If there's one thing I love, it's a good burger. Living in Miami these past four years, I have found amazing burger joints and hidden gems, but nothing has stolen my heart like Lokal.
LoKal is located among other amazing restaurants and cafes in sunny Coconut Grove. Like other restaurants in the area, visitors have the option to sit either inside or in the breezy outside patio area. LoKal turns what other people may consider trash into treasure, upcycling old cassettes, tables, chairs and bars while adorning the restaurant with black and white photos from a golden era. Complete with its own craft beer and swag market, along with a Bookleggers library, where book worms can leave a book and take a book, LoKal is truly a Coconut Grove gem.
Now for the part that you've been waiting for, the food. If you're eating at LoKal for the first time, it would be a sin not to try a burger. All of the burgers are Florida grass-fed burgers from Fort McCoy Ranch in Marion County, Florida. They are free-range, Kobe-style cattle and have no hormones, antibiotics or steroids. LoKal's burgers are ground in-house fresh everyday by hand. The restaurant truly lives up to its mission of providing guests with sustainable and locally sourced ingredients, along with an industrial, raw edginess.
Owner Matthew Kuscher has a strong commitment to quality, as he works with Floridian farmers, dairies and brewers in order to make sure that LoKal is as local as it gets. It is even dubbed the first restaurant in Miami-Dade County to use 100% clean, renewable energy sourced from wind and solar power. Now, lets take a look at some of the burgers served up at this amazing Miami eatery.
Frita by Kush
Frita by Kush is truly a star all on its own. This burger is perfectly cooked to your desired temperature and then topped with guava jelly, melted Gruyere, potato sticks, crispy bacon and special LoKal sauce. I'm getting hungry just writing this. But, besides being an incredibly unique burger, Frita by Kush is a delicious choice that will not disappoint.
My Childhood Dream
Now if you thought LoKal couldn't get any better, think again. LoKal paired up with the Salty Donut to create the burger, or arguably the donut, of our dreams. This burger is topped with American cheese, candied bacon and served between two halves of a tasty glazed donut. My Childhood Dream allows you to indulge all of your cravings at once, with no regrets.
While these noteworthy burgers deserved a shout out, Lokal also has other ones as well ranging from classic, dressed up with a fried egg, adorned in bacon, sizzling with blue cheese, complete with arugula and avocado and even bringing the fire with jalapeños and Sriracha. And never fear, vegan and gluten free options are available! All burgers come paired with slaw, local vegetables, salad, fries or, my personal favorite, sweet potato fries.
Besides burgers, Lokal also has amazing options ranging from sandwiches, bites and sides, salads, soups and even the lovingly named "veggie corner," housing all vegan and gluten free options.
Lokal also features some of the best wine and beers in Florida, which make for a perfect addition to your meal.
Oh and they even have a doggy menu. Featuring Marmaduke's Meatloaf, Yeyo's Chicken and Rice and Bowser Beer, all to allow you a romantic dinner date with your pup. Best. Place. Ever.
Vicky's House
Now if you're still not convinced, which at this point would really surprise me, then you have to check out Vicky's House. If you find the phone booth inside LoKal, just knock on the door and go through to Vicky's! There is also a street entrance but this is way more fun. Instantly Vicky's House makes you feel like you're in an episode of Stranger Things, transporting guests back in time to the 1980s.
The front of Vicky's House is set up like an ice cream shop, fully equipped with sodas and alcoholic beverages in the washing machine and the refrigerator. Guests can also open up the freezer to find ready-made ice cream sandwiches. Milkshakes, malts and other frozen treats are also available to be ordered, and in the back you can relax and play in the TV game room.
Now I hope you can see just why LoKal has stolen my heart. I mean come on, they even make their own honey mustard! Make sure to check it out the next time you're in the Grove. You might just end up falling in love.