Kendall, a vibrant community in Miami-Dade County, is increasingly becoming a hub for health-conscious individuals and families. This article explores the diverse and growing selection of healthy food restaurants in the Kendall area, focusing on establishments that prioritize fresh ingredients, nutritional value, and innovative culinary approaches. From restaurants offering traditional flavors with a healthy twist to those crafting entirely new concepts in healthy eating, Kendall presents a wide array of options for those seeking to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.
The Rise of Healthy Dining in Kendall and West Dade
The Kendall and West Dade neighborhoods are known for their commitment to offering a variety of dining options that emphasize freshness, nutritional value, and innovative cuisine. This area has become a destination for health enthusiasts and food lovers alike, presenting a diverse culinary landscape that mirrors Miami's multicultural essence. Each restaurant brings its unique approach to healthy eating, making it easier than ever to enjoy a wholesome diet without compromising on taste or variety.
Featured Restaurants: A Closer Look
Here are some of the standout healthy food restaurants in and around the Kendall area, each offering a unique dining experience:
Ghee - Downtown Dadeland: Ghee stands out as a healthy restaurant because it offers a variety of dishes made with fresh and authentic Indian ingredients. Reviewers consistently highlight the freshness of the food, noting its authentic flavors. The restaurant also caters to various dietary needs, with vegan and gluten-free options available. Ghee prides itself on traditional Indian home cooking, utilizing local artisan purveyors for its ingredients, ensuring a high-quality and flavorful dining experience.
True Food Kitchen: True Food Kitchen operates on the principle that food can be both crave-able and beneficial for your health. Their scratch-made, chef-crafted menu focuses on seasonal ingredients, bold flavors, and responsibly sourced produce and proteins. From grass-fed burgers and sourdough crust pizzas to curated bowls, salads, vibrant cocktails, and shareable dishes, every item is designed to promote togetherness, joy, and complete satisfaction. True Food Kitchen is an ideal spot for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch, offering a chance to discover how good real food can be.
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Mamey: Located inside THesis Hotel Miami, Mamey offers an island-inspired menu featuring vibrant dishes and creative cocktails. It provides a relaxed, oasis-like setting for guests. Mamey focuses on delivering unique flavors and a memorable dining experience, complemented by the convenience of complimentary parking for diners.
CRAFT: CRAFT restaurants aim to provide a modern and casual atmosphere, suitable for breakfast, lunch meetings, after-work gatherings, or weekend family brunches. Their signature Neapolitan pizzas pair perfectly with craft beers, creating a great combination for socializing with friends. CRAFT Restaurants prides itself on excellent service, striving to make every customer feel like a regular by providing a warm welcome, attending to every detail, and serving delicious food at each location.
Old Lisbon Restaurants: Located in Sunset South Miami, Old Lisbon Restaurants invites you to savor the flavors of Portugal. Since 1991, this family-owned establishment has offered a diverse menu of Portuguese specialties, including seafood, codfish dishes, steaks, and vegetarian options. Completing the culinary journey, traditional Portuguese desserts are a must-try.
Sokai Sushi Bar: Sokai Sushi Bar offers a casual fine dining experience, specializing in eclectic Japanese and Peruvian cuisine with a focus on warm hospitality. They pride themselves on original fusions, offering an ever-evolving menu of long-time favorites made with top-quality seasonal ingredients. Sokai differentiates itself from traditional Japanese and Peruvian cuisine by creating innovative flavors that enhance the palate. The restaurant is committed to using artisanal foods and crafting stocks, sauces, entrees, and pastries from scratch daily, while also supporting local producers for wine, produce, seafood, and other ingredients.
Los Félix: Los Félix celebrates the vibrant spirit of Mexican cuisine through the ancestral wisdom of Milpa farming, honoring the connection between land and self. The kitchen features native ingredients like heirloom corn, cacao, chiles, and squash, prepared in their in-house Molino where maíz is cooked and ground daily for tortillas made from scratch. Helmed by Chef Sebastián Vargas, Los Félix has earned a MICHELIN Star for excellence and a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainability. The restaurant offers a journey from Milpa to mesa, where each dish tells a story and every bite carries intention, with weekend DJ sets adding to the lively atmosphere.
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Zucca: Located in Coral Gables, Zucca specializes in artisanal Italian homemade cuisine. The restaurant is known for its authentic Italian dishes and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence multiple times.
Zitz Sum: Zitz Sum, a 30-seat seasonal restaurant in Coral Gables, offers a story of resilience, passion, and commitment through its food and service. Their menu reflects Chef’s experiences and affinity for Japanese ingredients and techniques. With an A la carte menu that changes with the seasons and a weekly changing Seven Course Tasting Menu, Zitz Sum provides playful snacks, bites, and signature dishes in a family-style format. The restaurant has received a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award for 2022, 2023 & 2024, and was a James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2022, as well as a New York Times 2022 Best 50 Restaurants in America.
Carrot Express: A Local Favorite in Downtown Dadeland
Carrot Express in Downtown Dadeland is a prime example of a restaurant that caters to the health-conscious community in Kendall. Understanding that families in Kendall value wellness and balance, Carrot Express has created a space where everyone can enjoy healthy food without sacrificing flavor. When locals search for "a healthy restaurant near me," Carrot Express is a go-to destination, combining wholesome ingredients with creative recipes that appeal to a wide range of tastes and dietary preferences.
Their menu includes classics like the Caesar Salad, which combines crisp romaine and nutrient-rich kale, topped with homemade croutons and parmesan cheese. A customer favorite is the Salmon Buddha Bowl, a powerhouse of flavor and nutrition served with brown rice or quinoa, fresh cabbage, edamame, corn, broccoli crowns, and roasted carrots. Beyond bowls and salads, the Kendall location offers refreshing smoothies, hearty wraps, and numerous healthy options for various lifestyles. Carrot Express is designed with families in mind, providing healthy food that both kids and parents appreciate, making it a valued part of the Kendall community.
Navigating to Healthy Options in Kendall
Finding these healthy dining options is made easier with specific directions to locations like True Food Kitchen:
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- From US 1 Southbound: Take a right onto SW 136th St, then a left onto the 8800 block.
- From US 1 Northbound: Take a left onto SW 136th St, then a left onto the 8800 block.
- From SW 128th St Eastbound: Take a right onto SW 107th Ave, then a left onto SW 136th St, and finally a left onto the 8800 block.
- From 136th St Westbound: Take a left onto the 8800 block.
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