Dine in Mexico and you’ll more than likely find avocado on your table at some point — most commonly served sliced and salted as a side dish. In South Florida, avocados are traditionally identified as guacamole’s creamy star ingredient. For the past few years, avocado toast has been stealing the limelight. While we’re just as obsessed with a smooth spread of smashed green on a crisp loaf as much as you are, our taste buds are equally tantalized by avocado in its more unexpected forms.

Sliced, diced, smashed, fried — avocado tastes great any time of the day and is a nutritious powerhouse chockfull of heart-healthy fats and fiber. Which begs the question: Is there a fruit more versatile than the avocado? With five of the best avocado dishes in South Florida, we think we have our answer.

Courtesy of Avocado Grill

 5. Grilled Avocado Wedges, Avocado Grill.
125 Datura St., West Palm Beach; 561-623-0822; avocadogrillwpb.com.

Prepared in one of avocado’s simplest forms, these grilled wedges are the perfect precourse bite with a taste that’s anything but straightforward. Served over a spiced mango and watermelon salad, the wedges are complemented by a blend of fresh and fruity flavors. Even the avocado itself is elevated by the grill’s heat — who knew it could get any better? — resulting in a creamy texture on the inside and hint of crunch on the outside.

Courtesy of American Social

4. Blackened Chicken BLAT, American Social.
721 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-764-7005; americansocialbar.com/las-olas.

What happens when avocado meets bacon on a traditional chicken sandwich? American Social’s Blackened Chicken BLAT comes into mouthwatering existence. A twist on the BLT, this blackened, all-natural chicken breast on an onion bun features your classic lettuce and tomato with jalapeno bacon, a light yet rich avocado cream, and garlic aioli for a pungent kick.

Photo by Elizabeth Lian

3. Avocado Fries, GoBistro.
2035 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 754-263-2826; eatgobistro.com.

GoBistro’s avocado fries are anything but skimpy — both in the generous amount served on the plate and in the fried panko breadcrumbs that coat the crisp exterior. Before you balk at the idea of frying fruit, know that these thick avocados are lightly fried to a golden-brown and completely devoid of grease; they’ll leave you wondering how something can simultaneously be so soft and crunchy. This unique appetizer comes with a spicy mayo dip for a perfect pairing.

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Photo by Hillary Hoffower

2. Chicken Tostada, Canyon.
1818 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-765-1950; canyonfl.com.

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A small dish perfect to share on date night, the chicken tostada layers several ingredients on top of a thin, crisp shell. The toppings include caramelized onions, a delightfully potent goat cheese, arugula, and a smooth avocado white truffle crema that all balance one another out, creating a solid base for the main fixing, chicken. This simple appetizer certainly embodies the inspired Southwestern fusion that characterizes Canyon’s killer cuisine.

Courtesy of Box of Chacos

1. Guangong Shorty Taco, Box of Chacos.
35 SW 19th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-648-6535.

This short rib taco is excellent, but it's made all the more mouthwatering because it’s always prepared with the freshest ingredients, from a savory soy braised short rib to a well-blended avocado corn relish. The flavorful condiment is made with avocado (of course), sweet corn, Vidalia onions, cilantro, lime, garlic, and salt. But wait, there's more: Chef David Peck tops it off with his special take on Gochujang sauce, made with rice wine vinegar, lime, garlic, ginger, onions, and Kraft mayo. Peck's version of the spicy and deliciously pungent Korean condiment isn't as strong as the real thing, allowing for the other ingredients to shine. And shine they do, making their way to the top of this list.

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