Food & Drink

Popular Temple Terrace smash burger joint Byte Burger opens new location in Westshore

Byte will debut a new food truck while a more permanent location for Westshore is currently under construction.

by Liam Oliver July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

Food & Drink

Hyde Park’s new Mexican restaurant Mita’s Cocina Moderna serves a foot-long torta

Mita’s Cocina Moderna quietly debuted in Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood earlier this month.

by Colin Wolf July 30, 2026August 3, 2026

A historical monochrome half-length portrait photograph of Marcus Garvey, leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and self-proclaimed "Provisional President of Africa," taken by the Keystone View Company. Positioned center frame turned slightly to his right, Garvey looks directly at the camera with a calm expression, featuring short dark hair and a light mustache. He wears a dark three-piece suit over a white collared dress shirt and a dark patterned necktie, with a small round pin attached to his left suit lapel, set against an indoor office background featuring a dark wooden desk.

Food & Drink

Jamaican Independence Day is this weekend, and you know Tampa Jerk Hut is celebrating

Have you ever heard of Marcus Garvey?

by Ray Roa July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

A eye-level exterior photograph showing the Cass Street entrance canopy and historic facade of Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown (formerly the Floridan Palace Hotel) in Tampa, Florida. Captured from across the street, the light beige stone building features grand arched second-story windows framed by ornamental reliefs, an American flag mounted on the right pillar, and a gold-trimmed entrance canopy extending over the wide sidewalk. At street level, dark wood-framed windows with louvered blinds line the ground floor leading to the double-door glass main entry, set along a street marked with bright yellow street markings.

Food & Drink

Ahead of its 100th anniversary, downtown Tampa’s Hotel Flor is hosting ‘Historic Happy Hours’

Anyone in 1920s garb gets a free dessert as The Dan.

by Ray Roa July 30, 2026July 31, 2026

Food & Drink

Tampa Bay’s annual hot sauce festival ‘I Like it Hot!’ returns this September

The popular “I Like it Hot!” Festival heads to Pinellas Park this year.

by Leif Helland July 29, 2026July 29, 2026

Food & Drink

Tampa Bay’s first Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks will open next month near USF

This will be the first Tampa Bay outpost for the fast casual chain, which is actually not based in Philly.

by Colin Wolf July 28, 2026July 29, 2026

Food & Drink Events

Tampa’s Boozy Pig will be featured on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’

‘Being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is an incredible honor, and we couldn’t have done it without this amazing crew & community.’

by Colin Wolf July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

Food & Drink

Tampa’s Streetlight Taco, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, is expanding to Clearwater

Other restaurants under the Tastes Pretty Good umbrella include the Michelin-starred Rocca, Bar Terroir, and the new Spanish concept Lumbre.

by Colin Wolf July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

A group photograph by Nick Cardello showing five partygoers posing together at Bolts Brew Fest inside Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on July 25, 2026. On the far left, an individual with a full dark beard and long wavy hair leans toward the camera holding a small plastic tasting cup of beer while wearing a lavender striped polo shirt. In the center foreground, an attendee with long brown hair smiles while wearing a dark blue Tampa Bay Lightning shirt, positioned in front of a person in a grey baseball cap. On the right, two attendees stand side-by-side: one wearing a blue "BELIEVE" Tampa Bay Lightning t-shirt, a blue "TBL" hat, and plaid shorts, with an arm around an individual wearing a dark navy ringer t-shirt, denim shorts, and a cream crossbody bag. Glowing arena ribbon boards and event lighting fill the background.

Food & Drink

Photos: Every cool person we saw at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Bolts Brew Fest last Saturday

Not a sweaty armpit in sight.

by Ray Roa and Nick Cardello July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

Food & Drink

Wrights expands to the ‘burbs, Old Heights Bistro moving to South Tampa, and more in local food news

Plus, Jug & Bottle turns 11 this weekend, gas station Thai food is here and more in our weekly Tampa Bay food news round-up.

by CL Staff July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

A medium-shot photograph of Chef Sirikullaya “Layla” Martinez inside the commercial kitchen of Chalawan Thai Delish in Tampa, Florida, on July 16, 2026. Positioned center frame, Chef Martinez smiles warmly at the camera wearing a clear hairnet, transparent protective glasses, a patterned apron, and a black t-shirt with a Thai flag graphic. Directly behind them, a Thai flag is taped to a stainless steel refrigerator, while commercial kitchen equipment, stainless steel sinks, cookware hanging on wall racks, and stacked cardboard boxes fill the background.

