It’s no secret that restaurants have been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food halls are no exception. These venues, known for their large crowds and abundant vendors, have seen quite a few changes over the past few months. They’ve lost tenants and gained new ones, and some—like Time Out Market—remain closed. Here are some of the latest developments at a few of your favorite Miami food halls:
1-800-Lucky
Wynwood’s popular Asian food hall has welcomed some new additions to its diverse roster. Gold Marquess has made the trek from Broward to provide the 305 with flavorful Chinese cuisine. Peking duck is one of the biggest draws at the booth, where you can get it on its own or in fried rice or bao buns. Another can’t miss are the crispy chicken wings, which come with your choice of sauce (we recommend spicy sesame for some kick).
The most recent newcomer, Tam Tam, focuses on Vietnamese bites like spring rolls, papaya salad, and banh mi. There are also Vietnamese takes on iced coffee and elote. The one thing that’s making headlines, though, is the fried chicken sandwich. With twice-fried buttermilk chicken and caramelized fish sauce, the sandwich is impossible to put down.
With the increased focus on takeout and delivery, certain vendors are offering interactive at-home specials. Yip, 1-800-Lucky’s dumpling shop, now offers frozen dumplings to go. Cook them at your convenience; the kits come with bamboo baskets, tea, and a few other goodies. Live music is also making a comeback with regular DJ sets. Karaoke, however, is still on hold for the foreseeable future.
The Citadel
The Citadel has seen the most changes on this list. Among the biggest news is the addition of Frice Cream. A staple on dessert menus across the city, Frice Cream now has its own booth within the Little Haiti food hall. The booth replaces former dessert tenant Bianco Gelato and provides guests with scoops, milkshakes, and other signature desserts. Some of the available flavors are crème fraiche, funfetti cake batter, and passionfruit almond brittle, all of which are also available by the pint.
Visitors will also notice that the rooftop looks a little different. That’s because Wynwood’s Beaker & Gray has taken it over. The restaurant and bar’s menu is much more condensed here but no less delicious. Cocktails range from traditional to whimsical, and there’s an extensive selection to choose from; expect to see some familiar names from the original menu. Don’t expect to find any Beaker & Gray food, however. The concept is leaving the food to other vendors like Society BBQ, Ash! Pizza Parlor and Manjay.
More new faces will be making an appearance soon. Come September, United States Burger Service is setting up shop at the food hall. USBS made a name for itself at Boxelder in Wynwood, where it would pop up on the weekends regularly. The burger spot’s claim to fame: punny burgers galore. Previous offerings included the “Don’t Forget to Caul Your Mom” with cauliflower and the “Grit Er Done” with—you guessed it—grits.
Politan Row
After shutting down completely earlier in the quarantine, Politan Row in the Design District is back. Not all the vendors have reopened yet. Notable losses include the Asian concept Yuzu, Chef Chloe & The Vegan Café, and the crowd favorite Itamae, the latter of which is opening its own spot across from the food hall later this year.
Fortunately, Dal Plin (Italian), Hot Lime (tacos), Jaffa (Israeli), and Tran An (Vietnamese) haven’t gone anywhere, and guests can still get their caffeine fix at Sabal Coffee. Newcomer Osom Crepes has joined the lineup to provide savory and sweet versions of the namesake food. Programming is also on its way back with happy hours as well as live music on Friday evenings.
