Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I did not receive compensation nor was I solicited for the following. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When I moved back to South Florida, I promised myself that I would take advantage of all the amazing food/experiences I took for granted when I used to live here. Even though I live in South Florida, Miami seems so far away… so it takes a lot to get me down there. In a few conversations, I kept hearing about Hate Mondays Tavern, a comfort food establishment, hidden away in a hard to find location. Being an avid yelper, I looked it up and not only was the word of mouth incredible… it’s not very often you see 5 stars on for an establishment with hundreds of reviews…my interests were officially piqued and I had a reason to make the trek south.
Carnivores… REJOICE!!! Hate Mondays specializes in smoked meats, burgers, comfort food- pulled pork, award-winning burgers, smoked wings/ribs, cheese steaks, Cuban sandwiches (this wouldn’t be Miami without one… right?)… and the list goes on. If you can dream it,
Karl – Owner/ Operator, probably makes it, can make it, or is in the process of perfecting the recipe to delight your taste buds.
As mentioned earlier, this establishment can be a little tricky to find. I put the address into my GPS and started to get worried when we were headed to an industrial park type area. The navigation told me to make a left and if it weren’t for the smoker parked outside, I would swear it was time to update my maps!
Thankfully the entrance is near the street … as if the cone wrapped in the company logo wasn’t confirmation enough :).
When you open the door, you open a full sensory experience not only for your mouth but eyes… there is a TV in the corner but plenty to look at around the joint.
Having never been to this establishment before I asked what was recommended- Ribs and burgers were at the top of the list so that is what I tried!
The burger was juicy, seasoned and cooked perfectly. I could tell my bun was toasted and buttered with love. The beer-cheese was just the cherry on top to an already magnificent burger. I also had french fries, they were crispy, and also full of flavor- they don’t skimp of seasoning here! I saw a sign near the entrance (and featured at the beginning of this post), they won a burger competition in 2018; Hate Mondays Tavern will be competing next year at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, I can’t wait to see what they bring.
The ribs were smoked perfection. I’ve had a lot of smoked ribs and many overcook them, drying them up… but not these… I am surprised that they were able to get them to the plate intact, the bone literally slipped out of one as I pulled it off the plate. The meat was tender, juicy, smokey… a BBQ party in my mouth. The sauce had a Carolina feel; sweet and tangy, just how I like it.
I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. The great word of mouth is well-deserved: food is excellent as well as service. Pricing is at such an affordable price point… it would be silly not to go check it out! There are a lot of local businesses in the area and I hear it can get a little crazy during the week during peak lunch hours… just a heads up. If you can go during an off time like I did, I am sure your experience will be just as good as mine.
If you are in town for the SoBe Food and Wine Festival 2019 don’t forget to check this place out as they are competing in Burger Bash on February 22, 2019!
Address:
12461 SW 130th St.
Miami, FL 33186
Hours:
Monday- 11am-2:30 pm
Tuesday- Friday 8am-4pm
Saturday- 11am-2pm
Sunday- Closed
Instagram: @hatemondays_tavern
Follow the owner Karl- @elbeardedchef