Even in a year as weird as this last one, the fact remains: you gotta eat. Luckily, Orlando has plenty of stellar places to chow down in the strangest of times. Weekly readers have spent the past several months letting us know what their favorite restaurants are and the result is an overview of the best culinary options that the city has to offer.
Here you’ll find star chefs, coffee spots, theme park snacks, buzzy food trucks and plenty of old favorites. Every choice was picked by our readers, who came out in swarms to support their faves.
Best Local Chef
First: Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com
Second: Wendy Lopez, Reyes Mezcaleria, reyesmex.com
Third: Jason Campbell, Luke’s Kitchen and Bar, eatatlukes.com
Photo courtesy of Kabooki SushiBest Curbside Service
First: 4 Rivers Smokehouse, 4rsmokehouse.com
Second: Tijuana Flats, tijuanaflats.com
Third: Hawkers, eathawkers.com
Photo courtesy of 4 Rivers.Best Breakfast
First: Se7en Bites, se7enbites.com
Second: The Briarpatch, thebriarpatchrestaurant.com
Third: First Watch, firstwatch.com
Photo by James DechertBest Brunch
First: Santiago’s Bodega, santiagosbodega.com
Second: Maxine’s on Shine, maxinesonshine.com
Third: Briarpatch, thebriarpatchrestaurant.com
Photo by Savannah HerringBest Lunch
First: Yellow Dog Eats, yellowdogeats.com
Second: Beefy King, beefyking.com
Third: Black Bean Deli, blackbeandeli.com
Photo via Yellow Dog Eats/FacebookBest Date Restaurant
First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com
Second: Better Than Sex, betterthansexdesserts.com
Third: Prato, prato-wp.com
Photo via Hillstone/FacebookBest Cheap Eats
First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com
Second: Beefy King, beefyking.com
Third: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com
Photo via Gringos Locos/FacebookBest Outdoor Dining
First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com
Second: Grills Lakeside, grillsseafood.com
Third: Ravenous Pig, theravenouspig.com
Photo via HillstoneBest Late-Night Restaurant
(serving after 11 p.m.)
First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com
Second: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria, pompomsteahouse.com
Third: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com
Photo via Gringos Locos/FacebookBest Splurge Restaurant
First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com
Second: Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster, christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
Third: Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com
Photo via Hillstone/FacebookBest Place to Eat Gluten-free
First: Ethos Vegan Kitchen, ethosvegankitchen.com
Second: Hungry Pants, eathungrypants.com
Third: Bolay, bolay.com
Photo by Rob BartlettBest Bakery
First: Gideon’s Bakehouse, gideonsbakehouse.com
Second: The Glass Knife, theglassknife.com
Third: Se7en Bites, se7enbites.com
Photo by Sierra WilliamsBest Barbecue Restaurant
First: 4 Rivers Smokehouse, 4rsmokehouse.com
Second: Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa, pigfloyds.com
Third: Yellow Dog Eats, yellowdogeats.com
Photo via 4 RiversBest Caribbean Restaurant
First: Black Bean Deli, blackbeandeli.com
Second: Bahama Breeze, bahamabreeze.com
Third: DaJen Eats, dajeneats.com
Photo via Black Bean Deli/FacebookBest Chinese Restaurant
First: Hawkers Asian Street Food, eathawkers.com
Second: Peter’s Kitchen China Bistro, peterskitchencb.business.site
Third: Chuan Lu Garden, chuanlugardenfl.com
Photo courtesy of HawkersBest Coffee Bar
First: Foxtail Coffee Co., foxtailcoffee.com
Second: Drunken Monkey, drunkenmonkeycoffee.com
