It’s halfway through the year and it seems like so much has happened already. Although some things are hard to keep track of, like politics, these new restaurants are easy to put on your to-do list. From Italian to Mexican, Vietnamese to Moldovan and more, these new spots can at least provide a way to satisfy your stomach for the rest of the year.

The Ramen 486 N. Orange Ave. Chef Suichi Tanida left Epcot’s Mitsukoshi restaurant to open this no-nonsense ramen shop with an equally no-nonsense moniker. Seven ramens, including a vegan tofu ramen, grace the menu alongside donburi bowls, a few appetizers and a couple of desserts (get the dorayaki pancake). Photo by Rob Bartlett
Paris Banh Mi Cafe Bakery 1021 E. Colonial Drive, 407-866-2012 The warm smell of fresh baked goods wafts along Colonial Drive every morning. Almond triangles, caramel and pear cake, and carioca are some of the many mouth-watering options. Photo via Paris Banh Mi Cafe Bakery
Eola General 522 E. Amelia St., 407-723-8496 Taking over the old Handy Pantry in Eola Heights, this general store/deli is a mini Henry’s Depot (the Sanford food hall opening late spring/early summer) with many of the same folks involved – Sean Kelley, Shaun Noonan and Joe Roberti. Look for deli sandwiches with a twist (French dip with black garlic paste), vegan fare, pizzas (baked in an electric oven), raw milk products, specialty cheeses, and local beer and wine (curated by Quantum Leap’s Matt Uva) which can be consumed on the premises. Photo via Eola General/Facebook
Hopdoddy Burger Bar 9101 International Drive, 321-451-4500 Food & Wine and Thrillist have extolled the virtues of this Austin, Texas-based burger chain, and with good reason. They grind their antibiotic- and hormone-free Angus beef AND bake the buns for those burgers in-house. Oh, those Kennebec fries are hand-cut too. Photo via Hopdoddy Burger Bar/Facebook
Kabooki Sushi Sand Lake 7705 Turkey Lake Road Henry Moso’s second location of his stellar sushi spot is a lot more spacious and a lot more blingy, but don’t think it’s be all flash and no dash. The city’s most creative sushi chef will show Dr. Phillipians what the hype is all about.. Photo via Kabooki Sushi Sand Lake/Facebook
Sanctum Coffee & Juice Bar 1150 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs It’s a busy 2019 for Chelsie and Jamie Savage. Parenting a newborn and running an already-busy Colonialtown café aside, they’ve opened their upscale vegan resto Proper & Wild in Winter Park as well as this bean-and-bev bar in Altamonte Springs. Sandwiches, salads, wraps, breakfast items (including at least one hot option), açai bowls and baked goods are served. Photo via Sanctum Coffee & Juice Bar/Facebook
Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen 1830 E. Colonial Drive On a strip with no shortage of Vietnamese restaurants, Z Asian will serve “authentic Vietnamese food you can drink beer to” as well as Chinese and Thai dishes (Vietnamese chicken wings, pho, lo mein, orange beef, pad thai, curries and the like). Bonus: They’ll serve dishes you don’t typically see around town, namely slow-cooked duck soup, seafood soup and wonton soup. Photo via Z Asian Vitnamese Tacos/Facebook
Sette 1409 FL-527, 407-704-7771 Sette is a new Italian restaurant from the owners of Se7en Bites Cafe. Their menu focuses on classic Italian comfort food like lasagna and fresh house-made pasta, but also features specialty items such as Chicken Lambrusco. Photo by Holly Kapherr
Proper & Wild 155 E. Morse Ave., Winter Park Vegans were champing at their plant-based bits for Chelsie and Jamie Savage’s Winter Park resto to open off Park Avenue and, when it did in late January, they reveled in indulgent meatless fare (no, that’s not an oxymoron) like “heartcakes” fashioned from hearts of palm, wild-grain risotto with cashew cream and roasted oyster mushrooms, and chocolate-avocado mousse. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Lotus Asia House 9101 International Drive Karim El Sherif, former general manager and wine director at Restaurant Daniel in New York, brings his high-end, pan-Asian, Buddha Bar-ish concept to Pointe Orlando with creative cocktails, DJs, dim sum carts and a bangin’ wine list. Photo via Lotus Asia House/Facebook
Pepe by José Andrés Disney Springs, 1482 Buena Vista Drive The celebrity chef’s first brick-and-mortar location of his popular D.C. food truck is connected to Jaleo, selling grab-and-go bocata sandwiches on ciabatta-like pan de cristal and bikini sandwiches employing thin, crustless white bread. Photo via Pepe by José Andrés/Facebook
