Chip Weiner Tried 12 Deviled Crabs Around Tampa Bay and Ranked Them

Many people in Tampa are sure they know the right place for deviled crab. Chip Weiner calls that confidence "a local badge of honor", argued over counters in West Tampa and debated in Ybor. So he put twelve of them to a test.

Twelve deviled crabs in a month and a half

Over a month and a half, Chip tried twelve deviled crabs across Tampa Bay. He judged the crunch, the dough to filling ratio and the sofrito flavor, then ranked them from twelfth to first. He says the results are subjective, because some people like more dough and some like no heat, and he invited readers to take a survey and share their own favorite.

Where places in our directory landed

Brocato's Sandwich Shop came in first. Chip describes a deviled crab close to baseball sized, with chunky breadcrumbs and a filling packed with crab. He adds that it comes with chips and a drink.

Columbia Restaurant was second. Chip likes its thin walls and mild heat, and says the four croquettes look handmade. Carmine's Restaurant & Bar was third, with extra crunchy breading and heat that he says is just right.

West Tampa Sandwich Shop was seventh and Big Ray's Fish Camp was eleventh. Chip writes that West Tampa Sandwich Shop opened in 1992 and that Big Ray's was added to the Michelin Guide in 2025.

La Segunda was fifth, with one catch. Chip ate at the Kennedy Boulevard location, which he says opened in 2018, and he calls the Ybor City bakery the original. His ranking may not match what you get in Ybor City, so we did not link our Ybor City listing to this story.

Six other stops are on his list: Pappy's Devil Crab at Island Crew Restaurant, Coco's Sandwich Shop, The Floridian, Cacciatore & Sons, Flan Factory and Tampeño Fish & Meat Market. This page repeats what Chip wrote. The ranking is his opinion, and prices and hours may have changed since he visited. We could not confirm the dates of his visits.

Chip later went back for a second round after readers challenged his list. His Part 2 post, dated June 3, ranks eight more places on their own list, and he says it is a continuation, not a correction. Gaspar's Grotto in Ybor City came first there, with Alessi Bakery second and Soul de Cuba third. All three are in our directory. He says a blind taste test of six of the twenty places he has tried is being planned.

Read the full ranking, with his photos and notes on every stop, in the original post on Chip's Photogfoodie blog. Part 2 is on the same blog. Then see his profile in the Tampa creator directory.