Florida is rich in chain restaurants, Tampa Bay is too, but that isn’t always a bad thing. Not all chains are crap, and some locally-based franchises are actually worth your time. Here are a few of our favorite Florida-based chain restos.

SoFresh Locations: Downtown Tampa, South Tampa, North Tampa Happiness does come in a bowl. This fast-casual Tampa-based chain is quickly becoming a local’s fav for fresh healthy options. Photo via SoFresh/Facebook
Metro Diner Locations: All over Florida, and the South Metro Diner is quickly becoming one of Florida’s biggest exports. The chicken and waffle purveyors got their start in Tampa and now they’re pretty much everywhere. Photo via Kahwa/Facebook
Kahwa Coffee Locations: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota UPDATED:05/21/20 5:45 p.m.Arguably one of Tampa Bay’s most celebrated coffee shops, Kahwa is one of those chains that locals actually like, and for good reason. Don’t come asking for a caramel machiato though (Kahwa’s version of a caramel latte is a a traditional Italian espresso, which you can add caramel to). Do grab a few of those ham and cheese croissants, however, and order a “salted caramel latte” if you must. Photo via Kahwa/Facebook
Hawkers Asian Street Fare Locations: Orlando, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Neptune Beach, Windermere Since opening its first location in Orlando in 2011, this Asian street food establishment has expanded across Florida and will soon be opening two out-of-state locations. Inspired by Asian “hawkers,” or street food vendors who depend on local ingredients, the restaurant owners hand-picked the most authentic Asian street foods to offer to customers. Photo via Hawkers Asian Street Fare/Facebook
Twistee Treat Locations: 2 Orlando, 7 Kissimmee, Clermont, Davenport, New Smyrna Beach, Cape Canaveral, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Ocala, Tampa Metro Area, Sebring, Homosassa Twistee Treats’ giant ice cream cone buildings have been popping up around Central Florida and serving homemade soft-serve ice cream ever since 1987. This place offers ice cream in all forms, such as twirls, sundaes, shakes/malts, waffle taco, cookiewich, brownie boat, banana split and more. Photo via Twistee Treat USA (UCF)/Facebook
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Locations: 4 Orlando, Longwood, Maitland, Casselberry, Oviedo, Lake Nona, Winter Park, Lake Mary, Winter Springs, Windermere, Tampa, Brandon, Jacksonville, Coral Springs, Miami, Daytona Beach Known for its sweet mix of gelato, Italian ice and soft serve, this frozen treat chain has become a Florida classic. With over 40 flavors to choose from, anyone can find a treat to cool them off on a hot Florida day. Photo via Jeremiah’s Italian Ice/Facebook
Buddy Brew Locations: Multiple in Tampa and Sarasota Launched by Tampa Bay couple Susan and David Ward, Buddy Brew is a passion project that grew into a local obsession. Photo via Buddy Brew/Facebook
Noble Crust Locations: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel Executive Chef Rob Reinsmith is a Pinellas County native, and his Italian fare changes with the seasons. Photo via
Tijuana Flats Locations: 10 Orlando, Winter Park, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Apopka, Longwood, Winter Garden, Winter Springs, Windermere, Jacksonville Metro Area, Tampa Metro Area, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Metro Area, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, multiple out-of-state First opened in Winter Park, this Tex-Mex chain provides a casual setting to enjoy burritos, chimichangas, tostadas, flautas, enchiladas, tacos and more. Photo via Tijuana Flats/Facebook
Blind Tiger Locations: Ybor City, Seminole Heights, SoHo Started in Cigar City, Blind Tiger’s speakeasy style has caught on in Tampa Bay, and so have their cold brews. Photo via Blind Tiger/Facebook
Yard House Locations: Orlando, Miami Beach, Naples, Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Hallandale Beach, Palm Beach, Sunrise, multiple out-of-state This California-founded, Orlando-based sports bar chain boasts the world’s largest selection of draft beer. Here you can enjoy all the American food classics, like steak, seafood, burgers and sandwiches. Photo via Yard House/Facebook
4 Rivers Smokehouse Locations: 2 Orlando, Winter Park, Tampa, Coral Springs, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Orange Park, Longwood, Winter Garden, Tallahassee, Atlanta Florida born and bred, this barbeque restaurant is every meat lover’s dream. Here, you can indulge in all the BBQ classics, such as the signature angus brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken and brontosaurus beef rib. Photo via 4 Rivers Smokehouse/Facebook
Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi Locations: 3 Orlando, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, St. Petersburg, Davie This Florida-based Pan-Asian chain offers everything from sushi to pad Thai to Vietnamese pork chop. Enjoy rice bowls, noodle bowls and bento boxes that are big enough to last for several meals and tasty enough that you’ll want to eat it for several meals in a row. Photo via BENTO asian kitchen + sushi/Facebook
