Sriracha Shortage Has Tampa Restaurants Heated

If you're a fan of spicy, you're not alone with your disdain because the sriracha shortage has Tampa restaurants heated!  Many know the Bolts pre-game spot Hattricks is a favorite of mine and that their lightning wings are a win!  Strange thing, when ordering I didn't see "lightning" as an option.  I'm perturbed but decide that I'll choose medium sauce.  Enjoyed but not as finger-licking good without my sassy sauce.

The next day, corporate is in town and taking us to lunch at we hit Eastern Kitchen Sushi, here in St. Pete.  Great spot but when we ordered their spicy sauce, we got more bad news.  The sauce is not available due to the sriracha shortage.  What????  Forget the debt ceiling, there's a sriracha shortage?  Our waiter looks shocked that we don't know and pulls up a chair to explain.  Apparently we were not only void of spicy but wasn't in on the tea either.  Here's the lowdown.

According to the waiter, there's a region in Mexico that provides the chiles used by the popular sauce bosses.  That specific region experienced a drought so the crop didn't allow the necessary tons of the spices, that Huy Fong Foods Inc. needs.  The number is 50,000 tons for a year's worth of inventory.  No chiles and the numbers get low.  If  the numbers get low then that means less sauce.  Less sauce equals suffering for my wings and my spicy sushi.   A statement, by Huy Fong Foods, was circulated in April that read "no estimations on when the supply will increase."  Now you're at least in the know that if your favorite spot is minus the spice, the sriracha shortage is to blame.

Are you having a hard time keeping up with all of the new bars and restaurants opening in Tampa? So were we! We kept hearing about all of the things coming to Tampa in 2023 but was hard to keep track of each grand opening. We've rounded up the 7 most anticipated restaurants that opened in Tampa in 2023. From fancy dining to grab-and-go options, there are so many new things to try in Tampa Bay. We can't wait to see what else opens up this year.

Because each of these places are new to the area, it's very likely that they'll be slammed when you go to visit. That's why we always recommend making a reservation. If you've been to one or all of these places already, you're ahead of the game! Let us know your favorite or what you're most excited to try on social media!

There's still so many things in the works for Tampa. We're still excited for Predalina's grand opening this summer along with a new karaoke bar in Tampa. Hopefully the new Yard House will be finished before the next hockey season. We've been dying for a replacement for the old Ferg's and we think Yard House will be the perfect place to pregame before any Lightning game. We got our inspiration for this list from Creative Loafing. They have a list of 20 new restaurants that opened in Tampa this year, we just added a few of our own favorites. Check out their list here.

The most obvious addition to Tampa is Boulon Brasserie. This new high-dining French concept restaurant is the new go-to date night spot. It's the perfect place to celebrate an anniversary or huge milestone.

2D themed restaurants seem to be popping up all over Tampa Bay. The newest addition is Doodle Noodle in Westchase. This place is the perfect spot for that instagrammable backdrop for any photo. The menu has everything from spicy ramen, pho, spring rolls, poke bowls and even fresh fruit lemonades!

Melting Pot Social, or MeltSO is one of the newest additions to Downtown Tampa. This location opened up in the heart of the Tampa Riverwalk. Think exactly like the Melting Pot concept, but more laid back. Their menu will consist of customizable cheese and chocolate fondue, flatbreads, and even burgers. They’ll have weekday brunch starting Tuesday, May 23, and weekend brunch starting Saturday, May 27.

Cane & Barrel is the newest rooftop bar that opened across the bridge in St. Pete. This Cuban-inspired cocktail and tapas menu will keep having you come back for more! They also just started a new boozy brunch available every Saturday and Sunday!

The newest healthy option in Tampa! Make your own bowls or try one of their specialty creations! They also have smoothies and acai bowls.

This new concept is something Tampa hasn't seen before. This 1920's and New Orleans themed restaurant lives inside the Floridan Palace Hotel. They will soon be offering brunch on Saturday's and Sunday's.

Little Tina is a new coffee shop that opened in Downtown Tampa. The vibe here looks like the perfect place to relax with a cup of Joe. They also recently launched a breakfast/lunch menu!