Long (long) before Instagrammable entered our vocabulary, Kush Hialeah was pumping out thick, tender slices of pastrami and piling them high onto sandwiches—with a kosher pickle on the side, of course. New Yorkers aren’t the only ones who know their way around a Jewish deli. Miami has its own famous one, too.
But Kush Hialeah got a major upgrade. Kush Hospitality (the favorites behind Kush, LoKal, the Spillover and Vicky’s House) revamped it and added its signature kitschy touch. From funny Cuban sayings perched on the wall (it is in Hialeah, after all) and irreverent wallpaper hanging in the bathroom (we won’t ruin the astronomical, astrological surprise) to nostalgic postcards strewn throughout, every corner of the restaurant retains Kush charm and cleverness.
One thing that isn’t changing: the person manning the meat slicer, Henderson “Junior” Biggers. The beloved, octogenarian cook who’s been hand-slicing pastrami at Stephens for decades and decades is back, putting his signature touch on Bubbie’s matzo ball soup, the Reuben (the reason you’re there) and the rest of the classic menu. Not to be missed are Stephens latkes, thicker and more disc-like than the usual flat, hashbrown-style variety you’ll find elsewhere. These are toothy and perfect for dipping—just the way we like them.