Where to Eat in Kendall, Miami Restaurants and Bakeries Worth Your Time

Kendall has some of the best food in Miami, and almost none of it looks like much from the street.

Search for where to eat here and you get a pile of mall restaurants, national chains and posts written by apartment complexes. Kendall is big and car-first, so a wrong pick costs you a drive and a parking hunt. Most lists skip addresses, hours and what to order. Some still name restaurants that have closed. Bakeries get a passing mention, even though Kendall's Cuban and French bakeries are where plenty of locals start the day. And you still can't tell whether a place is worth leaving Coral Gables or Miami Beach for.

This guide fixes that. Every pick gets a verdict, an address, what to order and when to go. There is a full bakery chapter, a route down SW 72nd Street, a quick-reference table and three ready-made plans.

Who this is for: Kendall residents and newcomers, families, couples, and visitors staying nearby who want local picks without driving all over the county.

How to use it: Pick your meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert). Pick your crew (family, date, group or solo). Pick how far you will drive. Then use the table below to jump to a shortlist.

A note on how this guide is built: Editorial picks are kept separate from paid Plus and Pro listings in the Miami Goes Local directory. Paid listings are labeled as such. Hours, prices and menus change, so check the day you go.

Quick-Reference Table: Every Pick at a Glance

Filter by type, area and craving before you commit. Verdicts come from recent local guides and each venue's own page. "Yes" means worth the drive. "Maybe" means worth it for the right reason, spelled out in the section below.

Prices: only Karla Cuban Bakery lists a range on its own page ($5 to $10). Check each venue before you go, since prices move.

Own a Kendall restaurant or bakery? Add your business to Miami Goes Local.

Kendall at a Glance: Where the Food Is

Kendall is big, car-first and spread across shopping centers. The smart move is to eat in one area at a time.

It is a suburban community in southwest Miami-Dade, with residential neighborhoods, parks and shopping centers. It is Miami's everyday side, not a beach destination. There is a lot of food here: the Miami Goes Local Kendall local business directory lists 1,218 businesses (count as of October 5, 2026).

Think of it as four eating zones:

• Dadeland and the mall area. Chains and mall dining. One recent source lists The Cheesecake Factory, Texas de Brazil and Earl's Kitchen & Bar here. Treat it as a fallback.
• Town & Country. Home to Pisco y Nazca at The Palms at Town & Country (8405 Mills Dr #260).
• The SW 72nd Street corridor. Most of the independent picks live here. See the route below.
• West Kendall. Apocalypse BBQ (8695 SW 124th Ave), Karla Cuban Bakery (2408 SW 137th Ave), Keik (11735 SW 147th Ave #1) and Bonjour French Bakery (16650 SW 88th St).

Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and Miami Beach are each roughly 15 to 40 minutes away. Traffic varies.

Pick one zone, one bakery and one sit-down meal. Use the table above to choose, then jump to the section you need.

The Best Bakeries in Kendall

Bakeries are where Kendall is strongest. A Cuban bakery is the default way many locals start the day, and the French and dessert-cafe options give you real range.

Pick by style:

Cuban bakeries

Karla Cuban Bakery, 2408 SW 137th Ave. Go here first. It opens at 6 a.m. daily and closes at 8 p.m., so you do not have to wait for mid-morning. The signature is the guava pastelito. Croquetas, coffees and sandwiches round out the counter. The venue's page lists a $5 to $10 range. Order the pastelitos, add a cafecito, and check the hours on its page before you drive.

CAO Bakery, 9753 SW 72nd St. Order the croquetas, then look at the sandwiches. The Frita Chopped Cheese is the one that gets named. It sits on the SW 72nd Street run, so pair it with other stops there.

Sunset Bakery Cafe, 8788 SW 72nd St. Housemade croquetas and ham-and-cheese bocaditos. Verdict: maybe. Worth it if you are already on SW 72nd. Skip the detour if you are not.

Party Cake Bakery, 10000 SW 56th St. Cuban bread rolls (pan bolita), plus guava and meat pastelitos. Verdict: maybe. Worth it if it is on your way. Otherwise pick Karla or CAO.

Two more names come up in Cuban bakery guides: Chantilly (12618 SW 8th St) and Pinecrest Bakery (12101 S Dixie Hwy). Both sit outside core Kendall, so they are not part of this guide. Check the address before you go.

French bakery

Bonjour French Bakery, 16650 SW 88th St. Baguettes and petite desserts are the draw. It serves breakfast through dinner. Hours are Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can order ahead on its own site.

To be clear, it is a small local chain with four South Florida locations. The verdict rests on quality, not rarity. Verdict: yes.

Dessert cafe

Keik, 11735 SW 147th Ave #1. A pink, photo-friendly cafe that started as a bakery. The menu runs all day, it takes reservations (subject to capacity and weekend restrictions), and whole cakes are by pre-order. Open daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Verdict: maybe. Worth it for a dessert stop, a celebration cake or a group photo. Skip it if you want a traditional bakery breakfast.

Pastelito or croissant?

• Quick, cheap, savory and sweet? Cuban bakery.
• Sit-down pastry and coffee? Bonjour.
• Cake and a photo? Keik.
• Early start? Karla at 6 a.m.
• On SW 72nd already? CAO or Sunset.

Find more bakeries and cafes on Miami Goes Local

Where to Eat in Kendall by Craving

Kendall's best independent food is Latin and Asian, served in plain shopping centers. One regional guide notes that Latin and Asian cuisines dominate the dining scene, and that matches the picks below.

The list is ordered by craving, not alphabetically. Each "maybe" comes with a "skip if" line.

Latin: Peruvian, Colombian, Cuban

Pisco y Nazca, 8405 Mills Dr #260 (The Palms at Town & Country). Order the ceviche and the lomo saltado. It works from brunch to happy hour, which makes it easy to fit into a day. Verdict: yes.

Fonda Sabaneta, 10855 SW 72nd St. Colombian fried fish with tostones, plus empanadas. A casual walk-in place. Verdict: maybe. Worth it if you want a quick, hearty Colombian plate. Skip it if you want a polished dinner.

El Tambo Grill, 7118 SW 117th Ave. Peruvian rotisserie chicken, and takeout friendly. Verdict: maybe. Worth it for a quick takeout dinner. Skip it if you want to sit and linger.

Vegan Cuban Cuisine, 9640 SW 72nd St. Plant-based Cuban. One guide mentions a jackfruit cubano and croquetas, with outdoor seating in the parking lot. Verdict: maybe. Best for plant-based diners and mixed groups. Skip it if everyone wants the traditional version.

Asian: dim sum and Japanese

South Garden, 10855 SW 72nd St. Dim sum every day, with push carts in a family-style dining room. Go on a weekday lunch if you can. Verdict: yes.

Shibui, 10139 SW 72nd St. A long-established Japanese spot known for sukiyaki, in a retro loft setting. Verdict: maybe. Worth it for the setting and the classics. Skip it if you want sushi-bar energy.

Jamaica Kitchen, 8736 SW 72nd St. Chinese-Jamaican takeout in a strip mall. Think jerk chicken and patties. Verdict: maybe. A strip-mall find worth a stop if you are already nearby. Skip it if you want a table.

Indian: the Bib Gourmand pick

Ghee Indian Kitchen, 8965 SW 72nd Pl. Contemporary Indian with Miami influences and local farm ingredients. It is listed as Kendall's 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand pick, according to Miami & Beaches. This is the date-night pick. Verdict: yes.

Barbecue, sandwiches and breakfast

Apocalypse BBQ, 8695 SW 124th Ave. Ribs, wings and meat platters. One local guide recommends weekday lunch. Verdict: yes. (A second guide places it in Kendall Village Shopping Center, so confirm the address.)

Best Sub Shop, 9802 SW 77th Ave. Old-school hot subs from a family-run shop that has been around for nearly 50 years. Verdict: yes.

Bagel Express, 11616 N Kendall Dr. Old-school bagels with lox. Verdict: maybe. Worth it for a bagel breakfast. Skip it if you came for Cuban bakery food.

What to skip

Skip the mall chains unless you are already at Dadeland and out of options. They are a fallback, not a reason to drive here.

Also check that a place is still open before you go. Lists go stale. One guide dated November 19, 2025 marks Cafe Oriental as permanently closed, and it still turns up on older lists.

Eat Your Way Down SW 72nd Street

If you only have one afternoon, spend it on SW 72nd Street. Most of Kendall's independent spots sit within a few miles of each other along this corridor.

This is a driving route, not a walking tour. Pick two or three stops, not eight.

Stops run in street-number order:

1. Jamaica Kitchen, 8736 SW 72nd St. Chinese-Jamaican takeout. Jerk chicken and patties.
2. Sunset Bakery Cafe, 8788 SW 72nd St. Croquetas and ham-and-cheese bocaditos.
3. Ghee Indian Kitchen, 8965 SW 72nd Pl. The Bib Gourmand dinner stop.
4. Vegan Cuban Cuisine, 9640 SW 72nd St. Plant-based Cuban.
5. CAO Bakery, 9753 SW 72nd St. Croquetas and sandwiches.
6. Shibui, 10139 SW 72nd St. Sukiyaki and Japanese classics.
7. South Garden and Fonda Sabaneta, 10855 SW 72nd St. Dim sum and Colombian fried fish, side by side.

Three pairings to try:

• Bakery, then dim sum. A pastry stop at CAO, then lunch at South Garden.
• Snack, then dinner. A croqueta stop, then Ghee in the evening.
• Plant-based afternoon. Vegan Cuban Cuisine plus a bakery coffee.

Dietary Needs and Special Occasions

Start here if you have a specific need. One pick per line.

• Plant-based: Vegan Cuban Cuisine, 9640 SW 72nd St. Ghee Indian Kitchen may also suit vegetarians, but check the menu first.
• Family meal: South Garden's dim sum (shareable plates from the carts), Apocalypse BBQ (platters you can split), or Best Sub Shop (quick and simple).
• Date night: Ghee Indian Kitchen or Pisco y Nazca. Check reservation options, especially Friday and Saturday.
• Sweet stop or celebration cake: Keik (pre-order whole cakes) or Bonjour (custom cakes are listed on its page).
• Quick lunch: Best Sub Shop or El Tambo Grill (takeout friendly).
• Early breakfast: Karla (opens 6 a.m.) or Bonjour (7 a.m. Monday to Saturday).

Dietary details change. Gluten-free, halal and kosher options are not covered here because they need to be confirmed menu by menu. Call ahead for allergies. Do not rely on a menu page alone.

Three Ready-Made Kendall Food Plans

Each plan stays in one zone, because crossing Kendall is the real cost. Keep it to three stops at most, and leave a gap between a bakery run and a sit-down meal.

Plan 1: The West Kendall morning bakery crawl

1. Karla Cuban Bakery (opens 6 a.m. daily). Order a guava pastelito and a coffee.
2. Bonjour French Bakery (7 a.m. Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday). Order a baguette or a small pastry.
3. Optional: Keik (opens 9 a.m. daily). Only if you want a dessert-cafe finish.

Swap: Raining or traveling with kids? Skip the third stop and order ahead at Bonjour.

Plan 2: Sunday family lunch

1. Lunch: Apocalypse BBQ, 8695 SW 124th Ave. Share a meat platter.
2. Dessert: Keik, 11735 SW 147th Ave #1. Pre-order a whole cake if you need one for the week.

Both stops are in West Kendall. Confirm Sunday hours for each before you go.

Swap: Want dim sum instead? Move the whole plan to SW 72nd Street: South Garden for lunch, then a bakery coffee at CAO.

Plan 3: Date night

1. Dinner: Ghee Indian Kitchen, 8965 SW 72nd Pl. Book ahead for Friday or Saturday.
2. Earlier, optional: a croqueta and coffee stop on SW 72nd Street, such as CAO or Sunset.

Prefer Peruvian? Swap Ghee for Pisco y Nazca at Town & Country and keep the evening there. Check reservation options and last seating times.

Swap: Want a sweet finish? Make Keik its own trip. It is in West Kendall, so do not tack it onto an evening on SW 72nd.

[Before publishing: run each plan yourself and add the date, drive times and how long each stop took (for example, "I ran this plan in October 2026"). If a plan has not been run, do not publish it.]

Getting Around, Parking and Ordering Ahead

Kendall is car-first. Plan on a car or a rideshare, and group your stops by zone.

• Ordering ahead: Bonjour and Keik both take online orders through their own pages. Keik also takes reservations (subject to capacity and weekend restrictions) and whole-cake pre-orders.
• Hours (as listed on each venue's page, researched October 5, 2026): Karla, daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bonjour, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Keik, daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check the same day, especially on Sundays and holidays.
• Parking: Check each venue's page before you drive. Do not assume it is free or easy.
• Closures and changes: Spot something closed, moved or changed? Tell us. Business owners can claim your listing to keep details current.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bakery in Kendall?

There is no single winner. For Cuban pastelitos, start with Karla Cuban Bakery, which opens at 6 a.m. daily. For French baguettes and desserts, try Bonjour French Bakery.

What is the best restaurant in Kendall?

Ghee Indian Kitchen is listed as Kendall's Michelin Bib Gourmand pick for 2026. It serves contemporary Indian food with local farm ingredients at 8965 SW 72nd Pl.

Where can I get dim sum in Kendall?

South Garden, at 10855 SW 72nd St, serves dim sum daily with push carts. Weekday lunch is the easier time to go.

Are there vegan options in Kendall?

Vegan Cuban Cuisine, at 9640 SW 72nd St, is a plant-based Cuban spot. Check menus for vegetarian options elsewhere, and call ahead for allergies.

Is Kendall worth the drive from Coral Gables or Miami Beach?

Yes, if you pick one area and plan two or three stops. Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and Miami Beach are each roughly 15 to 40 minutes away, depending on traffic.

Do I need a reservation?

Keik accepts reservations, subject to capacity and weekend restrictions. For Friday and Saturday dinner, check the venue's own page and book ahead where you can.

Can I order ahead?

Yes at two spots. Bonjour and Keik both take online orders, and Keik takes whole-cake pre-orders.

Which Kendall places are open early?

Karla opens at 6 a.m. daily. Bonjour opens at 7 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Confirm the hours before you go.