Best Places to Eat in Tampa, Florida

Take advantage of a culinary adventure through the vibrant city of Tampa, Florida where every bite satisfies your taste of culinary delight. Tampa’s diverse city influences many different cuisines from fresh seafood straight from the Gulf, mouthwatering Cuban foods, to spectacular sweet treats. Take time to indulge your taste bud on some fantastic food options as you enjoy this bustling and welcoming coastal city. As one of our favorite cities to visit in Florida, I know you will find something that will satisfy your taste buds.

Tampa Florida energetic food scene

Restaurants you must try in Tampa or the surrounding areas include:

• Black Rock Bar and Grill Tampa

• Doodle Noodle Bar

• Jeni’s Ice Cream

• Kichi Taiyaki

• Lona

• M. Bird

• Ulele

• Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill

• Willa’s

• Yard House

Black Rock Bar and Grill Tampa

Black Rock Bar and Grill provides a unique culinary experience when you order a steak. Each steak is brought to the table on a 755 degrees volcanic sizzling rock. This amazing experience allows you to make sure each bite is cooked to perfection and each bite is as juicy as the next. They have a variety of delicious foods from tacos, burgers, lobster, soups, salads, chicken, desserts, and of course made your way steaks.

Address: 11702 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

Hours: Sunday 11am to 10pm, Monday to Thursday 3pm to 10pm, Friday 3pm to 11pm, Saturday 11am to 11pm

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The reviews of the items in this article are based on my own opinions.

Naples Sightseeing Boat Tour

Cruise along the Gulf of Mexico to see the history and wildife (dolphins, manatees) along Keewaydin Island near Naples, Florida. Prices start at $53.50 per person.

Doodle Noodle Bar

Doodle Noodle Bar is a fun and unique bar that feels like you are walking into a cartoon. Each wall creates the illusion of a doodle pad and provides a space to chill while sipping a fruit drink and enjoying one of their many specialty noodle meals.

Address: 9620 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm

Instagram @doodlenoodlebar

Jeni’s Ice Cream

Our absolute favorite ice cream shop is Jeni’s Ice Cream. They have multiple locations throughout the US, and we have tried this ice cream in Florida, Tennessee, and St Louis. They are all amazing. The Brambleberry Crisp is my favorite with mixed fruit and granola. They have so many amazing and unique flavors. Check them out for your favorite flavor or purchase a pint to take home. Publix Grocery Store also sell’s pints of Jenni’s ice cream for $7.99 each. Some of Jeni’s amazing flavors include:

• Gooey Butter Cake

• Salty Caramel

• Boston Cream Pie

• Darkest Chocolate

• Lemon and Blueberry Parfait

• Banana French Toast

• Brandied Banana Brulee

• and many more delicious flavors

Address: 305 W Palm Ave, Tampa

Scoop Shop Hours: Monday to Thursday 1pm - 11pm, Friday to Sunday 12pm - 12am

Instagram @jenisicecreams

Facebook Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Kichi Taiyaki

This dessert place, Kichi Taiyaki, we went to is located in Brandon which is only about 20 minutes away. This place is worth the trip. This is a Japanese dessert restaurant, and the food was delicious, and the portions were good size. We tried multiple desserts so we could have a variety of foods to share. The Mango cheesecake was amazing although the cheesecake piece was really small compared to what you get but overall, it was a large dessert.

Cost for our meal 2024: Mango Cheesecake $12.50, Taiyaki cone with 2 toppings (ice cream in a cup with fish shaped cake on top) $7.75, Souffle pancake (we chose the cookies and cream flavor) $14.55. Total was $52.18

Address: 2020 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon

Hours: Daily from 12pm to 10pm

If you like our article on the Best Places to Eat in Tampa, Florida, You might also enjoy these posts:

• Experience Tampa’s vibrant Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River

• Celebrate Tampa’s River O’ Green Fest for St Patrick’s Day along the Hillsborough River

• Best places to eat at Anna Marie Island

• Best places to eat in Fort Myers, Florida

Lona

One of my favorite restaurants with authentic Mexican food is located at the Marriott Hotel in Tampa, across from the Amalie Arena where you can watch a exciting Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey game. From the moment you step into Lona, you will be faced with an amazing vibe from brick lined walls, tapestries, stoneware and other cultural furnishings, making the vibe in this restaurant a place you will want to stay a while as you sip on your favorite drink and snacking on the complimentary chips with the best salsa that has a hint of corn and black bean.

There is no skimping on flavor here. I had the chicken tortilla soup ($12) which is now my favorite soup of all time. The flavors blend together nicely, and the chicken is so tender, making every savory bite excellent. The guacamole ($15) was perfect, and the poblano enchiladas ($22) were fantastic as well. This is one of my top restaurants in Tampa that I highly recommend you try!! Stay a while and watch a sporting event on their multiple TVs. (2024 prices)

Address: 505 Water Street, Tampa. Located inside the Tampa Marriott Water Street

Parking: Complimentary valet parking up to three hours on non-event nights, pull up to the front of the hotel for this service. No direct parking at the hotel other than metered parking across the street and throughout Tampa.

