These 13 Iconic Foods In Florida Will Have Your Mouth Watering
We all have our own favorite iconic Florida food; what’s yours? Florida is a foodie’s dream, with fresh seafood, citrus and a dash of Southern flavor. Here are some of the tastiest, best Florida foods that we’re lucky enough to have access to every day. See if you agree that these popular Florida foods are also some of the best.
If you've asked yourself, "what foods are native to Florida," you might be surprised to learn that oranges aren't on the list. They actually were introduced to Florida by the Spanish, but they're pretty much synonymous with Florida these days. There's no better way to start your day than with a refreshing, vitamin C-packed glass of OJ. Sure, you can probably find a fancy juice bar that will charge you $5 a glass, but it can't get any fresher than if you squeeze it at home.
Key lime pie is possibly our most famous creation. The best place to get this iconic Florida food is Key West, where there are a million places to choose from. If a trip to the Keys isn't in the cards for you, this dessert is pretty easy to make at home as well.
For my money, this is one of the best sandwiches ever invented. These days, you can find it across the state, but the very best ones are made in Tampa, Miami and Key West.
Perfectly battered bites of fried conch are a Caribbean classic, and they've become a popular Florida food. The best places to find these are in the Keys, at places like Key Largo Conch House.
This Florida delicacy is usually served cold with a mustard sauce for dipping. It's often compared to lobster. You've got to try this one at Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach, the first place to serve this delicious dish.
Can you think of a more iconic Florida food than strawberry shortcake? Did you know that Florida is the winter strawberry capital of the world? The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City has been celebrating our second-favorite fruit for decades.
Folks living outside of Florida might not yet be aware of this, but in recent years tons of top-notch breweries have been cropping up in the Sunshine State. Cigar City in Tampa, Swamp Head Brewery in Gainesville, and Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park are just a few examples.
Apalachicola is a charming small town in Northwest Florida, and it has long been famous for producing some of the biggest and best oysters in the country.
Cedar Key is another one of Florida's coolest small towns, but this one is famous for its clams. It's located about an hour southwest of Gainesville. You can try just about any clam dish here, but try Tony's Seafood for some "World Championship" clam chowder.
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish in St. Petersburg has been luring tourists and locals alike with mouthwatering smoked fish (and fish spread) for more than 50 years. After all, can you think of a more popular Florida food than fish?
I don't exactly spend a lot of time at this chain that started in Clearwater, but it seems worth mentioning, especially since there are now hundreds of locations across the U.S. and in 24 other countries.
What is your favorite iconic Florida food? And…what do you think are the best Florida foods that didn’t make the list? Join the conversation in the comments! Did you know you can also find some of the best Mexican food in Florida, too?
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Iconic Florida Food
May 15, 2022
Beth Price-Williams
What are some of the best Florida foods?
Living in Florida is oh-so-delicious (same goes if you’re just visiting). If you live in Florida, you probably have quite a few foods that you absolutely love. An iconic Florida food, for example, is undoubtedly, oranges and any variation of them, like orange juice and smoothies. Trying to stay cool means a lot more than hiding out in the A/C or jumping into the ocean. It also means treating our sweet tooth to such deliciousness as ice cream cones and frozen yogurt. A cool drink usually hits the spot, too, doesn’t it? Some of our favorites are, undoubtedly, margaritas and mojitos. Both cool cocktails pair perfectly with some of Florida’s favorite foods, (which you can find in the best food towns in Florida). Which is your favorite – the seafood, barbecue, or a classic Cubano?
What are some of the best things to do in Florida?
If you’re visiting Florida, you’re in for a whole lot of good eating. However, you’ll have to find fun things to do in Florida when you’re not eating. How about a day at the beach? We certainly are spoiled for choices when it comes to where we want to go sunbathing and swimming in the cool ocean water. Florida’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. Avoid the massive crowds by checking out some of the hidden beaches in Florida, including the gorgeous Usina Beach in St. Augustine, St. George Island in Franklin County, and Juno Beach in Palm Beach County. Another fun way to explore the beauty of the state is on a Florida hike. Ocala National Forest is home to the Florida National Scenic Trail, a must follow trail that’s drenched in natural beauty. If you love animals of all sorts, set off on one of the trails that winds through Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.
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