Fort Lauderdale is a popular oceanside city in Florida that attracts thousands of tourists every year. Just 25 miles from Miami, it enjoys its fair share of beachfront property and beautiful sunsets as well as attractions to visit. Another thing Fort Lauderdale is popular for is its variety of excellent eateries.
Of course, seafood is a popular choice in a seaside town, but you can also find some of the best Mexican cuisine, Asian eateries, burger joints, and great pizzerias as well. You won’t want to bring your luggage or shopping bags to the restaurant, though. Fort Lauderdale has plenty of suitcase storage facilities to drop your bags off at.
Seafood Spots
● Kelly’s Landing
You may be down south, but you can enjoy New England seafood at Kelly’s Landing. They only use the freshest seafood from locals and the casual café makes you feel like you are being served by friends. Some of the favorites include cracked conch with Bohemian sauce, steamed crab, lobster, or shrimp.
● Catfish Deweys
A casual place on the beach to have delicious seafood, Catfish Deweys is a fun and laid-back spot to try. The breaded catfish with hush puppies will remind you of grandma’s fish dinner and the shrimp dinner comes with an entire pound of shrimp that you can get steamed, blackened, grilled, or fried.
● S3 Sun Surf Sand
Whether you want sushi, lobster, or grilled salmon, you can get it done right at S3. The location is on the beach surrounded by the ocean and the upscale but laid-back atmosphere makes S3 one of the favorites with the locals as well as travelers. You can also get lamb shank with turnips, roasted chicken, or ribs.
Mexican Eateries
● El Camino
For some of the best Mexican food in Florida without a big price, El Camino can help you with that. When you see all the locals crowding a place, you know it has to be doing something right. You can get tacos 10 ways from fish to chorizo and six kinds of burritos with brisket, shrimp, or chicken. Delicious!
● The Drunken Taco
The Drunken Taco is a fun place to get some awesome tacos right on the beach. Their nine different types of tacos include Baja chicken, Cuban steak, and Korean barbecue chicken. Or get a fajita platter with fresh peppers and onions. They even have baby back ribs and NY strip steaks.
● El Vez
If you want a fancier experience, El Vez on the beach serves you up in style. The crispy mahi-mahi tacos with avocado and cabbage are amazing, and the adobo grilled chicken is a specialty of theirs. They also have grilled steak, shrimp, and burgers. For dessert, try the watermelon salad with pepitas.
Asian Cuisine
● Casa Sensei
Located on the canal, Casa Sensei has more than just good food. It has character, ambiance, and a beautiful view. Some of their most popular dishes include sashimi salad with mixed greens, grilled octopus and papaya-mango salad, and Korean steak chimichurri with maduros and jasmine rice.
● Asian Bay Sushi Bar & Thai
Overlooking the water, this trendy eatery has indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy the weather and the view with your food. Here you can get sushi rolls in 24 flavors. Try the Crazy salmon skin with asparagus, scallions, and eel covered in eel sauce, or the Dragon with shrimp tempura, asparagus, and avocado.
● Rainbow Palace
Not your average Asian food restaurant, Rainbow Palace has a variety of their own special meals such as NY steak fried with water chestnut flour served on squash, onions, and peppers or the crispy duck with Grand Marnier sauce. The Hunan Rainbow Seafood is also a favorite with lobster, shrimp, and scallops.
Burger Joints
● Tap 42
If you don’t mind paying a bit more for a high-quality burger, try Tap 42’s Prohibition Burger with white cheddar, applewood bacon, and secret sauce. The Truffle Filet Steak Sandwich is also an amazing treat with filet mignon, white cheddar, caramelized onions, and truffle aioli. The crispy fries are great too.
● Hot Diggity Dogs
If you want a burger or hot dog without the big price, check out Hot Diggity Dogs. This cute café has an amazing sirloin burger that you would not expect from a hotdog joint. They also have chicken, fish, and a dozen sides to choose from. And they even have chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
● BurgerFi
BurgerFi was named Best Burger Joint and they deserve it! Try the CEO with brisket burger, swiss, truffle aioli, and bacon-tomato jam, on a double wagyu. And the white cheddar mac & cheeseburger is amazing with cheddar bacon jalapeno mac & cheese. They also have three kinds of vegan burgers.
Pizzerias
● Vito’s Gourmet Pizza
Vito’s is a family-owned restaurant where they prepare everything fresh and delicious. The crowd favorite is the shrimp and chicken pizza, and the Parizzi with broccoli, spinach, and eggplant is popular too. There are also 15 different appetizers, subs, pasta, and zeppoli, cake, or cannoli for dessert.
● Marina Mile Pizzeria
The Marina Mile Pizzeria is more than just pizza, it is a cozy and quaint café with friendly people and fantastic food. The pizza is great, but they also have 10 kinds of pasta, subs, Stromboli, calzones, wings, garlic knots, and salads. For dessert, try their creamy cheesecake or tiramisu.
Whether you eat on the water or inside, all of these eateries are within walking distance to the beach. Be sure to grab your camera out of your luggage before dropping it off at a luggage storage locker. And don’t forget the sunscreen!