The Best Restaurants in Orlando
Welcome to The Local Edit: Orlando Edition, where our taste buds are opinionated and dining must always be an experience. We’re all busy, and food is one of the things that brings us all together - so why settle for a bad restaurant you were tricked on TikTok about?
We're not claiming to be the healthiest, cheapest, or most luxe… but when it comes to actually how good the food and experience is, here is our handpicked list.
Our taste is so on point that we can't help but cringe when we see bad restaurants get more promotion than these. We can guarantee you won’t be disappointed by this list of restaurants that have not been paid to be promoted, but that are truly the best in Orlando.
In no particular order, this is an entirely random list of restaurants of varying price points, with descriptions that describe the vibe.
Cheers to good taste and great eats!
This place is best for its drinks and atmosphere, not the food. The food is just supposed to go with the drinks and vibe. We go here whenever we have someone visiting from out of town because it has that Miami vibe. Which is no surprise because its only sister restaurant (Mila) is in Miami. We are lucky to have it in Orlando!
Top AVA Picks:
G&T (Gin & Tonic)
The Greek Spread (warm pita with tzatziki, baba ganoush, and Hummus)
Caesar Salad
Lobster Pasta (ask for the original creamy recipe!)
Because every good restaurant list needs the best sushi pick. Hands down the best sushi spot for the price point. I think most Orlando people will say Kabooki sushi is their go-to because of the vibe, but it is expensive for what it offers (and there’s a high wait time for food). So if you value the sushi over the vibe, WA Sushi is the absolute best. That said, a simple google search will give you some bottomless sushi places in Orlando too. We don’t do that too much because we have no self control, but just know that’s an option too!
Top WA Sushi Picks:
omakase / morawase / chirashi ($30-50)
pina colada roll
check out their specials list - sometimes they have this extravagant blue ahi sampler platter for $50
Francesco's Ristorante & Pizzeria
It was hard to pick an image for Francesco’s. It truly is the best Italian restaurant I’ve ever been to in Florida. Maybe the United States. The octopus appetizer is something they are famous for, and is what I wanted to show, but people don’t go to Italian restaurants to eat octopus. They go to eat saucy feel-good pasta so I pictured that. This place has it all. It also swings from casual to fancy, so you can either treat this as a casual weekday meal in a t-shirt or for a nice date night in a dress.
Top Francesco’s Picks:
Grilled Octopus
Mussels appetizer
Rigatoni Palermitana
Lasagna
Chicken Parmesan
Doshi is where we go when we have foody friends or family in town we want to impress. It feels like a restaurant out of London that creates some of the coolest Asian dishes, like the photo above is a desert that looks like a garden. There is a rotating menu that can either be a fixed or a la carte.
Top Doshi Picks:
Wagyu fried rice
KFC wings
Galbi jjim
Any of the crudos
This is fine dining American food that is worth the price. We usually squeeze in a visit here for a special occasion or before/after a big day at the amusements parks or convention centers. The deserts are absolutely phenomenal and are such a show, you could even just go for dessert!
Top Bull & Bear Picks:
Filet mignon
Tomahawk for 2
Pan roasted Lamb
La fraise (dessert), but any dessert really.
If you are new to Orlando, you must have heard of Domu. It does indeed live up to the hype which is rare! There are multiple locations but menu remains consistent. Best ramen and chicken wings ever. But you need to get there right when they open, because there’s usually a line out the door.
Top DOMU picks:
Healthy pick: Vegan Ramen with egg
Best ramen pick: Any of the no-broth ramens
Chicken wings are a must!!!
Kaya is the best Filipino restaurant in the United States. It has a rotating menu that can be fixed menu or a la carte. Our only consistent top pick that remains on the menu through rotation is their garlic rice. This restaurant should be your choice when you are looking to spice things up and do something different. It can be considered formal or casual - the best of both worlds!
Another staple of Orlando is Bosphorous, a Turkish restaurant. It has multiple locations so just check which is closer to you. This is feel good food when you need rice and meat!
Top Bosphorous Picks:
Lavas bread with any of the spreads
Any of the kebaps
Every restaurant list needs a Korean pick. This is it. We usually get this for take-out when we want to lounge at home. You can find it on Doordash. But if you choose to go in person, the place is quaint, extremely casual, and they have a BBQ option where you can sit at a table with a grill.
Top Seoul Picks:
LA Galbi
Kanpungki (sweet & sour fried chicken)
Best Mexican TO GO. You must order one of these crunchwraps!!! That’s all I need to say here. Order from Doordash.
It took us a few tries to find a good, consistent Indian restaurant. Royal Southern Kitchen (RSK) has definitely been the best thus far. Their classic dishes do not disappoint when you are in the mood for some feel-good Indian food!
Best Chinese restaurant in Orlando. Unfortunately there is not dim sum, but if you order enough dishes, it can be!
This one holds a special place in my heart. It is quite a bit of a drive, but I promise it is worth it when you want to gorge yourselves in fine meats. It is only like $30 for the finest selection of meats.
Best vegan restaurant. Everyone needs to incorporate more veganism into their lives. Why not do it with vegan crunchwraps??
