As 2024 nears its end, we can’t help but look back on all the tastiest accomplishments the city has seen this year. It’s been a tumultuous 12 months in Orlando’s restaurant realm, with classic spots shutting down and major changes around every corner. But we have new horizons and new restaurants to look forward to, including rooftop Mexican, intimate omakase, Texas-style barbecue, over-the-top pizza and much more.

Here are 30 of the hottest new restaurants that opened in Orlando this year. 

Ceiba

1500 Eastbeach Way, Orlando
A love letter to Mexican cuisine, Ceiba is now serving modern takes on authentic Mexican flavors in — or rather, atop — Orlando. Located on the Conrad Orlando’s seventh-floor rooftop, Ceiba is led by chef Stephen Ullrich and aims to reflect a “contemporary expression of Mexican cooking and pays homage to curated ingredients that tell the story of the country’s treasured dishes and artisan purveyors.” Credit: Photo via Ceiba at Conrad Orlando/Facebook
Bar Kada 957 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park Bar Kada, the 30-seat concept from Soseki’s Michael Collantes, lives next door to his Michelin-starred omakase house offering a selection of ancestral-method sakes, low-touch wines curated by sommelier Benjamin Coutts, and seasonal small plates utilizing local ingredients conceived by chef de cuisine Mike Vang. Credit: Photo via Bar Kada/Facebook

The Drake Kitchen and Bar

361 N. Rosalind Ave., Orlando
The couple behind the popular Duck & Drake Kitchen food truck, Heberto and Rona Segura, have embarked on a new culinary endeavor in a more permanent locale. The Drake’s diners can enjoy a diverse and seasonal menu with internationally inspired dishes and local ingredients. Credit: Photo via The Drake/Facebook

Sorekara

4979 New Broad St., Orlando
Japanese restaurant Sorekara, from chef William Shen and restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung, was built around the philosophy of sorekara (Japanese for “and then”) and appreciating each unique moment of life. Credit: photo courtesy of William Shen

Lazy Moon Pizza Maitland

441 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland
Lazy Moon Pizza’s third location, to complement Lazy Moon’s’s downtown and UCF pizzerias, is now serving its humongous slices in the old Einstein Bagels building in Maitland. It also features a sizable outdoor patio. Credit: Image via Lazy Moon Pizza/Facebook

Ômo by Jônt

115 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park
Ômo by Jônt takes guests on a journey into cuisine from around the world featuring Japanese fare in an interactive atmosphere. With room for up to 16 guests at a time, the eatery ushers guests through three separate rooms, where they can feast on 18 to 22 courses of refined French-Japanese creations. The Living Room is where guests can snack on a “barrage of canapés.” Then they’re led to the Savory Counter for the brunt of the meal, finishing in the Pastry Parlor. Credit: Photo via Ômo by Jônt/Facebook

Smokemade Meats and Eats

1400 S. Crystal Lake Drive, Orlando
The stellar pop-up run by Tyler Brunache brings Central Texas-style barbecue to the old Italian House Restaurant space. His brisket might be one of the best in the city, but other items like cheddar-jalapeño sausage, ribs, smoked turkey and bangin’ sides and desserts will set barbecue fiends afire. Credit: Photo via Smokemade Meats and Eats/Facebook

Wave Asian Bistro Maitland

360 E. Horatio Ave., Maitland
“When I heard they opened a second location in Maitland I knew I needed to go try them out. This place has been on my ‘to-eat’ list for so long and I’m very happy I got to try the sushi burger or specifically the ‘SOFLOFOOODIE Burger,’ which has large slices of salmon covered in krab salad and seaweed salad in between two ginormous rice ‘buns’ coated in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Sounds like a dream and it sure looked like one. The salmon was fresh and the other ingredients complemented each bite. I was hoping for more heat from the flamin’ hot Cheeto rice buns but I couldn’t taste much of those delicious chips unfortunately. Otherwise this would’ve been a solid sushi burger.” — Kevin P. Credit: Image via Google Maps
Fatburger 1713 Future Way, Celebration Loved by West Coast pop culture icons and fast foodies alike, Los Angeles-based eatery Fatburger made its Orlando debut earlier this year. Predominantly located on the West Coast, Fatburger is known for its classic burgers, chili cheese dogs and loving lyrical mentions from icons like Ice Cube, Notorious B.I.G. and the Beastie Boys. Credit: Photo via Fatburger/Google Maps
Oh Hey Cafe 1325 Lee Road, Orlando Open House, a neighborhood social hall, and Oh Hey Cafe, a family-friendly café with expansive indoor and outdoor seating serving Lineage Coffee and pastries, have opened at 1325 Lee Road. Credit: image via Open House on Instagram

Mid Drive Dive

2401 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Mid Drive Dive is described as a midcentury-inspired restaurant and bar serving American classics. The concept comes from the longtime tenants at East End Market Matt Hinckley (Hinckley’s Fancy Meats) and Jacob Zepf (The Neighbors, Freehand Goods). The menu features American classic snacks, salads, sandwiches and mains. At the bar, guests can dive into simple yet crafty cocktails, plus staple beers and wines. Credit: Photo via Mid Drive Dive/Facebook
Raising Cane’s 100 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park The Louisiana-style chicken finger purveyor earlier this year announced it will open its first three Central Florida locations in 2024. Raising Cane’s opened its first Orlando location last November not far from Walt Disney World. Now, we finally have the newest spot serving up fried chicken goodness in Winter Park. Credit: Photo via Raising Cane's

Parlor Doughnuts

2912 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Indiana-based Parlor Doughnuts is now slinging its signature layered doughnuts and homey atmosphere in Orlando. The craft doughnut and coffee chain sets itself apart with its specialty layered dough technique and unique flavors like French toast, turtle cheesecake and “Dreamsicle.” Credit: Photo via Parlor Doughnuts/Facebook