Boca Kitchen, Bar and Market Locations: Winter Park, Tampa, Sarasota, Riverview Boca prides itself on offering fresh, locally sourced ingredients to customers, with a menu that depends on which ingredients are currently in season. Whether serving a spinach and goat cheese salad or smoked meatloaf, they always maintain the “farm-to-table” mentality. Photo via Boca Winter Park/Facebook
Graffiti Junktion Locations: 3 Orlando, Clermont, Longwood, Lake Nona, Lake Mary, Jacksonville Enjoy some great burgers and fries in a colorful establishment. This Central Florida-based American Burger Bar offers a casual atmosphere with walls graffitied by local artists. Photo via Graffiti Junktion Thornton Park/Facebook
The Melting Pot Locations: Orlando, Longwood, Miami, Tampa, Pensacola, Sarasota, Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Destin, Melbourne, Boca Raton, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Palm Beach Gardens, multiple out-of-state Enjoy an interactive dining experience at this fondue restaurant chain, which opened its first location in Maitland in 1975 and has since expanded across the world. The restaurant provides an array of different cheese fondues with entrees like steak, shrimp and more for dipping. There are also chocolate fondues to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Photo via The Melting Pot/Facebook
Sonny’s BBQ Locations: 3 Orlando, Oviedo, Sanford, Winter Park, Apopka, Tampa/St. Petersburg Metro Area, Panhandle, Ocala, Gainesville, Jacksonville Metro Area, multiple out-of-state Sonny’s BBQ, headquartered in Maitland, is all about southern barbeque goodness. This chain features ribs, pulled pork, smoked wings and all other barbeque favorites. Photo via Sonny’s BBQ/Facebook
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood Locations: Orlando, Tampa, multiple out-of-state Experience fresh seafood and prime steaks at this Orlando-headquartered restaurant. Though pricey, the food is well worth it, as it features everything from caviar to an Iceberg BLT. Photo via Eddie V’s Prime Seafood/Facebook
Gator’s Dockside Locations: 5 Orlando, Clermont, Jacksonville, Eustis, Gainesville, Yulee, Winter Springs, Ocoee, Tampa, St. Johns, The Villages, Ocala, Cape Canaveral, Apopka, Highland City, Apopka, Lake Mary, Lake City, Spring Hill, St. Cloud Gator’s is one of the most quintessentially Floridian restaurants you can go to. It has a family-friendly sports bar feel, serving American comfort food, as well as offering actual gator meat. Photo via Gators Dockside Ocoee/Facebook
World of Beer Locations: 3 Orlando, Clermont, Brandon, Tampa, Melbourne, The Villages, Lady Lake, Gainesville, Panhandle, multiple out-of-state As the name of the Tampa-based restaurant would suggest, this place is all about beer, offering 50 craft beers on tap and “over 500 in the cooler.” They also offer tavern fare, like flatbreads, burgers and bowls, to pair with the beers. Photo via World of Beer (Plantation, FL)/Facebook
Ford’s Garage Locations: Orlando, St. Petersburg, Brandon, Wesley Chape, and basically everywhere else in Florida Who would’ve thought that a burger joint based on a car and themed like a gas station would get this much love. Photo via Fords Garage/Facebook
Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Que Locations: 2 Orlando, Apopka, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs Bubbalou’s has been bringing barbeque to Central Florida for over 30 years. Each location provides a different menu, featuring classics like their award-winning baby back ribs and smoked chicken. Photo via Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Que/Facebook
Miller’s Ale House Locations: 8 Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Davenport, Ocala, Kissimmee, Sanford, Oviedo, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Palm Beach Metro Area, Tampa/St. Petersburg Metro Area, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Metro Area, Panhandle, Fort Myers Metro Area, Gainesville, Jacksonville, multiple out-of-state This Florida-based chain has been serving American food for the past 30 years. This sports bar-style restaurant specializes in their Zingers (chicken tenders), burgers, craft beers, desserts and more. Photo via Miller’s Ale House/Facebook
Seasons 52 Locations: Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Tampa, Sarasota, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Coral Gables, Palm Beach Gardens, Naples Freshness is one of the main goals of this Orlando-based chain, as it is dedicated to creating “full-flavored” food by sourcing ingredients when they are at peak freshness. The restaurant also offers over 100 different wine options, which makes for some great wine pairings. Photo via Seasons 52 (Orlando)/Facebook