10 Best Local Restaurants in Tampa
Where to Find Tampa’s Best Local Food?
Tampa is one of the top destinations if you’re looking for food, and the best way to get a taste of Tampa‘s diverse gastronomy is to eat like a local. Local favorites include a wide variety of seafood, as you might expect, but barbecue and Cuban also play a major role in the local scene.
Tampa restaurants come in many different shapes and sizes, offering casual atmospheres as well as refined sophistication depending on where you go. Try the best local restaurants in Tampa.
1. King of the Coop
Check out a Nashville hot chicken restaurant
Good for: Food
King of the Coop is a Nashville hot chicken restaurant and the first of its kind in Tampa where you’ll find sandwiches, tenders, and traditional sides. The chicken is always the star of the show here whether you get a basket or one of their sandwiches packed with flavor, including one that has mac and cheese included inside.
You’ll find down-home flavor in the sides here, which include delicious collard greens, fries, and hush puppies, among others. There’s even a pudding available for dessert. You’ll find it all a few miles north of downtown past Seminole Heights.
Location: 6607 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604, USA
Open: Monday–Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, Friday–Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm
Phone: +1 813-232-2667
King of the Coop
2. Hattricks
Have a pint and catch a game at an Irish pub
Good for: Food, Nightlife
Hattricks is a local Irish sports tavern and pub where you’ll find delicious cuisine and plenty of fine spirits to enjoy in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. The food consists of typical pub grub, such as burgers, sandwiches, and slow-roasted pork, and it’s all made fresh and cooked to perfection.
The drink selection here is quite expansive and includes an extensive amount of local and imported craft beers, and the TVs all across the walls make this one of the best places in town to watch a sports game. You can try it for yourself conveniently downtown.
Location: 107 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 11 am to midnight, Friday–Saturday from 11 am to 1 am
Phone: +1 813-225-4288
Hattricks
3. Goody Goody Burgers
Try out an iconic diner
Good for: History, Food
Goody Goody Burgers offers incredible classic American diner food that’s prepared fast but also uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients. This burger joint is a resurrection of an old restaurant that opened in 1925, and the current edition still maintains that historical flair.
On the menu, you’ll find a wide variety of items, including their signature burgers and pies. Griddle cakes are also popular if you’re visiting for breakfast or brunch. You can check it all out for yourself around Historic Hyde Park North, which is just southwest of downtown.
Location: 1601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606, USA
Open: Daily from 7 am to 9 pm
Phone: +1 813-308-1925
Goody Goody Burgers
4. Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que
Enjoy legendary barbecue
Good for: Food
Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que brings a Tennessee-style barbecue to Tampa with all sorts of interesting varieties of smoked meats to enjoy. The restaurant has made quite an impact on Tampa, with more than a decade of accolades to prove it.
When you visit this restaurant, you’ll have a choice between all kinds of meats coming from a Tennessee-style soul food tradition. These include fried pork chops, pot roast, oxtails, and baked chicken. You can try it all for yourself in Ybor City just east of downtown.
Location: 1609 Angel Oliva Senior St, Tampa, FL 33605, USA
Open: Wednesday–Thursday from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm, Friday–Saturday from 11.30 am to 7 pm (closed Sunday–Tuesday)
Phone: +1 813-956-0675
Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que
5. Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill
Go for Mexican and margaritas
Good for: Food, Nightlife
Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill is an iconic local establishment best known for its always-fresh food and massive selection of drinks to enjoy. On the menu, you’ll find all sorts of Mexican dishes, like enchiladas and burritos, along with salads too.
The drink selection here is especially impressive, as they offer more than 20 different tequila shots, tequilas for sipping, and handcrafted cocktails. You’ll also find plenty of margaritas, wines, and beers, both imported and domestic. Try it out just west of downtown in Oakford Park.
Location: 3035 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609, USA
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm, Friday–Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm
Phone: +1 813-876-2587
Miguel's Mexican Seafood & Grill
6. La Teresita Restaurant
Taste authentic Cuban
Good for: Food
La Teresita Restaurant is an authentic Cuban restaurant that offers traditional recipes and plenty of retro charm that the whole family can enjoy. Among the food here, you’ll find the iconic Cuban sandwich, a Tampa staple, along with specialties like Puerco Asado, Ropa Vieja, and Patas de Cerdo if you’re feeling particularly adventurous.
The atmosphere is charming and retro-styled with 3 horseshoe counters with barstools. Additionally, the general ambience is quite relaxed, allowing everyone to take it easy during a casual visit. Try it for yourself around Macfarlane Park northwest of downtown.
Location: 3248 W Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33607, USA
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 6 am to 9 pm, Friday–Saturday from 6 am to midnight
Phone: +1 813-879-9704
La Teresita Restaurant
7. Eddie and Sam’s N.Y. Pizza
Experience a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint
Good for: Food
Eddie and Sam’s N.Y. Pizza offers a genuine New York experience in Tampa with ingredients shipped down from New York and served in a hole-in-the-wall setting. The authenticity here reigns supreme, as New York-sourced ingredients are always used for pies, from the dough to the toppings.
On the menu, you’ll find a variety of pizzas, including local favorites like Sicilian, Hawaiian, and primavera. Additionally, you can enjoy fresh sandwiches and Buffalo wings on the menu. You’ll feel like you’re in New York while visiting Tampa. It’s all available right downtown.
Location: 203 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm (closed Monday–Tuesday)
Phone: +1 813-229-8500
Eddie and Sam's N.Y. Pizza
8. Samaria Café
Visit a quaint café with delicious food and top service
Good for: Food
Samaria Café is a popular breakfast and lunch establishment where you’ll find delicious food along with a staff eager to please with top-level service. On the menu here, you’ll find items like steak and eggs as well as bacon and sausage and everything else you need for a classic American breakfast.
The staff here are all notably passionate about this establishment and eager to offer the best service possible. That’s part of what makes this café so popular since locals can always count on quick and reliable service. Experience it for yourself right downtown.
Location: 502 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Open: Daily from 7 am to 4 pm
Phone: +1 813-223-1674
Samaria Café
9. Empamamas
Discover American-made empanadas
Good for: Food
Empamamas offers a loving combination of American and Cuban fare, creating a delicious range of empanadas with some truly unique flavors. On the menu, you’ll find several delicious dishes like tacos, chicken, and quesadillas, but the stars are the empanadas.
Empanadas here come in some odd yet satisfying flavors like the Buffalo soldier, which features blue cheese, chicken, and red onion. Alternatively, you can try the cheeseburger-flavored empanada as well as the classic Tampa Girl, which is made with pork, ham, salami, cheese, pickle, and a special sauce. You’ll find it all north of downtown.
Location: 1910 N Ola Ave #13, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm, Friday–Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday–Monday from 11 am to 9 pm
Phone: +1 813-460-6213
Empamamas
10. Martha’s Family Restaurant
Eat with the whole family
Good for: Families, Food
Martha’s Family Restaurant is the go-to restaurant for traveling families who want to enjoy Southern-style cooking and a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. The staff here is dedicated to making everyone feel welcome, so you can expect top-level service with a casual ambience.
The food shines through as some of the best Southern cooking in Tampa with items like omelets, meat lovers skillets, and signature Southern dishes like beef tips and cinnamon roll pancakes. Try it out a few miles northeast of downtown in Seffner.
Location: 12019 US-92, Seffner, FL 33584, USA
Open: Saturday–Thursday from 5.30 am to 3 pm, Friday from 5.30 am to 8 pm
Phone: +1 813-681-4333
Martha's Family Restaurant
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