Visitors to the Sunshine State may not expect the food in Florida to be all that different from the rest of the United States, but like anywhere you go around the world, the local food tells everything about a place, reflecting its history, climate, people, and traditions.
Florida food is wildly diverse — from citrus to seafood and lots of southern specialties in the mix, peppered of course with the unique flavors of Latin and Spanish culture.
It’s a big state and one of the best destinations in the country for foodies. And because food is always regional, what you find depends on where you go.
Florida is one of the most visited states in the US — America’s Vacationland. So when it comes to Florida’s food, anything a tourist can imagine can generally be found.
From beignets to Bangers and Mash, curries to Cuban, pizza to southern-style PoBoys and a comforting bowl of pho. It’s all here.
But if you’re looking for what’s local, the bucket list foods that defines the place, then read on. In Northern Florida, lots of good Southern food spills over from the Deep South.
Oysters from Apalachicola and succulent Gulf Coast shrimp is heavy on the menu around Tallahassee and the closer you move west toward the Gulf of Mexico and the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle.
Near St. Augustine, America’s Oldest City, Floridian cuisine is peppered with Spanish fire and spice, a nod to the rich flavors that took hold here long ago.
In Central Florida, local food may get a bit muddled around Disney World where any food from around the world can be found. But just outside the tourist zone is where you’ll find produce some true Florida famous food — fresh produce. Bright red strawberries and citrus in so many shapes and colors.
Head west to the Nature Coast in the summer for fresh Florida Bay Scallops and sweet clams from Cedar Key. Seafood from Florida’s Gulf Coast and cooler Atlantic waters also comes in many shapes and sizes — look for grouper, mahi mahi, and fresh snapper.
Finally, in south Florida where the sunny weather lasts all year long, you’ll find the famous Floribbean cuisine, a wonderful melding of local Florida food prepared with a Caribbean flair. Ceviches are a perfect way to enjoy fresh seafood marinated (cooked) in citrus juice, and sustainable Florida stone crabs are a special treat.
If you’re heading to Florida soon — making taking a long overdue Florida road trip along your favorite coast — here are the top Florida foods you have to try!
Florida Stone Crabs
Crab lovers delight! You’ll be in seafood heaven when you come to Florida — if you’re planning to visit from October 15 through May 15 — with this most famous Florida food that’s both delicious and sustainable! That’s when one of Florida’s most famous foods is in season, the Florida stone crab.
Florida stone crabs are actually found in the western North Atlantic, all along the Eastern United States and down to Belize, including the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and Texas too. But they are especially famous in Florida.
Stone crabs are so-named from the ceramic-like shell that’s rock hard and can be dangerous to handle when cracking them.
But it’s not just the succulent claw meat that makes them so famous. Harvesting stone crabs in Florida is one of the most sustainable and highly regulated seafood industries in the US.
Only the claws from stone crabs are harvested, not the entire crab. And only one claw is taken, not both. The crab is then thrown back to the sea with one claw remaining, and regenerates the second claw.
The business of stone crabbing in Florida is highly regulated, and the result is a Florida delicacy that is pricey to say the least.
You’ll pay around $10-15 per claw, but the upsides are worth the expense. They’re meaty, delicious, and you’re supporting one of Florida’s sustainable fishing industries for generations to come.
So the only question remaining is: will you dip yours in drawn butter or mustard sauce?
Florida Orange Juice
Put a little Florida sunshine in your life! Is there anything more iconic than Florida orange juice. It’s a famous Florida food so highly regarded, it’s traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
The taste of fresh-squeezed Florida OJ can’t be overstated, and if you’ve never tried it, no worries. Just imagine the juiciest orange you’ve ever eaten, and a whole glass of it. It really is the quintessential Florida food known throughout the world.
The most common varieties of Florida oranges are Navel, Temple, and Valencia, but Hamlin, Pineapple, and Ambersweet oranges are also grown in over a half million acres — that’s a lotta oranges!
You can enjoy fresh Florida orange juice year round though the orange season technically runs during the Florida winter, October through June.
Pick up what you need from the local grove where you’re staying, or at the nearest Publix.
The Best Traditional Foods of Florida – What to Eat in Florida
What is Florida food?
Florida food taps on the area’s geographical blessings and locally sourced ingredients to develop a diverse and unique culinary scene. This has created many dishes that are native to the state, using foods from Florida.
What to eat in Florida?
Regardless of how it was created, the Tarpon Springs Greek salad is an iconic Florida food you should try. Minorcan clam chowder is an iconic Florida dish coming from the former Spanish colony of Saint Augustine. This tomato-based chowder is made with seafood stock, vegetables, and clams.
What are Florida’s must-try foods?
A list of Florida’s must-try foods would not be complete without mentioning the world-famous citrus, such as oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and tangelos. Boasting the most flavorful and juicy citrus, Florida produces more than any other state in the US. Healthy and delicious, these fresh bites of flavor are used in a variety of dishes.
What is the most popular food in Florida?
Get ready to feast on the most popular food in Florida with our list of the state’s best local cuisines! Cuban sandwiches, also known as Cubanos, are popular in Miami and Tampa and have become Florida’s unofficial state sandwiches.