Frequently Asked Questions
Key lime pie is Florida's official state pie and its most recognizable dish, but the Cuban sandwich (debated between Tampa and Miami) is equally iconic. Stone crab claws, grouper sandwiches, and conch fritters round out the top five. Florida doesn't have one defining dish — it has a collection of regional specialties that reflect its diverse culture.
Miami's Little Havana (Calle Ocho) is the epicenter — Versailles, La Carreta, and El Exquisito are institutions. For Cuban sandwiches, Tampa's Ybor City has a legitimate claim as the original (La Segunda Central Bakery, the Columbia Restaurant). West Tampa is where locals go for sandwiches. Both cities are essential for Cuban food lovers.
Budget meals: $8-15 (Cuban cafeterias, taco trucks, fast casual). Mid-range restaurants: $20-40 per person. Upscale seafood: $40-80 per person. Stone crab dinner: $50-100+. Theme park food: $15-25 per meal. A realistic daily food budget is $40-60 per person eating well at non-touristy spots, or $80-120 per person including sit-down restaurants.
Stone crab: October 15 - May 15. Florida spiny lobster: August 6 - March 31 (sport season two days in late July). Grouper: year-round but best January-April. Shrimp: year-round but best October-May. Oysters: year-round but best September-April (cooler months). Blue crab: year-round. Mahi-mahi: April-September. Pompano: October-March.
Not at all. Florida's food scene is incredibly diverse. North Florida is deeply Southern — shrimp and grits, BBQ, fried green tomatoes. Miami is one of America's most international food cities — Haitian, Venezuelan, Colombian, Peruvian, and Jamaican cuisines are all excellent. Tampa's food scene goes well beyond Cuban sandwiches. The craft beer scene (400+ breweries) is booming statewide.
Datil pepper hot sauce from St. Augustine, Key lime juice (Nellie & Joe's), citrus shipped from a grove (showcased at Showcase of Citrus in Clermont), Cuban coffee from Miami (Cafe Bustelo or Pilon brands), smoked fish dip (ship overnight), and local craft beer (Cigar City Jai Alai travels well in cans). Avoid anything claiming to be "Florida Man" branded.
Miami has an excellent plant-based scene — Planta is a high-end vegan restaurant in South Beach. Cuban restaurants always have black beans, rice, and plantains. Asian and Indian cuisines in the Orlando area offer abundant vegetarian options. Farm-to-table restaurants throughout the state emphasize vegetables. The Keys and Gulf Coast are harder for strict vegetarians since seafood dominates menus.