Ah, croquetas…Those deep-fried morsels of bechamel-y goodness…what would we do without them?
They’re a great pick-me-up with a bit of lime and saltines, they pair up perfectly with a cafecito, and they’re probably the best snack we’ve ever tried. We simply couldn’t imagine life here in Miami without them… seriously they’re so popular Miami-Dade County even declared October 1 as Official Croqueta Day!
That’s why we simply could not go without dedicating to them their very own Secret Miami round-up. So without further ado here are the top places in which to grab croquetas here in Miami!
1. Sergio’s, multiple locations
Without Sergio’s, we wouldn’t really have Croqueta Day in the first place… Miami-Dade first made Croqueta Day official back in 2018 in celebration of this famous restaurant chain selling its 20 millionth croqueta! With 7 locations throughout South Florida, Sergio’s is one of the most emblematic Cuban spots in Miami. Their specialty is croqueta de jamón but at Sergio’s, you’ll also find other delicious flavors like chorizo, chicken and codfish, all fried to golden perfection!
This year in honor of Croqueta Day and its 46th anniversary Sergio’s will be attempting to cook the world’s longest croqueta and you’re invited to be part of this once in a lifetime experience!
2. Islas Canarias, Tamiami
If we owe Sergio’s for Croqueta Day, we owe Islas Canaria the fact Miami-Dade County is also now known as “Croqueta County.” An absolute staple of Miami’s Cuban cuisine, some say Islas Canarias offers the absolute best croquetas in town! Islas Canarias revolutionized Miami with its croquetas back in the 70s and is nowadays an expert on the croqueta subject. The restaurant’s croquetas de jamón excel above the rest but their fish, chicken and beef croquetas are not far behind!
Find it at 13695 SW 26th St, Miami, FL 33175.
3. Dos Croquetas, Olympia Heights
If you’re more of an unconventional croqueta lover then Dos Croquetas is probably the spot for you. While you’ll be able to enjoy some jamón croquetas too, this spot specializes on unconventional flavors such as spicy buffalo, street corn, and cheddar burger — It even has dessert croquetas filled with Oreo and Fruity Pebbles!
Find it at 10505 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165.
4. Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop, Wynwood
Known for its café con leche, Enriqueta’s also sells some of the best Cuban sandwiches in the city, so obviously you can’t go without trying their Cubano preparado con croquetas if you’re looking to satisfy your croqueta cravings. But if you rather enjoy their croquetas solo, these certainly won’t disappoint.
Find it at 186 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 33137.
5. Chug’s Diner, Coconut Grove
Chef Michael Beltran’s spot specializes in traditional ham croquetas made completely from scratch. Made with freshly ground ham seasoned with Beltran’s personal blend of sazon completa, these gorgeous cylindrical creations are hand-rolled and breaded one by one and each batch can take up to 4 days to make!
Find it at 3444 Main Hwy Suite 21, Miami, FL 33133.