Exploring Top 10 Cocoa Beach’s Culinary Delights

Cocoa Beach isn’t just sun, sand, and surf – it’s a culinary mecca with a food scene that caters to every taste. With freshly caught seafood straight from the ocean to the best southern comfort food, you’ll find something to delight everyone and their taste buds. 

Here is a gastronomic journey to embark on – enjoy 10 Cocoa Beach’s iconic dishes you must try while visiting this paradise. Also, find out more about our Cocoa Beach restaurant selection.

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Fresh Seafood Platter

Dive into a smorgasbord of flavors with a fresh seafood platter featuring the best the ocean offers that day.

Succulent shrimp, delicate fish, briny oysters, and tender crab legs, all paired with a tangy signature cocktail sauce and fresh lemon wedges at once, will transport you to the ocean and find the naturalness of the beach.

Our choice: Florida’s Seafood Bar and Grill – Trip Advisor

Fish Tacos

Enjoy a flavor explosion with Cocoa Beach’s specialty fish tacos. Fish is the star of this tasty dish, whether battered and fried to a delicious crispy brown or grilled to a juicy perfection. 

Paired with crunchy cabbage slaw, dairy pico de gallo, and creamy avocado topping, each bite provides a textural delight that will instantaneously transfer you to the Cocoa Beach coast.

Best choice: The Tiny Turtle – Tripadvisor

Lobster Roll

Treat yourself to a slice of luxury in the form of a decadent lobster roll that will quench your thirst for seafood.

Butter-dunked buns stuffed with lobster chunks topped with lightly creamy mayonnaise remain a staple of Cocoa Beach. Its rich notes and succulent flavor will quickly steal your heart.

Our choice: Jazzy’s Mainely Lobster & Seafood Company – Tripadvisor

Clam Chowder

A steaming bowl of New England-style clam chowder is a classic to soothe the soul. The soup’s creamy base, packed with tender clams, chunks of potato, thinly sliced onion, and bits of bacon, can be likened to a serving of home. 

Each savory spoonful brings to mind the warmth of coastal evenings spent beside the fireplace snuggled on the sofa.

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime pie is a must-try dessert in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Bite into the unique Florida treat made of a luscious, tangy cream of Key Lime juice and softened, condensed milk on a crumbly gram cracker crust. 

The pie’s unique taste profile offers a blast of tangy citrus flavor with every bite, leaving you craving more.

The best Key Lime Pie in Cocoa Beach: Florida’s Fresh Grill – TripAdvisor

Want to try it at home? Check this recipe from Once Upon A Chef: Best-Ever Key Lime Pie

Pulled Pork Sandwich

The Pulled Pork Sandwich is a Southern tradition that satisfies your barbecue. The Pulled Pork Sandwich is a Southern delicacy that fills your stomach and leaves your heart content. 

Succulent, smoky pulled pork is spread on a tender roll and drizzled with tangy ice cream and crispy coleslaw. With each bite, your soul is filled with Southern hospitality.

A huge list of specialty sandwiches and pulled pork variants: Slow and Low Bar-B-Q

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and grits are classic Southern cuisine. You must try this Southern classic. Grits are made from abrasive but plump shrimp coated in a brown “package” sauce.

The shrimp is topped with a brown sauce that smells like a green onion. The flavor is savory creamy soul food at its best, and it will leave you wanting more.

Mahi Mahi Sandwich

Spend a day in the coastal elegance of Cocoa Beach with a delicious mahi-mahi sandwich.

Grilled or blackened Mahi Mahi fillets cradle toasted buns, layered with crunchy lettuce, ripe tomato, and a spicy remoulade sauce.

With its subtle flavor and tender flaky texture, this sandwich embodies the effortless, leisurely vibe of the local coast.

Our choice: Cocoa Beach Ale House

Coconut Shrimp

While in the area, take your taste buds to a tropical paradise with crispy coconut shrimp, ideal for sharing one dish.

Bite into juicy prawns coated with coconut flakes, then dip them into the sweet tanginess of a dipping sauce to enjoy the perfect flavor. Each bite is a taste of the Caribbean at Cocoa Beach.

Cuban Sandwich

Go on an adventure to Havana with a traditional world-class Cuban sandwich. Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard are toasted in Cuban bread slices and grilled to a crispy, beautiful golden brown. 

With its perfect balance of savory meats, tangy pickles, and melty cheese, this sandwich is a true masterpiece of Cuban cuisine.

Once again our top pick is The Tiny Turtle – Tripadvisor

Now I’m hungry!

At Cocoa Beach, it’s easy to get tempted. Whether you want seafood, Southern comfort, or tropical tastes, Cocoa Beach offers everything. Take advantage of the chance to leave Cocoa Beach sated.