Orlando is barreling into the new year, having gone through plenty of change in 2023. We’ve lost some big eateries and bars — The Coop, Le Coq Au Vin and Linda’s Winter Park Diner, to name a few — but that didn’t stop plenty of exciting new ventures from making their way to town.
Orlando welcomed new destinations for Sichuan cuisine, smokehouse meats, Taiwanese baked goods and more. Here are 25 of the hottest new restaurants to call Orlando home in 2023.
1035 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park Chuan Fu is a Sichuan restaurant by the owners of Chuan Lu Garden and U and Me Revolving Hot Pot in Winter Park. Its menue is mostly mala-coded — the fiery, numb-spicy Sichuan specialty — but fine dishes of the not-hot variety are available too. Credit: Chuan ZengForeigner Restaurant
2816 Corrine Drive, Orlando
From the culinary mind of Bruno Fonseca, Foreigner Restaurant invites guests to explore flavors in its elegant and welcoming atmosphere. The concept is a multi-course chef’s table that aims to serve only the freshest local products on its monthly curated menu. Credit: Photo via Foreigner/FacebookSmoke & Donuts BBQ
601 N. Primrose Drive, Orlando
Known for its low-and-slow smokehouse meats and over-the-top donuts, Smoke & Donuts has consistently won the hearts of Orlandoans with its photo-worthy creations (you don’t see doughnuts topped with smoked meat everyday). Now, the concept’s new location has a ramped-up menu with new additions cooked in one of the largest smokers you can find in Orlando. There’s a full bar serving up specialty cocktails, too. Credit: Photo via Smoke + Donuts/FacebookPark Avenue Tavern
558 W. New England Ave., Winter Park
The old Dexter’s space in Hannibal Square got a much-needed refresh when this Manhattan import moved in and decked the space out in a decent amount of leather. Like the Murray Hill original, expect tavern classics like steak frites, burgers and pastrami reubens. Credit: Photo via Park Avenue Tavern/InstagramSoDough Square
223 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
SoDough Square has officially opened a second location in Winter Park. This new location brings the resto’s signature take on Detroit-style pizza to the Park, as well as a few extras that can only be found there, including capicola and hot honey added to the list of possible toppings. Credit: Photo via SoDough Square/FacebookKavas Tacos + Tequila
9101 International Drive, Orlando
Kavas Tacos + Tequila is the latest venture by the team behind International Drive restaurants Taverna Opa and Tapa Toro (formerly owned). Between their Mexican and Tex-Mex offerings, the kitchen at Kavas handles both sides of the border with equal assurance. Credit: Photo via Kavas Tacos + Tequila/Instagram
4962 New Broad St., Orlando One Michelin star Handed a Michelin star after opening just last year, Camille is now a Baldwin Park staple. The real draw at this spot is chef Tung Phan’s creative and unconventional spins on Vietnamese dishes, all punctuated with classical French flourishes — dishes like Vietnamese coffee-crusted wagyu with potato pâvé; espuma of pho; and green papaya with salmon and nước chấm. Credit: Photo by Rob BartlettChayote Barrio Kitchen
480 Orlando Ave., Winter Park
This contemporary restaurant, conceptualized by renowned Puerto Rico-based chef, Mario Pagan, offers elegant and bold interpretations of Latin-forward cuisine under the Nueva Mesa Latina, or “New Latin Table,” banner. Credit: Photo via Chayote/FacebookMares Peruvian Cuisine
528 S. Park Ave., Winter Park
Mares offers Peruvian specialties in Winter Park, with dishes like colorful ceviche, causa and seafood specialties, plus chicha and cocktails. Credit: Photo via Mares Peruvian Cuisine/InstagramMaya Cafe Lounge and Gallery
1980 Howell Branch Road, Winter Park
You won’t find a flat-top, a hood or deep fryers here, but you will find a chunky eggplant dip ($14.95) blended with olives and dill and flecked with pomegranate and sesame seeds that’ll leave you blowing chef’s kisses to your mates. “It’s definitely one of our most loved dishes,” our server told us. Bites of prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella ($18) served on a cheese board and drizzled with honey, seemed hastily put together, but we tried to see the creations as “organic” in form and the missing filling of nuts a “culinary improvisation.” Credit: photo by Rob BartlettBakery 1908
2021 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
John Zhao, the restaurateur behind YH Seafood Clubhouse, established Bakery 1908 this fall, offering a rotating selection of dim sum items, coffee and boba. Zhao has partnered with the owner of a Taiwanese bakery that’s been in business since 1908, thus the name. And with a century-long pedigree, you can bet their cakes, sweets and honey fragrance (mi xiang) teas will draw a lot of interest. Credit: Photo via Bakery 1908/InstagramDanilo’s Pasta & Noodle Bar
3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando
