The 28 best restaurants in Orlando

Wine Bar George at Disney Springs is a favorite among locals and tourists. The restaurant is known for its extensive wine list that features more than 140 wines from around the world, all of which are available by the ounce, glass, or bottle. When it's time to nosh, get the Big Board, a variety of artisan cheeses, meats, and accompaniments. We also love the family-style platters of skirt steak or the whole-grilled sea bass. Wine Bar George also serves a decadent weekend brunch with items like brioche French toast or a fried chicken biscuit with pimento cheese. 

Hunger Street Tacos is just a few minutes away from Orlando's urban core and has a second location inside Plant Street Market in Winter Garden. The simple joint crafts dishes such as esquites (Mexican street corn) and refreshing cucumber salads from old family recipes alongside more modern fare like fried avocado tacos and savory mushroom quesadillas. You'll know you've found the right spot when you see the building with the impressive mural of a little girl surrounded by flowers. 

From celebrity chef Richard Blais comes Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen. The new restaurant is known for its bright fresh Florida flavors like citrus and seafood. While dining here, you'll feel like you've stepped back to a different era, where palm trees swayed and time slowed during meals. Each of the vibrant dining rooms feels like it's right out of Key West, including the adorable screened-in back porch. The menu is filled with seafood like seabass and lobster, but if you're in the know, you can ask about the secret menu burger, which is another fan favorite. 

Kabooki Sushi offers all the traditional sushi rolls and sashimi, but for a truly over-the-top culinary adventure, consider the chef-selected multi-course omakase experience. Just make sure to not get too full: The house-made desserts, like the goat cheese panna cotta and beet cake, served with Thai basil, beet powder, black pepper almonds, olive oil, and beet vinegar, are divine. 

Located in the trendy Winter Park neighborhood, Buttermilk Bakery has become a breakfast staple in Orlando – perhaps because you can smell the freshly baked goods the moment you step out of your car. Head to the front porch of this women-owned bakery to stuff your face with fresh croissants, tarts, bread, and more. Then settle on the porch or side patio to have a moment alone with your quiche – this breakfast spot deserves more than walking and eating. To get the best selection, be sure to go early in the day or do a quick mobile order and pick up your pastries later in the morning. 

The Ravenous Pig is owned by Julie and James Petrakis, local culinary legends known for a string of restaurants, including The Polite Pig at Disney Springs and Cask and Larder at the airport. The Ravenous Pig is known for its house-made charcuterie, which guests can see hanging in the fridge while walking to their table. After indulging in cured meats and cheeses, you're going to want to try out the goat cheese tortellini with pork cheeks. End the night next door at the on-site brewery and taproom.

The Monroe Orlando slings twists on comfort food classics such as chicken noodle soup, shake and bake ham chops, and a few variations on fried chicken in a mid-century modern setting. In need of a cold brew and a quick snack? The restaurant has a second life as a coffee shop every day from 8am to 4pm, before switching to dinner service at 5pm. No matter when you choose to go, you're sure to enjoy the laid-back vibes.

One of the most talked-about restaurants in Orlando in recent years, Domu crafts house-made noodles to serve in almost a dozen different dishes, along with shareable plates like Asian buns. The delightful happy hour features a wasabi and ginger margarita worth driving through downtown Orlando during rush hour to imbibe. Domu does not accept reservations, and finding a seat inside the tiny restaurant can be challenging, so be sure to arrive early and be willing to wait, especially on weekends. 

The folks over at Sticky Rice Lao Street Food make traditional grub like chicken laab, lemongrass beef jerky and pork tapioca dumplings accessible to the Florida masses. If shareable snacks aren't your thing, consider one of the sumptuous noodle bowls with a variety of toppings and broths to choose from. The small restaurant is located on the edge of Orlando's Vietnamese community near downtown. 

