The Top 10 Up-and-Coming Food Influencers in Miami
Miami food influencers who punch above their follower count: 10 up-and-coming creators with up to 9 times the typical engagement of their size, and how to book a visit.
Most Miami-area food accounts with 5,000 to 100,000 followers get about 7 likes and comments per 1,000 followers on a typical Reel.
- 1.
Vane, @itsvaneguzman63.2 - 2.
Alec, @alec.approved50.1 - 3.
@mrandmrseats, @mrandmrseats28.3 - 4.
Eli, @elienmiami_22.7 - 5.
Gaby and Johnny, @gabynjohnny20.6 - 6.
Sam, @biteofmia15.1 - 7.
Ari and Misha, @pollitopecks13.4 - 8.
@maxeats, @maxeats13.1 - 9.
May, @mayitakeabite11.5 - 10.
Yanessa, @hungryqbans10.5
1. Vane, @itsvaneguzman: family-friendly restaurants, set menus and lunch deals
family-friendly restaurants, set menus and lunch deals
- Engagement Strength
- 63.29x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 11,333
- Avg. views per Reel
- 25,821
- Reels, last 30 days
- 12+
Vane shares restaurants and outings for families around Miami, Doral and Fort Lauderdale, in English and Spanish. Recent posts include ramen and crispy bao buns at Sushiato in Doral, which reached 36,163 views, the $45 Dine Out Lauderdale menu at Baires Grill on Las Olas, and a 1950s-style diner with a Cuban twist on SW 8th Street.
The strongest fit is a family-friendly restaurant, a set-price menu or a weekday deal that works for parents and date nights. The bio lists an email address.
2. Alec, @alec.approved: viral spots, burgers and bakeries
viral spots, burgers and bakeries
- Engagement Strength
- 50.17x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 48,821
- Avg. views per Reel
- 121,094
- Reels, last 30 days
- 3+
Alec covers much-talked-about Miami food, especially around Coral Gables, along with trips abroad and some brand partnerships. Recent posts include the newest omakase at Takay, which reached 234,133 views, the new Starburger in Coral Gables, which reached 170,610 views, and a home bakery, Dolce Isla in Coral Gables, which reached 114,290 views.
The strongest fit is a new or much-talked-about spot with one standout item, such as a burger, a pastry or an omakase. The bio lists an email address.
3. @mrandmrseats: broward hidden gems, seafood and bakeries
broward hidden gems, seafood and bakeries
- Engagement Strength
- 28.34x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 36,596
- Avg. views per Reel
- 63,435
- Reels, last 30 days
- 8+
This account covers hidden gems and new restaurants across South Florida, with a lot of Broward, from Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood to Cooper City. Recent posts include fresh seafood at Kelly's Landing in Fort Lauderdale, which reached 263,730 views, homemade Chinese food at Dumplings to Go in West Broward, which reached 35,136 views, and the new Bakey bakery from chef Uri Scheft in Hallandale Beach, which reached 108,909 views.
The strongest fit is an independent spot in Broward or north Miami-Dade, especially a small takeout counter, a bakery or a seafood place. The bio lists an email address.
4. Eli, @elienmiami_: spanish-language, steakhouses and miami spice
spanish-language, steakhouses and miami spice
- Engagement Strength
- 22.73x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 6,499
- Avg. views per Reel
- 25,388
- Reels, last 30 days
- 16+
Eli posts Spanish-language restaurant recommendations around Miami, from Wynwood to Coral Gables. Recent posts include the secret club hidden behind a shelf at Ciao Havana, an Italian restaurant with Cuban flavor, which reached 176,837 views, a date-night dinner at Ro Steakhouse in Coral Gables, which reached 20,757 views, and the fritanga wrap and empanadas at Sarussi in Wynwood.
The strongest fit is a restaurant with a clear experience, such as live music, a rodizio or a date-night room, that wants to reach Spanish-speaking diners. The bio lists an email for collaborations.
5. Gaby and Johnny, @gabynjohnny: fried chicken, date nights and neighborhood guides
fried chicken, date nights and neighborhood guides
- Engagement Strength
- 20.63x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 46,186
- Avg. views per Reel
- 81,152
- Reels, last 30 days
- 11+
Gaby and Johnny are a Miami couple who post restaurant finds, date-night roundups and neighborhood guides. Recent posts include pica pollo at Jacqueline's Fried Chicken in Allapattah, which reached 28,530 views, the Korean chili butter fried chicken on KYU's Miami Spice menu, which reached 40,549 views, and the new waterfront Italian restaurant La Sponda on Biscayne Bay, which reached 23,223 views.
They suit a neighborhood spot with one dish people will cross town for, or a restaurant that fits a date-night list. The bio lists an email address.
See Gaby and Johnny's Instagram
6. Sam, @biteofmia: new openings, omakase and set menus
new openings, omakase and set menus
- Engagement Strength
- 15.12x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 38,545
- Avg. views per Reel
- 31,981
- Reels, last 30 days
- 16+
Sam covers Miami restaurants, desserts and drinks, with a focus on new menus and limited-time deals. Recent posts include the new 17-course omakase at Takay off Coral Way, which reached 26,562 views, authentic Korean food at The Korean Chef in Kendall, which reached 81,493 views, and the new menu items at Aiko & Mumu in Edgewater, which reached 22,432 views.
The strongest fit is a new opening, a new menu or a limited-time deal with a clear end date. The account also takes on sponsored posts with restaurants and brands, and the bio lists an email address.
