26 trendy, foodie-approved Orlando restaurants everyone should know about

By on Fri, Aug 9, 2024 at 12:16 pm

Looking for a dining experience that'll please both your tastebuds and your Instagram followers? Luckily for Orlandoans, the city is full of aesthetically pleasing eateries that deliver both big flavors and cool vibes.

From rooftop patios to hidden sushi bars to dimly lit tapas spots that popped up just this year, there are plenty of trendy spots where you can grab a drink, dine or just soak up the atmosphere. Here are 24 restaurants every Orlandoan must try to earn the title of a true foodie.
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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.
Photo via Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen/Google Maps

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.
Reyes Mezcaleria 21 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Reyes Mezcaleria offers authentic Mexican eats and more than 150 agave spirits. It's located in the North Quarter of Downtown Orlando and offers tastings and group dining for events.
Photo via Reyes Mezcaleria/Facebook

Reyes Mezcaleria

21 N. Orange Ave., Orlando
Reyes Mezcaleria offers authentic Mexican eats and more than 150 agave spirits. It's located in the North Quarter of Downtown Orlando and offers tastings and group dining for events.
The Monroe 448 N. Terry Ave., Orlando The Monroe is a swanky restaurant located in Orlando's Creative Village, offering up cozy vibes, tasty small plates and entrees, coffee and cocktails.
Photo by Rob Bartlett

The Monroe

448 N. Terry Ave., Orlando
The Monroe is a swanky restaurant located in Orlando's Creative Village, offering up cozy vibes, tasty small plates and entrees, coffee and cocktails.
The Moderne 1241 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando The Moderne cocktail bar reflects the diversity of food available around the Mill 50 area. There's a 1930s Art Moderne-inspired atmosphere with food options ranging from Southeast Asian and Mediterranean.
Photo via The Moderne/Facebook

The Moderne

1241 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
The Moderne cocktail bar reflects the diversity of food available around the Mill 50 area. There's a 1930s Art Moderne-inspired atmosphere with food options ranging from Southeast Asian and Mediterranean.
Sushi Saint 400 Pittman St., Orlando A temaki bar and lounge by Michelin-starred chef Mike Collantes, Sushi Saint brings handroll sushi to downtown Orlando, wrapped in an elegant atmosphere.
Photo via Sushi Saint/Instagram

Sushi Saint

400 Pittman St., Orlando
A temaki bar and lounge by Michelin-starred chef Mike Collantes, Sushi Saint brings handroll sushi to downtown Orlando, wrapped in an elegant atmosphere.
Kadence 1809 Winter Park Road, Orlando Kadence started with a sushi stand at the East End Market in 2014 and expanded within two years to Winter Park. This sushi and sake bar in the Audubon Park Garden District, now Michelin-starred, is reservation only and serves a menu full of food from land and sea.
Photo via Kadence/Facebook

Kadence

1809 Winter Park Road, Orlando
Kadence started with a sushi stand at the East End Market in 2014 and expanded within two years to Winter Park. This sushi and sake bar in the Audubon Park Garden District, now Michelin-starred, is reservation only and serves a menu full of food from land and sea.
AVA MediterrAegean 290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park Located in Winter Park, AVA MediterrAegean creates the atmospheric energy and cuisine of Mediterranean and Aegean culture. With an all sensory experience, this spot has both a dinner menu and a brunch menu, as well as a "golden hour" from 5 to 6 p.m. every day.
Photo via AVA MediterrAegean/Facebook

AVA MediterrAegean

290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park
Located in Winter Park, AVA MediterrAegean creates the atmospheric energy and cuisine of Mediterranean and Aegean culture. With an all sensory experience, this spot has both a dinner menu and a brunch menu, as well as a "golden hour" from 5 to 6 p.m. every day.
Otto’s High Dive 2304 E. Robinson St., Orlando Created by a son of Cuban immigrants and a seasoned Florida bartender, Otto's High Dive illuminates old Cuba and modern Florida in both its cocktails and cuisine. This spot offers a selection of cocktails, mocktails, beer and frozen drinks as well as fare from cafe, brunch and dinner menus.
Photo via Otto's High Dive/Facebook

Otto’s High Dive

2304 E. Robinson St., Orlando
Created by a son of Cuban immigrants and a seasoned Florida bartender, Otto's High Dive illuminates old Cuba and modern Florida in both its cocktails and cuisine. This spot offers a selection of cocktails, mocktails, beer and frozen drinks as well as fare from cafe, brunch and dinner menus.
Tori Tori 720 N. Mills Ave., Orlando Tori Tori is both a modern cocktail bar and a hotspot to grab some traditional Japanese pub food in Orlando's Mills 50 district. From the mind of Domu's Sean "Sonny" Nguyen, the spot offers classic and creative cocktails, sake, beer and wine, and eats like scallop crudo and wagyu gyoza.
Photo via Tori Tori/Facebook

Tori Tori

720 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
Tori Tori is both a modern cocktail bar and a hotspot to grab some traditional Japanese pub food in Orlando's Mills 50 district. From the mind of Domu's Sean "Sonny" Nguyen, the spot offers classic and creative cocktails, sake, beer and wine, and eats like scallop crudo and wagyu gyoza.
Maxine's on Shine 337 Shine Ave., Orlando Maxine's on Shine offers regular live music, a hefty comfort food-filled menu, and a classic weekend brunch. It's the perfect for a relaxing or a romantic meal.
Photo via Maxine's on Shine/Facebook