Knife and Spoon is the newest restaurant to debut at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando by award-winning chef John Tesar. The restaurant is known for its dry-aged steaks, which come in a variety of cuts and aging times. Regardless of which main you go with, from the 45-day bone-in New York Strip to the 240-day bone-in ribeye,  order a side of kimchi-creamed spinach for a bit of a kick. 

One of the newest restaurants in the trendy Winter Park neighborhood is AVA MediterrAegean. The restaurant interior is cozy and upscale, which brings in an eclectic mix of diners. The restaurant is known for its tableside dishes, many of which are on fire, including the honey-glazed halloumi cheese, a perfectly sharable appetizer. Sunday brunch has also proven to be popular. It's a multi-course dining experience that lasts a few hours, and guests can include alcohol if they wish. 

Chef Vic Nguyen is the mastermind behind King Bao in the Mills 50 area of Orlando. This foodie hotspot is known for its creative takes on traditional bao buns with delicious menu items like firecracker shrimp bao, Korean beef with fuji-apple-salsa bao, and a sweet potato croquette bao. If that's not enough, King Bao is also serving up loaded tots and fried bao sweets. 

Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando is a beautiful spot for an elegant date night, special occasion dinner, or a fancy night out with friends. The top-floor restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Walt Disney World and a beautiful outdoor space to watch nighttime fireworks shows. Capa's menu is filled with shareable tapas like ham and caramelized onion croquettes and beer brined pork belly. For something a little more substantial, the paella with chorizo is packed with flavor without blowing your palate out. 

Disney's Animal Kingdom is all about experiencing nature, and the same can be said about the park's signature restaurant, Tiffins. The restaurant is named after the light lunch prepared for working men in India and is also the name of the containers the meal is traditionally served in. While you won't be eating out of a tiffin, you will be eating dishes inspired by Walt Disney Imagineering's travels to remote areas as they did the research for the theme park. The menu at Tiffins rotates regularly, but often you can find some type of charred octopus dish, a bread service, and butter chicken. 

In the heart of the Milk District, you'll find Se7en Bites. The restaurant is a local favorite and has even been featured on the show 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.' If you want to try what host Guy Fieri tried, head to the restaurant early and order the vanilla bean bourbon bacon nighttime skypie (which usually runs out every day) and the chicken pot pie. Breakfast is served all day, so no matter if you're craving eggs or a Southern take on a Cuban sandwich, it is always available. 

Jam Hot Chicken is just another contender in the Orlando chicken wars. There are plenty of chicken restaurants popping up all over the city with pretty good chicken sandwiches, but let's just say Jam Hot chicken is really making the best one. The sandwich is a pretty traditional take on hot chicken, where guests get to choose their heat level. Then the chicken is fried to crispy perfection and topped with slaw, housemade pickles, and comeback sauce, all piled between two toasted buns. 

At Reyes Mezcaleria the food and drinks are created in traditional ways but with a distinctly modern twist. To start, consider getting their queso fundido, served with housemade chorizo verde. For something besides tacos, be sure to take a look at the duck enchiladas, which come with queso fresco, Oaxacan cheese, chile rojo, seared duck breast, radish, and escabeche. Reyes Mezcaleria also boasts a tempting happy hour with deals on drinks and snacks that can be enough for a meal if you're willing to eat a little early. 

Luke's Kitchen and Bar is all about classic American cuisine that brings a sense of nostalgia while dining. Almost everything on the menu is made in-house, and many items like vegetables and fruits are locally sourced. While the menu has the typical burgers, steaks, and seafood dishes, you'll also find things like cauliflower steaks and red shrimp ceviche. After dinner, stick around for desserts such as strawberry shortcakes and root beer floats. 

Chroma in the Lake Nona neighborhood is well-loved by locals and visitors. The restaurant is known for its take on "garden-to-glass" cocktails, small plates, and craft beer in a cozy setting where friends and family can linger and chat the night away. The menu is an eclectic mix of items ranging from lobster pad thai to potato gnocchi to sliders. Each season also brings a new cocktail menu based on what fruits and herbs are at their prime and what the master bartender can get their hands on. 