Third: Lineage Coffee Roasting, lineageroasting.com
Photo courtesy of FoxtailBest Diner
First: Metro Diner, metrodiner.com
Second: Christo’s Café, facebook.com/christoscafeorlando
Third: Linda’s Winter Park Diner, winterparkdiner.com
Photo via Metro Diner/FacebookBest Food Truck
First: Chicken Fire, facebook.com/eatchickenfire
Second: Korean BBQ Taco Box, facebook.com/kbbqbox
Third: Smoke & Donuts, smokeanddonuts.com
Photo by Rob BartlettBest French Restaurant
First: Le Coq Au Vin, lecoqauvinrestaurant.com
Second: Chez Vincent, chezvincent.com
Third: DoveCote, dovecoteorlando.com
Photo by Rob BartlettBest Greek Restaurant
First: Little Greek Fresh Grill, littlegreekfreshgrill.com
Second: The Greek Corner, thegreekcorner.net
Third: Mediterranean Blue, mediterraneanblue.net
Photo via Little Greek Fresh Grill/FacebookBest Indian Restaurant
First: Tamarind Indian Cuisine, tamarindfl.com
Second: Mynt Fine Indian Cuisine, myntorlando.com
Third: Saffron Indian Cuisine, saffronorlando.com
Photo via Tamarind/FacebookBest Italian Restaurant
First: Prato, prato-wp.com
Second: Antonio’s, antoniosonline.com
Third: Enzo’s on the Lake, enzos.com
Photo via Prato/Facebook Credit: Photo via Prato/FacebookBest Korean Restaurant
First: Izziban Sushi & BBQ, izzibansushibbq.com
Second: Korea House, koreahouseorlando.com
Third: Chi-Kin, chi-kin.com
Photo via Izziban/FacebookBest Latin Restaurant
First: Black Bean Deli, blackbeandeli.com
Second: Agave Azul, agaveazulcocinamex.com
Third: Zaza New Cuban Diner, zazacubandiner.com
Photo via Black Bean Deli/FacebookBest Local Brewery
First: Hourglass Brewing, hourglassbrewing.com
Second: Crooked Can Brewing Co., crookedcan.com
Third: Sideward Brewing, sidewardbrewing.com
Photo courtesy of Hourglass BrewingBest Mexican Restaurant
First: Agave Azul, agaveazulcocinamex.com
Second: Black Rooster Taqueria, blackroostertaqueria.com
Third: Don Julio Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar, donjuliomexicankitchen.com
Photo via Agave Azul/FacebookBest Middle Eastern Restaurant
First: Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, bosphorousrestaurant.com
Second: Mediterranean Deli
Third: Habibi, habibilg.com
Photo via Bosphorous/FacebookWinter Park Fish Co.
761 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park
A previous winner of Orlando Weekly’s Best Seafood Restaurant, Winter Park Fish Co. prides itself on its seafood dishes featuring fresh fish and unique chef-crafted dishes. Credit: Photo via Winter Park Fish Co.Best Steakhouse
First: Linda’s La Cantina, lindaslacantina.com
Second: Ruth’s Chris Steak House, ruthschris.com
Third: Christner’s Prime
Steak & Lobster,
christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
Photo via Linda’s La Cantina/FacebookBest Thai Restaurant
First: SEA Thai, seathaiatorlando.com
Second: Thai House, thaihouseoforlando.net
Third: Thai Blossom, mythaiblossom.com
Photo via SEA Thai/FacebookBest Theme Park
Restaurant
First: The Boathouse, theboathouseorlando.com
Second: Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, universalorlando.com
Third: Be Our Guest, disneyworld.disney.go.com
Photo via The Boathouse/FacebookBest Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurant
First: Ethos Vegan Kitchen, ethosvegankitchen.com
Second: Winter Park Biscuit Co., winterparkbiscuitco.com
Third: Hungry Pants, eathungrypants.com
Photo by Rob BartlettBest Vietnamese Restaurant
First: Pho 88, pho88orlando.com
Second: Little Saigon, littlesaigonfl.com
Third: Viet-Nomz, vietnomzfl.com
Photo via Pho 88/FacebookBest Bloody Mary
First: The Hammered Lamb, thehammeredlamb.com
Second: Maxine’s on Shine, maxinesonshine.com
Third: Ravenous Pig, theravenouspig.com
