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$$$$ | Central Orlando |
A hip space nestled in a former private house off Colonial Drive, Kaya gives traditional dishes from throughout the 7,000 islands of the Philippines inventive new angles. Though pricey, the "five-wave Sama Sama Tasting Menu" is truly memorable—what should be a standard dish, the yam noodle pancit, becomes extraordinary, and California long-grain sushi rice is transformed into a revelatory fried-garlic-infused plate with locally grown squash, eggplant, and lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms. Indeed, chef Lordfer Lalicon, who honed his craft at the famed Blue Hill at Stone Farms, takes local sourcing very seriously.
618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- Inventive, multicourse meals
- Family-style dishes
- Pancit sotanghon and garlic rice
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch. Closed Sun. and Mon., Make reservations online through website
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$$ | Central Orlando | Coffee
Trina Gregory-Propst and her team of bakers and cooks make the biggest and most satisfying breakfasts, lunches, and sweet treats in town. Try a from-scratch chicken pot pie, which has the most glorious crust; the mile-high meat loaf sandwich; or the "7th Trimester" of buttermilk garlic biscuit, over-medium egg, and smoked bacon, smothered in five-cheese mac-and-cheese. Look for the "Let us fill your pie hole" mural.
617 Primrose Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- Over-the-top Southern breakfast specials
- Funky Downtown location
- Featured on TV show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. No dinner
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$$$ | College Park |
Armando Martorelli has opened many local restaurants in his career since coming from Italy to Florida, but his namesake eatery is the epitome of his craft. It has a relaxed neighborhood vibe and serves what is perhaps the area's best Neapolitan-style pizza. Other menu highlights include daily fresh-seafood specials, veal saltimbocca, and a signature pollo di Tatiana with vodka cream sauce.
2305 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32804, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired oven pizza and other Neapolitan specialties
- Superb seafood
- Extensive wine and cocktail list with a very popular bar area
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$$$ | Central Orlando |
Talented chefs bring big city sophistication to Downtown Orlando at this casual eatery with a French-American fusion menu and craft cocktails. Everything that can be made in-house—pickles, condiments, bread—is, and although the chicken, steak, and seafood entrées are fantastic, the frites (fries) alone are worth the trip. Coffee and pastries are available in the morning, and a very prolonged happy hour fills afternoons. There's complimentary valet parking in the evening.
390 N Orange Ave., Orlando, Florida, 32801, USA
Known For
- Handcrafted charcuterie and cocktails
- Raw bar with Florida oysters
- Braised short ribs with trumpet mushrooms
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. Morning hours vary
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$ | Thornton Park |
Noisy and visually loud (commissioned graffiti makes up the decor), casual and astoundingly popular Graffiti Junktion holds the burger/wrap/sandwich crowd in thrall. Burgers run large and juicy, with hand-formed patties bursting from the bun in varieties like the Iron City (Angus beef, Canadian bacon, cheese, and a fried egg), and all three of the Orlando locations are open until 2 am.
700 East Washington St., Orlando, Florida, 32801, USA
Known For
- Late hours and noisy sports bar atmosphere
- Fresh-formed burgers with inventive toppings
- Hand-cut french fries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Downtown Orlando |
A local favorite since 1947, this down-home steak house serves good cuts of meat, expertly cooked and reasonably priced. Butchery is done on premises, and there are no TVs over the bar to distract from a pleasant conversation over a great steak. The menu is short and to the point, including about a dozen steaks (most of them different sizes of top sirloin strip, filet mignon, or T-bone) and just enough ancillary items to fill a single page. Among the fish selections is the 12-ounce blackened red snapper. The chicken, veal, or eggplant parmigiana topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella is good for nonsteak lovers. With every entrée you receive a salad plus a choice of spaghetti (which isn't particularly noteworthy), baked potato, steak fries, green beans, or broccoli. There's even an old-fashioned early bird special for seniors before 6 pm.
4721 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- An Orlando classic
- Hand-cut, house-aged steaks
- Seafood and pasta entrées
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Downtown Orlando |
A holdover from when neighborhood restaurants were actually in a neighborhood, award-winning Maxine's is casual, hip, local, and friendly. The menu ranges from sophisticated seafood to brisket burgers and Black Angus filet mignon. The wine list is unique and special, and the bar rivals the extended outdoor seating for popularity. There's live music several times a week, an unusual Friday brunch, and special events feature wine dinners and drag cabaret nights.
337 N. Shine, Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- Lively, neighborhood atmosphere
- Outdoor dining
- Seafood dishes from a veteran local chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$$$ | College Park |
Closed Permanently
K is a hot spot for locals, serving upscale, eclectic American and Italian cuisine in an intimate, neighborhood setting. Besides happy-hour specials and dinner, K hosts wine tastings in the garden or on the patio and popular prix-fixe wine dinners. Menus change daily and include appetizers such as fried green tomatoes with sweet corn and crab salad, and country-fried chicken livers with caramelized onion marmalade. For entrées, check out the mushroom-dusted filet mignon with red wine sauce, the popular mac-and-cheese specials, or homemade sausage. From Monday to Friday during lunch hours, you can order via Uber Eats delivery.
1710 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32804, USA
Known For
- Ever-changing seasonal menu
- Great local meeting spot away from Downtown Orlando
- Mac-and-cheese specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Downtown Orlando |
Closed Permanently
A humble hideaway located near a strip mall, Blue Jacket draws the hipster crowd as well as the still-vibrant former navy population. This is a (gourmet) burger and (craft) beer spot, with 20 brews on tap and another 40 by the bottle. Flatbreads, Philly cheese steaks, and wings round out the menu, along with unusual items such as poutine.
745 Bennett Rd., Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- Very casual taproom with 20 brews
- Happy hour specials and trivia nights
- Chicken wings, burgers, and flatbreads
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Thornton Park |
Closed Permanently
Resplendent with metallic leather and chic white seats, this trendy eatery has more the atmosphere of a fast-lane singles bar than of an Asian oasis, but the dishes from the kitchen—fresh sushi and cooked Asian entrées—distinguish the place as a legit dining establishment. If you're here for the sushi, the place will not disappoint. There are 25 different varieties of signature rolls alone, plus traditional sushi including sea urchin and baby octopus and a dozen interesting sashimi creations. The ceviche roll is especially tasty; a tribute to the Latin American fish dish, the sushi mixes the flavors of micro cilantro, a lime-chipotle sauce, plus siracha. Start with the tako salad, a delicious arrangement of octopus, cucumber, enoki mushrooms, mandarin oranges, and spicy kimchi sauce, or Wagyu steak that you cook yourself on a hot stone. Then move on to one of the mini-courses, like buffalo lobster tempura, or an entrée such as sake salmon: an eight-ounce fillet steamed with sake, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, and grated ginger. Or sit at the bar and let the sushi chef pamper you with the day's multicourse omakase.
621 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, Florida, 32801, USA
Known For
- Young, dressed-up crowd
- Multicultural dishes like Korean tacos
- Extensive sushi menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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