Orlando Restaurants
Whether you’re a serious foodie, a casual diner or somewhere in between, you’re going to love eating in Orlando! With more than 5,000 restaurants to choose from, you’ll find plenty of delicious options, including celebrity chef-owned eateries, themed dining, inventive fast-casual fare, top national and international brands, and local favorites. In short, your taste buds are in for an adventure!
Disney Springs Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort is a destination in its own right, offering dining, shopping and entertainment in an immersive atmosphere. Here, you’ll find dishes from around the world, innovative fusions and delicious counter-service options — not to mention the largest concentration of celebrity chefs in Orlando. Current celebrity chef-owned eateries at Disney Springs include Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Florida Kitchen, Rick Bayless’ Frontera Cocina, Masaharu Morimoto’s Morimoto Asia and Wolfgang Puck’s Wolfgang Puck Express, and Planet Hollywood serves a line of burgers and sandwiches created by Guy Fieri. Later this year, Tony Mantuano’s Terralina Crafted Italian, José Andrés’ Jaleo and Puck’s Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill will join the lineup, as will Master Sommelier George Miliotes’ Wine Bar George.
Even without a celebrity attached, eateries such as Polite Pig, STK, Paddlefish Restaurant, Bongo’s Cuban Café and Paradiso 37 are worth foodies’ attention. And the young and young-at-heart alike will adore themed dining at Rainforest Cafe and T-REX.
Universal CityWalk Described as “The Epicenter of Awesome,” Universal CityWalk offers restaurants, retailers and fun at the nexus of Universal Orlando Resort’s theme parks. It’s also home to some of Orlando’s tastiest dining options.
Two of the entertainment district’s most unforgettable choices are the steampunk-influenced Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen and one-of-a-kind fusion at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. You’ll also discover several themed restaurants, including Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food, Bob Marley — A Tribute to Freedom and Hot Dog Hall of Fame.
International Drive and Restaurant Row Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it on International Drive — and often at budget-friendly prices. For instance, ICON Orlando 360’s dining ranges from the main building’s food court to full-service options such as Tapa Toro Tapas Bar & Paella Pit, Tin Roof and Yard House. Nearby, Pointe Orlando is home to B.B. King’s Blues Club, Lafayette’s and Taverna Opa, among others.
More great fare is waiting for you here, too. Savor authentic Latin flavor — and nightly live entertainment — at Mango’s Tropical Cafe, head to the Far East at Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant, get a taste of Italy at Vincenzo Cucina Italiana, or experience the best of surf and turf at Joe’s Crab Shack and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, respectively.
Just a short trip from International Drive, Orlando’s Restaurant Row district is a dining revelation in its own right. It features some of Orlando’s most acclaimed eateries, including Dragonfly — Robata Grill & Sushi, Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and others.
Local Celebrities and Farm-to-Table Freshness Orlando has a bevy of homegrown culinary geniuses who are ready to dazzle you with their skills and knowledge. For example, Norman Van Aken — the only Floridian on the prestigious James Beard list of “Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage”— has two local eateries, including Norman’s at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes and Mount Dora’s 1921 by Norman Van Aken.
We also have two semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chefs of the South” category for 2017: Brandon McGlamery, of Winter Park’s Luma on Park and Prato, as well as Maitland’s Luke’s Kitchen and Bar, and Kathleen Blake, of downtown Orlando’s The Rusty Spoon. Fellow James Beard Award nominees James and Julie Petrakis are the masterminds behind Winter Park’s The Ravenous Pig and Disney Springs’ aforementioned Polite Pig.
Foodies will also be glad to know that the farm-to-table movement is ingrained in Orlando’s culture. In College Park near downtown Orlando, K Restaurant has been a leader in that regard, with a backyard garden for growing ingredients.
In Orlando’s tourism district, Norman’s and other restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, benefit from a 650-meter farm. You can also taste the results at The Ritz-Carlton’s Highball & Harvest, while JW Marriott’s Primo by Melissa Kelly maintains its own organic garden.
