El Rey De Las Fritas

"The Dish: Frita You can think of a frita as a Cuban burger: a delicious combination of spiced ground beef, sauteed onions, and shoestring fries between cuban bread. And while there are lots of places you can grab one, El Rey De Las Fritas is our favorite. There’s a bit of a rivalry between them and El Mago De Las Fritas, but we’re on the king’s side with this one. Not only did El Rey put the frita on the map in Miami, but El Rey took this Cuban burger and embraced the American tradition of throwing all sorts of toppings at it. You can order your frita with cheese, fried eggs, bacon, sweet plantains, or all of the above. " - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino

"For more than 40 years, people have been flocking to this Little Havana spot for the original frita Cubana, packing all the Cuban-style beef, caramelized onions, and crispy shoestring fries that can fit inside a fluffy Cuban roll. The no-frills diner-style setup offers a feeling of decades past, with most of the burgers and sandwiches ringing in under $5. Complete the meal with some corn or malanga fritters for the proper experience." - Olee Fowler

"The frita—a sort of Cuban burger—is one of those foods you'll only find in Miami. And this place still makes our favorite version in the city. The patty is a blend of beef and pork served with onions and papitas on Cuban bread. The fritas aren’t huge and only about $5 each, so you can easily order so many that you can no longer see the table you're sitting at. If you want something heartier, go with one of their souped-up fritas, which includes versions stuffed with maduros, queso frito, bacon, American cheese, and a fried egg. The Little Havana location is as unpretentious and efficient as a fast food joint, but it’s got way better food and the charm of a classic neighborhood diner." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo

"Frita Original We, personally, do not believe that a burger is a sandwich. But we also don’t believe that a frita is a burger. So rather than sit here like a piece of short-circuiting artificial intelligence, we just decided to include a frita on this guide. Just to be safe. And our favorite version in Miami is from El Rey De Las Fritas. The menu includes eight varieties, but the best is still the frita original: a mixture of spiced beef, chorizo, and onions placed onto a Cuban bun, and then topped with a Dikembe Mutombo-sized handful of crispy potato sticks. " - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino

"As the name implies, this incredibly bright Calle Ocho diner is home to the best fritas in Miami. They have eight versions of the Cuban hamburger here, which come with everything from a fried egg to plantains and fried cheese. But we prefer to keep it simple with the original: spiced meat, onions, a Cuban bun, and enough potato sticks to create a tiny replica of the Eiffel Tower." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo