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I’ve lost count of how many NYC-imported restaurants have made the jump to Miami over the last few years, filled with grand dreams of scoring big in our steamy sixth borough. Most of these restaurants have been just good enough, a few are excellent and even fewer are 100% vegan. Which is why, despite not subscribing to a plant-based diet, I was hyped to check out JaJaJa Mexicana in Wynwood.
Founded in 2017 on the Lower East Side by two longtime business buddies, JaJaJa has since expanded to include five NYC outposts across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. Miami is the brand’s first location outside of the Metro area, bringing its creative, seed-oil-free takes on Mexican street food and cocktails to one of Miami’s most buzzy, sun-drenched neighborhoods.
The vibe: I expected a fun scene at JaJaJa when my non-vegan friend from NYC told me it’s one of her favorite spots—and it is. The restaurant is airy and light-filled by day, with wooden booth seating, intricate mosaic-tiled floors, breezeblock dividing walls and a sleek yet casual Baja-inspired aesthetic. The bar stays open late on weekends, which is where you’ll want to stay parked after the sun goes down.
The food: Under the direction of Executive Chef Ricky Huitzil, JaJaJa’s entirely plant-based menu features playful reinterpretations of Mexican classics, using whole, fresh ingredients wherever possible. Highlights include the Grande Nachos made with chorizo, refried beans, habanero queso, salsa verde, sour cream and corn relish; as well as the Birria Tacos: corn tortillas filled with chunk steak, coco queso, cilantro and onion, served with consommé and lime. Even carnivores won’t miss the animal meat—really!—and the variety of homemade salsas adds even more of a kick.
The drink: Aside from its delicious vegan Mexican food, JaJaJa became a New York staple for its stellar agave-based cocktail program. In Miami, the team has outdone itself with the concept’s largest bar yet, stocked with rare and artisanal tequila, mezcal, sotol, Mexican sake, and over 100 agave-based spirits. No need to ask for a “skinny” margarita here—the cocktail descriptions read like recipes for trendy wellness drinks, plus the booze. My favorites were the Matcha y Coconut and the carajillo (Mexico’s answer to the espresso martini). Or go spirit-free, with options like Piña Picante (a spicy pineapple juice) and almond horchata (best spiked with a shot of espresso).
Time Out tip: Few Wynwood restaurants work just as well for lunch as they do for dinner, and JaJaJa is one of them. The weekend brunch (Sat, Sun 11am–4pm) is a solid choice in the neighborhood, and the happy hours (Mon–Fri 3:30–6:30pm) feature two-for-one cocktails and $8 snacks.