In 2018, Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 Hurricane, touched down on the Florida Panhandle. Its 160+ mile per hour winds and more than 17-foot storm surge made it one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to touch down on American soil. The Florida town of Mexico Beach bore the brunt of the storm, which virtually flattened the area.
In the years since the residents and business owners of Mexico Beach have been working hard to rebuild their city. Killer Seafood got a little creative with their reinvention. Formerly a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Killer Seafood is now operating out of a festive food truck, parked alongside Route 98, just across the street from the Gulf of Mexico.
Diners are greeted by a snappy, bright blue food truck, adorned with the comical Killer Seafood shark logo. On one side of the truck is a colorful board listing the day’s menu. A large pavilion awning covers the truck and a handful of picnic tables, providing a comfortable, shady spot for visitors to eat and relax.
The main event here, of course, is the food, which is seasoned and cooked to perfection. The menu, while relatively small, offers a nice variety of items that should appeal to a wide variety of diners. It’s broken down into easy-to-read categories, including apps, baskets, sandwiches, tacos, beverages, and desserts. There’s also a “Killer Simmering Sauce” category, which features shrimp, scallops, or a combination of the two cooked in Killer Seafood’s specialty sauce. This can also be served in a bread bowl – yum! Traveling with little ones? Don’t worry! There’s also a kid’s menu here offering shrimp, flounder, hot dogs, and quesadillas.
While we very much enjoyed everything we tried at Killer Seafood, here are a few of our very favorite menu items:
Fried Shrimp Basket
The centerpiece of this basket, is, of course, the shrimp. The shrimp are flavorful and tender, and the breading is light and airy, providing a nice, contrasting crunch. They were crisp, and not oily at all, allowing us to really enjoy the natural taste and freshness of the shrimp. All baskets come with a choice of two sides, and really, you can’t go wrong with any combination. We especially enjoyed the coleslaw, which was a complex combination of crunchy, creamy, and tangy. The hush puppies also went great with this dish.
Killer Tuna Tacos
The tuna is impossibly fresh, the cole slaw was perfectly seasoned, and the portion size was just big enough to fill us up without making us feel ready to explode. Killer Seafood has fresh tuna delivered daily, and we could really taste the difference in every bite. All taco dishes come with a choice of one side, and we really like the way the freshly made French fries are paired with these.
Simmering Bread Bowl
This is comfort food at its best. Diners can choose to have this dish made with shrimp, scallops, or a combination of the two. We went for the combo and loved every bite. The protein is cooked in Killer Seafood’s signature “Simmerin’ Sauce.” This is technically more like a soup or stew than a traditional sauce when it comes to texture, and it is delicious. The red sauce balances a perfect blend of heat and flavor, but be warned, it is a bit spicy. What really put this meal over the top? It was served in a warm, fresh bread bowl. Delicious!
Key Lime Pie
If you’re like us, no meal is complete without a great dessert to cap it off. Killer Seafood’s homemade Key Lime pie certainly fits the bill. The cool, tart filling blends beautifully with the crunchy, sweet, graham cracker crust, creating a bite that is equal parts sweet, sour, and delicious. We’d highly recommend grabbing a piece of this before heading out.
If you’re in the Florida Panhandle area, we hope you’ll check out and support Killer Seafood as they and the entirety of Mexico Beach continue to rebuild themselves. If you do, let us know what you loved most!
Insider Tips:
-Tacos can be ordered on flour or corn tortillas, giving a solid gluten-free option to those who avoid gluten.
-The truck has somewhat limited hours. Be sure to call or check online to make sure they’re open before heading over.
-Can’t get enough of the Simmering Sauce? Not to worry! Killer Seafood sells it by the bottle, so you can bring a little piece of Mexico Beach home with you.