7. Ari and Misha, @pollitopecks: burgers, date nights and cuban food
burgers, date nights and cuban food
- Engagement Strength
- 13.42x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 12,419
- Avg. views per Reel
- 5,134
- Reels, last 30 days
- 20+
Ari and Misha are a couple who post restaurants and things to do across Miami and Fort Lauderdale, with some travel. Recent posts include the secret burger speakeasy inside the Miami cheese shop Chevre, which reached 100,127 views, pan con bistec at El Cuban Diner on Calle 8, and a game-day date night at Doc B's on Miracle Mile.
They suit a restaurant with a story or a hidden twist, or a spot that works for a couple's night out. The bio lists an email address.
8. @maxeats: new openings, cookies and bakeries
new openings, cookies and bakeries
- Engagement Strength
- 13.12x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 68,911
- Avg. views per Reel
- 70,708
- Reels, last 30 days
- 13+
This account posts short Miami restaurant finds with the address in every caption, along with some travel. Recent posts include burek at Holy Burek in Bayfront, which reached 173,456 views, the secret cookie counter at Ligers Cookies, which reached 170,567 views, and the new Italian trattoria Storia, which reached 25,096 views.
The strongest fit is a new opening or a single-item shop with a product that is easy to show on camera. The bio lists an email address.
9. May, @mayitakeabite: latin food, ranked lists and deals
latin food, ranked lists and deals
- Engagement Strength
- 11.52x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 78,345
- Avg. views per Reel
- 37,311
- Reels, last 30 days
- 13+
May posts Miami food picks and ranked lists, often with Latin food and a clear deal. Recent posts include the massive patacon at Patacon Pisao in Doral and Kendall, the Miami Spice menu at Bulla Gastrobar in Downtown Doral, and the Crispy Dubai Burger at La Birra Bar in Wynwood.
The strongest fit is a Latin restaurant, a burger spot or a value offer that could earn a place on a ranked list. The bio lists an email address.
10. Yanessa, @hungryqbans: owner stories, donuts, pizza and burgers
owner stories, donuts, pizza and burgers
- Engagement Strength
- 10.52x the typical Miami food account
- Followers
- 22,353
- Avg. views per Reel
- 19,197
- Reels, last 30 days
- 7+
Yanessa covers Miami restaurants and hidden gems, usually through the owner's story. Recent posts include the weekend First Meal menu and chicken and biscuit at Pluma on Biscayne Boulevard, which reached 30,109 views, Luchadough, a donut shop open three days a week, which reached 53,075 views, and 48-hour cold-fermented pizza at Belluz Pizza in Coral Gables.
The strongest fit is an owner-run restaurant with a clear story behind the food, such as a family recipe or a change of career. Some recent posts are marked as paid.
How to reach Miami food influencers and get a visit booked
Finding someone you want to work with is the start. You still need a reply, agreed terms, a visit on the calendar and the content afterward.
Find their business email, follow them and reach out
Look for the email button on their Instagram profile, a business-inquiries address in their bio or a contact page on their linked website. If they list a manager for collaborations, use that contact.
Follow the account and watch a few recent restaurant videos. Then email a specific invitation: which restaurant you run, where it is, what you would like them to try and what you are proposing in return. Mention a relevant post of theirs so they can see why you chose them.
Send a short DM pointing them to your email. If their profile asks businesses to DM rather than email, start there. The goal is to get the invitation seen through the channels they use for work.
Follow up and get your terms in writing
If you do not hear back, follow up after a few business days. If there is still no response, move on to another good fit. Stop if they decline.
Once they are interested, agree on the food credit, any cash fee, guest count, content they will produce and posting deadline. Include raw footage and commercial usage rights if you need them. Permission to advertise from the influencer's account is separate from permission to run their video from your restaurant's account.
Get those terms in writing before you book. A friendly yes does not tell you whether you are getting a Reel, a few Stories or any files you can use afterward.
Schedule the visit and tell your team what was agreed
Offer specific dates and service windows. Confirm the influencer's name, party size, arrival time, dining credit and who they should ask for when they arrive. Give your team the same information.
Send a reminder before the visit. If the date changes, update the booking and your team so the new plan is not buried in a DM.
Follow up until you have the content
After the visit, check the posting deadline, review anything that requires approval and collect the files you agreed on. Follow up if the content is late. Save the finished video, raw clips and written permissions together so you can actually use them later.
Keep track of the influencers whose content, attitude and follow-through you liked. Those are the people to invite back. You do not need to start a new search every month when you have relationships worth continuing.
Want local influencers without managing all that back-and-forth?
You can do this yourself. The work is keeping a dozen different conversations moving: who replied, who agreed to your terms, who needs a date, who rescheduled and who still owes you content.
Remy gets interested local influencers to apply to work with your restaurant on your terms. You approve the influencers and their content. Remy handles scheduling, reminders, rescheduling and content follow-up, and you keep the relationships so you can invite good people back.
Instead of chasing every person on a list, you can choose from influencers who have already applied to work with you.
Looking for another city? See our food influencer lists by city, including New York City, Boston and Las Vegas.
About the numbers
Engagement Strength is the likes and comments a typical recent Reel gets per 1,000 followers, using each account's newest Reels from the past 90 days. We screened 73 Miami-area food accounts with 5,000 to 100,000 followers and checked each finalist for real Miami restaurant coverage. The typical account we screened scored 7. Data collected 2026-09-24.