Julia & Henry’s: This Miami Food Hall Delivers Sublime International Flavors

Forbes Lifestyle Travel Julia & Henry’s: This Miami Food Hall Delivers Sublime International Flavors Laurie Werner Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I cover singular, luxury travel and food experiences around the world Following Jun 22, 2023, 11:14pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin King Salmon at J. Wong Ceviche Bar, one of the food offerings at Miami’s Julia & Henry’s.

Julia & Henry’s “The day we opened, there were 250 people on line, the line curled all the way around the block. ” It was a fresh memory, since this food stall manager was only summoning the image from nine days earlier when Julia & Henry’s (named for Miami’s founder Julia Tuttle and pioneering developer Henry Flagler) opened in downtown Miami on June 3 rd . And since this was a stormy Monday night, not what anyone would consider a prime going out night, in a darkened business neighborhood with no foot traffic and the tri level food hall was packed to the rafters with diners sampling the 26 exhibitors’ fare, there was no reason to doubt what he was saying.

The wine tower surrounded by food stalls at Julia & Henry’s. Julia & Henry’s Food halls in Miami, and other cities, are obviously not a new phenomenon. But there’s something special about this one in which some of Miami’s most celebrated chefs are branching out into different offerings than the ones offered at their main restaurants.

No less an international superstar than Massimo Bottura of Italy’s three Michelin star Osteria Francescana has also signed on with a version of his more casual Torno Subito , currently on view in Dubai, set to open on the rooftop toward the end of the year. The array of different cuisines is impressive and it’s doubling as an entertainment center with DJs and live music on different days, a bar and “sound room” Jolene in the basement and recording studios in the works as part of floors four and five. Even before those settle in, the sound system is pretty robust—a warning to those who like their dining establishments quiet.

The steak sandwich at Michelle Bernstein’s Luncheria Julia & Henry’s The food is definitely worth trying, though, even in takeout form if the sound is overwhelming. Local chef Michelle Bernstein , a decades long Miami food scene luminary, is represented with two stalls. Luncheria is dedicated to the multi-ethnic Latino culture, which she personally experienced through her background.

“It is inspired by everything that this town represents to locals and visitors alike,” she says. “I fondly recall childhood memories of the delectable sandwiches that I ate at Cuban friends’ parties, the delicious Spanish, Cuban and Argentine food we ate at home and out. It all has a place here, in my soul and on our menu.

” That menu ranges from French Toast pastelito filled with guava and queso on the all day breakfast list to a succulent steak sandwich with churrasco, onions, melting cheese and papitas (potato chips), catch of the day fish filet a la plancha with garlic gravy, avocado, coconut rice and refried beans and churros with Mexican chocolate dipping sauce. A spinoff of the popular fried chicken from her restaurant Michy’s also makes an appearance at Michy’s Chicken Shack. MORE FOR YOU ‘A New Wave’—Major Bank Reveals A $15 Trillion Earthquake Could Be Headed For The Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, XRP, Cardano, Dogecoin, Tron, Solana And Polygon Price Elon Musk And Mark Zuckerberg Vow To Fight In Cage Match (Seriously) Today’s ‘Quordle’ Answers And Clues For Thursday, June 22 Chicken Lo Mein at Sankuay.

Julia & Henry’s Peruvian chef Xarles Thomson is also represented by two concepts: the ground floor J. Wong Ceviche Bar and Sankuay on the balcony. At J.

Wong Ceviche Bar , the ceviches, crudos and tiraditos feature sparkling fresh fish from King Salmon to Mahi Mahi along with raw bar crab, oysters and clams; tapas include shrimp tempura, salmon tartare and Peruvian seafood paella. Sankuay fuses Cantonese Chinese cuisine with Peruvian in dishes such as roasted duck with soy sauce, five spices and honey and a substantial, luscious Lo Mein with chicken, pork or vegetables that will forever banish the tepid versions at neighborhood Chinese takeouts. Duck a l’Orange gyozas at Hitchihaika.

Julia & Henry’s Elsewhere, there are Jewish/Middle Eastern specialties such as babaganoush, falafel and shakshuka at Mensch by Argentinian chef Tomás Kalika , a perennial of the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America lists. Hitchihaika by Jose Mendin and Jorge Mijangos of the popular Pubbelly Sushi features the Japanese dumplings gyozas filled with flavors from around the world such as duck a l’orange, pastrami, and chicken carbonara. The two also create international spins on Wagyu burgers such as La Parisienne with onion confit, gruyere melt and thyme aioli and Big Kahuna with kimchee, charred pineapple, hoisin glaze, Hawaiian sauce and house pickles at June .

Authentic ramen is on offer at Shimuja by chef Keiichi Maemura, pizza and pasta at Battubelin and authentic tacos at Karla Hoyos ’ Tacotomia . Brownie cake at OMG Brigadeiros. Julia & Henry’s An international wine bar is contained in the three story tall central tower La Epoca named for the retail store that once occupied this site.

Craft cocktails are the offerings at the bar The Lasseter and craft beers at Boxelder . Desserts are also a significant presence from the chocolate gift shop OMG Brigadeiros to a local staple key lime pie at Fookem’s Fabulous and the renowned French patisserie Yann Couvreur . But the biggest line and the most enticing aromas are at this latest Florida branch of Puffles at which ice cream concoctions are loaded into Hong Kong egg waffles that are baked on the spot with sauces and toppings such as Oreos, peanuts or gummy bears added.

No one, even those who have overeaten at the various stalls, can resist. Follow me on Twitter . Laurie Werner Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.