New year, new food. A new year means new dining possibilities, and as usual, Orlando isn’t holding back. Whether you’re in the mood for Mexican, Italian, or a good ole poke bowl, 2018 will have something for you. Here are a few Orlando area restaurants on the cusp of opening this year. 

Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana 900 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 5799 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere facebook.com/agaveazulwp Expected opening: February/Summer 2018 Agave Azul is rapidly expanding since the opening of its original location on Kirkman Road 10 years ago. Taking up the space that once housed Square 1 Burgers in Winter Park, along with a space at the Windermere Village shopping center, the upscale restaurants will turn out Mexican fare such as fajitas, enchiladas, and churros. Photo via
Island Fin Poke Co. 20 N. Orange Ave., bigkahunasbowls.com Expected opening: no official date The owners of Winter Springs’ Big Kahuna’s Island Style Bowls have changed the name to Island Fin Poke Co., and they’ve recently opened a new location in Celebration. Look for an outpost to open in the Morgan & Morgan building, where you’ll be able to pop downtown for poke bowls with fresh ingredients. Photo via bigkahunas_islandfinpoke/Instagram
Caro-bama Bar-B-Q 885 N. Orange Ave., caro-bamabbq.com Expected opening: Jan. 5 If you’ve been chasing down the food truck in pursuit of Bama White Sauce, you’ll be glad to know that Caro-bama Bar-B-Q is preparing to open its brick-and-mortar location. They’ll be shacking up with Downtown Credo in the North Quarter Market, so get ready to sniff out the mouthwatering smoked meats downtown. Still, the food truck will continue its voyage after the restaurant opens. Photo via carobama_bbq/Instagram
Chela Tequila & Tacos 183 S. Orange Ave., chelatacos.com Expected opening: Jan. 23 The space inside the Chase Plaza downtown that formerly housed Kasa Tapas and Raw Bar is rebranding. Its replacement will transform it into an upscale taco joint. But don’t worry, brunch and UnWine’d Wednesdays will still exist.
Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub Address, facebook.com/CladdaghCottagePub Expected opening: no official date Claddagh Cottage is in the process of moving into a stand-alone building, giving it more space for owner Scott Vocca and his team to create the atmosphere of an authentic Irish pub. Beer and wine, homemade meat pies, and beef stew are just a few things on the menu that make you feel like you’re getting the real deal. Photo via Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub/Facebook
Enzo’s Hideaway 1560 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, patinagroup.com/enzos-hideaway Expected opening: Winter 2018 A statement released by Patina Restaurant Group, the owners of Morimoto Asia, describes Enzo’s Hideaway as a “Roman-aparativo-inspired” speakeasy that pays homage to Florida’s rum running history. While the website still says that it would be open as of last fall, it’s been pushed back to this year. Hopefully, the craft cocktails will be worth the wait. Photo via Enzo’s Hideaway/Facebook
Gringos Locos 12101 University Blvd., 517 E. Michigan St., gringoslocos.com Expected opening: no official date The Orlando Tex-Mex staple is working on opening two additional locations: one on Michigan, and the other right across the street from UCF. We don’t know how much longer it will take before the doors open at the UCF location, but when they do, it’ll be great for the students who don’t feel like commuting toward downtown to grab a Double D or two. Photo via iamrickydiaz/Instagram
Heirloom Deli instagram.com/heirloomdeli Expected opening: April Mary Mattern, former road chef for Blink-182, and her fiancé, Neil Westfall, guitarist for A Day to Remember, will open a plant-based deli in Orlando. Where exactly, they wouldn’t say, but we do know that Heirloom Deli will be styled after the Jewish delis Mattern frequented as a child in Suffern, New York, as well as the now-closed Cermak’s Subs in Leesburg. Guests can expect to see such items as hearts of palm “crab” cakes, shiitake mushroom po’boys, “meatball”-provolone subs (made from plant-based ground protein), chicken-fried cauliflower, eggplant fries, mac ‘n’ cheese, and more. Photo via instagram.com/heirloomdeli
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company 1300 Alden Road, ivanhoeparkbrewing.com Expected opening: Spring It’s been said that the Ivanhoe Village area will someday become the backbone of Orlando’s brew scene, and it seems a new brewery is helping this vision become one step closer to reality. The flagship beer will be called the Joyland IPA, in honor of the old Lake Ivanhoe amusement park. Photo via Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company/Facebook
