Fried chicken, biscuits and plenty of comfort: these are the Southern restaurants our readers love most. Here are the restaurants TAMPA Magazine readers voted Best Southern Cuisine in our 2026 Best Restaurants List, along with the runners-up and the spots voters also loved.
Winner
Featured Winner
Noble Crust
Noble Crust blends Southern comfort food with Italian cooking at its locations in Carrollwood, St. Petersburg and Wesley Chapel. Readers love dishes like fried chicken and waffles, and weekend brunch adds lemon ricotta pancakes.
Runners-Up
- Haven
- Willa’s
Voters Also Loved
- Kimmie’s Kitchen Tampa
- Wicked Oak Barbeque
Southern Food in Tampa Bay
Southern cooking in Tampa Bay ranges from soul food and meat-and-three plates to modern kitchens that add Italian, Cajun or Caribbean touches. Brunch is a big part of the scene, with chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits on menus across the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Southern food in Tampa?
In TAMPA Magazine’s 2026 Best Restaurants List, readers named Noble Crust the winner for Best Southern Cuisine. Haven and Willa’s were the runners-up.
How were the winners chosen?
The results are based entirely on votes from TAMPA Magazine readers in our annual Best Restaurants contest. Advertising has no bearing on the results.
Where can I find the other categories?
See every category on our 2026 Best Restaurants List, or browse the newest results on our Best Restaurants List.
« Back to the full 2026 Best Restaurants List
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