Chef Pablo has more than 40 years in restaurants — this one, he opened with his daughter and son-in-law, the same team behind Central Coffee & Sandwiches downtown.
La Central runs everything over open flame: carne asada from New York steak seared over charcoal, pollo al pastor arriving with charred pineapple still clinging to the meat, birria tacos served alongside consommé for dunking. The carne asada fries ($12.95) and norteno-style arrachera skirt steak ($4.45 a taco) have already become the dishes regulars order first. It’s tucked at the end of a small shopping center on North Florida Avenue that also houses Blooming Floral Cafe and Gabby Bakes — easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.
Seminole Heights has added restaurants fast over the past year, but La Central’s angle — everything built around the grill, nothing frozen or reheated — is a different lane than the food-hall-and-fusion wave hitting the rest of the Florida Avenue corridor.
Good to know: La Central is at 4410 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. Open Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday hours are limited, so call ahead before a Sunday visit.