Jaleo 1780 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, jaleo.com Expected opening: no official date Disney Springs will be the first to open a Florida outpost of Chef Jose Andres’s Jaleo, which currently has four locations in the U.S. and one in Mexico City. The restaurant, which will be located on the West Side, will feature traditional and contemporary Spanish cuisine, and the first floor will have a “grab-and-go” storefront with Spanish-style sandwiches if you’re on the move. Photo via person/Instagram
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice 2213 Edgewater Drive, jeremiahsice.com Expected opening: no official date No longer will College Park residents have to trek far for a late-night Italian ice run. Known for its layered soft-serve ice cream and “gelati” treats, the chain is a Florida favorite and has 19 locations throughout the state. Photo via Jeremiah’s Italian Ice/Facebook
Jinya Ramen Bar 8 N. Summerlin Ave., jinya-ramenbar.com Expected opening: no official date A new ramen joint is moving into the former Verde Cantina space in Thornton Park. The chain, which has over 27 locations spanning the U.S. and Canada, also serves up bao sandwiches, fusion tacos, quinoa salads, fried chicken, poké bowls and more. Photo via jameshung15/Instagram
Poke-Hana 1225-A E. Colonial Drive, facebook.com/pokehanamills50 Expected opening: no official date Citing a lengthy permit process, the owners of King Bao have abandoned their plans to open their lobster roll offshoot Colonial Lobster, and will instead refocus the space into a poke concept. Expect poke bowls with fresh seafood and flavorful toppings. Photo via Poke-Hana/Facebook
Sonny’s BBQ at the Central Florida Zoo 3755 NW Hwy 17-92 Sanford, centralfloridazoo.org Expected opening: soft opening mid-January, full opening early February The Central Florida Zoo’s concessions contract with Spectra Food Services recently ended, and Sonny’s BBQ has taken its place. The Jungle Grill Snack Bar is being renovated to resemble the Winter Park Sonny’s location’s fast-casual concept instead of a full service restaurant. Tastier barbecue fuel is in the near future. Photo via Sonny’s BBQ/Facebook
The Big Easy 7782 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere, thebigeasyfl.com Expected opening: January A second Big Easy location will replace the now-closed Caprino’s Italian restaurant space in the Lakeside Village Plaza. The new 5,000-square-foot eatery will serve similar items to their original Winter Garden location’s menu, with dishes like shrimp and grits, jambalaya, gumbo and po-boys. Photo via The Big Easy/Facebook
District Gastrobar and Social Eating House 532 W. Church St., target=”_blank”>facebook.com/The-District-Gastrobar-Orlando Expected opening: Spring 2018 Magic fans and Lions fans can look forward to a new upscale Parramore eatery. Developer Timothy Green has plans for inside and outside renovations of the former salon, expanding it to include an outdoor patio dining area. The menu will feature “American gastropub” and craft cocktails. Photo via The District Gastrobar Orlando/Facebook
Hourglass Market 2401 Curry Ford Road, hourglassmarket.com Expected opening: Spring 2018 The Curry Ford Road/Bumby Avenue corridor is being transformed into what’s being dubbed the “Hourglass District” – so named for nearby Hourglass Lake. Hourglass Market, which sits right inside the District, will be the home of another Foxtail Coffee Co. location, Tamale Co. and Market 2401. This is one of the three newest Foxtail locations, and Tamale Co., serving up Mexican cuisine, will be the company’s first full brick-and-mortar restaurant. Market 2401 is a new concept that will feature craft beer and wine, cheese, flatbreads, and more for Hourglass Market patrons to nosh on. Photo via The Hourglass District/Facebook
Wine Bar George 1610 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, winebargeorge.com Expected opening: Spring The new concept will feature an extensive wine list with over 100 selections by the bottle and glass, in addition to shareable small plates, curated by Master Sommelier George Miliotes. Concept art via Disney
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill 1486 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista Website Expected opening: Late 2018 This new Wolfgang Puck eatery will resemble the laid-back California feel of Puck at Spago, Puck’s flagship restaurant in Los Angeles. Expect extravagant ingredients in and bold flavors inside the sophisticated dishes. Photo via Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Los Angeles/Facebook
Woody’s Lunch Box 351 S. Studio Drive, Lake Buena Vista, disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations Expected opening: Summer 2018 Disney will soon open a land that’s meant to make you feel small–like a toy, to be exact. Toy Story Land is in the works, and so is a special snack kiosk. The quick-service window will be modeled after Andy’s lunch box and thermos. No specific details about the restaurant’s menu have been released yet, but Disney said it will serve “tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats.” Photo via Disney Park Blogs