The bleach-blond, spiky-haired Mayor of Flavortown is no stranger to Central Florida. With a Chicken Guy! outpost in Wesley Chapel and several Food Network features over the years, we can’t help but accept the fact that the man knows his hometown eats.
Guy Fieri’s most well-known celebrity chef endeavor, TV series “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” has brought him all over the country in search of the most beloved holes-in-the-wall, greasy spoons and decades-old eateries. And that includes Central Florida.
Triple D has featured Tampa Bay area favorites TBBC (aka Tampa Bay Brewing Co.), Taco Bus, Buya Ramen—and even more establishments just a drive away.
Here are all the Flavortown-approved restaurants within driving distance from Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Brewing Co.1600 E 8h Ave., Ybor CityThis 1995-established Tampa mainstay welcomed Fieri way back in 2011 for the show’s “Homemade and Homebrewed” episode. The family-owned restaurant and on-site brewery offers house brews on tap and plenty of beer-focused eats, like the crispy wings with Red Eye Ale cider sauce to the Thai Curry Mussels with Wild Warthog Weizen that Fieri deemed “prime time.” Credit:TBBCTaco BusVarious locationsFieri visited the original Taco Bus location in Tampa in the Triple D episode years ago, and while that outpost has shuttered since, the area remains home to other locations dishing out the same eats. Credit: Photo via Taco Bus/Google MapsBuya RamenSt. PetersburgThis ramen and whiskey hotspot was featured on Season 27 of Triple D. While it’s not a diner, drive in or dive, the noodle shop still won over Fieri’s stomach with its crispy duck ramen and blistered shishito peppers. The restaurant announced this week it’d be closing its St. Pete location after nine years in service, but owner Michael Sponaugle says it’ll be back. Credit: Photo via Buya Ramen/FacebookKeegan’s Seafood Grille1519 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks BeachFeatured in the 2007 episode “Seaside Eats,” Keegan’s Seafood Grille served Fieri its blackened grouper sandwich with mango chutney, but he was especially pleased by the restaurant’s charbroiled octopus. Since its appearance on Fieri’s show, Keegan’s, in business since 1985, received Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence (now the Travelers’ Choice award) for several years after. It’s most recently been awarded a Travelers’ Choice title in 2024. Credit: Photo via Keegan's Seafood Grille/FacebookBig Lee’s2611 SW 19th Ave. Road, OcalaIn the “A World of Meat” episode, Fieri chows down at Ocala’s Big Lee’s Serious About BBQ, where he’s served smoky ribs, brisket-infused macaroni and cheese, and cheese-stuffed sausage. Credit: Photo via Big Lee's/FacebookAlpine Steakhouse4520 S Tamiami Trail, SarasotaAt Sarasota’s Alpine Steakhouse, Fieri ordered a turducken, a turkey stuffed with andouille sausage, duck and chicken. The spot also offers up French dip sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, reubens, soup, salad, fish and house-smoked barbecue. Credit: Photo via Alpine Steakhouse/FacebookWillie’s Pinchos1718 N Goldenrod Rd., OrlandoThis under-the-radar strip mall joint specializes in Puerto Rican favorites. Owner Willie Garcia served Fieri plantain mofongo with carnitas and a jibarito sandwich, but the spot also offers pastrami sandwiches, beef sandwiches and more. Credit: Photo via Willie's Pinchos/Google MapsSaigon Noodle and Grill101 N Bumby Ave., OrlandoWhen this family-owned authentic Vietnamese hotspot was featured on Triple D in May of 2017, Chef Thuy Vincent Nguyen shared homemade recipes and his personal experiences about building his restaurant in Orlando. The restaurant specializes in pho, pan-fried noodle dishes and shaking beef, which gets its name from the constant shaking of a wok that cooks use while preparing the dish. Credit: Photo courtesy @saigonnoodleandgrill on InstagramThe Pastrami ProjectBehind 825 N Magnolia Ave., OrlandoFieri visited this traveling Jewish deli food truck back in 2017, and was presented with New York-style pastrami sandwiches, bagel and lox, and reuben tacos courtesy of owner George Markward. Also on offer are braised beef brisket sandwiches, tuna melts, BLTs, grilled cheese bagels, potato latkes and plenty more delicatessen-inspired bites. Credit: Photo via The Pastrami Project/FacebookMrs. Potato4550 S Kirkman Rd., OrlandoOrlando’s own Mrs. Potato was called “the potato institute” by Mr. Mayor himself in the spot’s 2017 Food Network feature. Today, the spud-obsessed outpost is still slinging eats like the “ridonkulous” chicken catupiry baked potato, which is topped with pulled chicken and Brazilian cream cheese. The restaurant also specializes in carne seca rösti potatoes, which is Brazilian cured beef and cream cheese stuffed in a heaping mound of hash browns. Credit: Photo via Mrs. Potato/FacebookSe7en Bites617 S. Primrose Dr., OrlandoA frequent Best of Orlando contender and winner, Se7en Bites wowed Fieri with pies and a menu full of Southern classics back in 2017. On the menu guests will find chicken pot pie, heaping breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and fried green tomatoes in addition to all its options for folks with a sweet tooth. Fieri called the vanilla bean bourbon bacon moon pie “legit.” Credit: Image via Se7en Bites/FacebookPanhead’s Pizzeria113 S. Orange St., New Smyrna BeachIn New Smyrna Beach, Fieri visited Panhead’s Pizzeria, where chef Eric Ross boasts a menu made from scratch using his grandmother’s recipes. The celeb chef was served the “Seek and Destroy” pizza, which is topped with Alfredo sauce, a dry rub seasoning, mozz and provolone, brisket, caramelized onions, sour cream, horseradish, Worcestershire and fresh basil. He called it “outstanding.” Credit: Image via Google MapsThird Wave Cafe & Wine Bar204 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna BeachThird Wave Cafe & Wine Bar was featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives in 2022. Co-owner Sylvia Herrera boasted the spot’s Southern-inspired dishes with a French influence, like the bourbon pork chop topped with fruit tree chutney and a side of goat cheese grits — which Fieri called “dynamite.” The cozy spot also has gourmet coffee, sandwiches, pizzas, global wines and craft beers, plus a garden patio to sit back and dine in. Credit: Image via Google MapsRose Villa Southern Table & Bar43 W Granada Blvd., Ormond BeachIn Ormond Beach, Fieri dines at Rose Villa Southern Table & Bar, where he dives into the chef’s “upgraded” twist on pork chops and applesauce: a glazed pork served with fruity chutney. The restaurant offers brunch, lunch and dinner, with menu highlights like the lobster mac & cheese, chicken pot pie, chicken and waffles, biscuits Benedict, plus vegan and vegetarian options. Credit: Photo via Rose Villa Southern Table & Bar/FacebookThe Garlic556 E 3rd Ave., New Smyrna BeachFieri called this beloved New Smyrna Beach restaurant an “amusement park without the rides.” The local gem is best known for its casual ambience with tons of outdoor, indoor and covered seating, colorful lights and vibrant antique decor. The Garlic offers authentic Italian cuisine and a full bar. Credit: Photo via The Garlic/Facebook
Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...
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