If you’ve been paying attention, you know that Orlando has been unwavering in its major strides in the culinary scene. Constantly welcoming new restaurants and renowned chefs, plus nabbing notable nods at this year’s Michelin Guide ceremony, Orlando is making moves.

From upscale Mexican to Southern barbecue to iconic chains, the City Beautiful has welcomed plenty of new eateries destined to keep stomachs full and mouths talking. Here are 20 of the hottest new restaurants to open in Orlando so far in 2024.  

Ceiba 1500 Eastbeach Way, Orlando A love letter to Mexican cuisine, Ceiba is now serving modern takes on authentic Mexican flavors in — or rather, atop — Orlando. Now open on the Conrad Orlando’s seventh-floor rooftop, Ceiba is led by chef Stephen Ullrich and aims to reflect a “contemporary expression of Mexican cooking and pays homage to curated ingredients that tell the story of the country’s treasured dishes and artisan purveyors.” Credit: Image via Ceiba at Conrad Orlando/Facebook

Bar Kada

957 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
Bar Kada, the 30-seat concept from Soseki’s Michael Collantes, lives next door to his Michelin-starred omakase house offering a selection of ancestral-method sakes, low-touch wines curated by sommelier Benjamin Coutts, and seasonal small plates utilizing local ingredients conceived by chef de cuisine Mike Vang. Credit: Photo via Michael Collantes/Instagram

The Drake Kitchen and Bar

361 N. Rosalind Ave., Orlando
The couple behind the popular Duck & Drake Kitchen food truck, Heberto and Rona Segura, have embarked on a new culinary endeavor in a more permanent locale. The Drake’s diners can enjoy a diverse and seasonal menu with internationally inspired dishes and local ingredients. Credit: Photo via The Drake/Facebook
Chuck Lager’s America Tavern 8151 International Drive, Orlando Celeb culinarian and Top Chef contestant Fabio Vivani will open an outpost of his restaurant based on the globe-trotting adventures of one Chuck Lager (who may or may not be a real person). The American tavern will fuse plenty of international influences into its dishes. Credit: Photo via Chuck Lager’s America Tavern/Facebook
Boxer and Clover 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando Matt Hinckley has teamed up with lead singer/guitarist Matt Heafy of metalcore band Trivium on Southern barbecue and pie concept Boxer and Clover inside East End Market named after characters in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Should the stall prove successful, a brick-and-mortar may not be far behind. Credit: Photo via Boxer and Clover/Instagram

Sorekara

4979 New Broad St., Orlando
Japanese restaurant Sorekara, from chef William Shen and restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung, was built around the philosophy of sorekara (Japanese for “and then”) and appreciating each unique moment of life. Credit: photo courtesy of William Shen
Lazy Moon Pizza Maitland 441 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland This third location, to complement Lazy Moon’s downtown and UCF pizzerias, will bring odd toppings and humongous slices to the old Einstein Bagels building in Maitland. It will also feature a sizable outdoor patio. Credit: Image via Lazy Moon Pizza

