It’s no secret Orlando is home to some great eats. Unfortunately for us, that means some of the best spots for a killer meal are some of the busiest. You may have to battle your way through a reservation list and a bit of a wait, but at these 22 Orlando restaurants, it’s always worth it.
So make the reservation, brave the hour-long wait time and brag to your friends about how good your meal was. [content-2]
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
8625 International Drive, Orlando
The funky tapas spot offers creative food and drink specials every weekday, plus live music and relaxed patio seating, too. With tons of shareable plates to choose from, signature cocktails and artists who paint while you eat, Cafe Tu Tu Tango garners some well-deserved crowds. Credit: Photo via Café Tu Tu Tango/FacebookBlack Rooster Taqueria
1323 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
This taqueria offers a modern twist on authentic Mexican cuisine — and it’s delicious, so you can probably expect some lines. But with options like the shrimp and chorizo tacos, pozole verde bowl and classic tres leches cake and flan, it’s most definitely worth the wait. Credit: Photo via Black Rooster Taqueria/YelpPizza Bruno
3990 Curry Ford Road, Orlando
The line is usually out the door at this pizza establishment known for its legendary garlic knots and scrumptious pizza. Get a glass of beer or wine, because there will probably be a wait — but it’s totally worth it. Cooked in a wood-fired oven for 90 seconds at 1,000 degrees, Pizza Bruno’s notorious char-spotted pizza represents true Neapolitan-style pie-fection. Credit:Photo via Pizza Bruno/Facebook
1809 Winter Park Road, Orlando
With a Michelin star, a reservation required for dinner, and a secret menu, this sushi and sake bar is a hot commodity. There are only nine seats, and tickets range from $155-$175 for one meal, so this is not your go-to for a casual night out. But if you’re in the mood to splurge on some to-die-for sushi, Kadence might be calling your name. Credit: Photo via Kadence/Facebook
617 N. Primrose Drive, Orlando Known for Southern-style food and incredible baked goods, the line at Se7en Bites is always out the door on weekends. It’s for a good reason, too. The spot is perfect for brunch, with its menu of tasty pastries, biscuits and gravy, primavera Benedict and meatloaf sandwiches. Credit: Photo via Se7en Bites/YelpMorimoto Asia
1600 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
This upscale restaurant brings innovative Pan-Asian cuisine to Disney Springs. With a menu from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, the glitzy spot offers dishes ranging from ribs to sushi to Peking duck and plenty more. Credit: Photo via Morimoto Asia/YelpPig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa
1326 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
The rustic counter-serve joint is no secret to adoring Orlando foodies. Innovative flavors and traditional fire, smoke and pit BBQ methods combine to make this spot the BBQ landmark it is. Credit: Photo via Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa/YelpThe Polite Pig
1536 Buena Vista Drive, Orlando
This indoor and outdoor counter-serve spot from the team behind the Ravenous Pig features smoked meats, Southern specialties and cocktails on tap at Disney Springs. The spot takes a modern approach to classic savory wood-fired flavors, garnering it the attention it absolutely deserves. Credit: Photo via The Polite Pig/YelpThe Ravenous Pig
565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
Using sustainable food methods and cooking with ingredients sourced close to home, The Ravenous Pig asks that you make reservations because there’s often a wait to get into this foodie heaven. The stylish gastropub and beer garden offers inventive New American eats, an in-house taproom and hand-crafted cocktails, all definitely worth the splurge. Credit:Photo via The Ravenous Pig/FacebookThe Stubborn Mule
100 S. Eola Drive, Unit 103, Orlando
This restaurant is in high demand for its new twist on American cuisine. Locally sourced food options and craft cocktails, beer and wine makes this eatery a popular stop for locals and tourists alike. Credit: Photo via The Stubborn Mule/YelpThe Strand
807 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
The Strand has embedded itself into Orlando’s restaurant scene with dishes made from scratch and daily specials using fresh, seasonal ingredients. This popular joint also keeps a rotating inventory of craft beers and wine. Credit: Photo via The Strand/YelpVoodoo Doughnut
6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando
“The Magic Is in the Hole” is Voodoo Doughnut’s credo, and the pair behind the cult fave – Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Tres Shannon – are set to penetrate the very penetrable market of Orlando. They set up shop in family-friendly Universal CityWalk so expect to see their less risqué-named, yet still thoroughly sinful, creations such as the “Dirt Doughnut” and “Bacon Maple Bar.” Credit: Photo via Voodoo Doughnut/YelpGideon’s Bakehouse
3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando
This small local cookie bakery serves up big flavors and over-the-top creations. Known for from-scratch recipes and almost half-pound cookies and cake slices, as well as a certain whimsical dark humor, it’s not a spot any Orlando sweet tooth should pass up. Credit: Photo via Gideon’s Bakehouse/YelpBetter Than Sex
1905 N. Orange Ave., Orlando
Better Than Sex is a full-service adults-only dessert restaurant with some very, uh, debauched dishes — all wrapped in a speakeasy-like setting. Enjoy their array of sweet creations and grab a cocktail or two to wash them down. Credit: Photo via Better Than Sex/YelpPrato
124 N. Park Ave., Winter Park
Orlando Weekly readers’ “best Italian restaurant” three years in a row, Prato scores huge with Orlandoans for its authentic Italian dishes. You’ll battle crowds to get a seat at this loud Park Avenue “it spot,” but once inside, the rustic Italian creations will justify the body-checking. As you can read in our 2020 Prato review, “You’d be hard-pressed to find better meatballs in the city, seriously.” Credit:Photo via Prato/YelpDomu
3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando, and 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando
This ramen bar gets packed! Domu makes their noodles in-house and have tweaked their broth recipes to mouthwatering perfection. Because of this, and the fact that they don’t take reservations, ensuring a table at Domu is a challenge. The wait might be long, but it is so worth it. Credit: Photo via Domu/Yelp
Best Brunch
Winner: Briarpatch Restaurant Finalists: Maxine’s on Shine, Santiago’s Bodega Credit: Photo via Briarpatch/YelpAVA MediterrAegean
290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park
The trendy Mediterranean hotspot in the heart of Park Avenue may be saturated in South Beach swank, but its menu packs real substance. That only makes people-watching at Ava all the more enjoyable. Credit: Photo via AVA MediterrAegean/Yelp310 Lakeside
301 E. Pine St., Orlando
This well-loved downtown New American cafe offers a view of Lake Eola, and features a wine bar, live music, both indoor and outdoor dining, and popular weekend brunch. Credit: Photo via 310 Lakeside/YelpButtermilk Bakery
1198 Orange Ave., Winter Park
You’ll have to come in early if you want to snag one of the many made-from-scratch pastries at this bakery. Not only will there be a polite line of sweet-seekers, the shop closes in the afternoon, so plan your time accordingly. Credit: Photo via Buttermilk Bakery/YelpEthos Vegan Kitchen
601 S. New York Ave., Winter Park
Ethos Vegan Kitchen offers up a completely plant-based menu for lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends. The spot boasts “hearty, homestyle fare,” and with their vegan take on a shepherd’s pie, jerk “chickun” sandwich and decadent ice cream sundaes, they live up to it. There’s often a wait time, but you can buy desserts and “beef jerky” to snack on in the meantime. Credit: Photo via Ethos Vegan Kitchen/YelpHash House A Go Go
5350 International Drive, Orlando
Although Hash House A Go Go is a chain, Orlando sure doesn’t shy away from giving the American “farm food” spot some major love. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner (all the meals in a day and then some), the restaurant is known for its eye-catching plating, over-the-top flavors and absolutely gigantic servings. Credit: Photo via Hash House a Go Go/Facebook
