I Love my Hometown of Westchester in Miami

If you’ve read my blog over the last 12 years for any period or followed me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, I’m sure you’ve noticed my multiple shout-outs to Westchester in Miami, Florida.

In fact, if you ever watched the program Burger Land on Travel Channel, I snuck in a mention of Westchester.

My family moved to Westchester from New York City when I was about a year and a half old. Before I go any further, I should probably tell you what I consider Westchester, from Bird Road (SW 40th Street) to Sw 8th St and from the Palmetto Expressway to SW 117th Avenue (Turnpike).

The actual boundaries of Westchester seem to change constantly; read this 2000 Miami Herald article.

My Westchester Bullet Points

• I attended Rockway Elementary School and later graduated from St. Brendan High School.
• I grew up going to Bird Bowl (still there) on the weekends, riding my bike with my sister at Tropical Park, and watching movies at one of four movie theaters in Westchester (none are left).
• Every March, we went to the Dade County Youth Fair at Tamiami Park, also located in Westchester.
• My family frequented the legendary Lila’s as one of our weekly nights eating out.
• I tried my first croqueta casera (homemade) at the original Latin American on SW 97th Avenue and Coral Way, and a fan was born.
• I would buy pasteles with my late grandfather every Sunday at his favorite spot, La Suiza (still standing).
• Even my first business, a little horror-themed movie shop called Oh, The Horror DVD Shoppe, was located in beautiful Westchester.
• I even did my Burger Popups at the Mojo Donuts in Westchester every 2nd Saturday of the month.

I’m a Westchester guy through and through; I always will be.

Landmark Westchester Restaurants

Here are some of the iconic eating establishments located in Westchester that you NEED to check out. No other part of Miami has so many landmark destinations and restaurants.

These six spots are iconic, if you ask me, and now that you’re reading this, you know it, too.

Arbetter Hot Dogs since 1959

I mean, where do I start? I’ve visited Arbetter’s more than any other restaurant on this list. Whenever I drive by, my car thinks we’re going to Arbetter’s and wants to turn in.

I try to keep the peace by eating there; I don’t want any problems.

The chili onion mustard and an All-Around (relish, onion, and mustard) are my forever order. I wash those down with chili cheese fries.

Frankie’s Pizza since 1955

If you want to talk iconic, now this is the place. And you can’t drive by and not stare up at the sign and reminisce about it and its beauty.

My late godmother would buy us (my sister and I) pizza from Frankie’s as a special weekend treat.

Many years later, I’m still a fan of Frankie’s Pizza and its owners, Renee and Roxanne, cool folks. I’m in love with the pepperoni slices at Frankie’s. It’s real love, not that love-at-first-sight nonsense.

Rio Cristal since 1974

The minute you step into Rio Cristal, you wonder if you’ve walked through a time portal to the early ’80s, but that is part of its charm. Unfortunately, Rio Cristal’s founder, Jose C. Acosta, or Pepe as he was known to all, passed away.

He was also the founder of Lila’s and the creator of one of the most visually arresting dishes in South Florida, the palomilla steak hidden under a mound of papitas, aka #51.

The other must-have is their flan; it’s ridiculous.

Sergio’s since 1975

How much do I love Sergio’s? I don’t think there is a number that reaches that high.

My family and I have been eating at this particular location for what seems like forever, and that’s probably true. Give me a pan con tortilla, a bistec empanizado, some croquetas and I’m good to go!

Tropical Chinese since 1984

I’ve never eaten at Tropical Chinese, but it’s important to include them. I know many people who think this is the best Chinese food in South Florida and trek here just to have the dim sum. It’s about time I check it out.

Things to See and Do in Westchester, Florida

If you’re looking for a few things to do, Westchester has them, and I’m not even counting whatever is going on at Tropical Park and FIU.

Bird Bowl since 1956

I’ve been bowling at Bird Bowl since I could barely put on my shoes. In addition to bowling, Bird Bowl has a game room, a bar, a restaurant, and billiards.

In other words, something for everyone.

PINCHO

I suggest that you grab something to eat while at PINCHO, but make sure to check out the great mural dedicated to the history of Westchester. By the way, I’m included!

