Orlando's best restaurants of 2021, as chosen by our readers

Even in a year as weird as this last one, the fact remains: you gotta eat. Luckily, Orlando has plenty of stellar places to chow down in the strangest of times. Weekly readers have spent the past several months letting us know what their favorite restaurants are and the result is an overview of the best culinary options that the city has to offer.

Here you'll find star chefs, coffee spots, theme park snacks, buzzy food trucks and plenty of old favorites. Every choice was picked by our readers, who came out in swarms to support their faves.

 

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Best Local Chef
First: Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com
Second: Wendy Lopez, Reyes Mezcaleria, reyesmex.com
Third: Jason Campbell, Luke's Kitchen and Bar, eatatlukes.com
Photo courtesy of Kabooki Sushi

Best Local Chef

First: Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com

Second: Wendy Lopez, Reyes Mezcaleria, reyesmex.com

Third: Jason Campbell, Luke's Kitchen and Bar, eatatlukes.com

Photo courtesy of Kabooki Sushi

Best Curbside Service
First: 4 Rivers Smokehouse, 4rsmokehouse.com
Second: Tijuana Flats, tijuanaflats.com
Third: Hawkers, eathawkers.com
Photo courtesy of 4 Rivers.

Best Curbside Service

First: 4 Rivers Smokehouse, 4rsmokehouse.com

Second: Tijuana Flats, tijuanaflats.com

Third: Hawkers, eathawkers.com

Photo courtesy of 4 Rivers.

Best Breakfast
First: Se7en Bites, se7enbites.com
Second: The Briarpatch, thebriarpatchrestaurant.com
Third: First Watch, firstwatch.com
Photo by James Dechert

Best Breakfast

First: Se7en Bites, se7enbites.com

Second: The Briarpatch, thebriarpatchrestaurant.com

Third: First Watch, firstwatch.com

Photo by James Dechert

Best Brunch
First: Santiago's Bodega, santiagosbodega.com
Second: Maxine's on Shine, maxinesonshine.com
Third: Briarpatch, thebriarpatchrestaurant.com
Photo by Savannah Herring

Best Brunch

First: Santiago's Bodega, santiagosbodega.com

Second: Maxine's on Shine, maxinesonshine.com

Third: Briarpatch, thebriarpatchrestaurant.com

Photo by Savannah Herring

Best Lunch
First: Yellow Dog Eats, yellowdogeats.com
Second: Beefy King, beefyking.com
Third: Black Bean Deli, blackbeandeli.com
Photo via Yellow Dog Eats/Facebook

Best Lunch

First: Yellow Dog Eats, yellowdogeats.com

Second: Beefy King, beefyking.com

Third: Black Bean Deli, blackbeandeli.com

Photo via Yellow Dog Eats/Facebook


Best Date Restaurant
First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com
Second: Better Than Sex, betterthansexdesserts.com
Third: Prato, prato-wp.com
Photo via Hillstone/Facebook

Best Date Restaurant

First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com

Second: Better Than Sex, betterthansexdesserts.com

Third: Prato, prato-wp.com

Photo via Hillstone/Facebook

Best Cheap Eats
First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com
Second: Beefy King, beefyking.com
Third: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com
Photo via Gringos Locos/Facebook

Best Cheap Eats

First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com

Second: Beefy King, beefyking.com

Third: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com

Photo via Gringos Locos/Facebook

Best Outdoor Dining
First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com
Second: Grills Lakeside, grillsseafood.com
Third: Ravenous Pig, theravenouspig.com
Photo via Hillstone

Best Outdoor Dining

First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com

Second: Grills Lakeside, grillsseafood.com

Third: Ravenous Pig, theravenouspig.com

Photo via Hillstone

Best Late-Night Restaurant
(serving after 11 p.m.)
First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com
Second: Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria, pompomsteahouse.com
Third: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com
Photo via Gringos Locos/Facebook

Best Late-Night Restaurant (serving after 11 p.m.)

First: Gringos Locos, gringoslocos.com

Second: Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria, pompomsteahouse.com

Third: Lazy Moon, lazymoonpizza.com

Photo via Gringos Locos/Facebook

Best Splurge Restaurant 
First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com
Second: Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster, christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
Third: Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com
Photo via Hillstone/Facebook

Best Splurge Restaurant

First: Hillstone, hillstonerestaurant.com

Second: Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster, christnersprimesteakandlobster.com

Third: Kabooki Sushi, kabookisushi.com

Photo via Hillstone/Facebook