Beach Boulevard: 10 Miles of International Eats

By Lauren Titus / Photography By Amy Robb | September 24, 2018

Chef Levi Broadwell and his team create kitchen magic in a bowl at Karai Ramen.

If you can't jet around the globe, explore a world of flavors right here in Northeast Florida, where the food has been influenced by other cuisines for more than 500 years. Since the arrival of the Spanish and French, our region has become a culinary cornucopia, as seen in the multitude of small, family-run eateries serving dishes from their native countries. Indeed, it is easy to take your taste buds on an adventure without boarding a plane.

To get started, we ventured to one ten-mile stretch of Jacksonville, on Beach Boulevard from the Intracoastal Waterway west to Emerson, and logged a list of over 50 locally-owned restaurants and food markets on that section of highway alone. Cuisine from Japan, China, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Italy, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Greece, Bosnia, Poland, Russia, West Africa, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, India, the Philippines and Jamaica are all available to sample. In the list you will find type of food and street/suite number on Beach Boulevard, along with some of our favorite dishes.

As you explore Beach Boulevard, don’t let the strip malls deter you. Some of these eateries are sparse on decor, but what they may lack in ambiance, they make up for in flavor, reminding us that food can sometimes be the focal point for adventure.

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BALKAN CAFÉ
Originally from Bosnia-Herzegovina, owner Adnan Korjenic and his father have been serving Eastern European food, a cross between Greek and Middle Eastern, for over 11 years. Come early as many items sell out before closing time. Most regulars don’t bother looking at the menu, which features mainly meat dishes.

Must-Try | SIS CEVAPI | a spicy grilled minced meat served on pita bread (made fresh daily by a local baker from Kosovo). To eat, tear off a piece of the pita, wrap it around a piece of meat and dip in either an eggplant sauce or Kajmak, a thick clotted cream. For dessert, try the Snow White cake: layers of walnuts and creamy vanilla pudding sandwiched between meringue on top and bottom.

GANG NAM KOREAN RESTAURANT
Open since 2016, this restaurant is a family affair, with Seong Ja Hong in the kitchen handling all the cooking and her son Sean Woo managing the dining room. Bibimbap, Bulgogi and other traditional dishes are popular on the menu, as are many vegetarian options.

Must-Try | JAPCHAE | sweet potato noodles stir-fried with vegetables, served with beef or tofu. All dishes (except Bibimbap) come with the daily sides, a variety that includes several types of kimchi, seaweed salad, fish cakes, pickled vegetables, seasoned bean sprouts and fish cakes.

GANG NAM KOREAN RESTAURANT - Korean - 5161 Beach Blvd., suite #5; (904) 396-4008

WORLD FOOD MART - Asian - 5161 Beach Blvd., suite #7; (904) 551-7115

AFRICAN MARKET & RESTAURANT - West African - 5262 Beach Blvd.; (904) 398-8242

LA GRAN PARADA FOOD STORE - Dominican - 5266 Beach Blvd.; (904) 379-0463

EUROPEAN STREET CAFE - International - 5500 Beach Blvd.; (904) 398-1717

LIM MARKET - European Grocery - 6630 Beach Blvd., suite #2; (904) 727-9880

VAKOK - Asian Grocery - 6630 Beach Blvd., suite #7; (904) 410-7970

EL RINCONCITO DE LIMA - South American Food Truck - 7300 Beach Blvd.; (904) 487-7962

BALKAN CAFÉ - Eastern European - 8595 Beach Blvd., suite #305; (904) 998-9333

HAPPY WOK - Chinese - 8595 Beach Blvd., suite #348; (904) 620-0788

EL TACO TORRO - Mexican - 9827 Beach Blvd.; (904) 570-9890

K&Y HALAL MEATS & IMPORTED FOOD - Middle Eastern market - 9831 Beach Blvd., suite #2; (904) 928-0057

HALAL FOODS - Middle Eastern market - 10095 Beach Blvd.; 904) 645-7400

CARIBBEAN LATINO ASIAN - Food Market - 10150 Beach Blvd., suite #16; (904) 619-9562

KATHY’S BAKERY & CAFÉ - Cuban - 10150 Beach Blvd., suite #18; (904) 641-7555

SALA THAI - Thai - 10769 Beach Blvd., suite #10; (904) 641-8384

APNA BAZAR RESTAURANT AND MARKET
This small cafe is tucked inside a market stocked with Halal meat and East Asian groceries. The Pakistani chef serves traditional Indian and Pakistani fare, including many vegetarian dishes. Looking for a cricket bat? Try this market.
Must-Try | CHANA MASALA | a popular dish made with chickpeas (chana) and cooked with green chili, cilantro and garam masala. Several types of naan and other bread are available. Order the Aloo Paratha bread, stuffed with spicy potatoes.

BOLD CITY KABOBS
Specializing in Mediterranean and Afghani dishes, this somewhat '70s inspired space is run by owner Walid-Mohammad Wais from Afghanistan. Choose from an extensive buffet or select off the menu.
Must-Try | CHICKEN KABOBS | served with seasoned rice topped with carrots and sweet raisins plus a traditional Afghani salad of diced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. The spinach pie comes with a flavorful tzatziki sauce that perfectly complements the pastry and filling.