Bird of Paradise East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive Emily Rankin of Local Roots opened a low-sugar, gluten-free, dairy-free, local and organic ingredient-focused eatery, and against all odds with all those restrictions, it’s delicious and fun. Check out the cocktail and mocktail program served alongside all the tropical and healthy menu items. Photo via Bird of Paradise/Facebook
Chronic Tacos 7541 W. Sand Lake Road Sure to satisfy your munchies, this Dr. Phillips taqueria experienced a long delay in opening its build-a-taco concept – though, really, it’s not all too surprising given the joint’s name is Chronic Tacos. Photo via Chronic Tacos/Facebook
Taco Bus Orlando 11325 University Blvd. It may have started as a taqueria inside a school bus, but this Tampa-based chain has since expanded to 12 locations (mainly on the Gulf Coast), though the restaurant-inside-a-school-bus motif lives on. Choose your, umm, vehicle (taco, torta, burrito etc.), meats and garnishes, and you’re off to the races. Vegan options are plentiful. Photo via Taco Bus/Facebook
Le Ky Patisserie 2411 Curry Ford Road, 407-413-5453 This pastry shop in the Hourglass District offers delights to satisfy any sweet tooth, such as seasonal macarons and peanut butter mousse cake. Photo via Le Ky Patisserie
Veranda Italian and Romanian Restaurant 1700 W. Sand Lake Road, 407-730-9190 Eastern European cuisine and culture meet in a unique experience at Veranda. Mamaliga cu Brinza si Smantina, a traditional Romanian appetizer, pairs well with pizza, soups, entrees and pasta dishes. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Sus Hi Eatstation 1830 E. Colonial Drive With “dojos” in Altamonte Springs, UCF, Lake Nona and Millenia, this ninja-themed build-your-own sushi joint started slicing and dicing for the Mills 50 set when they moved into the old Mai Bistro space in February. Photo via Sus Hi Eatstation/Facebook
Bread & Co. 1230 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 321-316-4969 A French and Korean artisan bakery offers a modern setting with lighter, fluffier and classic flavors such as green tea, red bean and condensed milk. Customers can choose from cakes, breads, pies and more. Photo via Bread & Co./Facebook
Felipe Rodriguez Tequila House 900 E. Washington St., 407-730-2292 Dubbing themselves “Orlando’s best authentic Mexican bar,” this Thornton Park tequila house offers specials such as Margarita Monday and Tequila Tuesday as well as weekend brunch options. Rodriguez Family Jalapeño Poppers stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar and feta blend are a house favorite as well as the Listen Linda drink crafted from Alto Silver Tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and mint. Photo via Felipe Rodriguez Tequila House
The Imperial Bar 170 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 321-972-9294 Mike Bass, the former bar manager at Cask & Larder and principal bartender at Prato, serves as bar manager at Imperial’s Winter Park outpost, with Jeannine Gage overseeing a menu of gourmet bar bites. Photo via The Imperial Bar/Facebook
The Old Jailhouse 113 S. Palmetto Ave., Sanford An old pokey in the Bokey serves fare quite a few notches above your average jailhouse slop. Chef Bram Fowler’s menu will specialize in cuisine from the American Sunbelt – that is, dishes from the southern parts of the U.S., from California to Florida. Photo via The Old Jailhouse/Facebook
Mama Lau va Oc 5038 W. Colonial Drive, 407-337-9999 This Viatnamese restaurant is very new, having just opened in May serving shellfish dishes, hot pots, pho and other noodle soups. Patrons can enjoy clams, shrimp, snails and more in flavorful sauces with unique seasonings. Photo via Mama Lau va Oc/Yelp
I Tea 3191 W. Colonial Drive, 407-385-0165 Fresh fruit tea, traditional tea, coffee drinks, milk tea and more are offered at this hidden cafe. Popular flavors include Jasmine Pearls and Supreme Orange for those of simple taste and Royal Ceylon Milk Tea with Tiramisu Puff Cream for a sweeter flavor. Photo via I Tea/Yelp
Nourish Coffee Bar + Kitchen 2005 Mizell Ave., Winter Park Located inside the new Center for Health & Wellbeing, the eatery offers comfort foods with a healthy approach, fashioned by chef and CIA grad Collette Haw. Best of all, guests don’t need to be members of the Center to eat in the café. Photo via Nourish Coffee Bar + Kitchen/Facebook
