Trip's Diner — Restaurant in Tampa

If you’re searching for a local spot in Tampa that captures the heart of what a true diner should be, Trips Diner is the place to go. It’s the kind of restaurant that makes you feel welcome the second you step through the door. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between classic diner charm and a family-friendly neighborhood feel. There’s a certain warmth in the way the staff greets you, the steady hum of conversations in the background, and the comforting smell of fresh coffee and sizzling breakfast plates filling the air.

The Atmosphere & Service Trips is almost always busy, which is a sign of its popularity, but the staff keeps things moving smoothly. Servers are friendly, down-to-earth, and attentive without ever making you feel rushed. They’re quick with coffee refills, happy to offer menu recommendations, and seem genuinely proud of the place they work in. Even during peak hours, they maintain a great flow—food comes out hot, orders are accurate, and the overall energy feels upbeat and inviting.

Breakfast Highlights Breakfast at Trips is where the diner truly shines. The menu is huge, offering everything from traditional bacon-and-eggs combos to big, indulgent plates that could easily serve two. The omelets are a favorite—fluffy, packed with fillings, and cooked just right. Pancakes are oversized, golden brown, and have that soft, homemade texture that makes you want to drizzle on more syrup than you should. The biscuits and gravy are a standout: buttery, flaky biscuits smothered in a creamy, flavorful gravy that has just the right amount of seasoning. Their corned beef hash deserves special mention too—it’s perfectly crispy on the outside, tender inside, and full of rich flavor. For those with a sweet tooth, the French toast and waffles come out piled high, often topped with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and powdered sugar, making them as beautiful as they are delicious.

Lunch & Dinner Options Trips is not just about breakfast; their lunch and dinner offerings are equally satisfying. Burgers are thick, juicy, and clearly made with quality ingredients. The Reuben sandwich is a local favorite—grilled to perfection with layers of corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on rye. For those craving comfort food, the meatloaf, turkey dinners, and chicken fried steak bring a hearty, home-cooked feel that you can taste in every bite. Portions are generous across the board, and it’s not unusual to leave with a box for later (which feels like a bonus meal).

Value & Portions One of the best things about Trips Diner is the value. The portion sizes are enormous, but the prices remain surprisingly reasonable. It’s rare these days to find a restaurant that delivers both quality and quantity at such a fair price point. You never leave hungry, and most people end up with leftovers to enjoy later. It’s the type of diner where you get more than what you pay for, and that’s part of what keeps people coming back.

Overall Experience Trips Diner has become a true Tampa staple, and it’s easy to see why. It offers everything you’d want in a neighborhood diner: hearty food, a welcoming atmosphere, affordable prices, and staff that make you feel like family. It’s the kind of place you can visit again and again, whether you’re grabbing a casual breakfast on a weekday, meeting friends for brunch on the weekend, or stopping in for a comforting dinner after a long day.

If you’re a local, Trips is the kind of spot that quickly becomes part of your regular rotation. And if you’re visiting Tampa, it’s one of those hidden gems that gives you a taste of the city’s hospitality and charm. Simply put, Trips Diner is more than just a meal—it’s an experience that blends comfort, community, and...

So… I work in east Tampa, for those unfamiliar- the area is very much lacking in reliably open restaurants/food options other than windixie and publix in a 1-3 miles radius of me. This makes it very challenging to get lunch within a hr’s time before clocking back in on time unless you want to go to the checkers down the way and risk making eye contact with the wrong people. Today I was Craving breakfast, like a breakfast burrito or some runny eggs and toast w bacon and sausage etc. I sat in my car for a few minutes looking up on both Maps and google searched “breakfast spots near me”. Upon many attempts at cross checking places near me that came up they all said permanently closed or were a food truck which in my experience around here also equates to a waste of time as they dont exist anymore. But then I came across Trip’s Diner! I looked them up on google too and it claimed they were open and had a phone number listed. So , I called it. Someone answered right away and greeted me in the phone. I said hey are ya’ll open like for real? They said yes we are open! I said okay! I had to call and check because I’m on my lunch and it is so hard to tell around here in my experience, I will be right over! So I drove there and was maybe 10minutes or less of a drive. I was greeted the second I came through with many smiling faces right in front with staff ready to make me feel well taken care of. They asked where I’d like to sit and I said anywhere with the quickest service. They said oh yes the bar would be the best spot then! The second I sat down at the bar area I was greeted by at least three staff members there and they helped me right away. I am not exaggerating when i say that the service from me calling in to me getting seated to then being waited on and interacted with and served was so outstanding and the absolute QUICKEST & Most Efficient dining experience hands down in ALL of Florida State in the 3+ years I have since lived here. The food was incredible for some diner food not far from the hood of Tampa. The staff and work culture was so fun and just made me feel like I wanted to work there and hang out there all the time. Everyone seemed so endearing to eachother and me as a guest. They were laughing with eachother and helping eachother and just really had gratitude for one another that it rubbed off instantly. Erin, Cindy and I want to say Jermey? But I’m not sure because I cant remember his name for sure, but literally everyone was just so nice! I wish I had been in a better position financially because I wish I could just hand every one I met today there a $10 or $20 bill just for making my first ever experience so wonderful. Everyone I interacted with was just so awesome, I don’t know everyone else’s name that I was around today but in total they added to the joy I felt being there. The food like I said was really good and Erin let me have a cup of coffee to try it out and even gave me a cup to go too! I had the sample breakfast platter and Erin made sure the eggs came out the way I prefer them to be, I also chose grits with cheese and they were the best grits I had in a long time. My food was out in probably leas than 5 minutes and it was all hot and delicious, the bacon was even juicy but yet thick and crunchy!! I did sour dough toast on the side too and gosh that was incredible!!! I forgot my phone when checking out at the counter and when I ran back in I mentioned how I had forgotten it and Erin was right up front and said I could go back and grab it if I needed that it should still be there as she didn’t clear my seat yet. Just another example of how on top of it they all are at Trip’s!...

Let me start by saying that I have been a regular at Tripps diner in Tampa for a long time. This review pertains to my last two visits. I was in about a month ago and ordered a salad consisting of blue cheese. I was served the salad at the same time I was told "we're out of blue cheese. I decided to order something else. The manager came to my table and said why are you returning the salad? Is it just because we don't have any blue cheese? Not even a smile. Definitely not an apology. Just an eye roll. Things happen. So I was back again Tuesday. I ordered the grouper with two sides. Cornbread and steamed vegetables. We got our meals. I began eating. The food seemed good. Within a few minutes I had to run to the bathroom and all of the food came back up. I seriously doubt it was the steam vegetables or the cornbread. But obviously the fish was bad. I pulled the manager aside to tell her. I did not want to make a big deal about it. Not even in front of my friend. She just simply shook her head. Don't even know that she was even paying attention to what I said. The server came out and told me that she had been serving the grouper all day and there was nothing wrong with it. The truth is I ordered the grouper at 11:30- 11:45 in the morning. There is no way they had been serving grouper all morning. When they brought my check the server did say she took everything off for you and handed me my bill. They still charged me for the iced tea. I went to the manager and I told her I was not paying for the iced tea or anything that morning as their food got me physically sick. She looked me straight in the eyes and said not even for the iced tea? I came in for lunch. I got physically sick on their food. I watched my friend eat. And was not even asked if I would want something else. Of course I wouldn't because I was not feeling well, but this seems like a very inappropriate way to handle this situation. The biggest reason I'm writing this review is in hopes that the owners will see it. Because there is no question in my mind that many other people got sick from the fish that day. And for the management to have no concern or remorse for the fact that I was in their bathroom vomiting...