Orlando's Winter Park neighborhood has become the center of the culinary scene in the city. One mainstay that always has people lining up is Prato. Each of the Italian dishes on the menu has a modern twist. For instance, the green garlic ravioli comes with melted onions, snap peas, carrots, and black rice for a balanced dish that's super savory with a slight sweetness from the carrots. Be sure to leave room for the seasonal dessert, which is often just whatever the chef thinks sounds good at the moment. 

The Osprey Orlando has been a Baldwin Park staple since it opened in 2015. The restaurant recently dropped the word 'tavern' from its name, but everything else – from the quality and the level of service to the consistency in food – remains the same. On weekdays from 5pm to 7pm, you'll find a packed bar area filled with patrons ready to sip on perfectly crafted drinks and $1 oysters. The Osprey specializes in seafood, but for those looking for something else, there are burgers, steak, and chicken on the menu too. 

Orlando Meats is a part-butcher shop and part-restaurant located in the trendy Winter Park neighborhood. The restaurant focuses on organic products that are locally sourced whenever possible and use the whole animal. While the menu changes frequently depending on the availability of ingredients, you can often find things like a chicken fried lasagna sandwich, a lamb and falafel gyro, or duck sausage chow mein. If you want a snack for the road, consider getting some of their house-made ham that's thinly sliced or crispy house-made bacon.

One of the most popular restaurants in the city right now is Twenty Pho Hour, which has exploded in popularity thanks to TikTok and Instagram. After walking inside, guests will feel like they've been transported to a 2-d monochrome animation. The bowls of pho are pretty straightforward, with everything from steak and chicken to seafood and veggies. The best part about this restaurant, besides the food, is the lengthy operating hours, including being open for 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. 

Plant Street Market in Winter Garden is a local food hall anchored by Crooked Can Brewing Company. The food hall has stalls for everything from bbq and sushi to macaroni and cheese and butcher cuts. No matter what you decide to get, grab a pint of freshly brewed beer and enjoy the outdoor patio or walk just around the corner to the new barrel room, where you can try seasonal and specialty batches of beer while munching on lunch.

Soseki is a modern omakase restaurant in the Winter Park neighborhood that recently got its first Michelin star. The restaurant is known for its intimate dining experience with just ten seats and two seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., nightly. The menu changes monthly with seasonality at its core, highlighting Florida produce and fish. While guests are never privy to the menu before dining, you can expect classic omakase courses like piece-by-piece nigiri to be included. Reservations are hard to get and often lead to a waitlist, but if you're set on dining here, add yourself to the monthly waitlist because you never know when there may be an open seat. 

Another hot spot for omakase-style dining is Kadence, which was also given one Michelin star in 2022. The small restaurant is known for its creativity in dishes that use the best that the chef can find from the land and the sea. While the food is certainly a highlight here, the sake menu is also a big reason to fight for reservations. The owners and chefs, Mark and Jennifer Berdin, are both Advanced Sake Professionals so you know potential pairings are going to be impeccable. 

One of the most popular restaurants in the city for Indian food is Bombay Street Kitchen. The restaurant is known for its takes on Indian street food, where dishes hale from the bustling cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bangalore. With everything from classic tandoori chicken to super flavorful goat curry dishes, there's something for everyone on the menu. Just don't forget to order dessert, which consists of traditional Indian ice cream or cheese balls with rose-flavored syrup. 

Papa Llama is a Latin American restaurant that leans into the flavors and culture of Peru to make exquisite dishes that please even the most discerning palate. If you plan to go here be sure to take a few friends because the menu is meant to be enjoyed as a family-style meal. While small, the menu is filled with tasty bites like olives that are marinated in-house, skirt steak stir fry, and fried squid served with a house-made tartar sauce. The restaurant is also known for its extensive list of natural wines that are free from additives like extra sugar or fermentation aids.