10 Bizarre Florida Food Combos That Actually Taste Amazing
Florida’s food scene is every bit as bold and unpredictable as the state itself. Sure, seafood and citrus might headline the menus, but dig a little deeper and you’ll uncover a world of quirky, one-of-a-kind creations that could only be born here in the Sunshine State.
These dishes might sound unusual—even questionable—at first glance, but somehow they just work, delivering flavors that surprise and delight in equal measure.
Over the years, I’ve made it my mission to track down Florida’s most unexpected eats, the kind that raise eyebrows until that first bite turns skeptics into true believers.
1. Chocolate-Dipped Key Lime Pie on a Stick
My first encounter with this treat nearly broke my brain. A wedge of tangy Key lime pie, frozen solid, dipped in dark chocolate, and served popsicle-style? Pure Florida madness!
The cold, tart filling contrasts brilliantly with the chocolate shell, creating this magical sweet-sour-rich experience that makes perfect sense in the Key West heat. The chocolate somehow amplifies the lime rather than fighting it.
Locals insist it’s best enjoyed while strolling Duval Street as the chocolate slowly melts onto your fingers. Messy? Absolutely. Worth it? One hundred percent.
2. Stone Crab Claws with Tangy Mustard Sauce
Crack, dip, savor – Miami’s most elegant ritual. The first time someone served me cold crab with mustard sauce, I nearly asked for melted butter instead. Thank goodness I didn’t!
These massive claws are served chilled, not hot, which preserves their natural sweetness. The mustard sauce – a creamy, tangy concoction with hints of Worcestershire and lemon – creates this perfect sweet-savory-tangy triangle of flavors.
Stone crab season (October to May) is practically a holiday in South Florida. The sustainable harvesting practice of taking just one claw and returning the crab to the ocean makes enjoying them feel slightly less indulgent.
3. Tampa Cuban with Salami
“That’s not a real Cuban sandwich!” I declared before biting into Tampa’s version of the classic. Salami on a Cuban? Scandalous! Then I tasted it and immediately ate my words (along with the sandwich).
The addition of Genoa salami – a nod to Tampa’s Italian immigrant influence – adds this unexpected spicy, fatty layer that somehow elevates everything around it. When pressed hot, the salami’s oils infuse into the ham, roast pork, and Swiss cheese.
The bread is the unsung hero here – crispy outside, pillowy inside, and sturdy enough to hold everything together as you devour this magnificent Tampa creation.
4. Lobster Reuben
Blasphemy or brilliance? That’s what ran through my mind when I spotted this sandwich on the menu at a dockside shack in the Florida Keys. Lobster meat on a Reuben felt like putting caviar on a hot dog.
Sweet, tender chunks of Florida lobster replace the traditional corned beef, while everything else stays the same – Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye bread. The lobster’s delicate sweetness somehow stands up to these bold flavors rather than getting bulldozed.
Watching fishing boats unload their catch while devouring this sandwich makes it taste even better. It’s Florida Keys ingenuity at its finest.
5. Dill Pickle Pizza
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I laughed when my friend dragged me to this food stand. Pickles? On pizza? The state fair always brings out Florida’s most questionable food innovations.
The base is a cheesy white pizza with a ranch-infused sauce, topped with a blanket of dill pickle slices. That first bite delivers an unexpected harmony – the saltiness of the pickles balances the rich cheese, while the dill adds this herbal brightness that cuts through the heaviness.
Fair food should be fun, and this pizza delivers both in concept and taste. The crispy-chewy crust soaks up just enough pickle juice to create something genuinely addictive.
6. Fried Pickle Mac & Cheese
Fair food alchemy at its most outrageous! Golden-fried balls of creamy mac and cheese studded with chopped dill pickles – a combination that had me deeply skeptical until that first bite.
The exterior crunch gives way to velvety mac and cheese, with the pickles providing these little pops of briny tang throughout. The contrast between creamy and crunchy, rich and acidic creates this perfect storm of comfort food meets county fair innovation.
A squeeze of ranch dressing on top adds yet another layer of flavor that somehow ties everything together. This is the kind of food that makes you laugh while you’re eating it – both at the concept and at how surprisingly delicious it is.
7. BBQ Pork Stuffed Waffle with Maple Butter
My hands were sticky, my shirt spotted with maple butter, and my face wearing an expression of complete confusion-turned-delight. A waffle STUFFED with pulled pork? Florida fair food strikes again!
The waffle itself is crisp outside, fluffy inside, with pockets of smoky pulled pork throughout the batter. Topped with a generous slather of maple butter that slowly melts into every crevice, creating this sweet-savory symphony that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
Each bite delivers a different ratio of waffle to pork to maple, making the experience unpredictable and exciting. The ultimate breakfast-meets-barbecue creation that could only emerge from the creative chaos of a Florida fair kitchen.
8. Conch Fritters with Key Lime Aioli
Standing under a thatched roof in Key West, I bit into my first conch fritter and wondered why anyone would dip seafood in key lime sauce. Then the flavors hit me like a tropical wave.
These golden, hush-puppy-like fritters contain tender pieces of conch meat mixed with bell peppers, onions, and Caribbean spices. Delicious on their own, but when dunked in that bright, citrusy key lime aioli? Pure Florida Keys magic happens.
The aioli’s tanginess cuts through the richness of the fried exterior while complementing the subtle sweetness of the conch. It’s the culinary equivalent of a perfect sunset – simple, beautiful, and quintessentially Keys.
9. Gator Tail with Orange-Marmalade Dip
“You want me to eat what with what?” I asked incredulously. Alligator meat with orange jam seemed like peak Florida absurdity – until I tried it.
The gator tail is tender inside with a crunchy, seasoned coating, tasting like a cross between chicken and fish. But the orange marmalade dipping sauce – spiked with just enough horseradish to provide heat without overwhelming – transforms it completely.
Sweet citrus, spicy horseradish, and the mild flavor of the gator create this perfect storm of Florida flavors. It’s like the entire ecosystem of the state on one plate – predator and prey, wild and cultivated, all living deliciously together.
10. Chicken-Tender Pub Sub Stuffed with Mac & Cheese
Florida’s unofficial state sandwich gets a carb-loaded upgrade that borders on sandwich engineering. I discovered this hack from a college student in line ahead of me – pure genius!
Start with Publix’s famous chicken tender sub (already a Florida icon), then ask for mac and cheese as a topping. The creamy pasta nestles perfectly between the crispy tenders, creating this incredible texture contrast. Add buffalo sauce for heat or honey mustard for sweetness.
Every Floridian has their own Pub Sub order, but this modification elevates the experience to legendary status. It’s heavy enough to fuel a day at the beach or cure the worst hangover – a true Florida public service.