Many Things to do in 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. As a matter of fact, if you ever watched the program Burger Land on Travel Channel I snuck in a Westchester mention.

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 let you know what I consider Westchester, from Bird Road (SW 40th St) to Sw 8th St and from the Palmetto Expressway to SW 117th Avenue (Turnpike).

The actual boundaries of Westchester seem to always seem to be changing, read this Miami Herald article from 2000.

My Westchester Bullet Points

• I attended Rockway Elementary School and later on 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).
• During March, we would always go 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 that was on SW 97th Avenue and Coral Way, and an addict was born.
• I would buy pasteles with my late grandfather every Sunday at his favorite spot, La Suiza (still standing).
• One of my grandfather’s all-time favorite spots was Casa Paco which is still around. I’m embarrassed to say I don’t frequent it often since the passing of my Abuelo.
• Even my first business, a little horror-themed movie shop called Oh, The Horror DVD Shoppe, was located in beautiful Westchester.

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. There is no other part of Miami with so many landmark destinations and restaurants.

These six spots are icons if you ask me, and now that you’re here 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 always 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.

I always always always get the chili cheese onion mustard and an All-Around (relish, onion & mustard).

And I always wash those down with an order of the chili cheese fries.

Arbetter’s Food

Frankie’s Pizza

since 1955

You wanna 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 how beautiful it is.

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

Now many years later, I’m still a fan of not only Frankie’s but also of its owners Renee and Roxanne, super cool folks.

I’m in love with the pepperoni slices at Frankie’s, real love not that love at first sight nonsense.

Frankie’s Pizza Food

Nunzio’s Ristorante

since 1974

Nunzio’s has been around forever, or at least the 1970’s. I do remember it being located initially right off of Coral Way and SW 97th Avenue before that crazy fire at Sedano’s in the mid-’80s that did some real damage to their strip mall.

Nunzio’s Food

This place is old school, and it’s like walking into a relative’s living room.

Of course, folks come here for the pizza and pasta dishes, but it’s their dessert, the Zuppetta, which is a grand slam (think an ice cream version of a 3 Musketeers bar).

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.

Rio Cristal’s Food

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 the case. Give me a pan con tortilla, a bistec empanizado, some croquetas and I’m good to go!

Sergio’s Food

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 make a trek here just to have the dim sum.

It’s about time I check it out, don’t you think?

Things to See & 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.

La Tiendecita by Martha of Miami

The South Florida sensation that is Martha of Miami opened her shop right down the street from Arbetter’s. Come by and check out why Martha is the queen of la sagüesera.

Only in Dade

If you’re a really observant Westchester-ian then you know that Only in Dade‘s headquarters are conveniently located between Mojo Donuts and Frankie’s Pizza.

PINCHO

I certainly 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. I’m included by the way!

Pueblito Viejo

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

The BEAST suggests these Westchesters Eats

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

RESTAURANT	DISH
3 Chefs & a Chicken	Chefen
A-Mari Mix	Macho Tacos
Breadman Bakery	Pizza Pastel
CAO Bakery	Guava Pastelitos
Casa Paco	Pata Negra
Cayo Esquivel	Camarones al Ajillo
Chicken Pollo Food Truck	Pica Chicken
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
Moe’z Express	Chicken Maicito
Mojito’s	Chicharrones de Pollo
Mojo Donuts & 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

Watch the Grand Opening of Dos Croquetas

Gone but NOT Forgotten Westchester Restaurants

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
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	Fatty Cow Hot Pot Buffet
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	Pier 1 Imports
Mister Donut	McDonald’s (SW 87th Ave)
Molina	Empty Lot (10995 SW 40th Street)
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	Avenue
Woolworth	Kirkland’s