Visiting Miami for Superbowl? Here are the Best Cheap Eats

Going to Super Bowl LIV? Go Way Off the Grid(iron) for the Best Cheap Eats in Miami.

The sporting world is converging on Miami this week to be a part of the festivities surrounding Super Bowl LIV*. Even if you have the big bucks (and/or the luck) to get into Hard Rock Stadium to see the Chiefs battle the ‘49ers, your game plan is probably NOT to break the bank at each and every meal. Come on, Sports Fans, there’s more to South Florida than Joe’s Stone Crabs. Miami’s Culinary Scene is wonderfully diverse. Here are four of our favorite cheap but great joints:

Cheap Eats 1: Al Basha Grill, South Beach

Hands down, no contest: Al Basha serves up Miami’s best hummus. If you’re around Lincoln Road or Ocean Drive (at lunchtime or late night), and you’re looking for a place to…ahem… touch down for a quick bite that’s fresh, cheap and mighty tasty, find this little hole in the wall. (We mean that in the nicest possible way). 100% Halal, you can order reasonably priced Mediterranean dishes, like shwarma, chicken, lamb or beef kabobs, salads…or even burgers and fries. On our recent visits, the guys at the grill were from Algeria, Lebanon and Egypt. Okay, the décor is not fabulous, but who cares when the food is this good? Click here for the menu and other stuff.

1533 Washington Ave. Hours: Sunday, 12 noon to 1 am; Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 11 am to 1 am; Thursday & Friday, 11 to 2 am; Saturday 12 noon to 2 am

Cheap Eats 2: Chef Creole

Anthony Bourdain came to sing this place’s praises, and we’re pretty sure you’ll want to visit. Fried shrimp, conch fritters, oxtail, whole fried snapper – all the delicacies of Haiti and the Caribbean are being served up with a heaping helping of atmosphere. Born in the Bahamas to Haitian parents, Chef Ken and his late brother Jude Pierre opened their first place nearly 30 years ago. Now the family of restaurants has grown to 6 additional locations. But, Derek and I love the original. Yes, you’ll have to wait for the freshly prepared food. But hey, if Michelle and Barack, D Wade, Jay Z and Pit Bull (among countless others) keep coming back, we know this place is well worth a visit. Make sure to come early. Menu offerings definitely sell out.

200 NW 54 St., Miami. Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 11 am to 10 pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 11 pm; Closed on Sunday. For more details, other locations etc visit http://www.chefcreole.com/

Cheap Eats 3: Spice N Curry Indian Grocery and Chat House

Journey over to Sweetwater to discover what FIU students have known for years: the most fabulous, affordable, authentic Indian food counter is hidden at the back of a tiny grocery store. Pick your way through the jam-packed aisles, and check the blackboard for the 5 or 6 specials of the day. Each main dish (like curry chicken, vegetable korma, etc.) is accompanied by rice, dal or chickpeas, naan and a drink (which you select from the cooler behind the produce section.) Chances are you’ll also be treated to a taste of delicious mango lassi by the friendly counter guy. The food is so plentiful, even a linebacker would be challenged to finish it. And all this deliciousness will only set you back around $9. Just park yourself on one of the 6 counter stools, and get ready to experience culinary nirvana.

123 SW 107 Ave. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am to 4:30 pm; Closed on Sunday. See reviews here.

Cheap Eats 4: B & M Market Restaurant and Roti Shop

Another Bourdain Miami “Must Visit” (and another joint tucked away at the back of a local market), is this neighborhood fave. Menu highlights include jerk chicken, curry chicken, goat soup, cow foot soup, rice and beans, and curried or stewed oxtail. Another highlight is the warm and wonderful welcome you’ll receive from owners Sheir and Nafeeza Ali, originally from British Guyana. Locals keep coming back for the food – and the conversations.

219 NE 79 St., Miami. Hours: Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm; Monday to Thursday, 10:30 am to 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 10:30 am to 8 pm

Get more info here: https://bmmarketmiami.com/

For more of our off-the-beaten-track suggestions for Miami, watch our TV show “ItTakes2ToTravel: Destination Miami“.

*Why are Roman Numerals used for Super Bowl? (Bet you’ve been wondering.) Football Mythology attributes the usage to Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. In the 60’s, Hunt (also credited with coining the name “Super Bowl”) felt Roman Numerals would clarify any confusion stemming from the fact that Super Bowl is played in the year FOLLOWING a chronologically recorded season.