The inevitable chill that descends on Tampa Bay this time of year always delivers a harsh surprise.
When the temperature gauge drops overnight, we’re left struggling with how to cope. We’re Floridians, after all — pulling out those sweaters and scarves in deep storage will only get us so far. But for those of us who relish the excuse to pull out our cold weather gear, there is something to look forward to: It’s soup season in Tampa Bay, and I’m here for it — for however long it lasts.
Though I will hunker down over a steaming bowl of pho or pozole any time, a warm bowl of soup hits harder this time of year, one spoonful at a time. Here are some of my favorite soups and stews to warm up with, and where to find them.
There are few things as comforting as a steaming bowl of pho when the temperature dial drops. Thankfully there’s no shortage of spots hawking the stuff, including the many restaurants dotting the busy thoroughfares throughout Pinellas Park, home to a robust Vietnamese community.
Though there are dozens of excellent renditions to be found, my go-to is at Pho Kien Giang, which recently relocated into a much larger building on 49th Street (inside the former Nam Viet Bistro space). I always order the pho dac biet, which features the hallmark star anise-tinged beef broth packed with cuts of flank steak, brisket, meatballs, beef tendon and flat rice noodles. But the restaurant also features the slightly-harder-to-find bun bo hue, a spicy beef noodle soup hailing from the central Vietnamese town of Hue that has thick, round rice noodles, cubes of blood cakes and flank steak.
A few other local favorites for pho include La V and Alesia, both in St. Petersburg, and Bamboozle in Tampa.
Pho Kien Giang. 8150 49th St. N., Pinellas Park. 727-544-1393.
La V. 441 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.727-820-3500. lavfusion.com
Alesia. 7204 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-345-9701. alesiarestaurant.com
Bamboozle. Multiple locations. 813-223-7320. eatbamboozle.com
Inspired by the street food of Bangkok, Thailand, the folks at Patti’s Kitchen in Pinellas Park know their way around a bowl of noodles. Their showstopper boat noodles (tiew nam tok) features a thick, viscous pork broth bobbing with strips of marinated pork, pork meatballs and water spinach. The powerhouse broth — packed with a blend of 10 different spices — and the crispy pork rinds and fried garlic toppings are what really make the dish. You’ll also find a solid version at Royal Thai, in Tampa.
Patti’s Kitchen. 6527 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. 727-289-4153.
Royal Thai. 5011 West Hillsborough Ave., Suite A, Tampa. 813-392-2080. royalthaitampa.com
You don’t have to be under the weather to reap the benefits of a hot bowl of matzo ball soup. This type of comfort food hits yearround, but when the weather dips, it’s particularly alluring. My favorite is the chicken and matzo ball soup at Jo-El’s Kosher Deli in St. Petersburg. I’m also partial to the one at the Nosh Pit in St. Pete. The sandwiches here are solid as well, but don’t skip out on a cup (or bowl or quart) of the soup — it’s just that good.
Jo-El’s Kosher Deli. 2619 23rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-321-3847.stpetedeli.com
The Nosh Pit. 4040 Park St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-954-0757.thenoshpitstpete.com
This Asian cold-weather, cook-it-yourself dish has become ubiquitous in Tampa Bay the past few years. Though widely considered to have Chinese origins, countless regional variations of hot pot exist, though most of the restaurants locally boast a combination of hot pot and Korean barbecue. My personal favorite is KPOT, a rapidly expanding all-you-can-eat chain with more than a dozen locations throughout Florida, including Lakeland, Brandon and St. Petersburg’s Tyrone Square Mall. You can’t go wrong with the other versions served at spots across the bay, several of which are listed here.
KPOT Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. Multiple locations. 727-317-2957. thekpot.com
The regional Mexican stew that combines pork and hominy (dried and nixtamalized corn kernels) includes several iterations, including the bright green jalapeno-and-tomatillo-tinged version that hails from Guerrero, Mexico, and the pozole rojo version found in Mexico City, which gets its bright red color and fiery heat from ancho and guajillo peppers. The latter can be found at El Maguey in Kenneth City, where the bright crimson stew arrives bobbing with hunks of braised pork and a plethora of toppings to doctor up your bowl, including lime, shredded lettuce, ground chile powder, oregano, chopped onions, radishes and a side of tortillas or tostadas for dipping. (While you’re here, their birria is also fantastic.) You’ll also find a pozole rojo served at Chile Verde in St. Petersburg, where the stew is available Saturdays through Mondays.
