Zaza Cuban Comfort Food, the Central Florida restaurant known for its menu built on family recipes, is putting down roots at 1621 S. Orange Ave., and a grand opening in the SoDo district is on the horizon.
A Familiar Name, a New Neighborhood
Zaza has been on Orlando’s radar for a while now. Bungalower first spotted signage going up on the former Brick & Fire Pizza building, confirming Zaza’s as the space’s next tenant, while Orlando Business Journal and trade outlets like Business Debut and QSR Magazine have chronicled the brand’s steady march across Central Florida. Restaurant Business Online, which named Zaza one of its “Emerging Brands,” pointed to the concept’s all-day comfort food approach and deep coffee program.
Zaza is family-owned and operated, with a menu rooted in recipes passed down through generations and inspired by cofounder Ruben Perez’s family history in hospitality, which traces back to his grandfather in Cuba. Every new location, including SoDo, opens under that same familia ownership, which is part of why the brand has been able to keep its identity consistent as it’s grown from a single airport counter into a name Central Florida recognizes.
The Year of Buenos Everything
Life moves fast. Buenos Everything, which means everything is good, reminds people to slow down and enjoy the little things: cafecito breaks, comfort food, family gatherings, late-night cravings, loud conversations, iced coffee runs, and moments that feel warm and familiar. It is a lifestyle rooted in Cuban comfort, community, humor, tradition, and everyday moments that feel meaningful.
Why SoDo Fits
SoDo has become a desirable neighborhood with its mix of healthcare workers, young families, longtime residents, and an increasingly walkable stretch of South Orange Avenue. The steady lunch and coffee crowd from nearby offices and the hospital corridor lines up naturally with Zaza’s all-day menu and fast casual style. It’s the kind of neighborhood restaurant Zaza has always aimed to be a part of, just with a bigger footprint this time, and service that always feels more like Abuela’s kitchen than a chain.
What’s Next
SoDo isn’t the only stop on Zaza’s 2026 map. The brand is also preparing to open in Winter Park later this year and has announced plans for a future location at The Loop in Kissimmee, its first in Osceola County, set to open at the beginning of 2027. Both are worth watching, but their stories are for another day. For now, all eyes are on South Orange Avenue, where Orlando’s newest slice of Cuban comfort food is getting ready to welcome its neighbors in.
Get ready to enjoy a little Buenos Everything, SoDo! Zaza Cuban Comfort Food is coming your way soon.