Jaleo Disney Springs, 1482 East Buena Vista Drive, 321-348-3211 The rich regional diversity of Spanish cuisine is brought to life at Jaleo. José Andrés, the biggest name in gastronomy right now, opened the largest branch of his tapas concept highlighting his fave eats from around Spain here in Disney Springs. In addition to paellas and plenty of jamón ibérico de bellota, tasting menus will also be offered starting at 4 p.m. Photo via Jaleo/Facebook
Sideward Brewing Co. 210 N. Bumby Ave.,407-866-2195 A family-owned brewery, taproom and kitchen located in the Milk District brings handcrafted beer recipes and lively atmosphere. Small snacks and meals are offered to quench your thirst before ordering from the extensive beer bar. Photo via Sideward Brewing Co./Facebook
Oviedo Brewing Company 1280 Oviedo Mall Blvd., Oviedo, 407-542-8248 Join the Founder’s Club at the Oviedo Brewing Company and immerse yourself in handcrafted beer, wine and food. Uniquely styled beers include Mr. Guava Guava, a tart and sour taste, Red Bug Red Ale, dry and slightly bitter with tastes of caramel and toffee, and Rooster’s Rising Stout, a coffee flavor. Photo via Oviedo Brewing Company/Facebook
Hinckley’s Fancy Meats 3201 Corrine Drive, East End Market, 786-671-1023 Matt Hinckley received many accolades and a lot of press (from the New York Times in particular) for his specialty butcher shop in Lake Helen, and now he’s parlayed that success into his first sandwich shop at East End Market. Don’t wait to bite into that porchetta on ciabatta and that grass-fed pastrami on rye. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Susuru 8548 Palm Parkway The tourist sector needed a few good Japanese joints, and this “retro-themed izakaya” by the same folks who run Jade Sushi & New Asian in College Park is one we core city folk should be justifiably jealous of. They take their yakitori just as seriously as their takoyaki and, yeah, they got ramen. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Midici 7171 S. Orlando Ave, Maitland Neapolitan pizzas of the highest order lend Maitland’s pizza scene added cred. Midici ferments their dough in-house for 24 hours before they blister it out in 90 seconds at 900 degrees. Put a fork in these pizzas – they’re done, and done right. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Burger Barn 11787 International Drive, 407-726-9138 Burger Barn is the classic father-and-son duo with high quality ingredients and a family inspired environment. Fans of classic smash burgerss can meet their match with menu items such as the Mac Daddy and the Hangover Burger. Photo via Burger Barn/Yelp
Mia’s Italian Kitchen 8717 International Drive, 407-601-7130 Mia’s Italian Kitchen is rooted in family and tradition. Rustic Italian cooking is evident in every dish, including Egg Yolk Raviolo and Veal Milanese. Photo via Mia’s Italian Kitchen
Burntwood Tavern 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd., 407-776-9991 American cuisine is cooked to perfection at Burntwood Tavern. From firecracker shrimp to chicken diablo and bourbon lacquered pork, the menu can satisfy any meaty craving. Photo via Burntwood Tavern/Facebook
Earth Fare 9 W. Gore St., 407-241-2853 Earth Fare is a healthy supermarket offering food free of hormones, artificial fats, artificial sweeteners, artificial preservatives and more. Fresh and flavorful groceries are supplied as well as wellness recipes and meal plans to live a healthy and nutritious lifestyle. Photo via Earth Fare Downtown Orlando/Facebook Credit: Photo via Earth Fare Downtown Orlando/Facebook
FrutaMix Mexican Kitchen 15493 Stoneybrook West Parkway, Winter Garden, 407-614-1438 Authentic Mexican food is paired with fresh fruit, ice cream, smoothies and popsicles, an unlikely pairing that works surprisingly well. Tacos, quesadillas, fruit salads, milkshakes, juices and more can satisfy any craving. Photo via FrutaMix Mexican Kitchen/Facebook
Todo Sushi 1035 Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-951-8183 Todo Sushi is unlike other sushi restaurants in the Orlando area, focusing on all you can eat simple, fresh seafood. One of the most popular menu items is the Sashimi Platter with chef’s choice of fish, rice miso soup and salad. Photo via Todo Sushi/Facebook
Gyroville 10360 E. Colonial Drive, 407-930-7632 Become a part of the Fresh Club at Gyroville by indulging in gyro sandwiches and vegetables made right in front of you. Hot and ready in minutes, Gyroville offers multiple gyro and salad options complete with choice of fries or falafel and homemade sauces. Photo via Gyroville/Facebook
