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29 Orlando restaurants with cult-like followings

By Orlando Weekly Staff on Fri, Oct 6, 2023 at 6:16 pm

An undeniable truth: Orlando is full of passionate, opinionated people who love to eat. The city is home to plenty of great eateries, but some spots have garnered a loyal, even cult-like following.

While we've lost some hometown favorites recently — Linda's Winter Park Diner, for one — there are still lots of places backed by hordes of hungry locals.

Here are the popular local spots that draw the biggest crowds of loyal patrons.

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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 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 The Tennessee Truffle/Facebook

The Tennessee Truffle

125 W. First St., Sanford
Upscale Southern cuisine and comfort can be found at the Tennessee Truffle in Sanford. The restaurant offers a southern-fusion menu that uses fresh ingredients, aiming to support local farmers and the community.

Photo via High Tide Harry's/Facebook

High Tide Harry’s

4645 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando This decked-out fish spot boasts longtime local ties, fervent fans and a laid-back, "no frills" approach to simple seafood. Since 1995, High Tide Harry’s has been serving burgers, ribs, shrimp, lobster, fresh fish and more.

Photo via Lam's Garden/Facebook

Lam's Garden

2505 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Family-owned Lam's Garden has been offering straightforward, traditional Chinese cuisine since it was opened in 1989. You'll be standing in line on Christmas and other holidays, as families love to congregate here.

Photo via Linda's La Cantina/Facebook

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 lounge, Linda's La Cantina serves as an Orlando staple perched on East Colonial Drive.

Photo via Pizza Bruno/Facebook

Pizza Bruno

3990 Curry Ford Road, Orlando The line is usually out the door at this pizza establishment known for its legendary garlic knots and scrumptious pizza. Get a glass of beer or wine, because there will probably be a wait — but it’s totally worth it. Cooked in a wood-fired oven for 90 seconds at 1,000 degrees, Pizza Bruno’s notorious char-spotted pizza represents true Neapolitan-style pie-fection.

Photo via Hunger Street Tacos/Facebook

Hunger Street Tacos

2103 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, and Hunger Street Tacos offers Orlandoans fresh, authentic and creative Mexican-style street food at its flagship Winter Park location. You'll spy the Fairbanks location by the iconic “Planting Dreams, Harvesting Hopes" mural by Lapiztola on the side of the building.

Photo by Rob Bartlett

Norigami

426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden It's no wonder a seat at this eight-person sushi bar is one of the hardest to come by in Orlando. Chef David Tsan's menu offers seafood gems like geoduck, needlefish and blackthroat sea perch – all wrapped up in on an ambient, intimate dining bar.