The sun is shining, the A/C is on, and there’s way too many new restaurants to eat your way through in Orlando right now. We’re just about halfway through 2026, which means it’s time to look back on the biggest culinary accomplishments the city’s seen so far this year.
Here’s all the new steakhouses, noodle spots, Internet-famous bagels and cult-followed coffee shops we’re hungry for around town.
957 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
The buzz was real — and now so are the hand rolls. A new location of Sushi Saint, the handroll bar and sushi lounge from Michelin-recognized chef Michael Collantes, is now officially open in Winter Park. What started as a downtown Orlando favorite with a loyal following for inventive temaki and creative bites has expanded into Winter Park, giving locals a new reason to trade in routine dinners for something a little more roll-the-dice delicious. Credit: Sushi Saint/Google Maps
1110 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
After a series of pop-ups and trial runs inside Mills Market, Cowboy Curry, the Japanese beef curry house by Sorekara chef William Shen, is now open. The spot specializes in scratch-made Japanese curry. Credit: via Mills Market
1040 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park
The Danish coffee chain opens its first area location in the old Doshi space with a menu filled with fresh juices, smoothies, shakes, sandwiches, breakfast bowls and pastries. Oh yeah, and coffee. Credit: Joe and the Juice/Instagram
2529 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
This shop opens June 13 next door to The Doghouse at 2529 Edgewater Drive in College Park. They will, of course, specialize in those viral Swedish confections balancing sweet, salty and sour flavors. Credit: Shutterstock
11815 Glass House Lane, Orlando
The kappo-style restaurant fusing “Japanese craftsmanship with Taiwanese soul” by Norigami chef David Tsan also has former Hanamizuki chef-owner Toshi Kishimoto taking charge of the cooked items. Guests can opt from tasting-menu offerings or à la carte selections. Former Soseki and Bar Kada beverage director Benjamin Coutts oversee the wine and sake program. Credit: courtesy of Kappo Tsan
11565 University Blvd., Orlando
Knights Curry Express, an all-halal, build-your-own curry bowl joint, has moved into the old Hummus House space in the University Plaza. Credit: Knights Curry Express/Instagram
231 W. Grant St., Orlando
Orlando has a bougie new pickleball and social club concept in SoDo. Hamlin House, owned by the DeVos family, is a 28,000-square-foot facility with three indoor courts and four outdoor courts (two covered and two not), in addition to a family room, full-service restaurant, café and outdoor patio. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner, plus the cafe will serve all-day bites, smoothies and coffee. Credit: Hamlin House
27 E. Robinson St., Orlando
Eric Jiang, the man behind omakase house Sushi Izuki, debuts his newest concept, Jiang’s Kitchen in downtown, which will be followed by another location in the old Pho 813 space at 4724 Millenia Plaza Way in October. While both the downtown and Millenia locations will specialize in soup dumplings and sushi, the Jiang’s Kitchen he’ll open in Mills 50 will serve hand-ripped biang biang noodles as well as hand-pulled noodles.
5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
After first teasing a new Kissimmee location more than a year ago, Hamburger Mary’s has been revived Kissimmee’s Old Town District. The storied LGBTQ-owned restaurant — unafraid to challenge a repressive state government — closed its longtime location in downtown Orlando in May 2024. The restaurant, known for its popular drag brunches, has opened at the former Shoney’s Restaurant space located in Old Town, just off U.S. 192. The space has a seating capacity of up to 249 with “plenty of room for large groups.” Credit: Hamburger Mary's Kissimmee/Facebook
5062 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Chuanlu Garden Clay Pot Kitchen has opened in the old Chili Star space at 5062 W. Colonial Drive. The restaurant is by Leon Liu, the original owner of Chuan Lu Garden in Mills 50.
