Cool (well…coolish) weather has descended on Jacksonville. Time to dig out your sweaters, carve a pumpkin, and indulge in one of our favorite cold weather eats – soup. There are plenty of places in town to get a warm bowl of delicious soup. Below are a few of our favorite, must-try soups that are sure to warm you right up as the temperatures drop this fall and winter.
Marianas Grinds (11380 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246)
This unassuming strip mall eatery really delivers when it comes to authentic, tasty Pacific Islander food. As far as cold-weather eats, you’ve got to give the Island Style Ramen try. The broth is complex with layers of rich, savory flavors, all of which are accented by the tang of the pickled ginger. Add to that perfectly cooked noodles and salty bits of Spam and you’ve got a bowl Chamorro ramen that we guarantee you won’t be able to stop eating.
Marianas Grinds – Island Style Ramen
The Happy Grilled Cheese Food Truck (All over Jax and 219 Hogan St.)
We love The Happy Grilled Cheese for obvious reasons – cheese, carbs…hello! What’s not to love? In addition to swooning over their melty, cheesy sandwiches, we have also fallen head-over-heels for their Homemade Tomato Soup. The simple, yet flavorful tomato bisque is perfect by the bowl or for grilled cheese dipping. Bonus – you can also get a taste of the tomato soup on the Crunch Melt, which is an over-the-top combo of cheeses, mac and cheese, chips, bacon, and a splash of that amazing soup.
European Street Café (multiple locations throughout Jacksonville)
When it comes to simple, reliably good food, European Street really can’t be beat. The Beer Cheese Soup in particular is pretty amazing. It is hearty, creamy, and packed with veggies. And it is oh so cheesy. Order it in a bread bowl so you can sop up every last bit of beer cheese deliciousness.
European Street – Beer Cheese Soup
Tres Leches Eatery (869 Stockton St Jacksonville, FL 32204)
While we could easily eat our weight in Chef Irene’s delicious empanadas, the soup at Tres Leches is equally amazing. They offer a soup of the day, which changes regularly. But if the Pumpkin Squash Soup is available, do not pass it up. With a creamy texture and plenty of flavor, it is the perfect soup to ring in the fall season.
Gilbert’s Social (4021 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216)
This Jax food scene newcomer from Chef Kenny Gilbert is most popular for its polished Southern cuisine. One surprise superstar on the menu is the Goat Curry Soup. The combination of goat, curry, pickled raisins, and all the other earthy flavors made this taste more like an ethnic dish than a Southern dish. The flavor is unique and unexpected, but if you’re looking for a more adventurous soup, this is the one for you!
Gilbert’s Social – Goat Curry Soup
Biscotti’s (3556 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205)
For a place known for their out of this world cakes and baked goods, Biscotti’s also offers up some seriously tasty café eats. We love their Sweet Potato Red Pepper Soup, which is a perfect balance of savory and sweet. It is a creamy and flavorful soup that is perfect for a fall day…followed up, of course, by a slice of one of Biscotti’s famous cakes.
[CLOSED] Soup’s On (645 Atlantic Blvd , Atlantic Beach, FL 32233)
This place does soup and they do it right. The soup options run the gamut from traditional to adventurous. While many of the soups on the menu are lick-the-bowl good, the French Onion Soup is extra tasty. It has a rich hearty, deep onion flavor, with a cheesy hunk of crusty bread floating on top. The best part? You can also purchase soups by the pint to take home and enjoy later!
Soups On – French Onion and Portobello Mushroom Sandwich
Olio Market (301 E Bay St Jacksonville, FL 32202)
This go-to downtown lunch spot is known for their sandwiches and soups. While the sandwiches are the stars of the show, Olio’s soup options are great lunch options for the cooler fall months. Menu options include favorites such as Sherry Crab Soup and Corn Soup with duck. But the most popular by far is their rich and creamy Lobster Bisque, which is velvety and bursting with flavor.
Sid and Linda’s Seafood (12220 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225)
We love Sid and Linda’s for the simple, family-friendly vibe and tasty fresh seafood. The Savannah Crab Soup is one of our go-to menu items. It has a hearty crab taste with large chunks of sweet, tender crabmeat. This thick, chowder-like soup is packed full of fresh seafood flavor and is perfect to warm you up on a brisk fall day.
Hangar Bay Café and Gallery (2294 Mayport Rd #22, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233)
This newish addition to the Mayport food scene has really taken off with its unique combo of fried chicken and ramen. When it comes to cold-weather food, ramen tops our list of favorites. And the ramen at Hangar Bay ranks as some of the best we’ve had. With several different options, you can take your pick and find your perfect ramen. Don’t worry…they are all delicious. But our favorite is definitely the Curry Ramen, which had a mild curry flavor, but without the heat of a traditional curry.
Hangar Bay – Curry Ramen
The Magnificat Cafe should make the list. Chef makes the most divine carrot ginger soup. He also usually has a vegan soup selection.
soup’s on appears to be shut down