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So far, this has been a great year for new Orlando restaurants. From tacos to sushi, it’s easy to expand your palate in O-Town with these new eateries. Here’s a handful of brand-spanking new spots that opened over the last three months.
Agave Azul
900 South Orlando Avenue, Winter Park | (321) 972-3414
Joining their Kirkman location Agave Azul opened yet another taqueria in Winter Park. The restaurant specializes in traditional and modern Mexican fare and are looking to expand their horizons towards Windermere and Maitland.
Photo via Agave Azul/FacebookBlended Cafe Bar
2306 Edgewater Drive | (407) 868-9836
The new cafe offers bubble tea, coffee, wine, wine cocktails, beer, breakfast and small plates. Blended is owned by the Dao sisters who also own House of Pho on South John Young Parkway.
Photo via Blended Cafe Bar/Facebook4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck
1486 Buena Vista Drive
Nestled between World of Disney and Ghirardelli the 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck is open seven days a week, including Sundays. The outpost will offer “barbacoa-style dishes” like burrito bowls and their specialty “Taco Cone.”
Photo via 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck/FacebookArooga’s Grille House & Sports
227 South Semoran Boulevard, Winter Park | (407) 986-9464
Arooga’s offers traditional American dishes while doubling as a sports bar where customers can catch the latest games.
Photo via Arooga’s/FacebookBem Bom
3101 Corrine Drive | (407) 960-5101
The popular Portuguese food truck made their brick-and-mortar debut earlier this year in Audubon Park featuring a new bar space and specialty drinks.
Photo via TBem Bom/FacebookBig Time Street Food Co.
805 East Washington Street | (407) 801-5464
Big Time Street Food Co. is a “food counter” serving everything from fried cheese curds, panzarottis and Korean fried chicken wings to traditional burgers and hot dogs.
Photo via TBig Time Street Co./FacebookCafe Linger
2912 Edgewater Drive | (407) 906-0177
Johnson & Wales grads Michael Brito and Christina Gribkowsky opened their European-inspired coffee house in College Park. The menu includes the dishes such as tortilla española, spätzle, house-made pasta, branzino and lamb sliders.
Photo via Cafe Linger/FacebookChicken Guy!
1506 East Buena Vista Drive Suite A | (407) 560-8180
Located next to the Planet Hollywood Observatory, Guy Fieri’s new chicken tender restaurant joined the long list of restaurants at Disney Springs. As the name suggests, the menu features a variety of chicken dishes with 22 dipping sauces.
Photo via Chicken Guy/FacebookCinco Tacos & Tequila
140 Orlando Avenue, Winter Park | (407) 725-7100
The restaurant offers Cali-Mex options such as tableside guacamole, adobo fried chicken, pizza-stand nachos and fajita chimichanga samosas and a variety of signature drinks.
Photo via Cinco TacosCurry Bowl
1700 Fennell Street, Maitland | (407) 745-0868
Curry Bowl’s menu offers traditional North and South Indian dishes along with a few re-invented recipes. Their specialties include currys, biyanis, tandoori and dosas.
Photo via Curry Bowl/FacebookDaJen Eats
323 East Kennedy Boulevard Suite F, Eatonville | (407) 775-5791
This quaint Jamaican vegan place used to grace the Citgo gas station on North Orange Blossom Trail near Lee Road but has now found a permanent home. The new location will have an expanded menu in addition to the old offerings.
Photo via Vegan Motorcyle Diaries via DaJen Eats/FacebookJinya Ramen Bar
8 North Summerlin Avenue | (407) 704-1825
Jinya has 27 locations across North America and is officially open for business. The Thornton Park restaurant marks the first Florida location.
Photo via Jinya Ramen Bar/FacebookKalalou Caribbean Bar and Grill
5160 South John Young Parkway | (407) 286-5539
Owned by two island natives and located near the Mall at Millenia this Caribbean-style bar and grill offers a selection of authentic Haitian cuisine in the heart of Orlando.
Photo via Kalalou Caribbean/FacebookMeza
1780 Jake Street | (407) 440-3603
Nazih Sebaali, owner and chef of Cafe Annie, has expanded and opened yet another restaurant in Baldwin Park. Meza, much like Annie, will continue to highlight Sebaali’s Lebanese roots.
Photo via Rob Bartlett/Orlando WeeklyLa Kuma
840 East State Road 434, Longwood | (407) 960-8393
La Kuma specializes in Japanese-style coffee and tea. Its specialty drink, the ice drip, a special slow-drip method that takes 10-12 hours to brew and is made at an even lower temperature than cold brew.
Photo via La Kuma Coffee/FacebookThe Noble Smokesman
6925 Lake Ellenor Drive Suite 111 | (407) 630-6223
Brisket is more than just a menu item at The Noble Smokesman, it’s a specialty. The contemporary craft barbeque joint opened near OBT and Lancaster Road late last month.
Photo via The Noble SmokesmanPoke Hana
1225 East Colonial Drive Suite A | (407) 601-0283
Specializing in fresh Hawaiian poke bowls, King Bao owners opened their new restaurant Poke Hana on Colonial Drive near Mills.
