A torpedo-shaped croquette of blue crab meat in spicy tomato sofrito, wrapped in a paste made from Cuban bread crumbs and deep-fried until golden.
Deviled crabs originated in Ybor City's Spanish-Cuban-Italian immigrant community during the 1920 cigar workers strike. Cigar workers caught blue crabs from Tampa Bay and used day-old Cuban bread to stretch the meat into a portable, deep-fried croquette they could carry on the picket line. The Spanish croquette tradition mixed with Cuban sofrito and Sicilian peppers and onions. Francisco Oscar Miranda sold devil crabs from a motorized bike across Tampa from 1920 to 1953. The torpedo shape is the signature.
5 editor picks for Deviled crab (Tampa devil crab) in Tampa, ranked by editorial score. All Tampa signature dishes · Deviled crab (Tampa devil crab) across every city.
Brocato's Sandwich Shop ★ 4.6
west-tampa · 5021 E Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33619
Brocato's on East Columbus Drive in Tampa has built Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and stuffed potatoes since 1948 from a neighborhood storefront.
Alessi Bakery ★ 4.6
west-tampa · 3003 W Cypress St, Tampa, FL 33607
Alessi Bakery on West Cypress has run an Italian and Cuban bakery in Tampa since 1912, with famous hand-carved Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and cannolis.
Michelle Faedo's On the Go ★ 4.5
ybor-city · 2515 N 15th St, Tampa, FL 33605
Michelle Faedo's On the Go is the Faedo daughter's deviled crab food truck plus a small Ybor City counter, with three branches running the spicy recipe.
Mauricio Faedo's Bakery ★ 4.5
west-tampa · 5150 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603
Mauricio Faedo's Bakery on North Florida Avenue bakes Cuban bread, breakfast Cuban toast and deviled crabs daily, with the family running it since 1955.
La Teresita ★ 4.5
west-tampa · 3246 W Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33607
La Teresita on Columbus Drive in West Tampa has run a Cuban counter and dining room since 1972, owned by the Capdevila family across two generations.