Boats: You can also visit by waterway at 32 boat slip marinas.

Payment: No cash accepted, only credit card, room charge, or mobile pay.

Hours: Monday to Friday 4pm to 11pm, Saturday to Sunday 11am to 11pm

Instagram @lonatampa

M. Bird

You have to stop at this fabulous roof top bar/restaurant when visiting Armature Works in Tampa. The food at M. Bird was so so good, and the view was fantastic. On the roof top you have a view of the Hillsborough River and the surrounding Riverwalk.

Their menu is limited but they have some unique food options, and you will no doubt find something good to eat. We had the M - Burger which had great flavor with added chipotle cherry, brie, bacon, crispy onions, and a sesame brioche bun and include truffle fries. If you have never had truffle fries, you have to try these. The are soo good. Truffle has a hint of mushrooms flavor but even if you don’t like mushrooms, you will like these fries. My husband had the spicy garlic shrimp which he said was really good. This consisted of garlic shrimp, chorizo, homemade tomato sauce with herbes, and grilled sourdough bread. Although the portion was small, it was good. We also had lemonade to drink, which was not good at all, so I do not recommend it.

Address: 1903 Market Street, Tampa

Hours: Monday to Wednesday 4pm - 12am, Thursday 4pm - 2pm, *Friday 3pm - 2am, *Saturday 12pm - 2am, *Sunday 12pm - 11pm. *21+ after 6pm. Thurs, Fri, Sat only

Ulele

One of the best restaurants along the riverfront is Ulele. This restaurant and menu are inspired by native and early Spanish explorers. They have some of the best food in the area. You have to try the carrot fries, they are so good, who knew! They also craft their own beer for those beer lovers out there.

Address: 1810 North Highland Avenue, Tampa

Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11am - 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am - 11pm

Whisky Joe’s Bar and Grill

This fantastic restaurant is located right on the water in Tampa Bay. Enter the parking area and be taken back by the view of the bay. This is the perfect location to sit and watch the sunset after enjoying an amazing meal at Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill. This restaurant has five locations throughout Florida where you can sit back and enjoy a drink and amazing grub while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Enjoy foods like seafood, alligator, chicken, oysters, salads, tacos, burgers, and more. At the Tampa location you can step outside at the Tiki Bar and dip your toes in the sand while you sip away at your favorite drink and listen to live music. If you have a boat or other water vessel, you can dock it at their sand bar while you enjoy a meal before heading back out into the waters.

Address: 7720 W Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 10:30pm (Happy Hour 3-6pm), Friday 11am to 12am (Happy Hour 3-6pm), Saturday 11am to 12am, Sunday 11am to 10:30pm

Instagram @thewhiskeyjoes

Facebook Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill Tampa

Willa’s

Willa’s is such a cute little restaurant. Willa’s has a wonderful young vibe, and the decor adds just the right touch to make you feel at home. Our service was amazing, and the food was just as great. We ordered the Bacon Cheddar Disco Fries for $15 and Chicken Schnitzel for $23 for a total of $38.70. The cheese on the fries was to die for and my chicken was cooked perfectly! Everything we ate was delicious and I highly recommend you check them out! As their saying goes, “Where There’s A Willa, There’s A Way-A”. Stop by for happy hour as they have a huge drink menu.

Address: 1700 W Fig Street, Tampa

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 9pm, Sunday 9am to 8pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Happy Hour Wednesday to Sunday 3pm to 6pm

Instagram @willalovestampa

Yard House

This new restaurant in Tampa, Yard House, proved to be one of my favorite places to eat. This has a bar vibe with friendly staff and a large bar selection that is inspired by the owners California roots. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I had the pork sandwich with blueberry ketchup ($14.99) with truffle fries ($2.00) which I absolutely loved. My husband had Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Noodles ($22.49) which he stated was really good. I also had the Smoked Pink Dragon drink ($12.79) which came out smokin’ and tasted so good! You have to stop here to eat, you won’t be disappointed! (2024 prices)

Address: 450 Channelside Drive, Tampa

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 12am, Friday and Saturday 11am to 1:20am

Instagram @yardhouse

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Ybor City

Ybor City is full of rich history and vibrant streets lined with amazing dining options, chickens, and entertainment. You will find some amazing food options in Ybor City as well. Check out this blog post for more details.

Tampa has so much to offer from theater, nightly entertainment, cultural experiences, foodie opportunities, and so much more. I find Tampa a favorite place to visit in Florida. With so many different events and restaurants to enjoy, I find myself gravitating toward Tampa often. You can experience the most authentic vibe and culture within this city.

This list of Best Places to Eat in Tampa Florida will be added to often. I have personally eaten at each of these restaurants and highly recommend them.

Bookmark this page and check back often for updated restaurants.

Need a place to stay while visiting Tampa? Check out booking.com or VRBO.com to find the perfect place.

Enjoy the journey,

Meet the author: Jennifer

I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. (me sitting at Willa’s)

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