Ling's Dumplings is a chinese dumplings restaurant in Tampa Heights, Tampa.
Ling's Dumplings inside Heights Public Market hand-folds soup dumplings, pork dumplings and scallion pancakes to order. The kitchen leans on local Florida.
Must order: A dozen pork soup dumplings plus a scallion pancake.
Tip: Counter inside Armature Works; the soup dumplings sell out by 2pm.
Address: 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
Empamamas inside Heights Public Market bakes and fries empanadas across Latin American styles, from Argentine beef to Cuban chicken. The patio fills first.
Order: Half-dozen empanadas across styles, plus chimichurri to dip.
Tip: Eat at the picnic tables on the Riverwalk lawn; the empanadas reheat in a toaster oven later.
The Fold at Heights Public Market folds Neapolitan-style pies fast for the Armature Works lunch crowd, with classics and seasonal specials. The room fills.
Order: Margherita pie or the weekly seasonal special.
Tip: Order at the counter; eat at the picnic tables on the Riverwalk lawn.
Empamamas inside Heights Public Market bakes and fries empanadas across Latin American styles, from Argentine beef to Cuban chicken. The patio fills first.
Order: Half-dozen empanadas across styles, plus chimichurri to dip.
Tip: Eat at the picnic tables on the Riverwalk lawn; the empanadas reheat in a toaster oven later.
The Fold at Heights Public Market folds Neapolitan-style pies fast for the Armature Works lunch crowd, with classics and seasonal specials. The room fills.
Order: Margherita pie or the weekly seasonal special.
Tip: Order at the counter; eat at the picnic tables on the Riverwalk lawn.
La Teresita on Columbus Drive has run a Cuban counter and dining room in West Tampa since 1972, owned by the Capdevila family across two generations.
Order: Palomilla steak with yellow rice and black beans.
Tip: The counter side runs 6am to midnight Friday and Saturday; the dining room takes reservations next door.
Brocato's on East Columbus Drive in Tampa has built Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and stuffed potatoes since 1948 from a neighborhood storefront.
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.
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.
