Top 5 Places to Eat Near El Portal

Zelda's Kitchen

533 NE 83rd St, El Portal, Miami, FL 33138

✅ Takeout - ✅ Pick-Up - ✅ Delivery - ✅ Outdoor Dining

If you're craving Mediterranean, this green food truck might be exactly what you're looking for.

Welcome to Zelda's Kitchen, a trove of Turkish-inspired Mediterranean street food right in El Portal! 

Offering a mix of comforting classics and lighter, fresh options, Zelda's Kitchen features appetizers, salads, sandwiches, finger bites, and sides, all easy to mix, match, and share.

Meat-eaters can dig into hearty pita wraps, seasoned rice plates, and savory kebabs, while plant-based diners aren't left out, thanks to vegan-friendly options such as falafel, lentil dishes, vegetable-forward bowls, and flexible Mediterranean sides that make your order extra filling!

Everything at Zelda's Kitchen is made fresh and by hand, keeping the focus on simple ingredients, traditional flavors, and food meant to be enjoyed casually—right by the truck or to-go.

The Citadel

8300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33138

✅ Takeout - ✅ Dine-in - ✅ Delivery - ✅ Outdoor Dining

Delicious food that fits any mood, a social crowd you won't get enough of, and skyline views that can lead your feed — The Citadel Miami brings it all together just a 2-minute bike ride or a much-needed 6-minute walk from El Portal.

Built as a multi-level food hall and gathering space, The Citadel takes inspiration from international food markets and local community hubs, putting its own stamp on the experience by allowing visitors the freedom to eat, drink, and linger without having to settle for one cuisine.

Downstairs, you’ll find a rotating lineup of local vendors offering a wide range of flavors, starting  with Italian plates like burrata, charcuterie, and carpaccio from Bottega Borti, pivoting to sushi rolls and hand rolls from Maki-San, or cozy Caribbean flavors such as honey jerk chicken and plantains from Manjay. 

Seafood lovers will love Miami Shores Fish Market for their fish tacos, chowders, and grilled fish, while Pho Sho guarantees hot bowls of pho when you're feeling under the weather, or really, just because. 

There are also customizable poke bowls from Poke San, burgers and classic American favorites from USBS Express, wraps and handhelds from The Wrap Man, and an anything-goes mix of pizza, pasta, burgers, smoothies, and breakfast options from Two Brothers. 

For something sweet or lighter, Doña Posada Bakery offers pastries, smoothies, wellness bowls, and desserts. To tie it all together, enjoy crafted cocktails from the bar!

Upstairs, Vista takes you to a rooftop that opens up with tiered seating, greenery, and mesmerizing skyline views, along with more cocktails served in a setting that works perfectly for sunset hangs, group meetups, and photos that you just want to post on Instagram ASAP.

Need we say more?

Pastamarket

209 NE 82nd Terrace, Miami, FL 33138

✅ Takeout - ✅ Dine-in - ✅ Delivery - ✅ Outdoor Dining

Coat your taste buds in classic Italian comfort at Pastamarket, just a 2-minute bike ride or 8-minute walk from El Portal.

Created from Maurizio’s vision, who was raised in Naples surrounded by home kitchens and long-standing Italian traditions, Pastamarket reflects a deep respect for authentic cooking and genuine hospitality in a space rooted in consistency, care, and the simple pleasure of food done well.

And as you may have guessed, handcrafted pasta is the heart of the menu, with fresh noodles and sauces prepared in-house, led by popular choices, like Fettuccine Bolognese, Rigatoni Amatriciana, Paccheri Genovese, and Gnocchi Sorrentina, along with non-pasta highlights such as grilled octopus, eggplant parmigiana, salads, pizzas, and other well-known Italian specialties, including desserts.

True to its name, Pastamarket also functions as a market, offering uncooked fresh pasta sold by the pound, cured meats, cheeses, and pantry staples—everything you need to bring their flavors into your own kitchen using the right ingredients.

Oh, and don't worry; they also offer classes if you're a first-time chef.

Pinch Kitchen + Bar

8601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

✅ Takeout - ✅ Dine-in - ✅ Delivery - ✅ Outdoor Dining

Rooted in a commitment to doing right by food, Pinch Kitchen + Bar, owned by Chef John Gallo, sits just 3 minutes from El Portal and serves contemporary American fare guided by the belief, "When quality is paramount, compromise is not an option." 

That attention to detail shows up throughout the experience, from a carefully curated lineup of boutique wines and craft beers to a farm-forward approach that highlights fresh, homegrown vegetables and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

Think plant-based plates and filling meals paired with bottomless mimosas on a menu that offers plenty of reasons to indulge, including standout dishes like K-Town Guac and ceviche, PEI mussels, skirt steak, wild calamari, organic chicken, daily fish selections, rotating pasta offerings, and the crowd-favorite Pinch burger.

With its open kitchen, inviting atmosphere, and mix of cozy touches and eclectic decor, this throwback-style restaurant is not that easy to forget.

So, if you're spending time near Biscayne Boulevard and looking for a dependable spot to eat and drink well, Pinch Kitchen + Bar is worth adding to the rotation.

Ms. Cheezious

7956 NE 4th Ave, Miami, FL 33138

✅ Takeout - ✅ Dine-in - ✅ Delivery - ✅ Outdoor Dining

Give in to your 'cheesiness' as you find your match at Ms. Cheezious, a dining spot where cheese rules, just 3 minutes from El Portal.

This Miami favorite started on wheels and quickly became one of the area's go-to comfort food destinations, known for taking grilled cheese to creative and hearty places, as seen from their menu that expands into an array of fun, indulgent comfort classics that feel familiar and satisfying each time.

At Ms. Cheezious, cheesy sandwiches are the headline, with inventive twists like the Grilled Blue & Bacon (crispy bacon with creamy blue cheese), the Frito Pie Melt (house chili, American cheese, jalapeños, onions, and Fritos), and the Mackin’ Melt featuring gooey mac 'n' cheese with bacon. 

And boy, are we just getting started!

Ms. Cheezious also features Crabby Cheese Melt with real crab salad, the Goat Cheese & Prosciutto, and bold choices like Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle Melt and Short Rib Melt among others, along with comfort sides and additions like creamy mac n' cheese, chili cheese fries, buffalo chicken wings, burgers, salads, and hand-spun milkshakes — all served with that playful, over-the-top vibe that made it a standout.

Whether you're in the mood for ooey-gooey classics or something bold and worth the extra pounds, Ms. Cheezious has your comfort food in the bag, complete with personality and plenty of cheesy charm.