Food & Drink

Chalawaan Thai Delish just opened inside a gas station on Tampa’s N Armenia Avenue

The restaurant is named for a folkloric crocodile king from Thailand’s Phichit province.

by Ray Roa July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

A photograph by Nick Cardello showing meteorologist Denis Phillips interacting with a fan at the Bolts Brew Fest at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on August 1, 2026. On the right, Denis Phillips laughs heartily while holding a marker and a red lanyard card, dressed in a grey heathered hoodie bearing a blue hurricane swirl graphic with the text "RULE #7 DON'T FREAK OUT." On the left, an individual wearing a grey "BOLTS BREW FEST" t-shirt, black arm sleeve, and black-rimmed glasses holds a beverage can with an wide-eyed expression while adjusting their glasses, set against a dark backdrop branded with Tampa Bay Lightning hockey logos and news sponsor logos.

Food & Drink

Tampa’s favorite weatherman, Denis Phillips, is coming to meet fans at Bolts Brew Fest

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s keg party happens Saturday inside the air-conditioned Benchmark International Arena.

by Ray Roa July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

Food & Drink

Old Heights Bistro in Seminole Heights will close this weekend, moving to South Tampa

The popular neighborhood spot will serve its final guests this Saturday, July 25.

by Colin Wolf and Annalise Mabe July 24, 2026July 27, 2026

An exterior photograph of the storefront of Vegan International Co. Market & Cafe in a strip mall plaza in Tampa, Florida. Taken from an eye-level perspective looking toward the side of the building, the light green stucco structure features large storefront windows decorated with bright magenta vinyl decals displaying bold white lettering that reads "VEGAN" across the panes, alongside details for pickup and delivery. A tiled awning overhangs the entrance beneath a dark green overhead sign reading "VEGAN," while manicured green bushes and a oak tree border the sidewalk and parking lot in the foreground.

Food & Drink, Food News, Tampa Bay Journalism Project

Three Tampa Bay restaurants proving that vegan eateries are staying alive

Founders of Vegan International, Nah Dogs, and WeVegan Eats share secrets of success.

by Ray Roa July 23, 2026

Sandra Cason inside WeVegan Cafe in Tampa, Florida on June 25, 2026.

News & Views

WeVegan Eats celebrates fifth anniversary of Tampa cafe

WeVegan Eats’ clientele do not follow a plant-based lifestyle, and simply enjoy good food and drink.

by Alisha Durosier July 23, 2026July 24, 2026

An interior photograph of the checkout counter at Vegan International Co. Market & Cafe in Tampa, Florida. Taken from a close-up angle, the counter displays a black cash register terminal alongside a clear tip jar decorated with a cartoon broccoli sticker reading "VEGAN VIBES." Below the register, the counter front features a colorful sticker with stylized purple-and-yellow lettering that reads "VEGAN INTERNATIONAL CO." In the foreground, packaged baked goods and cookies in clear plastic containers rest on the counter next to a digital payment tablet.

Food & Drink

Tampa’s Vegan International found success by breaking rules

Nick Alami knew he had to think outside of the box.

by Alisha Durosier July 23, 2026July 23, 2026

Food & Drink

Co-owner of St. Pete’s Nah Dogs believes meatless lifestyles will make a comeback

The pop-up is openings its first brick-and-mortar next to Tombolo Books and Black Crow Coffee Co.

by Alisha Durosier July 23, 2026July 23, 2026

An exterior photograph showing the storefront signage of Kim Bros. Korean Market in Tampa, Florida, on July 20, 2026. Captured from a low-angle perspective against a soft overcast sky, large dimensional red block letters spell out "KIM BROS." positioned directly above a rounded red sign with bold white text reading "KOREAN MARKET." Below the main signage, store windows display promotional food photos and product advertisements, while the right side of the building features decorative brown and tan stone cladding.

Food & Drink

After nearly 35 years, Tampa’s Kim Bros. Korean market closes this weekend

Some of their food will live on inside the forthcoming H Mart food court.

by Annalise Mabe July 21, 2026July 21, 2026

An interior photograph capturing the warm, sunlit shop floor of Jug & Bottle Dept. in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, wooden wine display racks hold slanted bottles of red and natural wines labeled with handwritten price tags, topped with potted green houseplants and a small table lamp. In the background, tall dark wooden shelving units stretch across the room, stacked with a vast, curated selection of craft beer cans, wine bottles, and specialty goods under bright track lighting.

Food & Drink

As it celebrates 11 years in Tampa, Jug & Bottle Dept. keeps building Seminole Heights’ ultimate living room

An all-day block party happens on Saturday.

by Annalise Mabe July 21, 2026July 21, 2026

A stack of cake boxes from Tampa's Wright's Gourmet House.

Food & Drink

Tampa icon Wright’s Gourmet House will open new locations in Brandon, Wesley Chapel

Both outposts will include cafes, catering facilities, a market and more.

by Colin Wolf July 20, 2026July 20, 2026

Do you have the best burger in Tampa Bay?