East End Market
Credit: Matt Keller Lehman

Orlando restaurant openings & closings:

Creo will be the newest stall to open inside East End Market. The concept by Hannah Stoddart and Asher Loy will feature Italian small bites, cicchetti (Venetian bar snacks) and rotating entrées inspired by the flavors they’ve gathered from their travels and experiences. Look for it to open later this month in the stall that previously held La Femme du Fromage …

Following the closure of Lewis Lin’s wagyu shabu-shabu house Hinabe (originally called Nabe) in the Dellagio Town Center in Dr. Phillips, owners Khoa Nguyen and Keren Swan will bring the city’s second Pho Bar to the striking space after some minor interior modifications. Look for it to open next month … Dom Helio, a Rio de Janeiro-based restaurant serving Brazilian and Brazilian-style Italian dishes, pizzas and pastas, has opened in Celebration at 1641 Future Way. This is the first Dom Helio outside Brazil …

The Johnny’s Diner family is growing with another one now at 3335 Curry Ford Road in the old Daybreak Diner space. There’s also a Johnny’s Diner on University Boulevard near UCF and one on State Road 436 in Casselberry … Francisca Charcoal Chicken & Meats, a South Florida chain specializing in Venezuelan, Colombian and Latin American cuisine, has opened at 12325 S. Orange Blossom Trail …

AC Sports Bar has opened in the Waterford Towers shopping plaza in the old Castaway’s space. They offer a menu “where Latin flavors meet American classics” … Nearby in Waterford Lakes, Vicky Bakery has opened at 334 N. Alafaya Trail …

Las Lomas Mexican Grill in Altamonte Springs has closed … Karelyn’s Vegan on Old Cheney Highway has closed following a whole lot of drama, lease shenanigans and contradictory accusations. Telling fact: The original Karelyn’s in Daytona has also closed.

Orlando food news & events:

Smokemade Meats + Eats in Curry Ford West celebrates its fifth anniversary this weekend and will bring local hotspots Kaya, Jam Hot Chicken, Golden Hour Wine and Chill In Tacos Ice Cream Taqueria along for the party. Look for a host of celebratory specials to be offered on Saturday and Sunday brunch …

2026 James Beard Award finalists for Best Chef: South Maria La Mota and Chason Spencer of Chancho King in Jacksonville and chef Tim Lovero of Coro Restaurant will collaborate on a seven-course Ecuadorian-inspired dinner Tuesday, April 14, at Coro. Seating are at 5:45, 7 and 8 p.m. Visit cororestaurant.com for more …

Chef Stone Lin, who headed up Michelin-starred Natsu before its closure in January, can now be seen helping out at Okonomi, the sushi counter inside Mills Market by Sorekara’s William Shen.

Orlando’s daily dose of what matters. Subscribe to The Daily Weekly.

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

This article appears in April 8-14, 2026.

Orlando restaurant critic. Orlando Weekly restaurant critic since 2006.