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Norman's Orlando
Photograph: Rey Villacicencio Norman's

The best restaurants in Orlando

From ramen to Michelin-starred sushi and old Florida classics, find your picks at the best restaurants in Orlando.

Megan duBois
Lauren Mack
Written by
Megan duBois
&
Lauren Mack
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With more than 7,000 restaurants in Orlando, whittling down the best places to eat and drink is quite a delicious challenge. The options, from bougie cafes to simple home-style classics to award-winning eclectic dining, demonstrate an epicurean richness not seen in most locales.

In the past few decades, Orlando has quickly become a culinary center in Florida. Located 50 miles from the Atlantic Coast and 75 miles from the Gulf Coast, Orlando has beckoned some of the country's best chefs and creative culinary endeavors to the middle of the Sunshine State.

The city synonymous with theme parks now boasts 46 restaurants in the 2023 Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa. From the country's only 2D noodle bar to Indian street food to award-winning fine dining, our list of the 30 best restaurants in Orlando is a feast for the senses.

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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 200 wines from around the world, all available by ounce, glass or bottle. When it's time to nosh, get the Big Board, six artisanal cheeses, five artisanal meats, and accompaniments. We also love the family-style platters of skirt steak with baby zucchini, patty pan squash, cipollini onions, roasted potatoes, or the grilled Greek sea bass with white bean ragout, warm spinach with tomato confit, and cipollini onions. 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 from Orlando's urban core and has a second location inside Plant Street Market in Winter Garden. The simple joint crafts dishes from old family recipes, such as suadero tacos with seared brisket, avocado salsa verde, onion, cilantro, and lime and squash blossom quesadillas with local squash from Everoak Farm. 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.

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From celebrity chef Richard Blais comes Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. The American 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, with swaying palm trees and where time slows down. Each vibrant dining room, including the adorable screened-in back porch, feels right out of Key West. The menu constantly changes, filling with seafood like sea bass and lobster. Recent additions include a crab and crawfish twice-baked potato and Baked Florida, the restaurant’s take on a baked Alaska, with a Key lime pie center. You can ask about the secret patty melt burger if you're in the know.

Kabooki Sushi offers all the traditional sushi rolls and sashimi, but for a truly over-the-top culinary adventure, consider the chef-selected 10- to 15-course omakase experiences. If you opt to order from the à la carte menu, make sure not to get too full: The house-made desserts, like ube cheesecake with graham cracker crust, torched meringue, and toasted coconut and carrot cake with cinnamon glaze, walnut brittle, pickled raisins, cream cheese icing, orange ginger ice cream, and micro cilantro, are divine.

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Located in trendy Winter Park, 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 like fall-favorite pumpkin cheesecake croissants, tarts, and more. Then settle on the porch or side patio for a moment alone with your quiche—this breakfast spot deserves more than walking and eating. For the best selection, go early in the day or do a quick mobile order and pick up your pastries later in the morning. Our favorite time to visit is on the weekends when the bakery bakes weekend-only items like brioche, cake donuts, and kouign-amanns.

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 two Cask and Larder locations at the airport in Terminal A and Terminal C. 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 will want to try out the goat cheese tortellini with pork cheeks from the menu, constantly updated to highlight seasonal ingredients and the day's catch. End the night next door at the on-site brewery and taproom.

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The Monroe is many things: a stylish lounge, an elegant semi-private dining room, a coffee shop, and a cocktail bar. Located in Creative Village in downtown Orlando, The Monroe has several multi-use spaces, including its newest addition, The Front Porch. The menu features twists on modern comfort food like fried chicken, pork schnitzel, and St. Louis-style ribs. In need of a cold brew and a quick snack? The coffee bar at the front of the dining room is open 9am to 3pm—Tuesday through Friday and 11am to 3pm on the weekends. You will surely enjoy the laid-back vibes regardless of when you choose to go.

When NORMAN’S closed at the Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes several years ago, chef Norman Van Aken’s absence from the dining scene was palpable. The beloved chef and author who coined "fusion cuisine" in 1989 is back with his famed New World Cuisine on Orlando’s “Restaurant Row” on Via Dellagio Way. His eponymous restaurant is packed with steakhouse classics and his famed New World dishes like yuca stuffed crispy shrimp with sour orange mojo, pickled habanero tartar salsa, and nica slaw, fried green tomatoes with escabeche mayo, balsamic reduction, and red pepper jam, and guava barbequed heritage poulet rouge with mac and cheese croquette and Coca-Cola collard greens. Welcome back.

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DOMU, slang for "a dream come true," is simply that. Their house-made noodles and creative small plates have garnered the attention of the MICHELIN Guide, earning a Bib Gourmand and locals alike. The delightful daily happy hour features a Wasabi Ginger Margarita with Libélula Tequila, lime, triple sec, ginger syrup, and a dash of wasabi 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.

