The places in Tampa the guidebooks miss.
The places in Tampa the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
Wat Mongkolratanaram on Palm River Rd is the Buddhist temple's Sunday Thai market under live oaks, with food cooked by temple volunteers cash-only.
Why locals love it: Buddhist temple Sunday Thai market under live oaks on Palm River, with food cooked by temple volunteers and cash-only counters.
Tip: Cash only; arrive before 11am for the pad thai line. Religious services follow at 1pm in the temple proper.
Gorkhali Kitchen is strip-mall nepalese kitchen in new tampa with a michelin bib gourmand and a thali platter that the soho restaurant lists overlook.
Why locals love it: Strip-mall Nepalese kitchen in New Tampa with a Michelin Bib Gourmand and a thali platter that the SoHo restaurant lists overlook.
Tip: Bring a group and order across the thali, momo and biryani sections to taste range. Strip-mall room with no frills.
West Tampa Sandwich Shop on N Armenia Ave is the cash-only Cuban counter with a presidential visit on the wall and Tampa's best Cuban sandwich daily.
Why locals love it: Hole-in-the-wall West Tampa Cuban counter, cash-only, presidential visit on the wall and Tampa's best Cuban sandwich on a daily Cuban-bread press.
Tip: Cash only. Open early; line forms at 7am for the Cuban breakfast plates.
Madame Fortune Dessert and HiFi Parlour (Caribbean) in Tampa: Find the entrance through Roast Deli's back hallway; the HiFi parlour plays vinyl most nights.
Why locals love it: Secret Ybor passage hidden behind Roast Deli and Bakery, with Caribbean food, rum cake and a vinyl-record HiFi parlour in back.
Tip: Find the entrance through Roast Deli's back hallway; the HiFi parlour plays vinyl most nights.
Brocato's Deviled Crab Counter (Italian) in Tampa: Order the party finger sandwiches (mini Cubans and mini deviled crabs) for groups; the counter is fast.
Why locals love it: 1948 Italian-Cuban storefront on East Columbus with handmade deviled crabs and Cuban sandwiches, the original 1920s cigar-worker recipe.
Tip: Order the party finger sandwiches (mini Cubans and mini deviled crabs) for groups; the counter is fast.
Michelle Faedo's Devil Crab Truck on N 15th St is the Cuban deviled-crab counter from Mauricio Faedo's daughter, running the family spicy recipe.
Why locals love it: Cuban deviled crab truck plus tiny Ybor counter from Mauricio Faedo's daughter, the spicy family recipe across three branches.
Tip: Truck schedule on Instagram; the Ybor counter location is the most reliable for daytime.
Ichi Koroshi is a tonkotsu ramen counter hidden inside the Jug and Bottle shop on North Florida Avenue in Seminole Heights, from former Ichicoro cooks.
Why locals love it: A tonkotsu ramen counter hidden inside the Jug and Bottle shop on North Florida Avenue, run by alumni of the old Ichicoro who quietly revived Seminole Heights ramen.
Tip: Seating is limited inside the bottle shop; go early in the 2pm to 9pm window before the bowls sell out.
Blind Tiger Cafe Roastery is a cafe room in Tampa. Order the espresso flight; the bean-retail section in the back has fresh-roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.
Why locals love it: Ybor coffee roastery that supplies four Tampa cafes, with rotating single-origin coffees and a quiet morning room behind the brick wall.
Tip: Order the espresso flight; the bean-retail section in the back has fresh-roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.
Centro Asturiano de Tampa on N Nebraska Ave is the 1888 Spanish mutual-aid club building in Ybor that opens to public on club nights for sangria, tapas.
Why locals love it: Historic 1888 Spanish mutual-aid club building in Ybor that opens to the public on club nights for sangria, tapas and Spanish dance.
Tip: Check the club calendar for open-public nights; sangria de Centro is the order.
Psomi Greek Bakery is daytime-only greek bakery and cafe on howard avenue with michelin bib gourmand status, closed monday and tuesday and quiet midweek.
Why locals love it: Daytime-only Greek bakery and cafe on Howard Avenue with Michelin Bib Gourmand status, closed Monday and Tuesday and quiet midweek.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; the octopus ceviche and house dolmades are the orders.