Top 5 Restaurants You Have to Try in Tallahassee

By Jaime Garcia Montes on July 25, 2017

Tallahassee has an endless amount of restaurants to choose from. From on-campus dining options to almost any fast food restaurant chain imaginable, it seems like a hungry student’s dream come true, or nightmare in regards to having to pick a place.

If you’re like me, there is almost always a struggle of deciding where to eat. It doesn’t help in my case that I then have to compromise with where my girlfriend wants to eat. After eating at too many restaurants to count during my four years here in Tallahassee, I thought I would make a list of the top five restaurants to try here (in no specific order).

1. Merv’s Melt Shop

Merv’s is arguably the best sandwich spot in town. Serving melts, sandwiches, burgers and more, the restaurant is a unique and delicious option for breakfast or lunch since they are only open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The restaurant is right next to FSU’s campus, making the location extremely convenient for students.

My recommended dish: The Frenchie (pictured above), which includes scrambled eggs, patty sausage, bacon, and American cheese in a French toast bread sandwich. Not the healthiest sandwich choice available at Merv’s but it’s something you just have to try!

2. Taco Republik

Sure you can get Chipotle, Moe’s, Burrito Boarder, or any of these other options if you’re craving some tacos, but if you really want the best quality for a great price, Taco Republik should be your choice. Located in Midtown of Tallahassee, the restaurant has three standard and six specialty tacos to chose from, among other options.

You really can’t go wrong with what you order as everything is just so good; however, the one recommended dish that is an absolute must-try: Yuca fries. Sounds weird, I know, but they are addicting with the special sauce.

3. Sakura Sushi & Grill 

If you’re in the mood for sushi, hibachi or any Japanese staple food, head over to Sakura located on 1318 N Monroe Street. Apart from being rated one of the best sushi restaurants in Tallahassee, they have excellent customer service and superb atmosphere. Here you’ll see a wide variety of options (hint: when you go, ask your waiter for the secret menu).

My favorite sushi roll right now is the Picha Roll. It comes wrapped with medium cooked sirloin, cream cheese, shrimp tempura inside, topped with tuna, avocado, wasabi tobiko, finished with kimchee sauce. That’s a roll you can’t go wrong with.

4. The Bada Bean 

This restaurant is going to be the hardest to say goodbye to. Like Merv’s Melt Shop, Bada Bean is primarily a breakfast and lunch spot, as it is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Located on 2500 Apalachee Parkway, right by Governor’s Square Mall, this place has an unbelievable selection of coffees, breakfast classics, and lunch specials to choose from.

The atmosphere is amazing as well, to go along with unbeatable customer service. There are so many dishes to choose from that it makes my decision of recommended dish very difficult, but I would have to say it is the cinnamon roll pancakes (pictured above). These pancakes are what made me fall in love with this restaurant and have kept me going back all the time.

5. Grub Burger Bar

Located at 3425 Thomasville Road, this is quite possibly the best burger joint in all of Tallahassee. Established just five years ago in 2012, this restaurant is fairly new. With extremely unique burger and milkshakes options, this restaurant offers options that you just won’t find anywhere else!

I assure you that once you try this restaurant, you will be going back. Grub Burger also gives back to the customers, via their ‘GrubLove’ program that rewards customers for ordering their food with a point system. By gathering enough points, you become eligible for discounted menu prices.

My recommended dish is their Bacon Love #9 burger. It’s a pretty standard burger with an absolutely amazing flavor. I’ve tried to order a different burger each time I have gone, just because everything looks so good and I haven’t been disappointed once.

Narrowing down this list to only five restaurants was extremely difficult, considering what an amazing array of options Tallahassee has to offer. I can’t in good conscious leave some of my favorite Tallahassee restaurants off this list. I have developed an ‘honorable mention’ list for the restaurants that you have also got to try.

Honorable Mentions

1. Best pizza restaurant: I’ve got to give this one to Momo’s Pizza. The pizza is great tasting and is served in huge portions. Whenever I am feeling pizza, Momo’s is my choice, no questions asked.

2. Runner-up burger restaurant: Wells Brothers Bar and Grill. Some of you may refer to this restaurant as Monks, but either way, I was absolutely obsessed with this restaurant for a year. Amazing menu options ranging from burgers and sandwiches to pizza and salads.

3. Runner-up sushi restaurant: Bento Asian Kitchen. Great tasting sushi at an unbeatable price. The sushi combo boxes or packed bowls that this restaurant offers are to die for and very affordable too. This restaurant is arguably Tallahassee’s most popular spot for FSU students.

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