YUM, YUM, YUM

As an Orlando native, you can assume I know a little bit about the food here. I’ve lived here for all 25 years of my life and as this journey comes to a close and I embark on a new journey in Denver, I figured why not leave you with a food guide that can help you out while I’m away. When you think of the best food joints in the U.S. I doubt your first thought is Orlando. Instead, you’re probably dreaming of NY pizza, Southern BBQ, and jambalaya in New Orleans. However, Orlando has recently surpassed my expectations with high quality, delicious cuisine.

With the uprising of local, small businesses in Orlando, there is a little something for everyone here to enjoy.

Here’s my top 10!

10. Earls kitchen + bar

If you’re looking for a sleek, upscale option check out Earls Kitchen + Bar located in the Millenia Mall. They offer a wide range of selections from steak, to salads, to sushi and more. enjoy artistic and insta-worthy spots in this restaurant. also take advantage of the local, craft cocktails.

happy hour: mon-fri 3pm-7pm sun-fri 9pm-close

9. Yellow dog eats

okay so this restaurant is a little bit outside of orlando - it’s actually in gotha, fl, but that’s only about a 15 min drive outside of orlando and trust me when i say it is so worth it! (there is also a location in new smyrna beach.) yellow dog eats is unlike any other in florida. it’s a restaurant + bar with outside entertainment weekly in the garden and a fun setup complete with twinkling lights, art, 70s inspired decor, and delicious bbq. come here if you want to have a mouth watering sandwich with a tongue-in-cheek title (they even have a sandwich named the holy crap.) they sell an assortment of jams, jellies, and sauces that are sure to have your taste buds wanting more.

for all of my vegetarian + vegan friends: they have an entire menu catered just for you as well

8. naroodle noodle shop

are you a naruto fan? if you are, this place is something you would think you could only find in your wildest of dreams. every detail from the decor to the food is inspired by naruto. naroodle noodle shop opened in february 2019, it is brand new, but don’t let that fool you! they have quality ramen and delicious appetizers that will have you coming back for more. it’s a small environment that is welcoming and personable. definitely a place you to have to checkout whether you’re into manga or not.

7. CLEAN JUICE

i know what you’re thinking…a juice place, really? clean juice is not only 100% certified organic, they also serve more than just juice! while clean juice has a variety of cold pressed juice, shots, and protein smoothies, they also erves delicious acai bowls, specialty toast, and greenoa bowls. don’t know what a greenoa bowl is? it’s a bowl packed with mixed greens, quinoa, hummus, and more! the perfect place to grab a clean, healthy lunch. the best part is that all of their produce is 100% organic. check out my favorite location - located in the winter park village

6. GIDEON’s bakehouse

craving something ooey-gooey and mouth-watering after your lunch? don’t sleep on gideon’s. gideon’s began after they found a diary from 1898 that belonged to a young boy named gideon. throughout his diary he kept recipes and his dreams of someday opening a bakery. thus, GIDEON’S BAKEHOUSE WAS BORN. GIDEOn’s bakehouse serves up scrumptious cookies and cakes…but act fast, these goodies run out quickly due to their high demand! pre-ordering online might be your best bet. if not, stand in line and don’t worry about the wait because it will all be worth it in the end.

5. JINYA ramen bar

from rice bowls, to curry, to ramen, jinya ramen bar will be sure to hit your taste buds. located in thornton park and all over the world, jinya ramen bar offers a modern atmosphere to sip on your lychee cocktail while slurping up your spicy ramen.

4. krungthep tea time

krungthep tea time is a thai twist sandwich and tea bar with a variety of unique sandwiches, teas, and desserts. it’s a quaint spot to bring your laptop and get some work done while sipping on your white coconut creme tea. this place has an EXTENSIVE, unique tea menu ranging from the classic thai iced tea to japanese cherry to pacific coast mint. this little insta-worthy spot has desserts like you’ve never seen before with names that you’ll want to claim after trying them - such as, queen bee, the witch, and sleeping beauty. you can only find them in winter park, fl so be sure to hit up this spot next time you drive by.

3. hunger street tacos

If you’re looking for authentic mexican food with an array of flavors, you can’t miss hunger street tacos. all tacos are made on gluten-free, soft corn tortillas. my personal favorites? the suadero taco and the mushroom quesadilla - these two are incredibly juicy and packed with a punch. they also serve up a unique brunch every saturday from 9am-2pm.

2. DOMU

Domu is the go-to place to get high quality, flavorful ramen. i have traveled all over the u.s. and i still have yet to find another ramen that i love more than the tokyo ramen they serve up at domu. located in the east end market and full of insta-worthy decor, this place makes the list of places you can’t miss while visiting orlando. because their food is so incredibly delicious, there is quite a wait and no reservations. they’re open from 5:30pm-10pm except for sat + sun. oN THE WEEKEND THEY SERVE UP A UNIQUE BRUNCH FROM 11AM-2:30PM AND THEN OPEN REGULAR HOURS AT NIGHT. Make sure you get there ahead of time (30 mins to hour is my suggestion.) once you put your name in, don’t fret about the long wait, your stomach will thank you later! not to mention, domu has an incredible cocktail bar and lounge that you can hang out in before you sit at your table. you can also walk up and down corrine dr. or explore all that the east end market has to offer while you wait. my favorite cocktail to indulge in? try the bees knees. if you’d like to try something a little more convenient and casual, check out domu chibi in the waterford lakes plaza - smaller portions, but just as flavorful.

hawkers
you were waiting for it, and here it is. hawkers is by far my favorite spot to hit up every time i’m in orlando. i could probably eat there every day. located in the vibrant and creative mills 50 district, hawkers asian street fare offers a variety of small plates serves tapas style, along with delicious noodle and rice dishes. do yourself a favor and get the roti canai as one of your small plates. it’s a crispy, warm, flaky malaysian bread served with a curry sauce that you will want to pour on everything once you try it. other personal favorite small plates? five-spice green beans, chili-garlic edamame, and the sichuan wontons. as for my personal favorite dishes? you can’t go wrong with the mee goreng or the beef haw fun. for dessert, try a twist on their roti canai with the cinnamon roti a la mode.

TOP 10 PLACES TO EAT IN ORLANDO