Papa Lozzi Italia 504 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-412-5416 Classic New York style Italian food is a centerpiece of this restaurant. With friendly staff, quick service and enormous dishes, your pasta cravings will be satisfied for days. Specialty dishes include sauteed veal in a lemon butter sauce with capers and asparagus, and Gnocchetti di patate alla sorrentina, potato-ricotta gnocchi in a fresh diced tomato sauce with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Photo via Papa Lozzi Italia/Facebook
Dalis Lao Thai Cafe 1181 Rinehart Road, Sanford, 321-363-3728 Laotian and Thai flavors mingle in summer rolls, curries, papaya salads and fresh meats. Large portions and friendly staff complete the restaurant with the help of homemade dipping sauces. Photo via Dalis Lao Thai Cafe/Facebook
Vera Asian 3579 Lake Emma Road, Lake Mary, 407-807-7183 If you are looking for simple food with bold tastes, then Vera Asian is the place to be. Using all natural ingredients and no additives, Vera Asian serves up sushi, rice bowls, soups and more. Photo via Vera Asian/Yelp
Volcano Hot Pot & BBQ 5877 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, 407-986-5559 Fresh Korean food is served buffet style as well as hot pots with choice of broth, meat and vegetables and sauces. Photo via Volcano Hot Pot & BBQ/Yelp
Signature India 11352 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-412-6606 If you’re looking for unlimited gorging on Indian food, look no further. Weekday and weekend lunch buffets offer unlimited options including daily specials such as Chicken Dum Biryani, Butter Chicken, Paneer Butter Masala and Goat Curry. Photo via Signature India/Facebook
Saltgrass Steak House 8850 Vineland Ave., 407-560-0440 Cattle-kitsch decor greets any customer walking into this Texas-themed restaurant. Barbecued baby back ribs, pork chops, burgers, seafood and more are offered on the menu as well as homemade beer bread served warm with honey butter. Photo via Saltgrass Steak House
The Pizza Press 16406 New Independence Parkway, Winter Garden The Pizza Press has a theme of 1920 American newspapers with a build-your-own-pie concept in an immersive environment. Try fan favorites like The Herald, The Times or The Chronicle, or “publish” your own pizza. Photo via The Pizza Press/Facebook
Los Reyes Mexican Grill 658 West Ave., Clermont, 352-432-5784 Friendly Mexican cuisine doesn’t get any better than at Los Reyes Mexican Grill. With $1 taco specials for Taco Tuesday and the addition of house margaritas, Los Reyes will be sure to fill any empty stomach. Photo via Los Reyes Mexican Grill/Yelp
Byblos Mediterranean Kitchen 1145 Townpark Ave., Lake Mary, 407-878-3236 Byblos Mediterranean Kitchen serves true Lebanese cuisine with quality being their top priority. Organic and locally grown ingredients make up delicious menu options from platters to sandwiches and desserts. Modern interior design and a hip atmosphere complete the restaurant. Photo via Byblos Mediterranean Kitchen/Yelp
Yeoman’s Cask & Lion 3220 Margaritaville Blvd., Kissimmee, 407-986-9367 Portraits of Queen Elizabeth, Bowie and Churchill decorate this English themed pub, making you feel like you stepped right out into the old country. Boldly claiming the best fish and chips in Florida, Yeoman’s also serves bottomless brunch and has specials for everyday of the week including live music and burger nights. Photo via Yeoman’s Cask & Lion/Facebook
Pig Stop BBQ Lechonera 9998 E. Colonial Drive, 407-249-0207 This Puerto Rican cafe serves mouth-watering platters with generous portions of rice, pork and side dishes. Desserts and a wide variety of juices are also offered. Photo via Pig Stop BBQ Lechonera/Facebook
Studio Movie Grill 3204 Margaritaville Blvd., Kissimmee, 321-333-4450 Movie theater meets dine-in restaurant with all the latest films and American style food and cocktails. Kick back and relax in plush comfy chairs while indulging in select menu items including chicken tenders and burgers and having them delivered right to your chair. Photo via Studio Movie Grill/Instagram
Chicken Salad Chick 946 W. Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, 407-792-2111 Like any other food, chicken salad tastes better homemade and that is exactly how Chicken Salad Chick created their family business. With more than 10 types of chicken salad, ranging from sweet to savory, any customer is sure to find their perfect match. Photo via Chicken Salad Chick/Facebook
Pizza 1905 3717 Lake Emma Road, Lake Mary, 407-744-9044 Pizza 1905 tells the story of pizza’s debut in the United States in 1905 through New York style family food and service. With unique pies like Lasagna Pizza and Everythin’ But The Kitchen Sink Pizza, customers’ bellies will surely be satisfied. Photo via Pizza 1905/Yelp