Photo via Poke Hana/FacebookRed Claw
131 North Orange Avenue | (407) 914-2831
Pete Downing of Da Kine Poke and Market on Magnolia, partnered with Vinnie and Sarah Olivieri, the owners of Treehouse Truck and Grovetucky Farms Truck to bring downtown Orlando Red Claw, which specializes in lobster rolls and pizza pies.
Photo via Red Claw/FacebookRicky’s Canteen
105 Magnolia Street, New Smyrna Beach | (386) 410-2081
Two-time James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist Henry Salgado and his wife, Michelle, opened Ricky’s Canteen in downtown New Smyrna Beach. The restaurant specializes in fast-casual poke bowl and street food.
Photo via Ricky’s Canteen/FacebookRoyaltea
714 North Mills Avenue | (407) 513-2657
Royaltea, a Chinese-based bubble tea chain, opened next to King Bao this summer. Each drink is made is made to order, including their new cheese tea – sweet tea topped with a thick foam fashioned from cream cheese, milk and whipped cream.
Photo via Royaltea/FacebookStasio’s Italian Deli
2320 East Robinson Street | (407) 277-7755
Stasio’s deli opened earlier this year in the Milk District and features hot and cold Italian sandwiches, packaged cheese and meats and breakfast items for early-risers. The deli also offers grab-to-go options such as wine and Italian biscuits and pastries seeing as there is no available seating.
Photo via Stasio’s Italian Deli/InstagramTaste of Chengdu
2030 W Colonial Drive | (407) 839-1983
Taste of Chengdu is a traditionally Chinese restaurant specializing in authentic Sichuan cuisine.
Photo via Taste Of Chengdu/FacebookTbaar
5816 Conroy Windermere Road | (407) 906-4834
Tbaar serves fresh juice and boba tea and features flavors such as taro, coconut, matcha, Thai and honey dew. The boba shop also offers a selection of meals including poke bowls.
Photo via Tbaar/FacebookTerralina
21650 East Buena Vista Drive | (407) 934-8888
Formerly known as Portobello Country Italian Trattoria, Terralina welcomes back James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano and executive chef Justin Plank. The restaurant will feature authentic Italian dishes including house-made porchetta, an antipasti tower and pizza from a wood-burning oven.
Photo via Terralina Crafted Italian/FacebookThe Donut Experiment
211 East Michigan Street
Set to open later this month or in October the Donut Experiment is an addition to the “build-your-own” food craze. The shop specializes in custom made donuts made right in front of customers eyes and tailored to their specifications.
Photo via The Donut Experiment/FacebookThe H Cuisine
7512 Dr Phillips Boulevard | (407) 930-3020
The H Cuisine is a Mediterranean inspired kitchen located next to the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips. The menu offers a variety of different dishes and drinks, including imported wines, cocktails and raki.
Photo via The H Cuisine/FacebookThe Hangry Bison
480 Orlando Ave #130 | (407) 677-5000
Not to be confused with the Smiling Bison, The Hangry Bison opened right across the street from Regal Cinema in Winter Park. The menu includes nine different options of craft burgers, including a build-your-own option, as well as a long selection of “craftails.”
Photo via The Hangry Bison/FacebookUrban Hibachi
11954 Narcoossee Road | (407) 776-3799
Urban Hibachi opened their third location over by Lake Nona, off of Narcoossee Road. The menu offers hibachi, sushi and Omakase.
Photo via Urban HibachiBar 17 Bistro
6725 Adventure Way | (407) 503-6000
Located on the 17th floor of Aventura Hotel, Bar 17 is a modern bistro offering wide varieties of both food items and cocktails along with a roof-top view of the Universal theme parks.
Photo via LiveLifeCentral/InstagramMiller’s Jamaican Cuisine
6854 Forest City Road | (407) 776-9271
This family owned restaurant specializes in authentic, traditional Jamaican dishes. Menu items include oxtail and a selection of currys.
Photo via Miller’s/FacebookMykonos
145 Wekiva Springs Road Suite 133,Longwood | (407) 788-9095
The Longwood Greek restaurant that closed in late 2016, has reopened in the same plaza and under the same ownership. The menu includes classic Greek dishes and daily specials.
Photo via YelpFour Guys Pho
505 FL-436, Casselberry | (407) 755-6670
Four Guys Pho is brought to us by four brothers and a dream to open a restaurant. On top of serving traditional Vietnamese Pho, the menu also includes other foods such as Egg Noodle Soup, Vietnamese Rice Platters, Rice Vermicelli Bowls and Vegetarian tofu dishes.
Photo via Four Guys PhoAnnie’s Roti Shop & Bar
2200, 805 South Kirkman Road | (407) 930-8069
Annie’s Roti Shop & Bar is now serving up traditional Trinidadian cuisine on South Kirkman Road in the old Mama Nem’s space.
Photo via Annie’s Roti Shop & BarBawarchi Biryanis
6315 International Drive, Orlando
Fragrant spices saturate the air inside this first Orlando location of a nationwide franchise focusing on the seasoned yellow rice that is the staple of Indian weddings and other special occasions. Top your biryani with boneless chicken or goat slow-cooked with ghee, and heed the spiciness warnings, lest you require a cup of chai or three to wash it down. Credit: Photo via Bawarchi Biryanis/Facebook