APNA BAZAR RESTAURANT AND MARKET - Pakistani and Indian - 10769 Beach Blvd., suite #12; (904) 996-8780

MI PUEBLO #2 RESTAURANTE & SUPERMARKET - Mexican and Latin American - 10769 Beach Blvd., suite #9; (904) 645-0020

DELICIAS COLOMBIANAS - Colombian - 10771 Beach Blvd.; (904) 527-3905

SAHARA CAFÉ & HOOKAH BAR - Mediterranean - 10771 Beach Blvd.; (904) 338-9049

GUANAROCA LATIN CUISINE - Cuban, Latin American - 11041 Beach Blvd.; (904) 828-9467

CHINA LEE - Chinese - 11308 Beach Blvd.; (904) 998-1368

BOLD CITY KABOBS - Mediterranean, Afghan - 11380 Beach Blvd., suite 2; (904) 337-0476

MI RANCHO GTO - Mexican - 11380 Beach Blvd., Suite 6; (904) 683-4414

MARIANA’S GRINDS - Hawaiian, Filipino, Guamanian - 11380 Beach Blvd., suite #10; (206) 612-6596

Q-CUP BOBA TEA - Vietnamese - 11380 Beach Blvd., suite #20; (904) 329-2623

ASIAN NOODLE HOUSE - Japanese, Ramen - 11757 Beach Blvd., suite #1; (904) 240-1362

U S PINOY FOOD MART - Filipino - 11757 Beach Blvd., suite #3; (904) 642-9826

LA SALSA MARKET - Asian - 11761 Beach Blvd., suite #3; (727) 254-2259

KABOB-E - Afghan, Middle Eastern - 11915 Beach Blvd., suite #112; (904) 646-4477

PK NOODLES - Vietnamese - 11925 Beach Blvd., Suite #204; (904) 646-0707

EL PRIMO RESTAURANT & GROCERY - Mexican, Latin American - 11925 Beach Blvd., suite #205; (904) 580-5195

MI PUEBLO MARKET - Mexican, Latin American - 11969 Beach Blvd.; (904) 645-6969

CIRCLE JAPAN MARKET - Asian - 12192 Beach Blvd., suite #1; (904) 642-7799

HANA YORI SUSHI - Japanese - 12226 Beach Blvd., suite #3; (904) 527-8875

ROMASHKA - European Deli and Market - 12226 Beach Blvd., suite #10; (904) 574-9464

THAI ORCHID RESTAURANT - Thai - 12620 Beach Blvd.; (904) 683-1286

CASTILLO DE MEXICO - Mexican - 12620 Beach Blvd.; (904) 998-7006

MILANO’S - Italian - 12620 Beach Blvd.; (904) 646-9119

WOK HOUSE - Chinese - 12630 Beach Blvd., suite #3' (904) 565-1171

KIMBE - Asian Bistro - 13423 Beach Blvd., suite #202; (904) 821-9996

HONG KONG BISTRO - Chinese, Dim Sum - 13500 Beach Blvd., suite #25; (904) 619-1717

SALSAS MEXICAN - Mexican - 13500 Beach Blvd., suite #46; (904) 992-8402

FUJI SUSHI - Sushi, Tempura - 13740 Beach Blvd., suite #109; (904) 992-8998

MAMBO’S CUBAN CAFÉ
A vibrant mural runs the length of the café and Latin music adds a festive feeling to Mambo’s bright and airy dining room. Dishes like the Mariquita Basket (savory plantain chips served with mojo sauce) are a win and can be easily shared as an appetizer.
Must-Try | ROPA VIEJA | a super classic Cuban dish of slow-cooked beef in a tomato-based sauce, served with yellow rice, choice of plantains, tostones or fried yucca and black beans.

FIL-AM EATERY & BBQ
Traditional Filipino dishes and American BBQ made to order. Modest, cozy interior and friendly service provided by co-owner Rowena at the counter. To go with your meal, be sure to order Calamansi Juice, a Filipino beverage made with calamondin. It tastes like a cross between lemonade and limeade.
Must-Try | SISIG | grilled pork belly with lime, ginger and spices plus garlic rice on the side. Served on a sizzling cast-iron platter with a raw egg on top. To eat, immediately stir the egg into the pork mixture, allowing the egg to finish cooking.

KARAI RAMEN BISTRO
This bistro boasts an intimate dining room, with 6 tables (built by chef-owner Levi Broadwell) and 4 seats at the counter. The open concept lets you watch the kitchen crew create ramen magic. Make sure to ask about ramen dishes not yet on the menu.
Must-Try | KARAI RAMEN | a spicy broth topped with ground beef, onions, garlic and onsen tamago (a sous vide egg).

MAMBO’S CUBAN CAFÉ - Cuban - 13770 Beach Blvd., suite #9; (904) 374-2046

DARUMA JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE - Japanese - 13799 Beach Blvd., suite #9; (904) 821-9817

RICE BOWL - Asian - 13947 Beach Blvd., suite #110; (904) 992-1388

LA FIESTA MARKET - Latin - 14181 Beach Blvd., suite #5; (904) 527-3261

FIL-AM EATERY & BBQ - Filipino - 14185 Beach Blvd., suite #3; (904) 992-9893

VINNY’S - Italian - 14185 Beach Blvd., suite #5; (904) 223-5400

MAHARLIKA HALL & SPORTS GRILL - Filipino - 14255 Beach Blvd.; (904) 992-1112

KARAI RAMEN BISTRO - Japanese - 14286 Beach Blvd., suite #29; (904) 329-4073

TACO LIBRE - Mexican - 14286 Beach Blvd.; (904) 374-0622

EVA’S JAMAICAN KITCHEN - Caribbean - 14333 Beach Blvd., suite #22; (904) 800-3582

LA NOPALERA - Mexican - 14333 Beach Blvd.; (904) 992-1666

HOUSE OF LEAF AND BEAN - Asian - 14474 Beach Blvd.; (904) 379-1291