Some of Tampa’s best restaurants are the ones that haven’t changed, and Victoria’s is the perfect example. Hanh and Alan Mai opened this old-school spot at 5130 S Dale Mabry Hwy. in 1980 and named it after their daughter, Victoria. More than four decades later, the restaurant is still in the family, with their daughter Amy and her husband Matt Rojas taking over and keeping the tradition going.
The best part? The menu, recipes and no-frills charm have stayed pretty much the same. In a city that’s constantly growing and changing, we absolutely love finding places like this. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable spots around.
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Of course, you come to Victoria’s for the famous Cuban sandwich. It’s made on fresh La Segunda bread delivered daily, and it’s exactly what you want from an old-school Tampa Cuban: simple, classic and seriously good. Pair it with their garbanzo bean soup for the ultimate lunch combo, or make it a full Tampa feast with a deviled crab or one of their $5 empanadas.
The arroz con pollo and rotating homestyle specials are also a must. And then there’s possibly our favorite of any visit: 50-cent bags of Lay’s chips. We genuinely have to do a double take. When was the last time you saw anything for 50 cents?!
But what makes Victoria’s so special is the story behind it. This is a true Tampa hole-in-the-wall, family-owned, unfussy and filled with decades of history and regulars who have been coming back for years. It’s simply a family continuing what the generation before them started, serving the same food Tampa locals have loved for decades. That’s exactly the kind of hidden gem we want to keep around for another 46 years.
You’ll find Victoria’s Restaurant at 5130 S Dale Mabry Hwy #113 in South Tampa, near MacDill Air Force Base.
