The Best South Tampa Restaurants to Try
A popular area of Tampa Bay, there are lots of great restaurants in South Tampa to try. Encompassing Westshore, Downtown Tampa, and even Davis Island, the South Tampa area is ever-growing. Within these areas, there are lots of great restaurants to pick from, from fast casual to dressy date night options. Here, I’m sharing the best restaurants in South Tampa that you’re sure to love:
Table of Contents for the Best Restaurants in South Tampa
This South Tampa restaurant round up is a part of my Tampa City Guide, which is full of the best of the best that Tampa Bay has to offer.
Check out the full guide here for all of my favorite eateries, coffee shops, breweries, and more!
Fast Casual Restaurants in South Tampa
Bare Naked Kitchen
Bare Naked Kitchen is one of my new favorite spots in South Tampa. With a light and airy dining room, the atmosphere can’t be beat, and that’s even before the food is considered! The menu is colorful, to say the least, featuring a wide range of internationally-inspired recipes with unique ingredients. There’s really something for everyone, ranging from totally plant based options to flatbread pizzas to steak bowls.
I opted to build my own bowl for my first visit to Bare Naked Kitchen. I chose the noodles for my base, with kale slaw, golden beets, roasted broccoli, avocado, mozzarella, feta, and miso salmon, topped with a citrus vinaigrette. It was…incredible! Absolutely delicious, and a ton of food for the price (just under $20, including a drink). They also have a variety of iced teas to choose from, along with organic sodas.
In all, Bare Naked Kitchen is a great lunch spot, whether you’re on your own or meeting a girlfriend. It’s also an ideal option for when you want to go out to eat but don’t want anything too heavy. Basically, I can’t wait to go back and try more from their menu!
Visiting Bare Naked Kitchen
Address: 3915 Henderson Blvd Tampa, FL 33629
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Cali
Offering a wide range of both traditional and vegetarian options, Cali quickly became a favorite restaurant of mine here in Tampa and I think it’s definitely one of the best casual restaurants in the area. With a focus on sustainability, Cali creates delicious dishes that are good for you and the environment, all while being incredibly satisfying. For all the emphasis this restaurant group places on sustainability, I was really impressed with the fact that they’ve been able to keep the prices reasonable, at the same time.
If you’re looking for some clean eating, colorful fare, 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.
Visiting Cali
Address: 217 S Dale Mabry Highway Tampa, FL 33609
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Pacific Counter
With east coast roots and west coast vibes, Pacific Counter offers delicious fusion-inspired sushi bowls and burritos. Bridging the gap between healthy and tasty, traditional and new, Pacific Counter is a great spot to get a quick bite to eat or to hang out and catch up with friends over delicious food. A great local option, this AAPI-owned local restaurant family personifies the best of Tampa foodie culture. Recently, I was able to try out the newest Pacific Counter location in South Tampa, and every bite exceeded even my highest expectations!
When I visited the new South Tampa location, my friend and I each built our own sushi bowls. These bowls come in two sizes and range from $9.99 to $14.99. There are so many combinations you can make with this option! For example, there are twelve protein options to choose from, over twenty mix-ins, and unlimited toppings.
Click here for the full Cats & Coffee Pacific Counter restaurant review!
Visiting Pacific Counter
Address: 1732 S. Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33628
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Dedicated to the London in the sixties, “when a new period of optimism and hedonism emerged out of a drab gray post war Britain,” Mad Dogs & Englishmen has a fun kitschy feel. This is a truly unique dining experience as far as Tampa Bay restaurants go. Offering an eclectic mix of local craft beers and wine, along with elevated pub-style meals.
Overall, Mad Dogs & Englishmen is a fun place to hang out when the weather is nice. Their front patio is breezy and great for groups. There is an indoor and outdoor bar option, along with an interior dining room, complete with eclectic decor.
Visiting Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Address: 4115 South MacDill Avenue Tampa, FL 33611
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Asian Restaurants in South Tampa
Izakaya Tori
Centrally located on Dale Mabry, Izakaya Tori is a delicious Japanese tapas restaurant with ramen, sushi, and other classic Japanese dishes. 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 great sushi and sharable small plates. If you’re not a sushi fan, there are plenty of rice dishes and bowls to choose from!
Visiting Izakaya Tori
Address: 2223 N Westshore Blvd #206310 S Dale Mabry Hwy #140, Tampa, FL 33609
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
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.
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 Menu
Celebration & Date Night Restaurants in South Tampa
Olivia
Olivia had been on my must-visit restaurant list for a while, and it’s definitely one of the best restaurants in Tampa. A great date night or celebratory dinner spot, Olivia offers a robust menu of appetizers, sharing plates, pizzas, house-made pasta, and more.
Do yourself a favor and just go ahead and order one or two plates of the arancini (first photo on the left above). These delicate stuffed risotto balls were out of this world. Oh, and if you’re thinking of dessert, definitely go for it. The salted caramel cannoli were the perfect way to end the evening!
Visiting Olivia
Address: 3601 W. Swann Ave. Tampa, FL 33609
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram
Piccola Italia Bistro
If you are looking for an authentic Italian dinner, Piccola is the way to go. Piccolo specializes in pasta dishes from Abruzzo, Rome, Bologna, and Naples. Each dish is cooked a special house-made sauce a la “nonna Maria’s” home cooking. They also offer pasta making classes, which I definitely want to do!
It’s a small restaurant, you have to make reservations, and it’s BYOB. The entire place has a home cooked vibe, which was super fun and only authenticated once our food was served. The menu is straight to the point, with a handful of dine in and takeout options that are all available for $12.95, or family-sized/party trays for $39.95 each. The chef offers a huge variety of specials, though, which all sounded absolutely amazing.
Visiting Piccola Italia Bistro
Address: 2140 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Tampa, Florida 33607
Useful Links: Website | Menu
Looking for more great areas of Tampa to explore?
Be sure to check out my guide to the Best of Tampa here for all the top things to do in the city!
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*This post was originally published as part of my Tampa City Guide in August 2023. It was most recently updated on December 5, 2023.
