Contemporary Mexican Cuisine and Cinco de Mayo Festivities in the Heart of Aventura in North Miami

Located inside North Miami’s glamorous and expansive Aventura Mall, Jacinta de Mexico proves that not every mall restaurant follows the expected script. Positioned in the plaza near Bloomingdale's, this sophisticated dining destination offers far more than a convenient shopping break—it delivers a true culinary experience rooted in Mexican tradition and elevated by modern luxury.

Developed by Mexico City native and DZO Hospitality CEO Lalo Durazo, Jacinta’s menu celebrates the depth and diversity of regional Mexican cuisine while also introducing guests to a thoughtfully curated list of Mexican wines rarely found in South Florida. The experience is enhanced by warm hospitality, stylish contemporary interiors, and La Cantina, the restaurant’s inviting indoor-outdoor bar and lounge.

Guests are welcomed with blue and white nixtamal corn tortilla chips and fresh salsa, a simple but memorable introduction to the restaurant’s dedication to authenticity. Jacinta takes pride in its nixtamal corn tortillas, made in-house using the traditional nixtamalization process. Dried corn kernels are soaked and cooked in limewater, then ground into fresh masa, pressed, and cooked on a hot skillet. The result is a tortilla with deeper flavor, improved texture, and a true taste of Mexico.

To begin, the Margarita Flight is a perfect introduction to Jacinta’s playful cocktail program. Three distinct expressions arrive beautifully presented: The Classic, brightened with lemon verbena; La Famosa, featuring apple purée and triple sec; and Sandy’s, a refreshing watermelon margarita finished with a spiced salt rim.

These pair beautifully with Jacinta’s exceptional cold seafood starters. The Blue Fin Tuna Ceviche is a standout, layered with cilantro-jalapeño, lemon salsita, tamarind-chipotle, avocado, and sesame seeds for a bold and balanced bite. The Jacinta Seafood Cocktail offers an Asian-inspired twist with yellow chile, citrus juices, ginger, soy, shrimp, scallops, octopus, calamari, and corvina. For those who enjoy a bit more spice, the Levanta Muertos delivers a vibrant seafood cocktail with a spicy tomato-based sauce and fresh avocado.

One of the most memorable dishes on the menu is the Duck Confit Taco. Slow-roasted duck is pan-fried until crisp, then topped with a rich Medjool date mole sauce, goat cheese, and crunchy almonds. It is indulgent, layered, and beautifully paired with Terra Mädi’s smooth, fruit-forward Malbec from Querétaro’s Valle de Bernal wine region.

Jacinta’s wine list is one of its hidden luxuries. Guests can explore Mexican reds from Valle de Guadalupe, including Merlot and Cabernet-Merlot blends, as well as elegant whites such as Terra Mädi’s Sauvignon Blanc or a Viognier from Baja California.

From the restaurant’s “Hidden Gem” menu, the Baked Chilean Seabass Veracruz is an excellent choice, but the true standout is the Seafood & Basmati Rice Casserole. This rich and flavorful dish combines shrimp sauce with brandy, saffron, Pernod, and lemon, along with shrimp, octopus, calamari, seabass, and fragrant basmati rice. Paired with Casa Ariza Chardonnay from Baja California—a medium-bodied white with hints of oak, pineapple, and mango—it becomes a beautifully balanced dining experience.

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CINCO DE MAYO AT JACINTA DE MÉXICO

From May 1 through May 5, Jacinta celebrates Cinco de Mayo with its “Five Days of Fiesta,” a festive culinary tribute to Puebla’s historic May 5 victory. Guests can enjoy a special menu, live mariachi performances, and the nightly El Brindis (The Toast) at 5 p.m., when the restaurant pauses to honor the holiday.

During the celebration, standout dishes include enmoladas filled with pulled chicken or duck confit and topped with Mole Almendrado, a rich almond mole from San Pedro, host city of Mexico’s National Mole Festival. This deeply flavorful sauce blends almonds, fire-roasted tomatoes, chilies, and sweet spices. Similar to enchiladas, enmoladas feature lightly fried corn tortillas folded with the filling and topped with extra mole, queso fresco, sesame seeds, and raw onion slices.

Jacinta de Mexico succeeds because it offers more than excellent food—it creates a sense of place. Whether stopping in after a day of luxury shopping or planning a destination dinner, guests find an experience that feels transportive, polished, and deeply rooted in culture. In a mall filled with dining options, Jacinta stands out as a refined celebration of modern Mexican cuisine—right in the heart of Aventura.

Written by

Denise Castillon

Denise is a self-professed hedonist who shares her experiences as a freelance writer. True to her namesake, Dionysus, she enjoys drinking and good times. She also loves great food, film, travel and meeting new people and experiencing new things - preferably with an old fashioned cocktail, or glass of champs in hand!