Pueblito Viejo

Sure, the Colombian food at Pueblito Viejo is excellent, but the live entertainment on the weekends makes it a must-stop destination.

The BEAST suggests these Westchester Eats

It’s very simple; here are some dishes I suggest you try.

RESTAURANT	DISH
3 Chefs and a Chicken	Chefen
Al Forno	Lasagna
Breadman Bakery	Pizza Pastel
CAO Bakery	Guava Pastelitos
Cayo Esquivel	Camarones al Ajillo
Chifa Du Kang	Chaufa Especial
Don Domingo	Empanadas
Dos Croquetas	Buffalo Crack Croquetas
El Atlakat	Super Antojitos Atlakat
El Chalan	Lomo Saltado
El Floridita	Tostones Rellenos
El Maguey	Enchiladas Suizas
El Palacio de los Jugos	Chicharrones
El Rey de las Fritas	Frita Cubana
Flanigan’s	Texas Burger
Graziano’s	Parillada
Kon Chau	Dim Sum
La Brasa	1/2 Rotisserie Chicken
La Carreta	Cafe con Leche & Tostadas
Le Fournil	Cheese Pastelito
La Sin Rival	Ham Croquetas
Luis Galindo Latin American	Medianoche
Mi Ronconcito Latino	Bistec Milanesa
Mojito’s	Chicharrones de Pollo
Mojo Donuts and Fried Chicken	Apple Fritter
Munchies Cafe	Ham Croquetas
Night Owl Cookies	Ave Maria Cookie
Odaly’s Delight Cafe	Discos Voladores
Party Cake Bakery	Cuban Bread Roll
Punjab Indian Cafe	Curry Chicken
Sarussi Cafe Subs	Sarussi Churrasco Sub
SpecialTEA Lounge	Any of their Baked Goods
Sports Grill	Special Grilled Wings
Taco Rico	Nachos
Tasca de España	Tortilla Española

Gone but NOT Forgotten Westchester Restaurants in Miami

All of these restaurants were at one time located in or had locations in Westchester.

RESTAURANT	CURRENT BUSINESS
A&W Drive-In	Empty Lot (10995 SW 40th Street)
Arthur Treacher’s	El Rinconcito Latino (SW 40th St)
Black Angus	La Carreta
Boston Market	Maspons Funeral Homes
Burger Castle	Chevron (SW 40th St)
Burger Castle	Burger King (SW 87th Ave)
Carvel Ice Cream	La Carreta Strip Mall
Casa Paco	—
Charlie’s Pizza	One Low Price Cleaning
China Maid	Don Pan
Circus Wagon	Don Pan
Dairy Queen	Bird Road Car Accessories
Dinner Maid	Jemay 3D
El Arte Bakery	Navarro Pharmacy (Bird Road)
El Cristo	Senior Center Adult Day Care II
G.A.B.E.’s	1First Bank
Godfather’s Pizza	1First Bank
Hardee’s	Pollo Tropical
Kenny Roger’s Roasters	Cayo Esquivel
Original Latin American	Pasteur Medical Center (Coral Way & 97th Ave)
Islas Canarias	Diced
Latin Cafe 2000	3 Chefs and a Chicken
Lila’s	Walmart
Lila’s	Home Depot
Little Caesar’s	One Low Price Cleaning
Long John Silver’s	El Rinconcito Latino (SW 40th St)
LUMS	APS Institute of South Florida
Mister Donut	McDonald’s (2300 SW 87th Ave)
Molina	Empty Lot (10995 SW 40th Street)
Norman’s Market	Frankie’s Pizza
Nunzio’s	—
Pollo Supremo	El Rinconcito Paisa #4
Pollo Supremo	Rick Gonzalez State Farm Insurance
Rally’s	Checker’s
Rio Cristal II	Sports Grill
Royal Castle	Citibank (SW 40th St)
Royal Castle	CVS Pharmacy
Scott’s Fried Chicken	Cool Beautiful Nails
Shiver’s	El Rinconcito Paisa #4
Sizzler	CAC Florida Medical Center
Sonny’s BBQ	Shorty’s BBQ
Villa Italia	El Floridita
WAG’s/Jerry’s	CVS Pharmacy (Coral Way & 87th Ave)
Westward Ho	Rainbow Shops
Woolworth	Kirkland’s