Birria 1983

54 W. Church St., Orlando
Birria1983 started as a food truck in 2020 and has now expanded into a permanent location in the old Graffiti Junktion space at the Church Street Market. Not a fan of birria? (Heresy!) Birria1983 also serves street corn, rice bowls, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, Mexican pizzas, churros and more. Credit: Photo via Birria 1983/Facebook
Poke Burri 12615 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden Dual concept Poke Burri and Lifting Noodles, an Atlanta-born Japanese restaurant, has opened in Orlando. The menu features customizable sushi in unconventional forms — think sushi pizza, sushi burritos, sushi donuts and sushi corn dogs. (As well as poke bowls, for the less adventurous among us.) The Lifting Noodles side of the equation features plenty of specialty and build-your-own ramen options. This location also has a full bar and offers various teas and beverages. Credit: Image via Google Maps

Summer House on the Lake

1498 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
Cali cuisine and breezy beach vibes rule at Summer House on the Lake, newly open at Disney Springs. It’s the perfect place to rock that coastal grandma fit while nibbling on salads, veggie-forward apps … and indulgent cookies from the cookie bar. Credit: Photo by Rob Bartlett
KŌRI Bakery & Dessert 721 N. Mills Ave., Orlando KŌRI Bakery & Dessert highlights refreshingly authentic Japanese desserts and drinks in the heart of Orlando. This spot offers drinks like Uji matcha from Japan, caffeine-free strawberry milk, Ceylon black tea from Sri Lanka, ChaTraMue Thai tea from Thailand, and a caffeine-free taro milk. KŌRI also serves desserts like shaved ice, milk bread and more. Credit: Photo via KŌRI Bakery & Dessert/Instagram
Soulful Collective 7484 University Blvd., Winter Park Kwame Boakye has brought two of his concepts — Cow & Cheese and That Wing Spot — together under one roof in Winter Park. Dubbed the Soulful Collective, the smashburger and chicken wing joints cohabitate in the former Capital Tacos space on University Boulevard near Goldenrod Road in Winter Park. Cow & Cheese in Maitland and That Wing Spot in SoDo continue to operate normally. Credit: Photo via Cow & Cheese/Google Maps

Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza

7541 W Sand Lake Road, Orland
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza has opened a second Orlando-area location, this one in the old Chronic Tacos space at 7541 W. Sand Lake Road in the Fountains Plaza in Dr. Phillips. If you go, get the Coffee Paolo pizza. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
Epilogue 10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista Epilogue, a new adult-only speakeasy pop-up, has opened its Art Deco-style doors to pour craft cocktails at Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Boasting a library-inspired theme with menus shaped like books, homages to Florida’s farming past and “unique mixology techniques,” Epilogue promises an intimate lounge experience stirred up with swanky atmosphere. Guests can order from the menu of themed drinks, which includes five classic “Prohibition-era” cocktails and eight specialty beverages that nod to the era of Gatsby and flappers. Credit: Photo via Four Seasons Press Room
Mandola’s Italian Kitchen 601 Maitland Blvd., Maitland Mandola’s Italian Kitchen is now open at the Trelago Market in Maitland. The chain created by Damian Mandola, co-founder of Carrabba’s Italian Grill, currently has nine other locations in Texas and Florida. Credit: Image via Mandola's Italian Kitchen/Google Maps

Corazón by Baires

8126 International Drive, Orlando
Corazón by Baires, billed as “an immersive dining experience blending international culinary techniques with a diverse range of fresh ingredients to create Latin American-inspired dishes” is now open on I-Drive. The 12,000-square-foot restaurant promises “magical focal points from every seat.” Credit: Photo via Corazón by Baires/Facebook

Rion’s Ocean Room

East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando
Sonny Nguyen, the man behind highly lauded ramen-ya Domu and kushiyaki house Tori Tori, is launching a new restaurant collective dubbed the Small Food Group that will unveil a two-in-one restaurant concept in three phases later this year. First up and open now is Rion’s Ocean Room, a casual seafood counter named after Nguyen’s first-born daughter, specializing in poke-by-the-pound similar to the poke joints found on Oahu. The second concept, Gyukatsu Rose, will introduce gyukatsu, or Japanese fried beef cutlets, to the masses at the end of the year. Credit: Photo via Rion's Ocean Room/Facebook
Kaleidoscope 712 E. Washington St., Orlando Kaleidoscope, a restaurant and bar offering breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, is now open in the old Garden Bistro/Island Time space in Thornton Park. The spot is currently in soft-opening mode through November. Credit: Photo via Kalaidoscope/Facebook
Credit: Photo via Live! at the Pointe Orlando
Fuji Sushi 249 W. State Road 436, Altamonte Springs After closing its location on Lee Road in Winter Park this summer, Fuji Sushi has reopened in the old Something Fishy space on State Road 436 in Altamonte Springs. The building that housed Fuji Sushi in Winter Park, as well as the building next door, are being demolished to pave way for a new fine dining Indian concept by Amit Kumar, the man behind Bombay Street Kitchen and Aashirwad. Credit: image via Google Maps
Parea Greek Taverna takes over the former Outpost space in Maitland City Centre Credit: courtesy image
Portillo’s comes to Waterford Lakes Credit: Photo via Portillo's/Facebook

Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen

1336 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
Located in the historic walls of the former Lamp Shade Fair store on Mills Avenue, Lamp & Shade beckons guests to indulge in its Asian-influenced, tapas-style menu. From menu items like charred baby bok choy and curry mussels to seafood hot pot for the table, Lamp & Shade’s food and atmosphere invite guests to eat up and hang out. Credit: Photo via Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen/Google Maps