This fast casual spot that serves Latin food on fries is opening its first Miami location
A fast-growing, fast-casual restaurant — one that tops gourmet French fries with famous Latin-inspired dishes — is opening its first location in Miami.
Buena Papa Fry Bar, a concept from husband-and-wife team James and Johanna Windon, is opening inside The Dirty Rabbit lounge in Wynwood in September.
The restaurant, which tops hot crunchy fries with a variety of Colombian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Italian and Greek dishes, began in North Carolina, with locations in Raleigh and Durham. Its popularity has extended so far that its fries have earned the distinction of being the “official loaded fries” of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
Buena Papa — the name translates to “good potato” — was inspired by Johanna Windon’s favorite dish from her home country of Colombia: bandeja paisa, which traditionally includes beans, chorizo, chicharron and avocado. James Windon contributed every American’s favorite food (French fries) to the dish, and thus the couple created the brand’s first signature meal.
The Windons went on to create the Mexicano, with carne asada, guacamole and sour cream, and the Boricua, with pulled pork and guacamole.
The Miami opening has inspired a couple of new dishes: El Cubano, a take on the Cuban sandwich, with fries tossed in spices and mojo topped with garlicky roast pork, Jamon, pickle and Cubano sauce, and El Miami, with pulled pork, guava barbecue sauce, queso fresco and crispy yuca chips. The spot will also offer El Japones, a Japanese-style dish with teriyaki beef or pork katsu strips, scallions, eel sauce and pickled carrots.
The Windons said they felt Miami was a good fit for a franchise.
“Miami is renowned as a top city for cuisine, and the city’s diverse culinary landscape and enthusiastic food culture perfectly align with our mission to introduce people to the beauty of different flavors and cultures,” they said in a statement.
On opening day, the restaurant will unveil a new mural by Nicaraguan artist Luis Valle and offer free French fry and merch giveaways. The first 10 customers get a free signature dish.
Buena Papa Fry Bar
Where: Inside The Dirty Rabbit Wynwood, 151 NW 24th St., Miami
Opening: Sept. 1
Hours: 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Wednesday; 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Thursday-Saturday
More information: www.buenapapa.com
