So far this year, the City Beautiful is staring down some big flavors and new players in the foodie scene: We’ve got Thai seafood, sandwiches with a cult following, Indian-inspired cocktails, LGBTQ+ hubs and plenty more to try. And we’re only halfway through the year. Chew on that.

Here are the 26 hottest new eateries and drinking spots in Orlando. 

Sparrow 807 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Sparrow, a 1,978-square-foot wine bar and lounge, will be located about 100 feet away from Reyes Mezcaleria and will present a focused menu drawing on executive chef/partner Wendy Lopez’s heritage (her great grandfather, “Papa Chema,” was Spanish). But flavors and techniques from Portugal, Italy and France will also pepper the bill of fare with continental classics like tortilla Española, patatas bravas, jamón ibérico and conservas served alongside bacalhau croquetas, cacio e pepe and prawn de bourgogne. Credit: Photo via Sparrow/Instagram
Talay 861 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Talay, offering seafood-leaning Thai fare from the folks behind Isan Zaap, opened this year in NoDo. The restaurant is partial to the bounties of the deep — “I want to showcase the flavors of Thailand through seafood,” said chef-owner Fin Patsawee in our review of the space. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
Asin 1420 Alden Road, Orlando Currently open with a small bites menu and a full menu coming soon, Asin (Tagalog for “salt”) is serving dishes like fried peanuts with garlic and chili flakes, deviled eggs with longanisa (pork sausage) and chicharron, Filipino ceviche, stir-fry beef and more for now. The Filipino-inspired chef’s tasting counter is the newest concept from chef DJ Tangalin, located inside aperitif and wine bar Arden. Credit: Photo via Asin/Instagram
Beignets & Brews 885 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Beignets & Brews has opened its North Quarter location in the old Downtown Credo space, joining the Hunter’s Creek beignet-erie as the second of two area locations. A blizzard of sugar is snowed onto their fresh-fried fritters. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
Tamale Co. Modern Kitchen & Bar 2401 Edgewater Drive, Orlando The 2,935-square-foot cantina Tamale Co. Modern Mexican Kitchen & Bar comes from Tamale Co.’s Fernando and Jennifer Tamayo, and has taken over the former space of Matt Hinckley’s now-shuttered Mid Drive Dive. The Tamayos have been serving their stellar tamales, tacos and street fare from the Tamale Co. inside the Hourglass Market for nearly six years, as well as from their Tamale Co. food truck since 2012. Credit: Courtesy photo
Pom Pom’s Sandwiches 212 W. First St., Sanford A reimagined and relocated Pom Pom’s Sandwiches is now open inside Henry’s Depot in Sanford offering many of the old menu’s mainstays, like the Fu Manchu with Asian pulled pork and ginger-cranberry chutney and the Big Daddy with turkey, ham and roast beef. Credit: Photo via @pompomsandwich/Instagram
Outpost Neighborhood Tavern 227 N. Eola Drive, Orlando The Outpost is now open in the former Persimmon Hollow Brewing space near Lake Eola. The neighborhood tavern by former Island Time owner Devon Tillman and OUT Sports League creator John Teixeria promises to be a “fabulous place for dining, drinks, drag and sports.” Credit: Photo by McKenna Schueler
Arden 1420 Alden Road, Orlando Arden, an apéritif and wine bar across from City Food Hall, has opened in Ivanhoe Village. In addition to organic, sustainable and natural/biodynamic wines, cocktails are also offered. Filipino-inspired bites come courtesy of DJ Tangalin’s Asin tasting counter (see above). Credit: Photo via Arden/Instagram
Black 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/Facebook
Nuri’s Tavern 63 E. Pine St., Orlando Nuri’s Tavern is now open in the ground-floor space that previously hosted the Robinson Room. It’s serving tavern-style pizza and is overseen by Team Market Group executive chefs Nick Grecco and Jason Campbell. Credit: Photo via Nuri's Tavern/Facebook
Baku 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 Bar
The 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
Luminescent 12286 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando The Indian-influenced high-end coffee and cocktail bar Luminescent is now open and aiming to distinguish itself with an interior featuring an ever-changing lighting scheme and plenty to sip on. Credit: Image via Google Maps
Nabe 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/Instagram
Chayhana 851 W. State Road 436, Altamonte Springs Chayhana Restaurant, touting the “world’s finest plov,” has opened 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 Lehman
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 Maps
Leiah 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/Facebook
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza 10 Alexandria Blvd., Oviedo Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza opened its third area location in March, this one in Oviedo. 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/Instagram
Burrow 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, Instagram
Luca 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 Maps
Zen 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 Maps
The 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 Maps
June 700 E. Washington St., Orlando June, the contemporary Mexican kitchen specializing in wood-fired eats of the Yucatán with Asian flourishes, is now open in Thornton Park. The former Graffiti Junktion space has been given an extreme makeover courtesy of Team Market Group, who own and operate the restaurant. Credit: Photo via JuneinOrlando/Instagram
The Yardery 231 N. Baker St., Mount Dora The Yardery, a 5,400-square-foot family-friendly restaurant, opened in March in Mount Dora. It features 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
The Chapman & Chase Lounge 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
El Coqui Ninja Restaurant 3097 Curry Ford Road, Orlando El Coqui Ninja Restaurant has opened in the old Black Rooster Taqueria space along Curry Ford Road, presenting a Puerto Rican/pan-Asian mashup of eats, from corned beef eggrolls with sweet plantain to kung pao chicken mofongo. Credit: Photo via El Coqui Ninja Restaurant/Facebook
Credit: Photo via JuneinOrlando/Instagram

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