Photo via Laura Stanley on Pexels
Just Love Coffee Cafe
Brandon is mostly filled with Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts chains, so something new is far and few between. Just Love Coffee Cafe is on expansion quest right now though and recently opened in Plant City and now Brandon.
They offer coffee, breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner and so far the feedback has been very positive for this new location on State Road 60 with a 4.9 rating on Google and 51 reviews. Just Love specializes in light roast coffee and has a variety of single origin coffees and blends.
Interesting menu items include their Flyin' Pig Waffle served with bacon, sausage, egg, and a choice of sausage gravy or maple syrup. The Fruity Pebbles and Cream Waffle and the Stuffed Nutella Waffle are also on my to-do list. Their White Chocolate Tiramisu latte is also intriguing.
Just Love is open daily from 7AM to 7PM.
2020 W. Brandon Blvd. Suite 105, Brandon, FL 33511. (813) 381-4395.
Matteo Trattoria & Pizzeria
This Italian spot recently opened in SouthTampa and offers a dine-in and take-out menu. On the list at Matteo Trattoria is pizzas made in a wood-burning oven, a Gnocchi bar, a variety of salads, and handmade pastas. Everyone is raving about the calamari. The restaurant is currently enjoying a 4.7 star rating with 27 reviews on Google. It certainly seems to fit the South Tampa elegant and neighborhood vibes.
2402 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL 33629. (813) 374-3052
Moca Asian Cuisine
A new Asian fusion restaurant in Riverview right near Leaven Brewing that sells Thai food, hibachi, teriyaki, sushi, and more. Some of the more interesting things on the menu are a variety of hard to find Chinese dishes like Spicy Szechuan Crispy Beef and Spicy Szechuan Crispy Chicken. The Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Ribs are also on my list of things to try. Prices are fair and range from $10 to $20 for dinner. Lunch specials are available for around $10 if you want to give Moca a try before ordering dinner.
Delivery is also available through Uber Eats.
11244 Boyette Rd., Riverview, FL 33569. (813) 512-2126
Mama's Soul Food Restaurant
If you love soul food, you have to get to Mama's! Offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, Mama's is open Tuesday to Sundays in Brandon.
Check out their collard greens, corn nuggets, fried catfish, and their ribs. Prices are more than fair with breakfast being under $10 and dinner under $20. Don't forget the sweet tea!
1013 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. (813) 330-7012
Mr. Hummus
This new Mediterranean restaurant has owners from Lebanon and serves a variety of popular dishes such as Lamb Shish Kabob, Meat Shawarma, Falafel, Hummus, Halloumi Cheese, Grape Leaves, and more. Customers brag about an open kitchen and claim the owner and staff are very friendly.
1076 E. Brandon Blvd. Suite 107, Brandon, FL 33511. (813) 330-7040
Flan Factory
Who doesn't love flan? This new local Ybor business boasts of handmade flan desserts and a full menu of Tampa and Cuban-inspired eats. On the menu is Biscuits and Chorizo Gravy, La Havana Frita, a Cuban Breakfast Sandwich with your choice of Bacon, Ham, Chorizo or Sausage, Pan con Bistec, and more. Most menu items are priced at $10 or less and they have a wide-variety of Latin beverages to choose from including Cortaditos, Café Con Leche, Horchata Iced Coffee, Malta India, and more.
There are a ton of flan flavor to choose from including Original Cuban Style, Guava, Cafe Con Leche, Arroz Con Leche, Dulce De Leche, Salted Caramel, and Coconut.
Special flavors include Nutella, Acai, Fruity Pebbles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Butterfinger, Oreo, Butter Pecan, Chocolate Mint, Smores, Matcha & Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Espresso Thai Tea, Maple Bacon, Tiramisu, and more. If you love flan, you have plenty to choose from at Flan Factory. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays at this time.
Order carryout online at orderflanfactorytampa.com.
1718 N. Nebraska Ave. Tampa, FL 33602. (813) 402-2400
The Black Chef Eatery
This new Southern cuisine spot recently opened in the heart of historic Ybor City on 7th Avenue. Servings include items like Yuppi Wings, Shrimp, and Banana Bread. This isn't for those of us looking to diet but trying to live life to the fullest. Interesting side options include Smoked Turkey Collard Greens, Country Potato Salad, Cornbread, and Baked Mac and Cheese. Most of the menu is still in developlent so these things may change over time.
The Black Chef Eatery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open until 2AM on Fridays and Saturdays. They offer pickup and delivery on apps such as Uber Eats.
1821 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. (813) 530-5363.
Muchachas
The latest project from the owner of Empamamas is Muchachas, a Mexican-inspired restaurant. Both are located at Armature Works in growing Tampa Heights. Empamamas started off as a local food truck and then grew into the Armature Works food hall.
The star on the menu at Muchachas is their Quesatacos, a take on the popular quesabirria movement which is currently sweeping the nation by storm. They serve it with monterey jack cheese, white onions, cilantro, beef consome, lime, chacha rojo, and chacha verde.
Streets tacos are also available in pollo, chorizo, carnitas, and carne (steak) and burritos are available too with a variety of toppings you can add on to your order.
1910 North Ola Ave., Ste 14, Tampa, FL 33602. (813) 460-6213
Cafe Quiquiriqui
Located inside of the new Hotel Haya in Ybor City, Cafe Quiquiriqui is an all-day, Cuban-inspired café with a contemporary vibe. They invite guests and visitors to "dine in or dash out".
Menu items include items like Gloria's Black Bean Soup made with crispy rice, pickled red onions, and oregano cream, Empanadas, and El Cubano with smoked ham, mojo roast pork, swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and Cuban bread of course.
The cafe offers freshly brewed coffee drinks as well as MADE canned coffee with cafe con leche, cold brew, or nitro flavors and also pastelitos and a 7th Street Passion Fruit Doughnut. Don't miss the Alfajores, Coconut Flan, and Guava Jelly Filled Doughnuts either. There's plenty to see here.
1402 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. (813) 568-1200
Happy eating!
Carlos Hernandez is a local writer who has written about food for ten years. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CarlosEats or visit him at CarlosEats.com.