El Machetico, the Colombian restaurant that built its following in Miami-Dade on outsized portions and a signature XL bandeja paisa, is opening its first Broward County location in Pembroke Pines this May, according to an Instagram announcement.
The concept is built around scale: grilled meats, empanadas, arepas, and traditional Colombian dishes served in the oversized, visually distinctive presentations the brand is known for. The centerpiece is an XL bandeja paisa — the Colombian combination platter scaled up to feed a group — which the post describes as the brand's most recognized and most-circulated item across social platforms. The large-format shareable presentation has been central to how the concept travels online, and the operator credits it as a driver of the brand's social visibility alongside its in-restaurant draw.
El Machetico's base is in Miami-Dade, where the brand established its core audience before the Pembroke Pines announcement. The Broward unit will be the brand's first confirmed location in the county, per the Instagram post. No street address, square footage, or prior tenant for the space has been disclosed publicly as of this writing.
The post describes the opening as "official" against a May 2026 window — language that implies a signed commitment, even if a precise date and address have yet to follow. Watch the operator's channels for specifics as the month closes out.
