What an experience! I was so excited to be visiting the Ybor City Saturday Market and eating foods from all over the world. While the overwhelming majority of markets like this offer your typical hamburgers, hot dogs, pretzels, etc., The Ybor City Saturday Market offers a whole different experience. There’s not just one vendor here who sells burgers – there are about 10 different vendors who sell burgers, hotdogs, bratwursts, BLT sandwiches, wraps, turkey burgers (vegan), and more. The variety was great for my waistline as well as my palette as I sampled every single item on display. The atmosphere at the Ybor City Saturday Market is also very nice as it’s very family-friendly with picnic tables set up along the street and plenty of seating if you bring your own food. You can even buy food to take home and eat right there! And best of all, admission isn’t expensive at all – it was only $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 6 and under (not including tax). What I ate: The BLT Wrap with onion jam ($2), Greek Salad with feta cheese ($5), Hot Dog on a Bun ($5), Buffalo Chicken Wraps ($8) When I think of America, places like New York or Chicago come to mind but not quite Northern Florida. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing American food options just an
What I ate: The Greek Salad with feta cheese
This was hands-down the best salad I’ve ever eaten. The feta cheese was so fresh, the tomatoes so sweet, the cucumbers so crisp, and the salad so well balanced it was almost too good to be true. The amount of feta cheese inside the salad was generous – more than enough to make you wish you had taken the salad up to a room instead of using the picnic table. The only thing I would change about this salad is the portion size. It was so large that I could probably have eaten it twice and still been satisfied.
## Hot Dog on a Bun
This is what American comfort food is all about. It’s got frank’s hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, and of course, hot dogs. What sets this apart though is the addition of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. It’s really not too shabby and definitely adds a lot to an already great hot dog. What’s even better is that the bun isn’t too sweet and has just the right amount of kick from the hot dogs. It’s definitely one of the highlights of the Saturday market.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
This presentation might have been the most unique of all. I mean, come on, look at that yolk-yolk. What’s not to love about chicken yolk? The thing about chicken yolk is that it comes in a lot of different forms – savory, sweet, savory, etc. The thing with the chicken yolk in these wraps is that it’s got all of that savory goodness and lots of it too with the provided cabbage and red onion. Then add some hot sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes and you’ve got yourself a great snack.
Baked Beans with Pork Belly and Fries
This was one of the more standard offerings at the Saturday market but still, it was really good. The pork belly and fries are a standard, everyday item at many American fast-food restaurants but at the Saturday market they’re served naked which is always a bonus. The beans on the other hand are the stars of the show here. The beans are actually baked, not fried, and they’re topped with a nice, gooey cheese that would probably be better if you didn’t eat it all at once.
Wraps filled with all sorts of goodies, including pulled pork and fries
These are like potato chip-sized wraps filled with everything you could ever want in a snack. You could eat them plain, but what’s better is to mix in all the toppings you like – cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, Thousand Island dressing, sweet potato chips, pickles, etc. These are so good you’ll forget you’re not eating pork chops or pork sausages.
Taylor Caniff Burger with Cheddar Cheese Sauce and Fresh Salad
This was hands down my favorite item of the day. The burger is basically just a pork patty with Cheddar cheese sauce and lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise on top. It’s got a nice sear on the outside from the searing grill and a soft and juicy interior from the buns and patties. It’s definitely a meal in itself.
Final Words
The Ybor City Saturday Market is a true American food experience unlike any other. The variety of foods and the fact that it’s open air is what really sets it apart. What’s also great about this market is that if you get hungry you can just walk around and hunt down different vendors and sample their wares. What an amazing way to spend an afternoon!
