Hispanic Club Cafe is a restaurant in Tampa.
Why locals love it: Working Cuban breakfast counter inside Ybor's Centro Espanol club building, cash-only and locals-only since the cigar-worker era.
Tip: Cash only; arrive by 9am for the palomilla steak breakfast plate.
Address: 2008 N 16th St, Tampa, FL 33605
Why locals love it: Downtown Tampa izakaya hidden in plain sight on North Franklin, with yakitori, sushi and sake from the Seminole Heights ramen team.
Tip: Bar seats first-come; the sake list rotates monthly with Japanese imports.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
