Pita Hut, Miami Beach - Middle-Eastern Food: Humus, Baba Ganoush, Falafel

Pita Hut, Miami Beach

For the best Middle-Eastern food in Miami Beach, head for the Original Pita Hut on 41st Street, also known as Arthur Godfrey Road, in the Mid-Beach district.

If you're already in the area, perhaps in one of the hotels just to the north of South Beach, you could walk to the Pita Hut. Otherwise a bus from Lincoln Road will get you there in half an hour.

Closed for Jewish Sabbath
At weekends remember that this is a kosher restaurant, and therefore closes for Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath. So opening hours vary according to the time of the year.

On Friday the Pita Hut closes two hours before sunset, reopening on Saturday an hour after it goes dark.

Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Pita Joint
This Israeli-style restaurant isn't your run-of-the-mill pita joint, so it's well worth the journey. The flat lafa bread is fresh and soft, nothing like the dry mass-produced pita bread so often offered up elsewhere.

A house specialty is Israeli pickles cured in salt, not vinegar, accompanied by olives and hot peppers, and the salad bar is far superior to most.

Vegan Dishes
Apart from the vegan staples of humus, baba ganoush and falafel, you could try the following:

• Eggplant (aubergine) salad with tomato sauce – fried eggplant, red peppers and garlic
• Mama Picante – roasted tomatoes, garlic and hot peppers
• Turkish Salad – diced tomato, onion, celery, parsley and hot peppers
• Tabouli – a bulgar-wheat salad with chopped parsley, tomatoes and onions

Combo Dishes
Also there are combo dishes, including, for example, humus, baba ganoush, falafel and a salad, plus plenty of fluffy flat lafa bread.

Should the combination you want not be on the menu, don't be afraid to ask for it.

Pita Hut Where Locals Eat
The Pita Hut isn't a smart restaurant, just a reasonably priced eatery frequented by locals.

No Juices or Alcoholic Drinks
Surprisingly, pure fruit juice isn't available, although there are canned Israeli drinks with a high proportion of juice, and not too sweet. Alcoholic drinks aren't served.

Driving and Walking to Pita Hut
Free parking should be available, but watch out for residents-only parking zones, or you'll be towed.

From Collins Avenue, at the end of 41st Street, it's about a 10-minute walk to Pita Hut, across the bridge over Indian Creek, on the left-hand side of the street.

Google Transit Directions to Pita Hut
To get more detailed directions to the Pita Hut, whether walking or by bus or car, click on the Google Transit link in the right-hand sidebar of this blog.

If you'd like advice on using Google Transit read the following post: Directions in Miami - Walking, Driving, Bike, Buses & Trains.