New year. New restaurants. So far, 2018 is off to a great start for new Orlando restaurants. Here’s a handful of brand-spanking new spots worth checking out.

Sticky Rice Lao Street Food 1915 E Colonial Dr, 321-800-6532 You can order the entire menu of Laotian delicacies for about $60 at this Mills 50 newcomer, but you’ll do well to settle for just the standouts – lemongrass pork sausages, sesame beef jerky, street wings, papaya salad and oh yes, those pork tapioca dumplings. Photo via Shayla Phillips
Try the grilled sticky rice chicken wings, best thing on the street. Photo via Sticky Rice Street Food via Facebook
Calle 3 M3xican Str33t Kitch3n 1664 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka; 407-703-2569 Never mind the annoying number jumbled in the name. What chef-owner Leo Santos and his wife, Shirley, bring to the streets of Apopka is a true taste of the calles of Ciudad de Mexico: elotes and papas fritas; slow-cooked carnitas served with pickled onions on homemade corn tortillas; flautas with potato and chorizo; homemade Mexican flan. Say it with me: road trip! Photo via Shayla Phillips
Check out Tostada Thursday, where you can pick from choice of chicken tinga or asada tostadas and remember to get those free rice and beans. . Photo via Calle 3 M3xican Str33t Kitch3n
Chela Tequila & Tacos 183 S Orange Ave, 407-985-5272 So the Bento Group (who run Bento Asian Kitchen, Avenue Gastrobar and Sticky Rice) decided their other concept Kasa, needed a rebrand, and so Chela Tequila & Tacos was born. Chela’s Mexican fare is a whole lot less highbrow than the globally inspired small plates coming out of Kasa’s kitchen but, hey, who doesn’t love a good taco? Knowing the Bento guys, they’ll do ’em right. Photo via Rob Bartlett
Check out their Taco Tuesdays for $15 all-you-can eat tacos from 5 p.m. to midnight. Photo via chelatacos/Instagram
The Edison 1570 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, 407-560-9288 Another in a line of restaurants that was supposed to have opened last year, the Edison finally did this January and Disneyphiles have been relishing in the post-industrial, steampunk-themed surroundings of the Disney Springs eatery. And also that 28-day dry-aged prime rib. Photo via Rob Bartlett
The Edison has some of the best bacon in town but the presentation is really what sets them apart. Photo via vegan.latina4ever/Instagram
El Buda 116 W Church St. , 407-203-8171 Roberto Treviño, the man who battled Mario Batali on “Iron Chef America,” opened his Nuevo Latino restaurant inside the Bumby Arcade on Church Street in December and his Latin-Asian fusion creations are simply stunning. The man has some serious kitchen cred, and two of his fusion creations – pork and sweet plantain dumplings and duck breast with honey-miso potatoes – are instant classics. Photo via Rob Bartlett
Try the Shrimp Revoltillo with Slab Bacon during their brunch hour. Perfect for a quick bite. Photo via El Buda via Facebook
Garp and Fuss 348 N Park Ave, Winter Park, 407-960-5560 One of the finest dining spaces in the city is now home to Garp & Fuss, a quaint resto off Park Avenue serving “American fusion cuisine” in a vintage industrial setting. The menu is still being tweaked, but you’ll find a focused selection of salads, flatbreads, handhelds and meatless options like Buffalo cauliflower, boiled peanuts, and butternut squash and apple soup. Photo via Garp & Fuss via Facebook
Stop by to see what “The Fuss” is all about, a fried chicken sandwich that will have you making repeat trips. Photo via Garp and Fuss via Facebook
Iron Cow 2438A E. Robinson St., 407-317-4187 From the owner who brought you the Sandwich Bar comes this recently opened Milk District hotspot that’s equal parts music venue, cocktail bar and restaurant. The menu is limited, but items are being added, including vegan options. Photo via Shayla Phillips
Try the jerk seasoned scrambled egg cuban lettuce, tomato, and mayo sandwich. Photo via iron_cow_cafe/Instagram
Grills Seafood 4301 N Orange Blossom Trail, 407-291-8881 The third restaurant in the “Grills” family is also the first not to be situated on the ocean. Grills Lakeside is, yes, on a lake (Lake Fairview, to be exact) in College Park, but the ambience is as laid-back and tiki-tastic as the others. Notable fact: They have a separate lionfish menu. Photo via Grills Seafood website
The “Rock shrimp” looks like it’s on point. Photo via vegan.latina4ever/Instagram
Maria & Enzo’s 1560 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, 407- 560-8466 The Patina Restaurant Group continues to add to their Disney restaurant portfolio (Morimoto Asia, Via Napoli, Tutto Italia) and their latest, a Deco-styled behemoth complete with faux aviation backstory, proffers a taste of Southern Italy. Photo via themagicforlesstravel/Instagram
Try the chicken parm, a classic Italian dish.. Photo via just_a_small_town_g1rl_/Instagram
Peter’s Kitchen 3922 E Colonial Dr, 407-895-8174 Peter Leung, who used to own Tasty Wok and developed the menu at Ming Bistro, opened his latest venture on East Colonial Drive and gastronomes flocked in droves for two dishes – the orange chicken and the butter lobster. Both are worthy. Dim sum, BTW, is offered daily – served from carts on weekends only. Photo via Shayla Phillips
Check out their clay pot, packed with eggplant, salty fish and chicken. Served in a brown sauce along with some rice, and some crispy grains. Photo via orlando.foodie/Instagram