The best burger in Tampa can be found at a Seminole Heights neighborhood restaurant called Thee Burger Spot. Burgers from Thee Burger Spot stand out for their big flavors, creative toppings and secret recipe items. Other burger joints will claim similar things, but the game-changer is Joe Hill, the owner and neighborhood resident who insists on keeping it local and in the family.
“We created a restaurant that serves locally sourced foods and special recipes that satisfy our customers. Value is important and a family could come here to get a great meal and leave feeling full, without having to spend a lot,” said Hill.
What makes Thee Burger Spot unique is their insistence on local sourcing, with everything made in-house or sourced from Seminole Heights area suppliers. The beef mix use is a propriety blend and delivered daily from a butcher just down the block. Produce comes from a local market, the ice cream is made by a local creamery and Augustine’s delivers cheesecakes specially made each week. Family members staff each position from the counter to the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the details.
The Crazy Burger
This might be the holy grail of hamburger restaurants in Tampa. They have all the classics as well as specialty burgers you won’t find anywhere else. All burgers can be ordered as single, double or triple patties to satisfy every sized appetite. Their Crazy Burger took everything you love in a burger and your favorite deli sandwich mashed them together to create a sandwich party; American and pepper jack cheeses plus bologna, ham and salami. Sprinkled with French fried “onion thangs” and served it up on a soft roll, the Crazy Burger is crazy delicious! Plus prices are reasonable at Thee Burger Spot, and every burger comes with a free bag of French fries.
A new item, destined to be a favorite is the Smokin’ Joe Burger. This features Uncle John’s Sausage, grilled onions and BBQ Sauce, which I tore into it like I hadn’t eaten in a week. It has a sausage-forward flavor profile that hits every note, getting that savory burger, smoky sausage, sweet onions and tangy BBQ sauce all in one bite. The Creamy Burger is slathered with peanut butter, American cheese and bacon are piled high. On Fridays you can get a burger sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme glazed donuts, so who needs to wait for the Strawberry Festival or State Fair to get a donut burger when Thee Burger Spot is just up the road!
The Smokin Joe Burger.
While many call it the best burger in Tampa, Thee Burger Spot’s expanding to non-ground beef offerings as well. Sandwiches including smoked turkey, smoked ham, grilled grouper and grilled chicken breast are also available. A new item is the handmade deviled crab, and once you slice through that golden crust a burst of blue crab seasoned with green peppers and minced onion awaits. It has just the right amount of spice to dance across your tongue without overpowering the flavor of the crab.
Thee Burger Spot has developed a loyal customer base that includes players from the Tampa Bay Buccanneers. Gerald McCoy, Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and Kwon Alexander among others have all sampled the best burgers in Tampa, and have their pictures posted on the walls inside. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has taken his staff to this small neighborhood restaurant with a loyal fanbase, with a reputation that comes from a consistent, great experience and word of mouth advertising.
Seminole Heights has a treasure in Thee Burger Spot, a place that serves possibly the best burger in Tampa via soul-satisfying food locally sourced from the neighborhood, handmade by folks that live around the corner. And at prices that everyone can afford. It’s located on the corner of MLK and Tampa Street, and is open Monday through Thursday 10a-6p, Friday and Saturday 10a-8p, and is available on Uber Eats.
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All photos courtesy of the author
