Tampa’s Best Lunch Restaurants
When it comes to the best lunch spots in Tampa, the options can be almost overwhelming! There are so many great restaurants here in Tampa, and narrowing down the best lunch restaurants could take up your whole morning. Whether you want something light and healthy or are looking for a bit more indulgent fare, Tampa has something for everyone. Here, I’m sharing five of the best lunch spots in Tampa, ranging from leisurely sit-down restaurants to quick and casual, with plenty in-between:
This lunch spot restaurant guide is a part of my ever-expanding Tampa City Guide!
Click here for my full Tampa City Guide, covering the best local breweries, coffee shops, small businesses, and more!
The Best of the Best Lunch Restaurants in Tampa
The Best Lunch Spots in Tampa Bay
The Best for Sushi: Izakaya Tori
As far as lunch spots in Tampa go, this is my absolute favorite. Centrally located on Dale Mabry, Izakaya Tori is a delicious Japanese tapas restaurant with ramen, sushi, and other classic Japanese dishes. Izakaya is my all time favorite sushi restaurant here in town, which is saying something because Tampa has a number of great sushi options. And just writing this is making me crave their spicy tuna roll! The restaurant itself is a cozy oasis on an otherwise busy street. The space is immersive once you’re inside and seated, full of unique art and decor to accent the food.
Izakaya has a number of lunch specials that make it a top contender for best Tampa lunch spot. Specials include bento boxes and a pick-two-roll option (my favorite!). With the latter, you choose two of the preselected rolls from their lunch special menu and can pair them with either a miso soup or a ginger salad. The sushi options are pretty broad for this special, and include favorites like spicy tuna and California rolls, among others.
Parking can be a little rough, just a head’s up. Aim to go a little before or after the lunch rush if you can.
Visiting Izakaya Tori
Address: 2223 N Westshore Blvd #206310 S Dale Mabry Hwy #140, Tampa, FL 33609
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
The Best Sit Down Lunch: Oxford Exchange
Open for brunch and lunch, Oxford Exchange’s restaurant has great food in a beautiful space, making it a great special event option among these lunch spots in Tampa. Featuring fresh, seasonal dishes, alongside a robust wine, beer, and cocktail list, this option is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also just a great dining experience. They do fill up fast, though, so consider making a reservation.
The Crispy Avocado Wedges are a satisfyingly unique appetizer, as is the Whipped Feta. I tend to get one of these to share with whoever I’m dining with, plus a salad. The Seasonal Chopped salad is absolutely delicious. The salad varies from time to time but typically features kale, shaved Brussels sprouts, quinoa, and shredded manchego, among other gorgeous ingredients. I highly recommend getting it with salmon! It’s been cooked perfectly each time I’ve had it.
Visiting Oxford Exchange
Address: 420 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, Florida 33606
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Casual Yet Elevated: Willa’s
A lovely little neighborhood restaurant and bar here in Tampa, Willa’s is a great lunch and coffee shop spot. With an adorable interior and casual ambiance, the restaurant allows for great conversation as well as great people watching. There’s even a little coffee bar and cafe where you can work, making it unique among these lunch spots in Tampa.
With an all-day brunch menu that is augmented with extra options on the weekend, Willa’s has lots of great salads, sandwiches, and small plates to choose from. The last time I visited, I split the Whipped Ricotta & Honey Toast as an appetizer and it was so delicious! Their sides, in particular, always catch my eye. I highly recommend the seared broccolini (pictured above), as well as the macaroni au gratin (a rich mac n cheese!).
P.S. Willa’s also has an attached coffee shop, so you can grab a great iced coffee or tea to go!
Visiting Willa’s
Address: 1700 West Fig Street Tampa, FL 33606
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
The Best Dim Sum: Yummy House China Bistro
A feast for the senses, Yummy House China Bistro is a unique experience from the moment you pull up to the restaurant. Offering a huge variety of delicious dishes for reasonable prices, Yummy House can rightfully be called the best Asian cuisine in South Tampa. This option stands out to me as one of the best lunch spots in Tampa because of their specialty dim sum menu, which is only available for lunch.
In all, the Yummy House Dale Mabry restaurant offers a huge variety of delicious dishes for extremely reasonable prices. For example, I joined a friend for lunch and split seven small plates from the specialty Dim Sum menu. Our bill combined, including hot tea and a Diet Coke, was under $40 before tip. Yummy House’s Dim Sum is only available from 11 AM to 2:30 PM, so be sure to stop by in those hours for this specialty menu!
Pro tip: if you order a dish from the main menu, like the Orange Chicken (Brett got this and loved it!), be sure to ask for a side of rice! The dished don’t always come with rice, but everything is better with rice, in my opinion.
P.S. click here for my full review of Yummy House, including more
details on their extensive dim sum menu!
Visiting Yummy House China Bistro
Address: 302 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609
Dim Sum (Lunch) Hours: Mon-Sun – 11 AM – 2:30 PM | Dinner Hours: Mon-Sun – 5 PM – 9:30 PM
Useful Links: Website | Dim Sum Menu | Full Yummy House China Bistro Menu
Fast, Casual, & Light: Cali
Offering a wide range of both traditional and vegetarian options, Cali quickly became a favorite restaurant of mine here in Tampa. I think it’s definitely one of the best casual restaurants for lunch in South Tampa. Cali emphasizes sustainability, but also maintains reasonable prices, especially in light of the portion sizes.
If you’re looking for some clean eating, colorful fare for a Tampa lunch date, I highly recommend trying Cali out. I especially enjoyed the Big Italy bowl with crispy lentil bites and spaghetti squash. While I wish there were more plant-based protein options, I have to say the lentil bites were absolutely delicious. And I love that one of their bowl base options is spaghetti squash — love that stuff, but I hate making it myself, so I always get it at Cali!
Visiting Cali
Address: South Tampa – 217 S Dale Mabry Highway Tampa, FL 33609 | Tampa Palms – 17004 Palm Pointe Dr Tampa, FL 33647 | St. Pete – 1970 37th Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33704 | Brandon – 11230 Sullivan Street Riverview, FL 33578
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Looking for more of the best restaurants in Tampa, Florida?
Check out the best date night restaurants in Tampa Bay here!
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*This post was originally published on March 27, 2023. It was most recently updated on October 22, 2023.
