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South Tampa’s Streetlight Taco earns Bib Gourmand in 2024 Michelin Guide

Tampa hosts the Florida Michelin Guide ceremony on April 18.

By Ray Roa on Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:00 pm

Logan Profitt

Streetlight's brisket tacos on homemade tortillas.

The 2024 Florida Michelin Guide won’t be unveiled until next Thursday when Tampa hosts its first ever star ceremony, but the inspectors gave the food scene an amuse bouche this morning.

Michelin (stylized “MICHELIN”) says four restaurants earned their first Bib Gourmand in the 2024 Florida Guide, including South Tampa’s Streetlight Taco.

Located at 4004 Henderson Blvd., Streetlight finds Executive Chef Michael Brannock tapping into his travels throughout Mexico in presenting a menu that leans on traditional cooking techniques found in restaurants, homes and street food stalls throughout Mexico.

While Tampa hosts its first Michelin star ceremony this month, the local food scene wonders: what's next?: Tampa, Miami, and Orlando were just the jumping off point.

The guide had this to say about Streetlight Taco:

This South Tampa taqueria certainly ups the style quotient on the typical taqueria. From the black-painted, exposed ductwork to the tables lacquered with Mexican comics to the open kitchen, this fast casual spot delivers on contemporary flair, and Chef Michael Brannock’s food isn't pulling any punches, either. Heirloom corn is nixtamalized in house for a menu featuring tacos, tostadas, salsas, sides and more. Don't skip the Sunday snack tostada, an equal parts sweet-and-savory delight with two blue corn tostadas layered with cream cheese with lump crab, diced sweet mango and a mango habanero sauce. The Japanese eggplant taco with an heirloom bean puree and a chile onza salsa has just the right amount of kick. There's a full bar, but a strawberry horchata goes down perfectly, too.

As previously reported, Streetlight Taco's partners include Jack Murray and Nick Reader, who are also the managing partners of Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Rocca.

And this isn’t the only pre-ceremony snack Michelin’s offered the Bay area food scene this year.

In February, the guide updated the Florida addition with 19 more recommended restaurants—including Tampa concepts Supernatural Food & Wine, Predalina, Streetlight Taco, The Pearl, Ebbe, and Kōsen.

In all, Tampa is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants (Roca, Lilac at Tampa Edition, Koya omakase), and three concepts with Bib Gourmands (Rooster & the Till, Psomi, and Gorkhali Kitchen.

Other Florida restaurants that earned their first Bib Gourmands in the 2024 Florida Michelin guide include Orlando's Sushi Saint and Zaru, plus Tam Tam in Miami.

Slideshow

All the Tampa restaurants featured in the 2023 Florida Michelin Guide

Yummy House2620 E Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813-237-3838Michelin ranking: Recommended"Crowds still clamber to fill the seats at this spacious, no-frills eatery, whose sizable menu presents ample options for a range of tastes. Diners can find contentment with familiar American-Chinese staples, like orange chicken and salt-and-pepper fried calamari (or tofu). However, dishes like clay pot-braised fish have their own unique, earthy appeal. During lunch hours you’d be well-advised to select from the separate dim sum menu, which features typical bites like dumplings and turnip cakes, as well as sweet regional specialties like pineapple buns and Hong Kong-style egg tarts.Thanks to the popularity of the original, a number of offshoots can be found throughout southern Florida, including a more upscale one in South Tampa."Photo via Yummy House

Lilac500 Channelside Dr, Tampa, 813- 771-8022Michelin ranking: 1 Star"Peruse the contemporary four-course prix-fixe with Mediterranean influences, Florida-focused ingredients and French techniques. A meal might include luxe bites like a Diver scallop infused with rosemary smoke and dramatically served under a cloche to well-executed and flavorful lobster feuillantine."Photo via Google Maps

Rocca323 W Palm Ave., Tampa. 813-906-5445Michelin ranking: 1 Star"Chef Bryce Bonsack blends his New York know-how with Italian training to great effect in this of-the-moment eatery. Naturally, there's an assortment of pastas, skillfully made in house and showcasing classic flavors and scrupulous technique, as in spaghetti al limone, tossed with knobs of blue crab and lemon, shaved garlic and zucchini."Photo by Google Street

Gorkhali Kitchen10044 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa, 813-388-6404Michelin ranking: Bib GourmandMichelin praised the breadth of the menu at New Tampa strip mall spot, Gorkhali Kitchen and noted its focus on Nepalese cuisine with a touch of Indian influence. "Of course, there must be momo, those iconic Nepalese dumplings that are seared, pan-fried or even in jhol (soup). Chicken is a popular protein that appears often on the menu, but don't shy away from the goat specialties. They're falling-off-the-bone tender and savory," inspectors wrote.Photo by Melissa Santell

Ichicoro5229 N Florida Ave, Tampa, 813-517-9989Michelin ranking: Bib Gourmand Without a doubt, Ichicoro ushered in a new era for Tampa’s dining scene, but the concept closed last April. Records at the City of Tampa show that an "Ichicoro 2.0" was underway across the street at 5246 N Florida Ave, but the last update for that concept happened in December 2022. It's unclear what is happening with that property.Photo by Melissa Santell

Psomi701 N Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-841-5555Michelin ranking: Bib Gourmand"Owned and run by second-generation Greek-American, Christina Theofilos, this daytime eatery and bakery epitomizes warmth and comfort. Strangers become friends in no time, noshing on breakfast and lunch during the week and brunch on weekends. The menu is laced with Greek items ranging from flavorful and tender octopus ceviche to house-made dolmades that display an added level of care. The farm to your table sandwich is layered with avocado, pickled green tomato, shaved jicama, sprouts and whipped feta. Of course, with a name that translates to bread, there must be baked goods and you'll find it all here. Don't skimp on dessert and order bougatsa, baklava or baklava coffee cake (an impressive marriage of the two)."Photo via Psomi/Instagram

Rooster & The Till6500 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-374-8940Michelin ranking: Bib Gourmand"It's a low-key spot with a contemporary feel. The bar is central and wraps around an open kitchen, so grab a seat at the counter for the best view. Between the lively tunes and buzzy staff, the aura is anything but stuffy. The plates follow suit—freewheeling, frequently changing and shareable with elements from SE Asia, Latin America and the Levant. Yet, nothing seems out of place, as in sumac-flecked cauliflower with whipped goat's milk feta and falafel-spiced dukkah. Fried cobia collar with nuoc cham boasts a cultish following. Such seductive textures and explosive flavors continue in full force in a dessert of black sesame ice cream with pineapple-cashew jam and Thai tea caramel. The tasting menu, though pricier, is a worthy splurge."Photo via Rooster & The Till/Facebook

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About The Author

Ray Roa

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 in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...

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