We’re just months into 2025, and Orlando and its surrounding neighborhoods have already been graced with plenty of new flavors and drinking spots. We’re looking at new eateries across town, including Latin cafes, Japanese wagyu houses, pizza taverns, French bakeries and more.
Here are the 23 hottest new restaurants and bars to open in Orlando so far in 2025.
Gyukatsu Rose
3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando
Gyukatsu Rose, now open in East End Market, is the latest concept from Domu founder Sonny Nguyen, serving gyukatsu, or Japanese fried beef cutlets. Wagyu is typically used, which is seasoned, coated in breadcrumbs, and given a quick fry before being sliced rare and served alongside a mini stone grill for diners to sear to their liking. Credit: Photo via Google MapsFernando and Jennifer Tamayo Credit: Courtesy photoNabe
7988 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando
Lewis Lin, along with investor partners Khoa Nguyen and Keren Swanson, opened this 100-seater specializing in wagyu shabu-shabu next door to Peperoncino in the Dellagio Town Center. In addition to slices of highly marbled Japanese beef and umami-rich broth, Nabe offers premium seafood as well as cocktails and a sake program. Pop by Nola’s Ice Cream, situated in the same space, on your way out. Credit: Photo via Nabe/InstagramBlack Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro
761 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park
Black Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro, a Latin-ish concept by Univision personality Jose “El Negro” Figueroa, now serves cheffy breakfast, lunch and early dinner fare as well as weekend brunch. Ángel Serrano, a fixture in Puerto Rico’s food landscape, oversees the menu. Credit: Photo via Black Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro/FacebookNuri’s Tavern
63 E. Pine St., Orlando
“‘Nuri’s is like modern Pizza Hut for millennials and I’m in love,’ says my friend and fellow food writer Adam Erace, and he’s spot-on. Only the pies hearken back to the pre-personal-pan-pizza era, when the Hut’s hand-tossed, thin-crust wonders ruled the land. And the tavern-style pies devised by Team Market Group chef-scientists Jason Campbell and Nick Grecco are instant classics.” Read the full review. Credit: Photo via Nuri's Tavern/FacebookBaku Asian Fusion Bar
8204 Crystal Clear Lane, Orlando
Doral-based Baku Asian Fusion Bar has opened in the old New Orleans Kitchen & Oyster Bar space at 8204 Crystal Clear Lane near the Florida Mall. The restaurant presents a menu fusing Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Korean flavors and offers a full bar. Credit: Photo via Baku Asian Fusion BarThe Rev
728 Virginia Drive, Orlando
Asian seafood restaurant The Rev is now open in the former home of Orlando Meats. It’s the latest project from Jason Dugan, the owner of Santiago’s Bodega, and offers eats ranging from steaming bowls of ramen to fresh oysters. Credit: Photo via @therevorlando/Instagram
204 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford If you’ve sunk your teeth into Jimmy Nguyen’s and Chau Vo’s KFC bao with gochujang, nori, scallions and a creamy slaw, you’ll likely make a beeline to Sanford when they open their baoery in the old Moon’s Subs space. BTW: Their bao are handmade in small batches using all-natural ingredients free of preservatives. Credit: Photo via Hot Asian Buns/FacebookLeiah
409 N. Magnolia Ave., Orlando
Leiah Restaurant, the downtown boîte on the ground floor of the Hilton Garden Inn fronted by chef Omar Torres, opened in March. The restaurant is billed as a “chef driven home-style kitchen that makes perfect symphony with the most luxurious elements of land and sea.” Credit: Photo via Leiah/FacebookChef William Shen Credit: photo by Faiyaz Kara
1412 Alden Road, Orlando The French brasserie is now open and is a collaborative project by chefs Michael Collantes (Soseki, Bar Kada, Sushi Saint) and DJ Tangalin (Danilo’s Pasta Bar), with a menu that features a raw seafood bar and a selection of entrees from land and sea, including locally sourced fish. Credit: Photo via Chez Les CopainsArden, across from the soon-to-open City Food Hall, offers biodynamic wines, low-ABV cocktails and a food menu from Red Panda Noodle’s Eliot Hillis and Seth Parker Credit: photo courtesy Arden/InstagramZen 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 MapsMister O1 Extraordinary Pizza
10 Alexandria Blvd., Oviedo
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza will open its third area location March 4, this one at 10 Alexandria Blvd. The Michelin Guide-recommended pizzeria from South Florida opened its first Central Florida location on International Parkway, and offers expansive pizza options, salads and a burrata bar. Credit: Image via Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza/InstagramThe Yardery
231 N. Baker St., Mount Dora
The Yardery, a 5,400-square-foot family-friendly restaurant, opens March 1 at 221 N. Baker St. in Mount Dora. It will feature the only rooftop bar in Lake County, along with 11,000 square feet of yard and patio space for games and activities. Credit: Photo via The Yardery Mount Dora/Facebook
861 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Talay, offering seafood-leaning Thai fare, from the folks behind Isan Zaap, is now open in NoDo. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
500 S. Park Ave., Winter Park The Chapman and the Chase Lounge aim to 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 presents 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: Photo via Chapman Restaurant/Facebook
851 W. State Road 436, Altamonte Springs Chayhana Restaurant, touting the “world’s finest plov,” has opened in the old Rico’s Mexican Restaurant & Latin Food space in Altamonte Springs. Chayhana serves Uzbek-style plov, a rice pilaf similar to Indian pulao, as well as manti (dumplings), shashlik (kebabs) and lagman (noodles). Credit: photo by Matt Keller LehmanBurrow 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, InstagramLuca Turci Italian Restaurant
153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park
Luca Turci Italian Restaurant, from Turci Pasta and Turci Panino owner Vinicius Turci, has replaced Braccia Ristorante on Morse Boulevard in Winter Park. It comes from the team behind Turci Pasta in College Park, likely all part of Turci’s aggressive growth plan, which also includes Turci Panini and Turci Osteria Italiana (slated to open mid-2025 at Maitland City Centre). Credit: Photo via Google MapsThe Packwoods
360 E. Horatio Ave., Maitland
The Packwoods, a striking craft cocktail bar from Thriving Hospitality (Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen, Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery) is now open at Maitland Social, joining Wave Asian Bistro, Pizza Bruno and Foxtail Coffee inside the Horatio Avenue gastrohub. The 1,400-square-foot space focuses only on cocktails; food isn’t served. Credit: Photo via Google MapsEl Coqui Ninja Restaurant
3097 Curry Ford Road, Orlando
“Our very late lunch (OK, it was linner) was hardly naked, but rather fully dressed — to the nines, in the case of the kung pao chicken mofongo ($17). The mash was served in a large pilón, the wood mortar in which fried green plantains are mixed with chicharrónes and garlic before being crushed. The accompanying pestle appeared on the plate, for show only (or perhaps as a tool to convince insistent Dominicans of the superiority of Borinqueño mofongo).” Read the full review. Credit: Photo via El Coqui Ninja Restaurant/FacebookJ’adore the French Bakery
910 Sand Lake Road, Altamonte Springs
“Dumoulin’s freezer is stocked with sheets of Isigny Sainte Mère French butter, while the back of the kitchen is stacked with large bags of Bagatelle T45 pastry and bread flour, also from France. The latter is used to make J’adore’s French baguettes, which are then sliced and stuffed to make superb handhelds. Whether it’s the ‘Le Pâté’ ($11.50), with its slabs of country forcemeat ($11.50) punched up with cornichons and black pepper, or the aforementioned Paris-Brie with French butter, French ham and, oui, French brie, there are no wrong choices here.” Read the full review. Credit: Photo by Matt Keller Lehman
