Brocato's Sandwich Shop is a cuban deli restaurant in West Tampa, Tampa.
Brocato's on East Columbus Drive in Tampa has built Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and stuffed potatoes since 1948 from a neighborhood storefront.
Must order: The Cuban sandwich with a deviled crab on the side.
Tip: Cash and card both work; the party finger sandwiches (mini Cubans and mini deviled crabs) are the catering pick.
Address: 5021 E Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33619
Wright's Gourmet House on South Dale Mabry has built Tampa's classic Cuban and roast-beef sandwiches plus the famous rum cake since 1963. A Tampa table.
Order: Cuban sandwich pressed and a slice of the rum cake to take home.
Tip: Pete and Marjorie Wright started the shop on April 20, 1963; the Casper family bought it in 2024 to keep it Tampa-owned.
Bavaro's downtown is Florida's first traditional Neapolitan pizzeria since 2009, with hand-crafted wood-fired ovens and a 100-year Ferrara family yeast.
Order: Margherita pizza out of the wood-fired oven plus a glass of Chianti.
Tip: Walk-ins only at the bar; the dining room books out by 7pm on weekends.
Ichicoro Ramen in Seminole Heights opened in 2015 in a converted Florida Avenue bungalow and pulls Tampa's benchmark tonkotsu broth and pork bao buns.
Order: Tonkotsu Ichicoro ramen with slow-cooked chashu and a bao bun.
Tip: No reservations are taken at this counter; the patio handles overflow when the dining room fills up at peak times.
Psomi on North Howard Avenue in Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Christina Theofilos' Greek daytime kitchen and bakery. The patio fills first.
Order: Octopus ceviche, house-made dolmades and a Greek coffee.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; breakfast and lunch Wednesday to Friday, brunch on weekends.
Streetlight Taco on Henderson Boulevard is Chef Michael Brannock's Bib Gourmand taqueria, nixtamalizing heirloom corn in house for every tortilla.
Order: Three tacos on house-nixtamalized tortillas and a side of esquites.
Tip: Counter service with a small bar; arrive before 7pm to avoid the queue.
Gorkhali Kitchen in New Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Himalayan and Nepalese cooking, with steamed buff momos and thali platters built tableside.
Order: Buff momos with chili sauce and the chicken thali platter.
Tip: Strip-mall room with no frills; bring a group and order across the thali, momo and biryani sections.