Sticky Rice Lao Street Food is the first Orlando-based quick casual restaurant specializing in Lao street food like lash-fried lemongrass marinated beef jerky and pork tapioca dumplings with sweet radish, minced pork, peanuts, cilantro and dried chilies. If you want more than small plates, consider one of the noodle soup and rice bowls like the lamb rice bowl with a choice of sautéed protein plus cilantro, scallions, shallots, mint, jasmine rice, lettuce, and cucumber. The small restaurant is located on the edge of Orlando's Vietnamese community near downtown.

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Knife and Spoon, by award-winning chef John Tesar, is an essential restaurant in Orlando. Awarded one Michelin star, the restaurant is known for its seafood and dry-aged steaks, which come in various cuts and aging times. Regardless of which steak you go with, from 30 days to 120 days, order the sensational sides like the kimchi creamed spinach for a bit of a kick. If you ask, you can see the room where the steaks are aged.

AVA MediterrAegean's interior is Cycladic, cozy and upscale, offering a multi-sensory ambiance with a parea vibe (parea is "a group of friends, who gather to share life experiences, philosophies, values and ideas, according to AVA MediterrAegean"). The restaurant is known for its tableside dishes, many of which are lit, literally and figuratively, including the honey-glazed halloumi cheese, a perfectly shareable appetizer. Sunday brunch is also popular with options like the Greek Omelette with bell pepper, spinach, onion, and feta cheese and waffle and Greek honey with yogurt and berries perfectly paired with bespoke cocktails like Smoke & Mirrors with Alfred Giraud Heritage French Whiskey, WhistlePig aged 12 years, Demerara, and black walnut bitters.

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Chef Vic Nguyen is the mastermind behind King Bao in the Mills 50 district. This hotspot is literally the king of bao buns. The team steams creative bao like firecracker shrimp, Korean beef with fuji-apple-salsa, and sweet potato croquette. If that's not enough, King Bao also serves loaded tots and sweet bao. King Bao is so popular that they have expanded to three Orlando locations.

Steakhouse Capa at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is a beautiful spot for an elegant date night, special occasion dinner, or a fancy night out with friends. The one Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Walt Disney World and two beautiful outdoor terraces to watch nighttime fireworks. Chef Malyna Si has created a menu of seasonal dishes inspired by her travels through Spain. There are shareable tapas like Pulpo a la Gallega, octopus finished with a caper, honey and black pepper glaze and accompanied by smoked tri-colour fingerling potatoes, and mains like Paella Valenciana, a paella with rabbit, fava beans, haricot verts, Calasparra rice, and white chicken stock. For something more substantial, try the new and notable Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Flight with A-5 grade beef with a 6-ounce American cut, a 6-ounce Australian cut, and a 3-ounce Japanese cut for $200. (Reopens October 18, 2023)

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Disney's Animal Kingdom is all about experiencing nature, and the same can be said about the park's signature eatery, Tiffins Restaurant. The restaurant is named after the light lunches popular with the working class in India and the multi-tiered lunch box in which it is carried and eaten. While you won't eat out of a tiffin, you will eat dishes inspired by Walt Disney Imagineering and animal experts who built the theme park. The globetrotting menu at Tiffins Restaurant rotates regularly. Still, you can always find Tiffins' signature bread service with Thai red curry milk bread, pão de queijo, papadam, coconut-curry sauce, guava sauce and ginger-pear chutney.

In the heart of The Milk District, you'll find Se7en Bites. The restaurant/bakery is a local favorite and has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for its exceptional nostalgic Southern comfort food with a modern twist. If you want to try what host Guy Fieri tried, head to the restaurant early and order the Vanilla Bean Bourbon Bacon Nighttime SkyPie. This and the chicken pot pie typically runs out every day.

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JAM Hot Chicken isn't 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 can 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.

In downtown Orlando's North Quarter District, Reyes Mezcaleria boasts an exciting menu by Executive Chef Wendy Lopez. The entire menu is exceptional, from the ceviche with citrus-cured snapper, red onions, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, orange, and hearts of palm to starters like queso fundido to mains like duck enchiladas de Michoacán with queso fresco, chihuahua cheese, chili rojo, and spicy carrot escabeche. Don't miss the craft cocktails and menu of 150 agave spirits.

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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 ingredients are locally sourced. While the menu has the typical burgers, steaks, and seafood dishes, you'll also find things like Swordfish Schnitzel and tuna ceviche. The renovated patio now has a wood-fired oven. Try the fresh sourdough flatbreads topped with house-made chili crunch, garlic sausage, and salumi. After dinner, stick around for desserts like guava semifreddo and root beer floats.

Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen in the Lake Nona neighborhood is well-loved by locals and visitors. The restaurant is known for its cocktails, contemporary tapas, and craft beer served in a cozy setting where friends and family can connect over weekend brunch and daily lunch and dinner. The menu has about one dozen tapas like corned beef brisket empanadas with swiss cheese, house-made sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing and guava and goat cheese flatbread with speck, Marcona almonds, and red sorrel plus mains and shareable plates for two to four diners.

