As we barrel toward the fast-approaching end of 2024, Orlando Weekly is looking back at a year full of culinary happenings: Michelin nods, new ventures by storied chefs, heartbreaking closures and more. But before the year is over, there’s still a slate of highly anticipated restaurant openings in store, including hot dog joints, wine bars, pizza palaces and more.

Here are the 20 eateries expected to open this year that we’re most looking forward to.

Burrow Cafe and Play 618 N. Mills Ave., Orlando This new spot combines an adult space and child-friendly play areas in the former Russian Ballet space near Colonial Photo & Hobby. Designed by the team behind Mosonori and Tori Tori, the Mills 50 café serves Lineage coffee, beer, wine, seltzers, non-alcoholic beverages and grab-and-go snacks. Co-owners Morgan Claytor and Jovana Bratonozic aim to provide a welcoming environment for families to connect, work and play in one spot. Burrow Cafe and Play offers imaginative outdoor kids’ play areas and is expected to host regular food truck events. Credit: rendering by GDP Design Build/via The Burrow Cafe and Play, Instagram
June will draw inspiration from Ki’is in Riviera Maya Credit: Image via kiiskanai.com
Black Bean Deli Winter Garden 126 W. Plant St., Winter Garden Already stationed at two spots in Orlando and Winter Park, Black Bean Deli is set to open a new Winter Garden location in the former home of NY Bagel Deli & Pizza. Known for its authentic Cuban dishes and casual, modern atmosphere, Black Bean Deli has long maintained the title of local favorite. Credit: Photo via Black Bean Deli/Facebook

Sparrow

807 N. Orange Ave., Orlando
Sparrow, a 1,978-square-foot wine bar and lounge, will be located about 100 feet away from Reyes Mezcaleria and will present a focused menu drawing on executive chef/partner Wendy Lopez’s heritage (her great grandfather, “Papa Chema,” was Spanish). But flavors and techniques from Portugal, Italy and France will also pepper the bill of fare with continental classics like tortilla Española, patatas bravas, jamón ibérico and conservas served alongside bacalhau croquetas, cacio e pepe and prawn de bourgogne. Credit: courtesy Sue Chin
Portillo’s Waterford Lakes Town Center Portillo’s, the iconic Chicago-style hot dog chain, is set to open a new location at the Waterford Lakes Town Center by the end of the year. The 7,800-square-foot restaurant will seat 190 guests inside and 40 on the patio. It will also have double drive-thru lanes. Credit: Photo via Portillo's/Facebook
Taffer’s Tavern 9101 International Drive, Orlando Taffer’s Tavern, a full-service restaurant and bar concept by Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer, is coming to Orlando’s International Drive this winter. The new outpost, which will be the chain’s very first Florida location, will offer signature drinks, comfort food and tavern classics, and an “inviting and warm ambience.” Credit: Photo via Taffer's Tavern/Facebook

Perla’s Pizza

959 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
Michael Collantes is resuscitating Perla’s Pizza, the pie concept he started with Christian Ziegler in February 2021 before dissolving shortly after. Ziegler took over Perla’s space on Virginia Drive and reopened it as Ziggie’s Pizza. But, later this year, Collantes will open Perla’s Pizza v2.0 two doors down from his omakase house Soseki, and next door to his sake lounge Bar Kada, in Winter Park. The spot specialized in nonconformist pies, featuring unconventional toppings like pineapple jam and bananas. Credit: Photo via LoopNet
The Hideaway Bar 523 Virginia Drive, Orlando Although it’s not a completely new addition to Orlando, The Hideaway Bar is opening a brand-new location after having left its original. The new spot is just across the street from the old and offers all the beloved drinks and eats. Credit: Photo via The Hideaway/Instagram