Maxine's on Shine

337 Shine Ave., Orlando
Maxine's on Shine offers regular live music, a hefty comfort food-filled menu, and a classic weekend brunch. It's the perfect for a relaxing or a romantic meal.
Canvas Restaurant 13615 Sachs Ave., Orlando Besides the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows, the flashy yellow lamps and the brick walls, Canvas restaurant overlooks a beautiful lake with a partially covered patio. The restaurant has recently introduced a food and drink happy hour menu featured Monday through Friday.
Photo via Canvas Restaurant/Facebook

Canvas Restaurant

13615 Sachs Ave., Orlando
Besides the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows, the flashy yellow lamps and the brick walls, Canvas restaurant overlooks a beautiful lake with a partially covered patio. The restaurant has recently introduced a food and drink happy hour menu featured Monday through Friday.
The Wellborn 211 N. Lucerne Circle W., Orlando This quaint neighborhood hangout spot and bar aims to offer a "taste of vacation." Guests can enjoy the scenic atmosphere, small plates, desserts and Sunday brunch on top of a plentiful wine and cocktail list.
Photo via The Wellborn/Facebook

The Wellborn

211 N. Lucerne Circle W., Orlando
This quaint neighborhood hangout spot and bar aims to offer a "taste of vacation." Guests can enjoy the scenic atmosphere, small plates, desserts and Sunday brunch on top of a plentiful wine and cocktail list.
Kaya 618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando Kaya is a newly Michelin-recognized Filipino restaurant offering casual fine dining with fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors and a neighborhood vibe. Kaya offers creative cocktails at the Banyan Bar in its outdoor patio and garden space.
Photo via Kaya/Facebook

Kaya

618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando
Kaya is a newly Michelin-recognized Filipino restaurant offering casual fine dining with fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors and a neighborhood vibe. Kaya offers creative cocktails at the Banyan Bar in its outdoor patio and garden space.
Camille 4962 New Broad St., Orlando Recently handed a Michelin star after opening just last year, Camille is now a Baldwin Park staple. The real draw at this spot is chef Tung Phan's creative and unconventional spins on Vietnamese dishes, all punctuated with classical French flourishes — dishes like Vietnamese coffee-crusted wagyu with potato pâvé; espuma of pho; and green papaya with salmon and nước chấm.
Photo via Camille

Camille

4962 New Broad St., Orlando
Recently handed a Michelin star after opening just last year, Camille is now a Baldwin Park staple. The real draw at this spot is chef Tung Phan's creative and unconventional spins on Vietnamese dishes, all punctuated with classical French flourishes — dishes like Vietnamese coffee-crusted wagyu with potato pâvé; espuma of pho; and green papaya with salmon and nước chấm.
Domu 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando At this ramen bar, guests might need to wait out a spot on the coveted open patio. Domu makes their noodles in-house and they have tweaked their broth recipes to mouthwatering perfection. Because of this, and the fact that they don’t take reservations, ensuring a table at Domu is a challenge, but worth it.
Photo via Domu/Facebook

Domu

7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando
At this ramen bar, guests might need to wait out a spot on the coveted open patio. Domu makes their noodles in-house and they have tweaked their broth recipes to mouthwatering perfection. Because of this, and the fact that they don’t take reservations, ensuring a table at Domu is a challenge, but worth it.
Chuan Fu 1035 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park Chuan Fu is a Sichuan restaurant by the owners of Chuan Lu Garden and U and Me Revolving Hot Pot in Winter Park. Its menue is mostly mala-coded — the fiery, numb-spicy Sichuan specialty — but fine dishes of the not-hot variety are available too.
Photo via Chuan Zeng

Chuan Fu

1035 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park
Chuan Fu is a Sichuan restaurant by the owners of Chuan Lu Garden and U and Me Revolving Hot Pot in Winter Park. Its menue is mostly mala-coded — the fiery, numb-spicy Sichuan specialty — but fine dishes of the not-hot variety are available too.
Capa 10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista This Spanish steakhouse’s location on the 17th floor of the Four Seasons Resort makes it a prime spot for watching the firework shows at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, or just taking in some high-rise views. Staff will take you out onto the terrace a few minutes before the shows so you can view them from the best seats in the house. Reservations are required, so be sure to call ahead.
Photo by Rob Bartlett

Capa

10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista
This Spanish steakhouse’s location on the 17th floor of the Four Seasons Resort makes it a prime spot for watching the firework shows at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, or just taking in some high-rise views. Staff will take you out onto the terrace a few minutes before the shows so you can view them from the best seats in the house. Reservations are required, so be sure to call ahead.
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.
Photo courtesy of William Shen

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.
The Foreigner 2816 Corrine Drive, Orlando From Chef Bruno Fonseca, the Foreigner experience offers guests a 10-course menu confiance-style ("trust the chef") dinner, and patrons can watch the workings of the active kitchen. With plates ranging from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cuisine with a selection of curated wine, Foreigner Restaurant aims for guests to feel welcomed the second they enter the eatery.
renderings courtesy of The Foreigner

The Foreigner


2816 Corrine Drive, Orlando
From Chef Bruno Fonseca, the Foreigner experience offers guests a 10-course menu confiance-style ("trust the chef") dinner, and patrons can watch the workings of the active kitchen. With plates ranging from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cuisine with a selection of curated wine, Foreigner Restaurant aims for guests to feel welcomed the second they enter the eatery.
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.
Photo via Michael Collantes/Instagram

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.
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