Many claim you’re not a true Miami local unless your kitchen cabinet holds at least three of those iconic bright green cups adorned with Joe “Big Daddy” Flanigan’s face. Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a South Florida institution, a rite of passage where locals can recite the menu by heart and where every dish feels like a love letter to comfort food.
Flanigan’s deals that absolutely must be on your radar
Half-priced drinks
One of the wildest things about Flanigan’s is its nightly drink special: All beer, wine, and liquor is 50 percent off from 9 p.m. until close. Can’t make it that late? Hit the bar Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. for the same deal.
Late-night munchies
From 10 p.m. to midnight daily, grab free curly fries, Tumbleweed Onions, or chicken wings with every pitcher purchase (beer, iced tea, lemonade, or soda).
Join the Lunch Club
There’s something satisfying about an old-school loyalty stamp card. At Flanigan’s, 10 lunch stamps get you your 11th lunch free. These lunches are just $7 with a beverage purchase — a steal in Miami. Options include a soup and sandwich combo, a 10-ounce burger, a barbecue chicken sandwich, half a barbecue chicken, 10 wings, or a blackened tilapia sandwich, most served with a side. Available weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Joe’s Meal Deals
These are the ultimate Flanigan’s value. Ranging from $16 for wings to $25 for a full rack of ribs, each meal deal comes with your choice of potato or rice, a Caesar salad, garlic rolls, and a free drink (domestic draft beer, house wine, soda, iced tea, bottled water, or lemonade). Other options include half barbecue chicken, fried shrimp, and an 8-ounce prime rib or NY strip steak. Available Sunday to Thursday.
Mexican Mondays
Enjoy a free order of loaded nachos with your first pitcher of beer, iced tea, lemonade, or soda.
Tumbleweed Tuesdays
Get a free order of Tumbleweed Onions with your first pitcher purchase.
Wing-It Wednesdays
Get 10 free wings with every pitcher bought.
Dip & Draft Thursdays
Get a free smoked fish dip with your first pitcher.
With 25 locations across the region, Flanigan’s has been a beloved fixture since 1959, evolving from its humble beginnings as a liquor store known as State Liquors (now Big Daddy Liquor Stores) into the full-service, family-friendly restaurant it is today. Miamians fiercely defend Flanigan’s for its laid-back vibe, consistent quality, and local-first mentality. While other spots get overrun with tourists, Flanigan’s remains a refuge for locals looking for a taste of home — a rare find in a city that’s constantly changing (and not always in a good way).
Unlike on dating apps where, for some unknown reason, so many dudes proudly hold that fish they caught, Flanigan’s gets a pass when it comes to the sheer number of men holding fish in photos along the walls of every location. Here, it’s more endearing, as most of them are friends and family of Big Daddy Joe, and it ties in well with the massive aquariums and other fisherman-themed decor.
Now, is this the best food in Miami? No. But it is consistent, reliable, and affordable. In a city where prices keep climbing and the dining landscape constantly shifts (not always for the better), it’s comforting to know you’re likely within 20 minutes of a Flanigan’s — though the Edgewater/Midtown area could use one (hint, hint). Sure, you might struggle to find parking or face a wait for a table, but once seated, you’re just moments away from cheap drinks and solid bar food in a lively, laid-back atmosphere.
You’re not getting flair like you would at an old-school TGI Fridays or fancy cocktails like at the Four Seasons, but you are getting seriously affordable drinks. If a classic rum and Coke or whiskey ginger is your go-to, then this is your heaven: After 9 p.m. every night, all beer, wine, and liquor is an unbeatable 50 percent off until closing. And at Flanigan’s, the ultimate sign of hospitality is when your server brings a bag of ice to float in your pitcher of beer — so it stays cold without getting watered down.
While I love being wined and dined at top-tier restaurants across the globe, and I have a soft spot for fancy glassware, there’s something about Flanigan’s that can’t be replicated. It always feels like home. From family dinners on Sundays to Miami Heat playoff games to first dates in my early 20s, Flanigan’s has been a constant in my life that sparks a wave of nostalgia every time I step inside one of its many locations.
Some days, you just need a strangely watery but undeniably delicious Caesar salad (say yes to the bacon bits) topped with an order of Chicken Stickers drenched in hot sauce, plus a couple of garlic rolls on the side. Flanigan’s delivers exactly that, time and time again, in the most dependable way.
As a food writer and lifelong Miami native who’s been going to Flanigan’s since childhood, here — in no particular order — are five of the best items on the menu at South Florida’s favorite family-friendly sports bar and restaurant.
Joe’s Rockin’ Rib Rolls
It’s not a proper Flanigan’s visit without at least one basket of Joe’s Rockin’ Rib Rolls on the table. These deep-fried egg rolls, filled with meat from the restaurant’s popular baby back ribs, pulled pork, cheddar cheese, onions, and barbecue sauce, have been a crowd-pleaser since their addition to the menu in 2004. Named by founder Big Daddy Joe, these indulgent bites set the standard for all deep-fried bar food — especially when dipped into the creamy jalapeño ranch. A fan favorite, Flanigan’s serves 400 pounds of these daily.
Baby back ribs
Flanigan’s baby back ribs are the stuff of South Florida legend. Slow-cooked, smothered in tangy-sweet barbecue sauce, and chargrilled to perfection, these ribs come in either a half or full rack. Pair them with curly fries and garlic rolls for the full experience. Insider tip: Snag a full rack for $25 as part of Joe’s Meal Deals, available Sunday through Thursday. Complete the meal with a choice of potato or rice, garlic rolls, Caesar salad, and a drink.
Loaded nachos
This city has some wonderfully messy nachos, and Flangian’s loaded nachos are pretty high on that list. Expect a small mountain of homemade white corn tortilla chips layered with beef and bean chili, melted cheese, pico de gallo, jalapeños, shredded lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. It’s an absolute hit, especially on Mondays when the nachos come free with the purchase of a pitcher — and yes, that includes a pitcher of anything from beer to soda. Few things beat the joy of seeing that massive skillet arrive at your table.
Big Daddy Burger (aka the Bahama Burger with two slices of American cheese added to it)
It’s not fancy, and it might not even be the best burger you’ve ever had, but the Big Daddy Burger is Mr. Reliable and leaves you satisfied. A 10-ounce flame-broiled burger topped with lettuce, tomato, and two slices of American cheese on a kaiser roll, the Big Daddy is a classic choice for game day, a quick lunch, or a late-night bite. Served with a dill pickle spear on the side, it’s best paired with a side of Flanigan’s curly fries.
The Banzai Brownie
Save room for this decadent dessert extravaganza: a warm triple-chocolate brownie topped with scoops of Edy’s vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookie chunks, Kit Kat bars, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. The pyramid-shaped Kit Kat presentation is a sight to behold. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, consider the Flanigan’s Shenanigan — a giant slice of walnut-candy apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and Heath Bar crumbles.
