back atmosphere, which has made it a favorite among visitors. 3925 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, at the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection; 305-538- 3373; cadillachotelmiamibeach.com. No. 8: Golden Lyon Vintage Pub, Fort Lauder- daleNot far behind, at No. 8, is Golden Lyon Vintage Pub in Fort Lauderdale, also boasting a 4.9 rating. While Bungalow was located right on the sand, this rustic spot on Las Olas Boulevard couldn’t be more different. Tripad- visor calls it “a scenic spot with friendly staff and relaxed pub vibes, the kind of place where brunch, happy hour, and dessert all hit the mark.” Located inside the historic Riverside Ho- tel, Golden Lyon Vintage Pub is a Fort Lau- derdale favorite known for its friendly service and old-school charm. Guests can catch the game on flat-screens indoors or unwind on the shaded patio overlooking Las Olas Boule- vard. The menu features elevated pub fare, ranging from shareable starters to fresh sea- food and decadent desserts, paired with an impressive selection of craft cocktails, beers, and wines. With daily happy hour specials from 3 to 7 p.m., it’s the perfect spot to sip, snack, and soak in the Las Olas buzz. 620 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, at the River- side Hotel; 954-467-0671; goldenlyonpub.com. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ OAKLAND PARK IF YOU CAN MAKI IT THERE… One of New York’s most renowned spots for sushi, tuna crispy rice (if you know, you know), and hand rolls is opening its first-ever Broward location this October in Oakland Park. Bondi Sushi is set to make its Broward debut at 3329 N. Federal Hwy. on Wednesday, October 29, with a grand opening party fea- turing cocktails by Shinji’s, which is ranked among the top 100 cocktail bars on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list. When New Times broke the news that the sushi spot was expanding from New York City to Miami Beach in 2023, foodies went wild. Following the success of its Miami Beach location, two additional outposts were established, including Midtown and Brickell. Bondi grew popular amongst locals for its high-quality fish and laid-back Japanese din- ing style. Now, Broward folks will finally get to try it for themselves. “Oakland Park represents a pivotal mo- ment for Bondi; it’s not just a new location, it’s the next evolution of who we are as a brand,” says David Hess, CEO of Bondi Sushi. “We’ve taken everything our guests love about Bondi, the energy, the accessibility, the craft, and lay- ered in a new level of creativity and refine- ment. From our expanded menu to the cocktail bar we built with Shinji’s, this space is designed to surprise and delight. We’re proud to bring this elevated Bondi experience to Broward County and continue growing with the incredible community in South Florida.” On the menu, guests can expect Bondi Su- shi’s signature selection of hot izakaya-in- spired dishes, nigiri, sashimi, signature sushi rolls, and hand rolls (temaki) available exclu- sively at the omakase bar. In addition to these Bondi classics, the Oakland Park location will debut a range of brand new dishes made ex- clusively for the city, including wagyu sliders, lobster tacos, and skewers such as scallops with chimichurri and botan ebi (a type of spot prawn found in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean). Another new addition to the Oakland Park loca- tion is its new bar, dubbed the “Bar at Bondi,” which will feature cocktails concocted by Jona- than Adler, the beverage director at Shinji’s. He aims to blend innova- tion with tradi- tional Japanese ingredients and classic techniques. Therefore, guests can expect to savor reimagined versions of martinis, negronis, Old Fashioneds, and dai- quiris, alongside an extensive selection of whiskey and sake. Signature cocktails include the “Cherry Blossom Martini” made with a choice of vodka or gin, salted cherry-infused iichiko saiten shochu, and vermouth; the “Green Tea Hugo Spritz” made with Bombay Sapphire infused with green tea, St. Germain, sparkling, and sake; and the “Sesame Chocolate Old Fash- ioned” crafted with sesame-infused Irish whiskey, bourbon, crème de cacao, and bitters. As Bondi’s largest location yet, the design features a custom 16-foot handmade tile in- stallation by New York artist Allison Eden, Fortuny hand-dyed silk lighting imported from Italy (a nod to Shinji’s), floratoriums, and banquette seating. A takeout enclave also offers guests an easy takeout experience, in- cluding Iceberg’s Brewing, an in-house coffee and matcha concept. “Oakland Park felt like the perfect next chapter for Bondi, it’s a neighborhood on the rise, full of creative energy, and we saw an op- portunity to build something truly unique here,” adds Aiden Carty, COO, Bondi Sushi. “Design has always been at the heart of the Bondi experience, and we wanted to create a space that feels both elevated and approach- able. Our goal is to make great food fun, un- pretentious, and memorable; that’s always been the Bondi way.” Bondi Sushi. 3329 N. Federal Hwy., Oakland Park; bondisushi.com. Opening Wednesday, October 29. RACHEL COSTA | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Kimchi Mart photo The refrigerated section of Kimchi Mart is filled to the brim with housemade kimchi in every variety imaginable. “IT’S A NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE RISE, FULL OF CREATIVE ENERGY, AND WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE HERE.”
