Here's Lili, Queen of the Florida Devil Crab entrepreneurs. We had just turned south from Ybor City and were heading down to Bradenton when we spotted her tiny white scooter-style van by the side of Route 41 South.
"Hey, Mama, what can I get you?" A high energy huckster in the best possible sense, Lili has the patter and jive of the pro she is. She told us she had started up and sold a handful of businesses over the years, always taking a year off before starting the next.
This time her aim is to revive the roadside vendor tradition of Ybor City, selling deep fried devil crabs, crab empanadas, meat-stuffed potatoes, ( based on her Mom Lidia's recipes,) French fries, and, in the works, a range of desserts. Her wagon? An Indian-made white "van", brand name Bajaj, serves as vending point, kitchen and vehicle.
Oh-- did I mention that she's Cuban? 
"The Cubans coming into this country, many of them, are educated professionals, " says Lili. "But they can't get good work here the minute they arrive. They're janitors making $6 an hour. I want to offer some of them the opportunity to become self-sufficient, owning and running a franchise selling devil crab."
Lili and her family came to Ybor City from Cuba in 1970, when she was five. Her parents had been running a grocery store. Castro's people seized the family's stove, and their sewing machine. In the States her parents worked at the Arturo Fuente Cigar Factory, as well as at other jobs.
Right now Lili is training her cousin Maribelle, over from Cuba just three months, and a young friend in Florida just a month. They are intently trying to learn the customer chatter Lily has perfected--their English is raw--along with the fry technique. Maribelle bends over the fry pot, and Nomar is set to doing prep work in Lili's brother's restaurant. The little white vending van sits out front of his place, Monday through Friday, 1-6.
When traffic starts to thin, the shy and retiring Lili roars into the restaurant and zooms back out dressed in her chicken costume, wildly waving a sign that reads, " Eat More Devil Crabs." 
At $3 a pop, the plump crab croquettes are beyond good, and far better than those I praised at Columbia Restaurant. " Of course," says Lili," when I tell her that.
"These are made with lotta, lotta, lotta Cuban love. ( Three times, three times.) That's the secret."
Did I mention that Lili Peguero is Cuban?
( To buy a franchise email Lili at [email protected])
The crab cakes are delicious, remind me of Cuba, I do not remember these in my past visits to Tampa ... I would love to try these, but still recommend them ... also recommend dos cubanos
Posted by: yam | September 11, 2012 at 12:16 PM
I too grew up in Tampa and my mom was a native and of course was familiar with Seabreeze. Every time I go back I have to get one at either Alessi (no they will not ship them) or Cacciatore (they make them to order on the spot and will not ship either). I was back 2 years ago and the restaurant/cafe out at Ballast Point (maybe the name was Taste of Boston of all names) had pretty decent devil crab also. THEY said at the time as long as you guarantee a regular ongoing order, they could flash freeze them to ship to you. I am not sure if they are still operating or not.
Posted by: Kieth Parks | May 21, 2012 at 02:39 PM
i wish all my friends and families would be happy forget their worries.
Posted by: air max 90 | March 02, 2012 at 02:27 AM
I will see if Lili is still doing this--am in the area from Dec 1.
Posted by: Foodie | November 01, 2011 at 01:35 PM
I see where lots of people have asked about shipping your crab cakes...I too am interested in having some shipped...so do you? If so, please send me the info to order...would love to surprise my family at Christmas with good ole Tampa crab cakes!!!
Posted by: Lori | October 27, 2011 at 02:45 PM
I will be in tampa next month on the third of august please let me know how I can find you I love deviled crabs and would like to stop by when I'm in town
Posted by: Eugene Mays | July 22, 2011 at 03:31 PM
OMG My old boss use to buy these when he would go on Vac OMG THESE are the BEST DEVILED CRABS OMG IM GOING THERE NOW TO GET SOME. :)
Posted by: Des | January 20, 2011 at 12:55 PM
What's up with December 13, 2010? bored?
Posted by: margie | December 22, 2010 at 08:28 PM
Can't wait to be in Tampa to have Lili's devil crabs,,she also makes awesome soup!!!!!
Posted by: margie | December 22, 2010 at 08:24 PM
Come through this sight and liked very much with the wonderful dishes. But I need to contact LIL for some kind of help from her. can I?
Posted by: Atish Kumar mohanty | September 14, 2010 at 01:46 AM
They are the BEST!!! I am a born Tampiana & was raised with them my whole family & up to this day we keep it up, for parties, lunch & by the way my husband is a vendor in Downtown Tampa & he sells the Lil Devil Crabs & they sell like hot cakes. Thanks Lily Keep it up
Posted by: Cheyenne gomez | September 09, 2010 at 12:48 PM
i am originally from florida and i love devil crabs they are the best when my mom goes to florida she brings me a box of them back but now she is un able to go to florida and i was wonderning is there any way that i could have some devil crabs sent to my home if so please email me and give me a price including the shipping and handling charges
Posted by: barbara johnson | April 16, 2010 at 03:43 PM
I USE TO GO TO TAMPA ALL THE TIME EVER SINCE THE 60's JUST TO GET DEVIL CRABS FROM THE SEABREEZE.. BUT THEY CLOSED THE RESTAURANT....sad..
NOW, ARE YOU FROM THE SAME FAMILY THAT HAD THE SEABREEZE &WHERE CAN I FIND YOUR RESTAURANT NOW?????
Posted by: KIT | March 17, 2010 at 09:20 PM
Hello guys, I have been looking for a business or person who can send DEVIL CRABS's via mail. If you are your company can send them please let me know. P.S Im from Tampa but now im in Texas. I miss the home town food's. Its nothing better than a devil crab. oo yeah 2 devil crabs.