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Orlando's Winter Park neighborhood has become the center of the culinary scene in the city. One mainstay that always has a queue is Prato. Each of the Italian dishes on the seasonally-changing menu has a modern twist. For instance, the spinach-infused ravioli is filled with ricotta, mascarpone, parmesan, and pecorino served with onion broth and spinach, and topped with spring onions and Pangrattato breadcrumbs. Be sure to leave room for the seasonal dessert of the moment.

The Osprey Orlando has been a downtown Baldwin Park staple since it opened in 2015. Tuesdays through Fridays from 5 to 6pm you'll find a packed 30-seat island bar area filled with patrons sipping on perfectly crafted drinks and $2 Mid-Atlantic or Florida oysters. The Osprey specializes in locally sourced seafood like line-caught fish and aquacultured oysters from both Florida coasts. Still, for those looking for something else, there is a selection of prime steaks grilled over natural Florida hardwood in a rarely-seen Spanish Josper oven.

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One of the most cleverly designed restaurants is Twenty Pho Hour, which has exploded in popularity thanks to TikTok and Instagram. After walking inside, guests feel like they've been transported to a 2D monochrome dining room. As the name suggests, the fast-casual Asian fusion restaurant serves bowls of pho, which are straightforward, with everything from steak and chicken to seafood and veggies. The menu also includes a variety of snacks, from dumplings to egg rolls to squid on a stick, plus build-a-bowl meals. The main draw is taking pictures and diners attempting the 24 Bowl Challenge, which involves eating chef-selected food in one hour.

Plant Street Market in Winter Garden is a local food hall anchored by Crooked Can Brewing Company. The community market has 20 vendors who make organic, artisanal foods. Everything from BBQ and butchered meats to sushi to macaroni and cheese is sold here. Crooked Can Brewing Company is a must for craft beer. Live entertainment and a pet-friendly patio sweeten the deal.

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Soseki is a modern omakase restaurant in Winter Park that recently received a Michelin star for the second year. The restaurant is known for its intimate dining experience with just 10 seats with two service times, at 5:30 and 8:30pm, from Wednesday to Saturday. The menu changes monthly with seasonality at its core, highlighting Florida produce and fish. While guests are never privy to the menu before dining, they 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. Once a month, Soseki hosts Sake Sessions. This experience includes a guided tasting of some of the most intriguing sake being produced today, curated by beverage director Benjamin Coutts, who received the 2023 Michelin Sommelier of the Year award.

Another hot spot for omakase-style dining is Kadence, awarded one Michelin star in 2022 and again in 2023. The small eight-seat restaurant is known for its omakase menu that incorporates the best ingredients the chef/owners Mark and Jennifer Berdin can find from the land and the sea. While the food is remarkable, the sake menu is also a big reason to try for reservations released a month in advance. Mark and Jennifer Berdin are Advanced Sake Professionals, so potential pairings are impeccable.

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One of the most popular restaurants in the city for Indian food is Bombay Street Kitchen, a two-time recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation. The restaurant is known for its take on Indian street food and has put together an outstanding menu to open up a new world of flavors and textures of street food culture with dishes direct from the bustling cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and beyond. With everything from Chole Bhature to dosas, there's something for everyone on the menu.

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. Papa Llama offers a seasonal multi-course prix fixe menu that celebrates sustainability and native Peruvian ingredients. The new Chef de Cuisine, Cayetano Del Alcazar, has reimagined traditional recipes, adding modern and Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese) elements to Executive Chef Kevin Ruiz’s "street food" style, resulting in exciting dishes like tiradito and Royal Red Shrimp. The restaurant is also known for its extensive list of natural wines.

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With a location in Winter Park and another in MIlls 50, authentic Cuban cuisine is nearby at Black Bean Deli. Andres Corton's is keeping the culinary legacy of his Cuban grandparents alive with Black Bean Deli, a bustling Cuban cafe with exceptional cafe con leche, empanadas, pan tostada, croquetas, Cuban sandwiches, Media Noche, and other Cuban classics. It's a delicious taste of Havana in Central Florida you won't soon forget.

Cakes like the red velvet with cocoa-infused cake, cheesecake, and rich cream cheese icing garnished with a swirl of gilded sprinkles and edible 23-karat gold flakes are the calling card at The Glass Knife, but don’t skip the sweet and savory items on offer for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. This dog-friendly cafe turns out impeccable baked cinnamon-spiced apple Liège waffles with warm caramelized apple compote, smooth maple whipped cream, and toasted pecans, and Cheddar Biscuit Sandwich Plate with egg soufflé, bacon jam, applewood-smoked bacon, arugula and aged cheddar cheese on a house-made cheddar biscuit.

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