Photo via Hammered Lamb/FacebookBest Burger
First: Teak Neighborhood Grill, teakorlando.com
Second: The Ravenous Pig, theravenouspig.com
Third: Hamburger Mary’s, hamburgermarys.com
Photo courtesy of Teak Neighborhood GrillBest Cheesesteak
First: LaSpada’s Original Cheese Steaks & Hoagies, laspadas.com
Second: Kappy’s Subs, kappyssubsfl.com
Third: Cavo’s Bar and Kitchen, cavosbar.com
Photo via LaSpada’s/FacebookBest Cuban Sandwich
First: Black Bean Deli, blackbeandeli.com
Second: Zaza New Cuban Diner, zazacubandiner.com
Third: Cubans on the Run, cubansontherun.com
Photo via Black Bean Deli/FacebookBest Desserts
First: The Glass Knife, theglassknife.com
Second: Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, kellyshomemadeicecream.com
Third: Gideon’s Bakehouse, gideonsbakehouse.com
Photo by Rob BartlettBest Doughnut
First: Donut King, thedonutking.com
Second: The Salty Donut, saltydonut.com
Third: Voodoo Doughnut, universalorlando.com
Photo via Donut KingBest Fried Chicken
First: Publix, publix.com
Second: The Coop, asouthernaffair.com
Third: Chicken Fire, facebook.com/eatchickenfire
Photo via Publix/FacebookBest Ice Cream
First: Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, kellyshomemadeicecream.com
Second: Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, jeremiahsice.com
Third: The Greenery Creamery, thegreenerycreamery.com
Photo courtesy of Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream.Best Juice/Smoothies
First: Tropical Smoothie Cafe, tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
Second: Soho Juice Company, sohojuiceco.com
Third: Juice Bar, juicebarorlando.com
Photo via Tropical Smoothie Cafe/InstagramBest Locally Made Hot Sauce
First: Tijuana Flats, tijuanaflats.com
Second: Jason’s Mom’s Sauce, jasonsmomssauce.com
Third: MX Taco, mxtacorestaurant.com
Photo via Google MapsBest Nachos
First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com
Second: Tijuana Flats, tijuanaflats.com
Third: Miller’s Ale House, millersalehouse.com
Photo via Gringo’s Locos/FacebookBest Pho
First: Pho 88, pho88orlando.com
Second: Viet-Nomz, vietnomzfl.com
Third: Little Saigon, littlesaigonfl.com
Photo via Pho 88/FacebookBest Pizza
First: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com
Second: Pizza Bruno, pizzabrunofl.com
Third: Mellow Mushroom, mellowmushroom.com
Photo via Lazy Moon/FacebookBest Poke
First: Poke Hana, poke-hana.com
Second: Da Kine Poke, dakinepoke.com
Third: Bento, eatatbento.com
Photo by Rob BartlettBest Pub Grub/Bar Food
First: The Porch, theporchwinterpark.com
Second: Tori Tori, toritoripub.com
Third: Graffiti Junktion, graffitijunktion.com
Photo via The Porch/FacebookBest Ramen
First: Domu, domufl.com
Second: Jinya Ramen Bar, jinyaramenbar.com
Third: Soupa Saiyan, soupasaiyan.com
Photo via Domu/FacebookBest Sandwiches/Subs
First: Publix Deli Subs, publix.com
Second: Pom Pom’s, pompomsteahouse.com
Third: Stasio’s Italian Deli & Market, instagram.com/stasiositaliandeli
Photo via Publix/FacebookBest Sushi
First: Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com
Second: Seito Sushi, seitosushi.com
Third: Sushi Pop, sushipoprestaurant.com
Photo via Kabooki Sushi/FacebookBest Tacos
First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com
Second: Tin and Taco, tinandtaco.com
Third: Black Rooster Taqueria, blackroostertaqueria.com
Photo via Gringos Locos/FacebookBest Thing to Eat at a Theme Park
First: Anything from Epcot Food & Wine
Second: Dole Whip
Third: Butterbeer
Photo via EpcotBest Wings
First: Domu, domufl.com
Second: Gator’s Dockside, gatorsdockside.com
Third: Papa Bees, papabeeswings.com
Photo via Domu/Facebook