Posted by: Robert White | February 06, 2010 at 07:09 PM
I love cuban food! everytime i come to orlando on business i eat cuban food. i like walking in the city until i find a nice cuban restaurant. it has bacame a tradition for me.
Posted by: Orlando Hotels | December 10, 2009 at 08:09 AM
I would not care if they were blue on the inside, they are the best devil crabs I have ever had. I am talking about going way back to when they were sold by the vendors on their 3 wheel bicycles back in the 50's. They beat the seabreeze by a mile and also the White House which was also very famous for their devil crabs. Of course the price has went up also. They use to be 15 cents back then. I just bought 100 from her this week and have already ate 10 of them. I'll be paying her another visit shortly.
Posted by: Wayne Rogers | August 30, 2009 at 03:14 PM
dear lili, this is julio balbontin a while back i ordered a dozen of devil crab crockets wish you did call me when you were here in miami but at the time you call me i was very sick in the hospital my doctor didn't want me to eat nothing fried but now im well again and i can eat what ever i please thank god. so next time you come to miami here is my address and my email too.im ready to recieve the 1 dozen devil crabs i will pay you when i see you here in miami. thank you ever so much. julio s. balbontin
Posted by: julio s. balbontin | August 02, 2009 at 05:37 PM
I love lillys devil crabs they are the best in the world
Posted by: linda smith | May 14, 2009 at 02:54 PM
Its amazing what people will post in these forums, some of it is quite brilliant!
Posted by: Salattargetuh | November 28, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Hola ! Lili, como esta. Nice web site, was looking on how to make devil crabs and came up with your site very nice your pictures are very good, See you soon Angel Pla
Posted by: Angel Pla | October 26, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I’m so lucky, after reading this article I had a craving for devil crabs so I called Lili. She’s the best. I had a dozen devil crabs and a dozen stuffed potatoes delivered here to my house in South Miami. Hands down these are the best I have ever eaten. Later that night we went to a local club and danced till the club closed down. Needless to say we had a blast. So if you live in the Miami area she’ll be coming down at least once a month to bring devil crabs and stuffed potatoes so get on the list...call her 813-247-4565 at the restaurant.
Posted by: Gustavo | October 05, 2008 at 09:04 AM
I have not had a good deviled crab since I left Tampa. How can I order some??? They are the one thing I miss about Tampa. I live WV and no one has heard of them.
Posted by: Gary Hagen | September 21, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I was born in tampa and raised in Ybor City, 55- years ago. I remember the vendors on their bikes ringing the bell as they road down the streets selling those wonderful hot treats of deep fried ambrosia we called "Devil Crabs". At that time the deviled crabs were $.50 cents and they were very filling and delicious. Now I am living in New Jersey and I was thinking about the familiar taste of deviled crabs today so I Googled the name and got Lil's article. I Would call that ironic.......I to would like to know how I can have some delivered to me.
Posted by: Andrea | August 26, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Hello,
I'm currently researching various weight loss programs and courses.
So, if you don't mind please answer in this topic: What’s your single most important question about weight loss?
Cheers, JD
Posted by: jdpolson | August 20, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I have great news for devil crab lovers, the original seabreeze devil crab and resturant is comming back. the one that started it all way back then in 1929 the one and only miss lucy licata. i cant wait for the one's who forgot what the real devil crab taste like to once again be able to get them
Posted by: joe lafrom | August 14, 2008 at 10:30 AM
I am looking for mail order devil crabs and thought you might be the answer to my search. We don't get the real thing in California.
Posted by: Johnny | August 10, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Hi to ALL
I just called Harbor side Grill
the Phone Number above is Wrong.
It is now 813-247-4565( they said they will
ship to me In Alaska, If I'm willing to pay
the shipping) Hell If it's reasonable I'd be
willing to pay to just satisfies my JONES of
these Blasted little Devil's. so now I wait to
get called back with the shipping news, HMMMmmm??? please don't hurt me?
Sam again
Posted by: Samuel Lee | July 23, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Hi to ALL
I just called Harbor side Grill
the Phone Number above is Wrong.
It is now 813-247-4565( they said they will
ship to me In Alaska, If I'm willing to pay
the shipping) Hell If it's reasonable I'd be
willing to pay to just satisfies my JONES of
these Blasted little Devil's. so now I wait to
get called back with the shipping news, HMMMmmm??? please don't hurt me?
Sam again
Posted by: Samuel Lee | July 23, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Hi to you
I grew up in Tampa Fl born and raised just outside of Ybor City went to Oak Park Elementary School.
I've conquered many of my craving's for foods
from the Cubans that I grew up loving so very
much, I've even found some like Chorizos and even my Cafe cubano, However one of the most
craved and loved Item has eluded me for the last 15 yrs here in Juneau Ak. and in the
telling of this dilemma I'm in hi hopes that
some one may take pity on this poor ass redneck Tampa Boy and please share a web Addy to which I may be able to order from them the Illustrious Devil Crab I so crave?
Sam Lee
Posted by: Samuel Lee | July 18, 2008 at 04:41 PM
I like many folks grew up in Tampa and now live elsewhere. Living in Virginia just outside DC you would think you could find anything you wanted.. But, no devil crabs or cuban sandwich.. folks have no concept of just how great these things are.. or what they are.. So on my yearly trip home I have to drive making that long 12 hours drive in order to stock up on our favorites, devil crabs and cuban bread.. I've spent hours even in Florida trying to find someone to ship to me. Maybe oneday someone will come through and save our day... Hope you'll share if you find that someone...
Posted by: Shirley | July 17, 2008 at 02:26 PM