Who says you need an expensive plane ticket and open schedule to taste cuisine from halfway across the planet? Not us, especially in a city with a culinary landscape as diverse as Tampa's. All across this the area there are restaurants serving foods you might not even know existed. Many of these exotic dishes wow the senses and highlight the culinary strengths of cultures from around the world. Here's a list of some of the best places for ethnic cuisine in Tampa.
Latin American
Taco Bus - Tampa (913 E. Hillsborough Ave), Downtown Tampa (505 Franklin Street), and USF (2320 E. Fletcher Ave.).
Red Mesa Cantina - Downtown St. Petersburg (128 3rd St. S.)
Miguel's - South Tampa (3035 W. Kennedy Blvd.)
J. Baja's - North Tampa (15309 Amberly Dr.)
El Puerto - Ybor City (1623 E. 5th Ave.)
Mediterranean
Acropolis - Ybor City (1833 E. 7th Ave.), North Tampa (14947 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), Brandon (6108 Winthrop Town Center Ave.)
Byblos Cafe - South Tampa (2832 South MacDill Ave.)
Row Boat Mediterranean Cuisine - Ybor City (1820 N. 15th St.)
Gogos Greek Grill - Westshore (4616 W. Kennedy Blvd)
Taverna Opa - Channelside (615 Channelside Dr.)
Ethopian
Queen of Sheba - South Tampa (3636 Henderson Blvd.)
Indian
Cilantro Indian Cuisine - North Tampa (11009 N 56th St.)
Saffron Indian Cuisine - North Tampa (10044 Cross Creek Blvd.)
Mad Dogs and Englishmen - South Tampa (4115 S. MacDill Ave.)
Italian
Pelagia Trattoria - Westshore (4200 Jim Walter Blvd.)
Mazzaro's Italian Market - St. Petersburg (2909 22nd Ave N.)
The Laughing Cat - Ybor City (1811 N. 15th St.)
Bernini of Ybor - Ybor City (1702 E 7th Ave.)
Pizzaiolo Bavaro - Downtown Tampa (514 North Franklin St.)
European
La Creperia - Ybor City (1729 E. Seventh Ave.)
Restaurant BT (French) - Hyde Park (2507 S. MacDill Ave)
Mr. Dunderbak's (German) - North Tampa (14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.)
The Schnitzelhaus (German) - North Tampa (4333 W. Waters Ave.)
Asian
Yummy House - North Tampa (2202 W. Waters Ave.)
Tsunami Sushi - Brandon (2020 Badlands Dr.)
Thai Island - South Tampa (210 E. Davis Blvd.)
Samurai Blue - Ybor City (1600 E. 8th Ave.)
Sushi Alive - North Tampa (15451 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.)
