Tampa Area Will Get 7 Del Taco Locations

In-N-Out Burger seems to be the chain Tampa Bay fast food lovers are waiting for. But the next best thing to this former Californian? It's Del Taco. I lived in Cali for about 6 years and probably went to Del Taco twice as often as In-N-Out.

The Tampa Bay Times reported back in 2021 that seven Del Taco restaurants would open in the area over the next few years. Right now there are a couple locations in Orlando. Kissimmee and Melbourne have one. And the closest to us opened in Bradenton at 5610 Manatee Avenue. That one's open until midnight tonight if you have the late night munchies.

A press release put out last month said that northern Tampa Bay and specifically Pasco County are next. Franchisee Tom Edwards says he's been a fan of the chain for a long time and thinks it'll be a hit here in the Tampa area.

If you've never been to a Del Taco, it's almost a hybrid of all the fast food restaurants. Obviously they have tacos, but they also sell pretty solid burgers, fried chicken entrees, salads, french fries and more.

Happy National Bacon Day people! The New Year's resolutions are a couple days away so indulge. These are 10 of my favorite places to get some goooood bacon in Tampa Bay. Nothing irritates me more than when restaurants get lazy or cheap with bacon. If it's crunchy, too thin or burned, my morning is ruined. These places do bacon right.

Hands down my favorite bacon in Tampa Bay is the sweet candy bacon at First Watch.  Pricy but worth it.

Rise and Himes! Their sugar cured smokehouse bacon is phenomenal.

I mean pig is in their name.  Their meats are out of this world.  Try their Cuban too!

The bacon egg croissant sandwich is the thing to get here.

I love this place not so much for their bacon but their burgers... but get bacon on your burger for sure.

Those donuts at Datz are dazzling with bacon on top.

I usually stay away from chains on my lists, but this place is worthy.

They put an enormous amount of delicious perfectly-prepared bacon on their BLT.

There's always a big line Sunday mornings for breakfast but it's worth the wait.

I have to label this as an honorable mention because unfortunately you can't get it anymore.  Mama Jane retired this classic a couple years ago so sadly you won't find it in Plant City this year.