24 essential noodle spots in Orlando that you should've tried by now

Domu

East End Market, 3201 Corrine Dr. Suite 100, (407) 960-1228
Popular ramen joint lives up to the hype offering near-perfect bowls of tonkotsu, shoyu, miso and curry ramen. There’s an uni pasta for those who want to forgo broth for the richness of sea urchin, but don’t overlook other soupless options like the crackling good Korean fried chicken with butter sauce and the grilled octopus. Cocktails are taken seriously here.
Photo via domufl/Instagram

Four Guys Pho

505 FL-436, Casselberry, (407) 755-6670
Created by four brothers, this Vietnamese restaurant specializes in not only pho but also traditional dishes to the culture. From egg noodle soup to vegetarian tofu dishes, there is something for everyone at this spot.
Photo via nickjroymba/Instagram

Hawkers

1103 N Mills Ave., (407) 237-0606
The sheer variety and low price point of the assorted dishes makes this hub of pan-Asian small plates a popular draw, but it's better for snacking and drinking beer with a group than sitting down to a trad meal. The menu attempts to replicate the feel of a Singaporean street-food market with an array of tiny, tasty Chinese, Malay, Viet and Indian dishes. The place packs ’em in, so call ahead or risk waiting.
Photo via callmefafi/Instagram

Noodle and Rice Cafe

813 N Mills Ave., (407) 895-8833
Noodles, be they hot, cold, soupy or stir-fried, are the, ahem, mein attraction at this Mills Avenue resto, so whether it’s ramen, udon, soba or lo mein that bubbles your bowl, they do it right here. Don’t overlook the Hong Kong-style barbecue (although duck is surprisingly absent) or the Korean short ribs. Hot pot tables also draw a loyal following.
Photo via noodlesandricecafe/Instagram

Jade Sushi and New Asian

2425 Edgewater Dr., (407) 422-7968
Formerly known as Jade Bistro, this spot received a new design, new name and boost in flavor. With a long list of options, including many meals for our vegetarian friends, you can choose from an array of sushi rolls or dinners. Their happy hour is also pretty good with choices of sushi or drinks.
Photo via theorlandogirl/Instagram

Bikkuri Sushi Noodle and Grill

1915 E Colonial Dr., (407) 894-4494
Although there is limited seating inside Bikkuri, the restaurant's specialty is takeout, as the menu is almost completely composed of takeout trays. From the Rose Party to the African Violet, a variety of sizes and combinations is available and all of them are, surprisingly enough, priced more reasonably than the stuff in the grocery store.
Photo via jrickelfinnegan/Instagram

Kai Asian Street Fare

1555 FL-436 #1171, Winter Park, (407) 821-3430
Kai Asian Street Fare's authentic Vietnamese menu is small but packs a lot of flavors. Try their fried chicken, garlic noodles, or wontons. There’s really no wrong decision.
Photo via kaistreetfare/Instagram

Little Saigon

1106 E Colonial Dr., (407) 423-8539
We enjoyed most of the food we sampled on two visits. No doubt, this restaurant is a worthy choice for anyone who craves Vietnamese cuisine. But newcomers should pay close attention to the menu with 144 meal options, ask lots of questions and avoid the dining rush hour.
Photo via jsooziethefoodie/Instagram

Chuan Lu Garden

1101 E Colonial Dr., (407) 896-8966
Colonialtown’s Chuan Lu Garden employs plenty of fiery stimulants in their authentic, real-deal Sichuan fare. Must-try dishes: pork dan-dan noodles, cumin lamb, laced with aromatic and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, and Lanzhou-style beef soup with hand-pulled noodles.
Photo via earth2jessi/Instagram

Pho 88

730 N Mills Ave., (407) 897-3488
You won’t need burgers for a fast-food fix once you find this Vietnamese noodle shop. Specializing in gigantic, weirdly addictive bowls of very thin rice noodles and various cuts of beef submerged in delicately seasoned broth, they also serve the usual exotics of shrimp paste and grilled pork?– but the soup’s the thing.
Photo via grubgalz/Instagram

Peperoncino Cucina

7988 Via Dellagio Way #108, (407) 440-2856
New trattoria on the Dr. Phillips block is schooling patrons and area restaurants in the way of Italian cuisine. The narrow space is reminiscent of eateries in Italy, but chef Barbara Alfano’s menu proffers enough new ideas to give the Old World-inspired bill of fare a refreshing breath of life. The menu changes daily; pastas are perfetto and secondi, like branzino cooked in parchment, truly impressive. Reservations are necessary – the small space fills up quickly.
Photo via celebritychef4u/Instagram