Ômo by Jônt Orlando

115 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park
Ômo by Jônt takes guests on a journey into cuisine from around the world featuring Japanese fare in an interactive atmosphere. With room for up to 16 guests at a time, the eatery ushers guests through three separate rooms, where they can feast on 18 to 22 courses of refined French-Japanese creations. The Living Room is where guests can snack on a “barrage of canapés.” Then they’re led to the Savory Counter for the brunt of the meal, finishing in the Pastry Parlor. Credit: photo courtesy of Hive Hospitality
Pinstripes 11643 Daryl Carter Parkway, Orlando Opening a 40,000-square-foot venue housing a bistro, bowling lanes and bocce courts takes plenty of balls (literally). The fare promises wood-fired pizzas, seasonal gelato and a host of Italian American dishes. Think Primrose Lanes but with way more tourists. Credit: Photo via Pinstripes/Facebook
Smokemade Meats and Eats 1400 S. Crystal Lake Drive, Orlando The stellar pop-up run by Tyler Brunache will bring Central Texas-style barbecue to the old Italian House Restaurant space. His brisket might be the best in the city, but other items like cheddar-jalapeño sausage, ribs, smoked turkey and bangin’ sides and desserts will set barbecue fiends afire. Credit: Photo via Smokemade Meats and Eats/Instagram
Wave Asian Bistro 360 E. Horatio Ave., Maitland The popular Mount Dora sushi house, known for its creative sushi doughnuts, sushi burritos, sushi pizza and sushi burgers, will anchor the soon-to-open Maitland Social in a 1,373-square-foot space with a 500-square-foot outdoor patio. Credit: Photo via Wave Asian Bistro/Facebook
Fatburger 1713 Future Way, Celebration Loved by West Coast pop culture icons and fast foodies alike, Los Angeles-based eatery Fatburger made its Orlando debut earlier this year. Predominantly located on the West Coast, Fatburger is known for its classic burgers, chili cheese dogs and loving lyrical mentions from icons like Ice Cube, Notorious B.I.G. and the Beastie Boys. Credit: Photo via Fatburger/Facebook

Oh Hey Cafe

1325 Lee Road, Orlando
Open House, a neighborhood social hall, and Oh Hey Cafe, a family-friendly café with expansive indoor and outdoor seating serving Lineage Coffee and pastries, have opened at 1325 Lee Road. Credit: image via Open House on Instagram
The Fry Shoppe 489 N. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park The drive-through and pick-up restaurant is now slinging cone fries — don’t call ’em french fries — in Winter Park. The frites are served in a paper cone and generally slathered with a variety (or combo) of sauces up to and including sweet corn mayonnaise, peanut sauce, ketchup, mustard, garlic-cilantro sauce or curry ketchup. All of these sauces are made in-house from scratch. Credit: Photo via The Fry Shoppe/Instagram

Mid Drive Dive

2401 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Mid Drive Dive is described as a midcentury-inspired restaurant and bar serving American classics. The concept comes from the longtime tenants at East End Market Matt Hinckley (Hinckley’s Fancy Meats) and Jacob Zepf (The Neighbors, Freehand Goods). The menu features American classic snacks, salads, sandwiches and mains. At the bar, guests can dive into simple yet crafty cocktails, plus staple beers and wines. Credit: Photo via Mid Drive Dive/Facebook
Credit: Courtesy photo

Parlor Doughnuts

2912 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Indiana-based Parlor Doughnuts is now slinging its signature layered doughnuts and homey atmosphere in Orlando. The craft doughnut and coffee chain sets itself apart with its specialty layered dough technique and unique flavors like French toast, turtle cheesecake and “Dreamsicle.” Credit: Photo via Parlor Doughnuts/Facebook

Birria 1983

54 W. Church St., Orlando
Birria1983 started as a food truck in 2020 and has now expanded into a permanent location in the old Graffiti Junktion space at the Church Street Market. Not a fan of birria? (Heresy!) Birria1983 also serves street corn, rice bowls, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, Mexican pizzas, churros and more. Credit: Photo via Birria 1983/Facebook
Poke Burri 12615 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden Dual concept Poke Burri and Lifting Noodles, an Atlanta-born Japanese restaurant, has opened in Orlando. The menu features customizable sushi in unconventional forms — think sushi pizza, sushi burritos, sushi donuts and sushi corn dogs. (As well as poke bowls, for the less adventurous among us.) The Lifting Noodles side of the equation features plenty of specialty and build-your-own ramen options. This location also has a full bar and offers various teas and beverages. Credit: Photo via Poke Burri/Instagram

Summer House on the Lake

1498 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
Cali cuisine and breezy beach vibes rule at Summer House on the Lake, newly open at Disney Springs. It’s the perfect place to rock that coastal grandma fit while nibbling on salads, veggie-forward apps … and indulgent cookies from the cookie bar. Credit: Photo by Rob Bartlett

Additional Slideshows

25 Orlando restaurants every new resident needs to try before calling themselves a local

19 Orlando restaurants and bars that have closed so far in 2024

Chloe Greenberg is the Digital Content Editor for Orlando Weekly.