Expect a range of classic hand-made pasta dishes at Danilo’s Pasta & Noodle bar. The noodle creations are influenced by both classic Italian cuisine and the vibrant street food culture of Asia. Credit: Photo by Rob BartlettSanshi Noodle House
5600 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Sanshi Noodle House is the first restaurant in town to specialize in this most Yunnanese of foods, presenting a variety of broths into which proteins, rice noodles and veggies are dunked. There are 18 different noodle soups offered here, but two are spotlighted on Sanshi’s menu — the fish maw chicken soup ($16.99) and the spicy beef ($16.99) — so we got them both. Credit: photo by Rob BartlettThe Dough Show
12140 Collegiate Way, Orlando
Hamam works, stretches and pounds the gossamer-thin dough before theatrically twirling the pastry disc around his head. And then, like all shows, this dough show must go on: It’s slammed back onto the quartz counter, given a few open-handed slaps, then filled with toppings like house-brined and cured pastrami with Kiri cheese — the Middle East’s answer to Laughing Cow. Hamam folds and crimps the pastry, inverts it, and places this so-called “Oriental” pie (hey, that’s what it says on the menu) into a 600-degree oven for a few minutes until baked through. No matter the filling, be it mozzarella ($12.99), house-made sausage ($14.99), salami ($14.99) or mixed shawarma ($16.99), the result is magnificent. Credit: photo by Rob BartlettZaru
1114 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Zaru’s intimate and striking 25-seat dining room features udon noodles made from Japanese flour sourced from Kagawa Prefecture, the birthplace of udon, and offered in both hot and cold options, with and without broths, along with freshly fried tempura and a host of add-ons for a custom-built bowl. Credit: photo by Rob BartlettSushi Saint
400 Pittman St., Orlando
A temaki bar and lounge by Michelin-starred chef Mike Collantes, Sushi Saint brings hand roll sushi to downtown Orlando, wrapped in an elegant atmosphere. Credit: Photo via SushiSaint.com
1241 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando “This is maybe my fourth or fifth time at The Moderne, and I have yet to be disappointed. The ambiance is perfect, the music is always on point, and it’s just a great spot for date night or a girls’ night out. And every server I’ve had has been nice and welcoming.” — Jasmine J. Credit: Photo via Moderne/FacebookShipley Do-Nuts
2255 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando
The venerable, Texas-born chain opened its first Orlando location this year. Shipley Do-Nuts Orlando offers its signature plain glazed, filled, iced and cake donuts, along with cinnamon rolls, bear claws, fritters, kolaches, coffee and more. Credit: Photo via Shipley Do-Nuts/InstagramPisco Peruvian Gastrobar
9344 Narcoossee Road, Orlando
Try some traditional Peruvian dishes and refreshing Pisco cocktails at this newly opened restaurant and let the delightful flavors transport you to the heart of Peru. Credit: Photo by Rob BartlettFluffy Fluffy
2008 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando
Fluffy Fluffy, or Fuwa Fuwa in Japanese, is Orlando’s latest home of the souffle pancake. The Orlando outpost is the first in the nation, where you can also find croffles (croissant waffles), macarons and sorbets. Credit: photo by Rob Bartlett
2304 E. Robinson St., Orlando Otto’s High Dive is no sleepy watering hole. It’s a “neighborhood rum bar,” alive with the din of tipplers who gather amid an understatedly lush, design-forward space to down daiquiris, mojitos and Cuba libres — and excellent Cuban fare. Credit: photo by Rob BartlettKungFu Kitchen
8466 Palm Parkway, Orlando
Soup dumplings and hand-cut noodles by NYC chef Peter Song are the star of the show at KungFu Kitchen, which opened its Orlando outpost near Disney World earlier this year. Credit: Photo by Faiyaz KaraNorman’s
7924 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando
After a three-year hiatus and a 16-year run at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes, Norman Van Aken’s legendary eating house Norman’s made a triumphant return in the Dr. Phillips area earlier this year. The menu’s Latin-Caribbean DNA is still intact, but flavors from Japan and Southeast Asia expand on Van Aken’s “New World” view. Credit: Photo via Norman's/FacebookPrimrose Lanes
400 N. Primrose Drive, Orlando
It may be the only restaurant on this list that doubles as a bowling alley-turned-hang out spot, but Primrose Lanes definitely got the people talking this year. With a few pricey dishes ($15 for a hotdog) and a new look, this spot earned itself quite the buzz. Credit: Photo by Rob BartlettCapital Room
102 E. First St., Sanford
With an array of craft cocktails, savory tapas and delicious sweets, this chill lounge has something unique to add to every savory meal. Choose an exquisite cocktail, fine wine or craft beer from their menu. Credit:Photo via The Capital Room Bar/Facebook