646 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park
Cult-followed bagel chain PopUp Bagels has found a new home in Central Florida, right around the corner in Winter Park. Touting the mantra “not famous but known,” the Connecticut-based concept began as a humble locals-only project that has launched into a Northeastern metropolitan icon. PopUp Bagels serves its bagels whole, not sliced, and offers a rotating cast of cream cheese flavors for dipping, not spreading. Credit: via PopUp Bagels
749 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando
Chicago chain Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar has opened an Orlando location at 749 N. Alafaya Trail. The festive restaurant specializes in scratch-made tacos, fajitas and a three-pound “El Patron Gordo” burrito. Credit: Fat Rosie's Taco and Tequila Bar/Facebook
8133 Vineland Ave., Orlando
Shoppers at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets craving a more substantial and satisfying food option can cross the street and indulge in the sizzling sustenance of shish, adana and iskender kebabs. Cheesy kunefe is never a bad idea. Credit: antalyaorlando.com
4797 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
It’s not just about scratch-made breads, baked goods and pastries at this popular Kissimmee bakery, but also a savory bill of fare of Filipino American delights including longanitsa loaded fries, Philly bistek sandwiches, sinigang popcorn chicken and loco moco. A full café menu features ube and pandan lattes as well as soft-serve ice cream. This is the fourth location in the country, with others in Texas (Houston and Sugar Land) and Jacksonville. Credit: Baker's Son/Facebook
8050 International Drive, Orlando
The Miami-based Argentinean steakhouse from the same folks who run Corazon by Baires brings smoky grilled meats, house-made empanadas, crispy milanesas argentinas and an extensive wine list spotlighting Mendoza, Salta and Patagonia wine regions to the former Mooyah space inside the Hollywood Plaza Garage. Baires Grill also happens to be the official restaurant of the Argentine Football Association. Credit: Baires Grill/Google Maps
015 State Road 436, Casselberry
Delightful Turkish delights including vibrant Turkish breakfast plates, soups, pide, borek, bagels, fresh-baked breads and lahmacun greet guests to this charming Casselberry eatery. Warm carrot baklava filled with ice cream? Yes, please. Credit: Cafe De Wan/Instagram
124 Ruby Red Place, Winter Garden
Simply Capri owner (and former Patina Restaurant Group CEO) Nick Valenti veers away from the comforts of Italian fare and dabble in cheffy bar-and-grill and steak-forward cuisine with this new concept situated directly across from Simply Capri at Flamingo Crossings. Credit: Google Maps
2610 S. Ferncreek Ave., Orlando
Dishes like ackee & saltfish, curry goat roti and jerk chicken cooked to order are all here. This is the third FOJ location in the region, to go along with outposts in Kissimmee and Ocoee. Credit: Google Maps
110 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland
Who knew plant-based, New Zealand-style ice cream (that’s vanilla ice cream blended with real fruit in a specialty machine to produce an airy, velvety soft-serve) could be so popular in Maitland? But here we are. The parlor has taken over the space previously occupied by Melt Brownie and Sourdough Bread House. Credit: Fragaria/Facebook
550 Towne Center Circle, Sanford
From the folks who brought us F&D Prime, F&D Cantina and F&D Woodfired Italian Kitchen comes this new venture inspired by classic coastal fish camps. Expect fresh, approachable seafood dishes, to served out of the old Hooters building near the Seminole Towne Center in Sanford. Credit: Hooked Fish Camp/Facebook
11701 International Drive, Orlando
Modern takes on Cantonese fare greets guests to this tourist-sector hot spot where hand-crafted dim sum, wok-fired staples and Chinese barbecue are the stars. The concept from the owners of Twenty Pho Hour has Kai Kai BBQ founders Jerry and Jackie Lau helping out in the kitchen, so naturally the char siu pork, roast duck and beef ho fun rule. Craft cocktails and mocktails are also offered inside the fetching space.
Credit: Moon Wok/Facebook
201 E. Pine St., Orlando
Chef Leroy Bautista closed his popular Longwood eatery in late 2024, but Longwood’s loss is downtown’s gain. Bautista now presents a menu of eclectic, farm-to-table breakfast and lunch fare from the old Daily News Deli & Grille space overlooking Lake Eola. Specialty small-batch preserves as well as a host of artisanal goodies are also available for sale. Credit: Nic & Luc/Facebook
3231 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Nazih Sebaali, the man behind Grazie Modern Italian Kitchen in Audubon Park and Meza Mediterranean Grill in Baldwin Park, stays in his Med wheelhouse with the opening of this Greek concept taking over The Local Bar & Grill space in College Park. Credit: Google Maps
67 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando
From a chef-owner with 28 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, this intimate, eight-seat omakase experience is focused on seasonal Japanese fish and premium ingredients. High-quality sushi rice seasoned with traditional dark red vinegar and served with house-made soy sauce is used to highlight “depth, balance and authenticity” of flavor. In addition to the omakase experience, Q will also offer a curated five-course option featuring traditional Japanese dishes as well as sushi.
3333 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
This family-run operation from Bill Spradlin and wife Viradee Pissara serves its street-style Siamese dishes out of the old Dragon King space in SoDo. Their son, Alex, who worked as a sous chef at Isan Zaap and Lim Ros, handles the stir-fry operations while Viradee handles everything else, which includes a tom yum noodle soup (“the star dish”) and homemade Thai sausage.
901 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland
The striking and Instagram-friendly room in the former Teak Neighborhood Grill serves a blend of Mexican, Latin American and Asian flavors, from hamachi leche de tigre sushi rolls to picanha tacos served on tortillas rojas. The open space features numerous nooks as well as a cocktail bar, sushi bar and “El Patio Rosa” outside. Tuesdays feature AYCE tacos and sushi for $25. Credit: Google Maps
7533 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando
The old Vines Grille & Wine Bar in Dr. Phillips has been fully renovated and is now under the direction of The H Hospitality Group, the team behind Turkish steakhouse The H Orlando. The menu features everything from flatbreads to ceviches to scratch-made pastas, but prime steaks and seafood are still the focus. Credit: Vines by H/Facebook
1215 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
The Palestinian food truck operation has opened a booth in the back patio of Digress Wine offering the same Arabic coffee beverages, tea and baked goods. Even better, the owners will also debut Mashawi, a food truck specializing in Palestinian American street eats including shawarma, falafel and smashburgers with a twist, in Digress Wine’s parking lot.
9101 International Drive, Orlando
The concept from Tampa-based Majestic Restaurant Group started as a stall inside Armature Works, but has opened in a large space at Pointe Orlando and serve “culinary masterpieces” from their “artist” chefs. Think “masterpiece” rolls, tempura-fried seafood and veg, and wok-fired noodles and entrees. Cocktails are also offered.