Pop Thai

1227 N Mills Ave., (407) 203-5088
Pop Thai can be known for its reasonable prices and well, noodles. The pad thai and drunken noodles are a staple order for this spot. And you can’t not enjoy a place that makes the food picturesque.
Photo via caathdelacruz/Instagram

Sapporo Ramen

5080 W Colonial Dr., (407) 636-6069
Banish all thoughts of salty plastic-wrapped bricks: It isn’t that kind of ramen. This West Colonial noodle house is bent on spreading the foodie cult of ramen, and after sampling richly flavored bowls of tonkotsu, shio, miso or shoyu ramen, you will be too. Udon and soba noodles are also offered, as are curries and gyudon, both of which are worth ordering. Starters (overdone edamame, mushy octopus fritters, ho-hum croquettes) are best skipped. Ramen rules here.
Photo via bevrlykills/Instagram

Viet-Nomz

7581 University Blvd., Winter Park, (407) 636-6069
Affordable pho, rice bowls and noodle bowls makes this small, trendy eatery a bastion of collegians attending UCF and Full Sail. Fair warning: The place can get packed pretty quickly, but if you snag a table, take advantage and order the oversized “king pho” bowl with as beefy a broth as you’ll ever slurp. While bao and spring rolls are serviceable, the rice bowl with crispy tofu and the banh mi are sure-fire options.
Photo via Viet-Nomz/Facebook

Prato

124 N Park Ave, Winter Park, (407) 262-0050
You’ll battle crowds to get a seat at this loud Park Avenue “it spot,” but once inside, the rustic Italian creations of chef Matthew Cargo will justify the body-checking. Start with house-cured bresaola, then indulge in Bolognese bigoli enriched with foie gras butter, or simple oven-roasted yellowtail snapper. Italian wine aficionados will swoon over the list.
Photo via PratoWP/Facebook

Anh Hong

1124 E Colonial Dr., (407) 999-2656
The thing that'll take the longest is making your way through the eight-panel takeout menu, which offers the subheadings "squid" and "family dishes." Good news for vegetarians: There are 21 choices under "vegetables” making use of noodles, vegetables, rice cakes, rice crepes and eggs.
Photo via jvickiki3/Instagram

Saigon Noodle and Grill

101 N Bumby Ave., (407) 532-7373
Family-owned and operated, the specialties of the house are Vietnamese rice platters, pan-fried noodle dishes and family-style entrees, plus some of the best pho broth in town.
Photo via saigonnoodleandgrill/Instagram

Soupa Saiyan

5689 Vineland Rd., (407) 930-3396
Dragon Ball Z-themed noodle house is a real draw for freaks and geeks, but noodle hounds will appreciate their attention to crafting a fine bowl. Udon noodles in a vegetarian broth with fried tofu and steamed vegetables hums with umami, and if you’re into pho, the meaty pho dac biet will do no wrong.
Photo via jaileymo_eats_drinks/Instagram

Sticky Rice Lao

1915 E Colonial Dr., (321) 800-6532
Within the spectrum of flavors at the city’s sole Laotian eatery, you’ll find the familiar flavors of sweet and spicy along with flurries of funky, fermented and fishy. Popular dishes include pork tapioca dumplings, sticky chicken wings and lemongrass beef jerky; the cucumber salad and papaya salad offer a blast of umami courtesy fermented crab, crab paste and shrimp paste more suited to advanced palates. Can’t pass on the sticky rice – no Laotian meal is complete without it.
Photo via stickyricestreetfood/Instagram

Primo

4040 Central Florida Pkwy., (407) 393-4444
Melissa Kelly and chef de cuisine Kathleen Blake are well-versed in the ways of organic foods -- in fact, there's an organic garden on the premises -- and the menu varies with available supplies. The stuffed squash blossom starter was immensely pleasurable: crispy flowers filled with creamy ricotta and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Too bad there were only two. For the entree, sturgeon are huge, dense beasts, and my serving had a firm texture more like chicken than fish, with a flavor that only comes from cold-water catches. You also can’t forget to try the house-made pasta.
Photo via soflafoodie/Instagram