Not all great restaurants are easy to find. Sometimes you have to hook a few U-turns and let your GPS reroute until you actually find the place. Here are a few hard-to-spot, plaza-buried restaurants in Tampa.
Sushi Ninja
3018 W Kennedy Blvd Tampa, Florida, (813) 898-2874
In a strip mall next to a nail salon and a gym, Sushi Ninja offers some of the most authentic Japanese and Korean food around, from executive chef Mimi Kang herself. If the 70 specialty sushi rolls don’t interest you, you could completely customize a roll exactly to your liking.
Photo via Sushi Ninja/FacebookMr. Dunderbak’s Brewpub
14929 Bruce B Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33613, (813) 977-4104
Tampa’s own brewpub, biergarten and marketplatz, Mr. Dunderbak’s offers an all Bavarian food, drink, and atmosphere seven days a week–and they’ve been doing it for over 45 years. And yes, there’s live polka music every Friday and Saturday evening.
Photo via Google MapsOggi Italian
236 E. Davis Boulevard Tampa, FL 33606, (813) 252-7778
This small, but constantly bustling spot is a cafe-style restaurant that serves up all the expected homey, Italian comfort dishes. The outdoor seating and intimate ambiance of Oggi Italian sets it apart from other Italian joints–but good luck parking.
Photo via Oggi Italian/FacebookLa V
441 Central Ave St. Petersburg, FL 3370, (727) 820-3500
La V might be a little hard to spot in the never-ending sprawling storefronts of Central Ave, but this little Vietnamese-American fusion restaurant has food that will definitely be remembered. Grab a boba tea, sit at their sidewalk tables, and people-watch all you want.
Photo via La V/FacebookAnchor Bar
514 N Franklin St Ste 104 Tampa, FL 33602, (813) 223-6050514 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
Your friendly neighbourhood sports bar, with a pretty extensive menu to accompany your beer. Or 4 beers. Or 9 beers. The best part? Two locations — one on Davis Island and another in downtown Tampa.
Photo via Anchor Bar/Instagram Credit: Photo via Anchor Bar/InstagramSulphur Springs Sandwich Shop
9000 N Florida Ave, Ste A Tampa, Florida, (813) 932-3663
With fresh bread delivered daily, home-roasted meats, and sauces made from scratch, everything about Sulphur Springs Sandwich Shop screams straight up comfort food. This little shop is not only a neighbourhood favorite, but an overall Tampa Bay favorite.
Photo via Sulphur Springs Sandwich Shop/FacebookMetro Diner
4011 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, FL 33609, (813) 364-0076
A no nonsense, straightforward diner with a range of a menu and that laid back, diner atmosphere. A place where it’s totally acceptable to have breakfast for dinner. Actually,it’s encouraged.
Photo via Metro Diner/FacebookLa Segunda (South Tampa)
4015 W. Kennedy Blvd Tampa, FL 33609, (813) 540-9119
Not to be confused with the historic Ybor location, South Tampa’s La Segunda also offers the same traditional Cuban fare, just out of a slightly-hidden strip mall. An authentic and true Tampa staple, no matter the location.
Photo via La Segunda/FacebookTaj Indian Cuisine
2734 E Fowler Ave Tampa, FL, 33612 , (813) 971-8483
Taj Indian Cuisine has been serving up Indian food for over 30 years at this little plaza-buried Indian restaurant. Loaded with vegetarian options and heaping portions, this joint certainly stands out in its restaurant-packed strip mall.
Photo via Taj Indian Cuisine/FacebookJapanese Kitchen Dosunco
3310 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609, (813) 605-5741
Grab a traditional bowl of ramen with all of its must-have side dishes in this slightly hidden Japanese Kitchen on Kennedy Blvd, next to a nail salon and oriental rug store. Frequent goers of this ramen spot often say the wait can be long–but most definitely worth it.
Photo via Japanese Kitchen Dosunco/FacebookCiccio Cali
190 37th Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33704, (727)898-8226
Ciccio Cali focuses on California-inspired, health conscious cuisine revolving around various bowls, tacos, and wraps. Get your fill on some guilt-free grubbery.
Photo via Ciccio Cali/FacebookChina Garden
5715 N Nebraska Ave Tampa, FL 33604, (813) 238-6269
Quick service, cooked-to-order fresh food, and you walk in knowing exactly what you want. Get your much needed dose of Chinese comfort food on Nebraska Ave’s China Garden. And no, they don’t deliver, so get out of bed.
Photo via Google MapsNoble Crust
1618 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618, (813) 463-0193
There’s no missing this huge, grey storefront that sticks out like an elegant sore thumb in an already massive plaza off of the highway. A modern twist on traditional Italian dining, Noble Crust uses the fresh seasonal ingredients of the area.
Photo via Noble Crust/FacebookJimmy’s Sushi Bar a
5731 Seminole Blvd, Seminole, FL 33772, (727) 319-5600
Although this small storefront is sandwiched between an oriental market and hair salon, Jimmy’s Sushi Bar offers a massive menu of all things sushi related, with their speciality being hand rolls, which is basically a big sushi ice cream cone. Yeah.
Photo via Jimmy’s Sushi Bar/FacebookGrain and Berry
2784 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33612, (813) 631-0676
Grain and Berry is a superfood cafe serving of course, acai and smoothie bowls, but also a range of healthy options designed to cater to all your diet restrictions, whether it be vegan, gluten-free, etc. They also serve a variety of avocado toast, millennials.
Photo via Grain and Berry/FacebookChicken Salad Chick
4050 W. Kennedy, Tampa, FL 33609, (813) 501-6625
Offering a wider variety of deli items than your everyday sandwich shop, Chicken Salad Chick is a family friendly joint with over ten chicken salads to choose from. Like it sweet with walnuts and fruit? Like it savory with lemon and basil? They got you covered.
Photo via Chicken Salad Chick/FacebookSaigon Deli
3858 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33614,(813) 887-3888
Saigon Deli offers all of the Vietnamese favorites, and sometimes you have to sit with strangers because it’s just that packed. It’s small, affordable, and the service is fast. The label “dive” just wouldn’t do it justice.
Photo via Saigon Deli /FacebookTara’s Roti
10006 N 30th St, Tampa, Florida, (813) 866-8272
Probably the most authentic Trinidadian food you’ll find in the Tampa Bay area, and Tara’s Roti is a little hard to find hidden in a large plaza next to about dozen other storefronts. Fresh dishes are made daily, and yes the 75 year old Tara herself stills serves customers.
Photo via Google MapsLoli’s Mexican Cravings
8005 Benjamin Rd, Tampa, FL 33634 , (813) 886-7467
The five tables inside of Loli’s Mexican Cravings are almost always full, with a tex-mex menu chock full of hearty Mexican favorites like sopes, tortas, tamales, and of course, tacos. Their website says they offer the best Mexican food in Tampa, and most locals would agree with that statement.
Photo via Loli’s Mexican Cravings/FacebookTaqueria Emmanuel
2800 N Macdill Ave E, Tampa, FL 336073, (813) 453-5954
Taqueria Emmanuel is a tiny storefront hidden in a massive plaza that does everyday, simple Mexican fare, but they do it well. It’s where you go when you want a heap of authentic, fresh Mexican food on a budget.
Photo via Taqueria Emmanuel/Facebook
