During the pandemic, I explored the Miami neighborhood of West Miami. Happy Wine Calle Ocho is situated smack dab in the middle between Luis Galindo Latin American and El Mago de las Fritas on 8th Street.
A few friends of mine enjoy Happy Wine Calle Ocho as it not only works as a Spanish tapas bar but also as a wine shop with a large selection. My paternal grandmother, La Gallega, was from Spain, and she would have loved this spot.
We pull up a couple of chairs in the very eclectic dining area, which exists in the middle of the walls lined with wine for sale. No wine for me, however; I’m a sangria kinda fella.
Start with Tapas
Happy Wine Calle Ocho‘s menu is shareable. It’s primarily tapas (small plates), which are right up our alley, so we eat a variety of different dishes. Over a handful of visits, we’ve worked our way through the menu. The specials are paper-clipped to the main menu and should receive your attention as well.
Pan con Tomate con Jamon Iberico were the first things that caught my eye. Imagine chopped-up rustic bread with olive oil, tomato, and delicious ham slivers from the coveted black-hooved Iberico pigs.
No tapas menu is complete without Chistorras, delectable Basque-style sausages cooked with red wine.
Jamón (ham), bacalao (codfish), or Manchego cheese are the available croqueta options. I’m a ham-o-lic, so I stick to the jamón and occasionally dabble in Machego cheese.
But, the Spanish Omelet with potatoes (Tortilla Española de patatas) is where I lose my mind and all self-control. La Gallega would make tortillas for me as a kid when she’d visit. My Dad, in turn, also learned how to make them.
Getting back to the Tortilla Española, I may share a slice at Happy Wine Calle Ocho, but we always take an entire tortilla home. Don’t get it twisted; half is for us, and the other half is for my parents.
Now, if we’re with a larger group, then a tabla is in order. My favorite charcuterie board has the Pata Negra ham, Manchego cheese, olives, and crusty baguette with garlic.
Paninis and Sandwichitos
There are currently nine panini sandwiches on the menu, but my favorite is the No̲. 1 Manchego and Chorizo Cantimpalo. It’s a beautifully pressed sandwich with Manchego cheese, chorizo cantimpalo, and tomatoes. Please don’t ask me to share this one cause I won’t!
I don’t think the Pulled Pork Sanwichito is a regular menu item anymore, but it deserves an honorary mention regardless. We’re talking 9 hours of house-smoked pulled pork, pickles, and BBQ sauce on a brioche bread.
Just like its sanwichito sibling, the Fried Chicken is a mastodon of a sandwich. This crispy chicken thigh sandwich on brioche bread is filled with bacon, tomatoes, baby arugula, and Carolina-style mustard BBQ sauce.
And Desserts?
If I’m with Marcela, we share a slice of the Torta de Santiago, a Spanish almond cake. It pairs perfectly with an espresso.
When I’m alone or in a larger group, the churros become the dessert of choice.
Marcela and I don’t visit Happy Wine Calle Ocho as often as we should. But when we do, we enjoy the music, vibes, and food.
Happy Wine Calle Ocho
5792 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL
(305) 262-2465
Website – https://www.happywinemiami.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/happywinecalle8
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/miamihappywine
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm