From SoHo (NYC) to SoHo (Tampa): Why I Cheated on My NYC Taco Spots
I’m a New Yorker. We are spoiled. We have the best pizza, the best bagels, and if you take the 7 train deep enough into Queens, some of the best authentic Mexican street food on the planet.
So, when my friends told me I had to try a "trendy" Mexican spot in Tampa, Florida, I rolled my eyes so hard I saw my brain stem. I expected watered-down salsa, yellow cheese, and a DJ playing "Despacito" on a loop.
I have never been happier to be wrong.
I visited Green Lemon, located in Tampa’s "SoHo" district (that’s South Howard, for the uninitiated—no cobblestones here, just palm trees). And folks, I might be ready to trade my MetroCard for a sun pass.
Here is why this spot is worth the flight (or at least a very long Uber).
The Vibe: Studio 54 Meets Baja
Walking into Green Lemon feels less like entering a restaurant and more like crashing a very organized house party. It is loud. It is neon. It is unapologetically fun. In NYC, we play it cool; we sit in dimly lit speakeasies and whisper. Here? They are blasting bad bunny, the windows are open, and everyone looks like they are having the best Saturday of their lives—even on a Tuesday.
The "Crispy Trees" Revelation
The menu describes the Crispy Trees ($10) as "crispy broccoli and cauliflower, spicy buffalo-avocado glaze."
In New York, this would be a $24 small plate called "Deconstructed Brassica." Here, it’s a massive basket of fried goodness. I didn't fly 1,000 miles to eat broccoli, but I would fly back just for this. The glaze is tangy, creamy (thanks to the avocado), and has a kick that punches you right in the palate. It’s gluten-free, but you’d never know it.
The Taco Situation: "Modern" Done Right
I am usually skeptical of "fusion" tacos. Just give me cilantro and onion, right? But Green Lemon leans into the chaos, and it works.
I went for the Street Trio ($15). Pause. In Manhattan, three tacos and a side cost me a mortgage payment. Here, it’s $15. I almost asked the server if that was a typo.
Here is what made it onto my plate:
The Gigante Chicken: It’s basically a buffalo chicken wing in a taco. Fried chicken, blue cheese crumbles, pickled jalapeño, and celery. It sounds like bar food anarchy, but the acid from the pickles cuts the richness perfectly.
Shia La Beef: (10/10 for the pun). Spicy shredded brisket with sriracha aioli. It’s smoky, tender, and melts in your mouth.
Yucatan: Seared rare tuna with mango salsa. This was the "Miami" taco—fresh, light, and a perfect palate cleanser after the brisket.
The Drinks: New York Could Never
You see that picture at the top of the blog? That is the OG Margarona ($17). It is a 24oz margarita—literally the size of a fishbowl—with an entire bottle of Corona overturned inside it.
If I ordered this in the Meatpacking District, it would be $45 and served ironically. Here, it’s just how they hydrate. It’s fun, it’s excessive, and it’s delicious.
For my caffeine fix, I tried the Matchata ($5). It’s iced horchata mixed with matcha. Why do we not have this in Brooklyn yet? It’s creamy, sweet, earthy, and strictly better than my $8 oat milk latte.
The Verdict
Green Lemon isn't trying to be a hole-in-the-wall authentic taqueria. It’s trying to be a party, and it succeeds wildly. The ingredients are fresh (the tuna in the Rey Del Mar bowl was sushi-grade quality), the prices make me want to cry tears of joy, and the energy is infectious.
If you find yourself in Tampa, skip the tourist traps. Go to Green Lemon. Order the broccoli. Drink the giant margarita. Just don't blame me if you miss your flight home.
Rating: 🗽🗽🗽🗽 (4 out of 5 Statues of Liberty) The only point deducted is because I can't get those Crispy Trees delivered to my apartment in the West Village.
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