25 essential Colonial Drive restaurants everyone should visit in Orlando

Kabooki Sushi

3122 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Chef Henry Moso is what makes the sushi game so strong at this high-end spot. There are a handful of rolls, none of which you'll find at your average sushi joint, but it's mostly sashimi and nigiri.

Sampaguita

1233 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Just recently opened in 2023, Sampaguita is serving up vibrant colors and flavors in the form of Filipino ice cream and sweets, plus it has a dairy-free menu. It's woman-owned and full of foliage and neon signs, making for a perfect hangout spot along Colonial Drive.

Loving Hut

2101 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Loving Hut's menu highlights homemade vegan Asian dishes, drinks and desserts. From sushi to dumplings to stir fries and noodles, this East Colonial spot has plenty of plant-based goodness to choose from.

Bakery 1908

2021 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
John Zhao, the restaurateur behind YH Seafood Clubhouse, established Bakery 1908 this fall, offering a rotating selection of dim sum items, coffee and boba. Zhao has partnered with the owner of a Taiwanese bakery that's been in business since 1908, thus the name. And with a century-long pedigree, you can bet their cakes, sweets and honey fragrance (mi xiang) teas will draw a lot of interest.

The Moderne

1241 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
This contemporary cocktail bar focuses on exquisite classic beverages and also offers a unique take on Asian tapas. The dynamic cocktail menu changes each month while bartenders offer show-stopping presentations.

Pho Ga Hien Vuong

5282 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
The owners of Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen opened their appropriately named chicken pho concept, Pho Ga Hien Vuong, Sept. 9 at 5282 W. Colonial Drive. In addition to the eponymous Vietnamese chicken soup, com ga hai nam (Hainanese-style chicken and rice), goi ga (chicken salad) and other chicken dishes are offered.

Zaru

1114 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Udon noodles of the highest order are served in this alluring 25-seat restaurant in Mills 50. Apart from the cold and hot noodle offerings (fashioned from imported Japanese flour), a host of zensai, or appetizers, are also offered: yaki gyoza (fried pork dumplings), tatsuta-age (fried chicken), chicken chashu and wagyu tataki being the most notable.

Friendship BBQ

5126 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
The import from Flushing, Queens, specializes in chuan’r, skewered morsels of spiced cumin lamb along with a bevy of other meats, seafood and veg. There are more than 50 from which to choose, but don’t pass on the lamb (natch), “Mongolia” beef, gizzards and quail. There are plenty of additional options for the curious — lamb testicles, bullfrog, pork feet to name a few. The grilled fish served in a gurgling iron hot pot is a must.

Crocante Restaurant

4311 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
It’s all about the meat at this spacious Colonialtown Puerto Rican restaurant where some of the finest porchetta is being rotisseried at the hands of chef-owner Yamuel Bigio. His churrasco and chicken ain’t too shabby either. Whet your appetite with spicy, housemade morcilla, alcapurrias or crisp, delicately fried rellenitos filled with beef. Ask for pique. End with tembleque. A full bar pours assorted cocktails.

Fluffy Fluffy

2008 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Fluffy Fluffy, or Fuwa Fuwa in Japanese, is home of the trendy souffle pancake. The Orlando outpost is the first in the nation, and you can also find croffles (croissant waffles), macarons and sorbets.

Sanshi Noodle House

5600 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Sanshi Noodle House is the first kind of restaurant in the Orlando area to serve Yunnanese cuisine. Offering 18 different noodle soups of all sorts of different tastes and levels of spices, there’s one for everyone to savor.

Linda's La Cantina

4721 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
This award-winning old-school eatery has been serving steaks since 1947. Decked out in classic checkered tablecloths and complete with a fireplace-adorned lounge, Linda's La Cantina is Orlando staple. It's not a stuffy place, but it's so popular that reservations are a must.

Lam's Garden

2505 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Family-owned Lam's Garden has been offering straightforward, traditional Chinese cuisine (and dim sum service) since it was opened in 1989. It's packed out on holidays with Chinese families and college kids catching up on their holiday break.

Hot Dog Heaven

5355 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Another Orlando staple, Hot Dog Heaven has been slinging authentic Chicago dogs since 1987, with an unwavering community following for classic dogs.

Little Saigon

1106 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
This Vietnamese mainstay has held on at an incredibly busy East Colonial corner over the years. Guests can expect colossal portions of traditional Vietnamese dishes all wrapped up in a vibrant, colorful atmosphere.

Fazoli’s

4201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
The Italian fast-service chain opened its rebooted restaurant in Orlando early this fall. Established in 1988, Fazoli's popularity blossomed in the ’90s, but in 2008 the Italian eatery left Orlando, and all Fazoli's locations in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Ohio and Florida closed. Fazoli's 2.0 boasts breadsticks, "Pizza Baked Pasta," spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo.

Poke Burri

12623 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden
Atlanta-based poke and sushi burrito chain Poke Burri will open soon in the yet-to-be-built retail complex Westside Station in Winter Garden. The eatery features poke burritos and a widely loved secret menu.

Sea Thai

3812 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
The restaurant may not look like much on the outside, but the dimly lit lounge atmosphere — combined with curry-infused Southeast Asian cuisine — makes for an ideal dinner spot. Try the Thai lemongrass soup as a refreshing, cozy appetizer, followed by the soft shell crab yellow curry, a fried soft-shell crab topped with veggies in a pool of creamy yellow curry sauce.

Mamak Asian Street Food

1231 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Mamak serves Malaysian tapas that offer a whole new world of flavors with dishes including roti, roast duck and kari meatballs. Noodle soups, rice and wok dishes are also on the menu at this casual Colonial Drive spot.

Black Bean Deli

1835 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
This long-lived Cuban spot in Mills 50 is perfect for a leisurely lunch (or a quick breakfast). Linger in the side room with their lunch special: a half Cuban sandwich and a cup of black beans and rice for $9.