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant. 4327 66th St. N., Kenneth City.elmagueyfl.com
Chile Verde. 2801 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-2679. chileverde22nd.com
Antojitos Latin Cravings has a loyal local following for many reasons, from their stacked bandeja paisa to the almojabanas (Colombian cheese bread). But the sancocho at this West Tampa Colombian restaurant might just be the biggest draw. Fans pack the cozy booths and dig into big bowls of the flavorful soup, featuring an herb-packed broth with tender hunks of beef, plantains, yuca, potatoes and corn on the cob. Each bowl arrives accompanied by a plate of fried plantains, beans and rice.
Antojitos Latin Cravings. 2302 W. Columbus Drive, Tampa. 813-251-9499.
I love a fiery Korean soup to kill the chill, from the classic kimchi versions to the soft tofu-packed sundubu jjigae. The budae jjigae at St. Petersburg’s Dooriban really has it all, and arrives large enough to serve two people ($40). The bright red “army base stew” packs in a spicy kimchi base and comes bobbing with bouncy ramen noodles, pork, sausage, SPAM, cheese and vegetables. Find that and several other Korean soups and stews at Sa Ri One in Tampa and Matjoa Korean BBQ in Odessa.
Dooriban. 5600 66th St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-914-4550.
Sa Ri One. 3940 W. Cypress St., Tampa. 813-874-2911. sarione.com
Matjoa Korean BBQ. 8568 Gunn Highway. Odessa. 813-475-4005.
The classic bistro staple has plenty of fans, and it’s not hard to find a great version in Tampa Bay. There’s the newest contender at Bar Terroir in South Tampa, where the French onion soup comes with both Emmental and Gruyere cheeses. You’ll also find it at Water Street’s Boulon Brasserie, Alsace French Bistro in Tierra Verde and accompanying most meals at Bern’s Steak House. Photo editor Martha Asencio-Rhine swears by the version served at Jacks London Grill in St. Petersburg, made with white wine, beef stock and caramelized onions and topped with the restaurant’s homemade bread and a gooey, melty cap of Cheddar and Swiss cheeses.
Bar Terroir. 3636 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. 813-535-7922. barterroir.co
Boulon Brasserie. 1001 Water St., Tampa. 813-768-9988. boulontampa.com.
Alsace French Bistro. 1120 Pinellas Bayway S., St. Petersburg. 727-867-5800. alsacefrenchbistro.com
Jacks London Grill. 1050 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-289-7170. jackslondongrill.com
In the wake of Buya Ramen’s closing in downtown St. Pete, I’ve been searching for my new go-to spot when a craving for a bowl of porky tonkotsu broth hits. I’m still on the hunt, but I’ve found some pretty solid dishes at Miku Ramen in Largo, where guests can choose from several different ramen iterations or opt for a trio to sample a few. I’m a fan of the black garlic ramen that features a mild, creamy broth topped with thick slices of chashu (braised pork belly), a soft, jammy egg, scallions, bamboo shoots and a bright green sheet of nori that adds a nice pop of color. Tampa ramen fans have several options, including Ichi Koroshi Ramen inside Jug & Bottle Dept., Izakaya Tori and Minano Ramen.
Miku Ramen. 7717 Ulmerton Road, Largo.727-444-0333. mikuramen.com
Ichi Koroshi Ramen. 6203 N. Florida Ave., Tampa.
Izakaya Tori. 310 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. 813-875-4842. izakayatorifl.com
Minano Ramen. 11909 Sheldon Road, Tampa. 813-475-4737.minanorestaurant.com
When a craving for a slightly sour, beet-packed bowl of borscht hits, Pierogi Bar in west St. Petersburg is the spot. The deep reddish-purple soup at this Ukrainian restaurant has a tangy punch and comes served with a side of sour cream, which diners can ladle in to their liking. Pro tip: Order a side of the crispy potato-and-mushroom-filled pierogis and you’ve got yourself a full meal. Tampa restaurants Nene’s and Babushka’s both serve a Ukrainian version of the soup as well (at Babushka’s you’ve got the option to add on a shot of vodka for $5).
Pierogi Bar. 6661 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-381-1212.pierogi.bar.
Nene’s. 4328 W. El Prado Blvd., Tampa. nenerestaurant.com
Babushka’s. Multiple locations. 813-867-8999.babushkas.us