Hot as Rice Japanese Kitchen

729 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
A Japanese teppanyaki concept akin to the wildly popular Pepper Lunch (which is also slated to open this year in the city) will tender their do-it-yourself dishes on the site of the now-demolished 7-Eleven near the intersection of Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive. Credit: Photo via Hot as Rice Japanese Kitchen/Instagram
Golden Hour owner Heather LaVine is concerned about proposed tariffs, but is ready to face whatever comes next. Credit: Courtesy photo/Jamie Griffin
Hikiniku to Sumi Juju, 700 Maguire Blvd., Orlando Chef Lewis Lin will introduce Japanese Hamburg steaks, or hambagu, in a lunchtime subconcept at Juju’s kappo bar called Hikiniku to Sumi. The ground Japanese wagyu will be grilled over binchotan coals and served over steamed koshi-hikari rice that Lin says will be made in a traditional clay donabe pot. Credit: Photo via Lewis Lin

Nabe

7988 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando
Lewis Lin (Susuru, Juju) will have a busy year ahead of him with Mao Mao opening in the fall but, prior to the handroll eatery, he and investor partners Khoa Nguyen and Keren Swanson will open this 100-seater specializing in wagyu shabu-shabu next door to Peperoncino in the Dellagio Town Center. Nabe will also offer premium seafood, as well as cocktails and a sake program. Nola’s Ice Cream will be situated in front of the almost 3,000-square-foot space. Credit: Image via Google Maps
Palm Beach Meats 3421 S. Orange Ave., Orlando Palm Beach Meats will open this fall in the SoDo space recently vacated by Hungry Pants. And like the original coastal operation, Palm Beach Meats Orlando will sell cuts of the prized protein, including Australian and domestic brands, to avid beef connoisseurs and cook them up as well. A menu of burgers, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, hot dogs, burritos and, yes, steaks will be offered. Credit: Faiyaz Kara
Moso Nori 1100 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park Four-time James Beard Award nominee Henry Moso will open a handroll bar serving a variety of temaki in a 2,456-square-foot space designed by GDP, the firm behind such fetching venues as Tori Tori, the Moderne and Haan Coffee. Moso Nori will feature an island bar with 30-plus seats where Moso and his chefs will serve cylindrical rolls fashioned from premium roasted Japanese nori and filled with everything from dry-aged fish to foie gras to vegetables, ranging in price from $5 to $12. Sake, beer, wine and sake-based cocktails will also be served. It’s slated to open in October. Credit: Courtesy photo
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls 2 S. Orange Ave., Orlando Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, the Maryland-based chain, will serve both Maine- and Connecticut-style lobster rolls from the former Embassy Irish Bar space downtown. Credit: Photo via Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls/Facebook
Hui Lau Shan 831 N. Mills Ave., Orlando An Orlando outpost of Hong Kong-based dessert chain Hui Lau Shan is expected to open later this fall. The shop, with locations all over the world, specializes in all things mango and all things sweet. Credit: Photo via Hui Lau Shan/Instagram

Crush Yard

7840 W. Irlo Bronson Highway, Orlando
The Charleston-based pickleball “eatertainment” venue Crush Yard will open toward the end of the year near Disney. In addition to indoor pickleball courts, the boob-tube-heavy space will house a modern restaurant plating “elevated comfort food” and will offer 36 beers on tap as well as wine and cocktails. Credit: Photo via avenueeventgroup.com
Zen Dumpling 423 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando Zen Dumpling, the Jacksonville-based restaurant specializing in soup dumplings, fluffy pan-fried bao and boba tea, opened a new location this spring in the old Moe’s Southwest Grill space in Waterford Lakes. Credit: Photo via Zen Dumpling/Google Maps

Chapman & Chase Lounge

500 S. Park Ave., Orlando
The Chapman & Chase Lounge will open at 500 S. Park Ave. and celebrate the history of Winter Park. The name is a reference to Winter Park founders Loring Augustus Chase and Oliver Everett Chapman, and the restaurant will present a menu of the best Florida has to offer — fresh fish and seafood as well as locally raised beef and plenty of citrus — in a space inspired by fin de siècle style. Credit: Faiyaz Kara
Pepper Lunch TBA Pepper Lunch — a teppanyaki concept where customers grill their own meats and veggies on an iron griddle — is headed to Orlando in 2024. On offer at the restaurant are steaks, curry rice dishes, teriyaki and even pasta. The chain prides itself on diners being able to get in, cook their meal, chow down and head back out the door in 20 minutes (if they so choose) with a price point under $20. Credit: Courtesy photo

Chloe Greenberg is the Digital Content Editor for Orlando Weekly.