Home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld, Orlando is also home to some of the most acclaimed international cuisine. Here are some of the best Orlando restaurants enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.
Morimoto Asia
Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs, yes as in Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, serves up some of the finest Pan-Asian food in Orlando. This two-story restaurant is open daily until 2 a.m. with the kitchen open until 1 a.m. and is perfect for a late-night bite. Within Morimoto Asia’s impressively constructed 2-stories is an “on-stage kitchen” making for a fun dining experience. Among the food, favorites are Dim Sum, variety of sushi rolls, tuna pizza, and Morimoto’s own signature sake. Don’t let the menu fool you though, it is broad enough to accommodate those new to Pan-Asian cuisine, and offers a kid-friendly menu as well.
Vine’s Grille and Wine Bar
If it’s something a little low key that you are looking for, check out Vine’s Grille and Wine Bar. Not only can you get classic steak and seafood dishes, but you can also order from the Chef Composed Entrée menu for the most unique and creative food combinations. In addition to the fine food, Vine’s has an award-winning selection of over 600 wines from around the world. Your seating options consist of the main dining room and private or semi-private rooms, but be warned that calling ahead for a reservation is highly recommended. To bring this upscale dining experience together is the music from the Tommy Bridges Jazz Band playing live nightly.
Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine
Since Orlando is a melting pot of flavors don’t miss Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine. Originally a small food market and winery in 1930s Cuba, Padrino’s has definitely evolved, while staying true to it’s authenticity, using bright flavors and fresh ingredients. Make sure to try the Padrino’s Palomilla, a traditional Cuban steak dish accompanied with sweet plantains, and finish off your meal with a Flan, another Cuban favorite.
Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
Circling back around to another culinary icon, Emeril Lagasse’s Tchoup Chop (pronounced chop-chop) takes Asian-Polynesian Fusion to another level. The décor exudes contemporary South Pacific influence, with private and semi-private dining rooms available. If it’s the 5-star seafood you are looking for, then this is the place! From an Asian take on a classic surf n’ turf to the Hawaiian-style local Mahi Mahi, Tchoup Chop is sure to take you on a tour of fresh and savory flavors. To end your meal, be sure to ask for the Dessert of the Day. Also, make sure you call ahead for a reservation.
Serving Up Greatness
The list of delicious and eclectic cuisine in Orlando can go on for days, but these are the four that stood out. Happy dining! Contact us today for more information or to book your Orlando vacation!
Dessert in Orlando – 4 Places to Get the Best Desserts in Orlando, FL
For most people, a trip to Orlando, FL means taking part in plenty of theme park adventures. However, the area doesn’t just cater to Disney lovers. It also wins a special spot in the heart of those living with a sweet tooth that refuses to be ignored. If this happens to describe you, or someone you’re traveling with, venturing away from the amusement parks will allow you to discover some of the city’s best dessert places. No matter what you have a craving for, one of the local favorites below is sure to help you satiate your appetite for a savory treat.
Blue Bird Bake Shop
This quaint Orlando eatery in the Audubon Park Garden District has earned several accolades for its dessert offerings, and you’ll find out why as soon as you visit. Blue Bird Bake Shop was opened in 2010, and has since done its part to provide residents and travelers with a delectable menu that includes cupcakes, cookies, muffins, scones, brownies, coconut macaroons, krispy bars, and ice cream cookie sandwiches. All recipes are made from scratch with exquisite ingredients.
The Pop Parlour
When a regular old ice cream cone or slice of cake just won’t cut it, The Pop Parlour is sure to deliver. Using locally sourced, all-natural herbs, vegetables, and fruits in their sweet creations, you won’t find a more original (and guilt-free) place to dive into dessert than this popular spot. Patrons have a wide variety of choices between fruity, creamy, and even alcohol-laden flash frozen pop flavors. The selections are always changing to keep things fresh.
The Dessert Lady
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The Dessert Lady puts a different spin on your typical dessert shop, which is what continues to consistently draw in both local and new customers. Don’t expect to get your run-of-the-mill pie or cake here, with menu items ranging from Neapolitan cake, chocolate zuccotto, and sour cream apple cobbler, to bourbon pecan pie, fudge ripple bread pudding, and coconut brûlée cheesecake. You’ll be lucky if you make it out of the bakery without ordering a whole cake to go.
Se7en Bites
Se7en Bites has a nice selection of sweet options to complement its breakfast and brunch menu. The bakeshop is well-known among locals for serving up delicious cream scones, coffee cake, shortbread, biscotti, cookies, and their signature moon/oatmeal cream pie. The use of simple ingredients in many of the recipes has turned out to make some of the most memorable treats patrons have ever eaten.
Ghirardelli in Disney Springs
If you want some chocolate close to one of the amazing vacation rentals we offer (Sweet Escape, check it out!) AND right down the road from Disney World, Ghirardelli in Disney Springs is your place. Ranked 4th out of 105 Dessert places in Orlando by Trip Advisor, this delicious classic provides amazing ice cream, hand crafted chocolate, and more sweets than you can shake a stick at. Trust us; if you have a sweet tooth, Ghirardelli is the place for you!
If you truly appreciate a good sweet treat when you taste one, you certainly won’t regret carving some time out of your Orlando vacation schedule to stop in at any of these raved about dessert locations. Don’t forget to check out some of our amazing vacation rentals in the area!
Delicious Food on a Shoe String Budget: Cheap But Great Eats in Orlando
Orlando, Florida is a city that has been dubbed a cultural and social hotbed. With incredible diversity within the population and plenty of things to do and see, this is a place that every adventurer should experience. It is also a must-visit destination for any lover of food. The following is a list of some of the most popular fairly-priced restaurants where you can get a great meal for a little money.
Bem Bom Food Truck
Many people are thrown for a loop when considering the prospect of food served out of a truck. But make no mistake, the Bem Bom Food Truck dishes out some of the finest cuisine in the area for a surprisingly fair price. Francisco Mendonca or “Chef Chico” as he has come to be known, has been studying a variety of cooking from French to Tex-Mex. This food truck specializes in Portuguese cuisine with signature dishes like Piri Piri chicken, Pork Prego and even the delicate custards. The Pork Prego consists of pork that has been braised for 8 to 10 hours with caramelized onions and peppers, all on a Portuguese bun. There are countless other food truck destinations that dish out some of the most unique and delicious foods you will find anywhere.
Tako Cheena
This is one of the most unique and cost effective places to eat in all of Orlando. You are sure to have never had anything quite like this, as it is a fusion of Thai, Cuban, Filipino and Mexican cuisine. It is hard to imagine an amalgam of such strong flavors and styles of food, but with one taste, you will understand what prompted such collaboration. Try crowd favorites like the Thai peanut chicken takos, Panko-crusted cod takos and bahn-mi hot dogs. Expand your culinary horizons with flavors that you could never have imagined.
Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria
As the name suggests, Pom Pom’s is one of the best places to visit if you have a hankering for countless sandwich and tea options. But you can also find amazing soups and salads at this popular destination. Come hungry and leave with a full wallet and belly.
Delicious Food, Low Prices
The list of options for cost effective dining in Orlando is so extensive that it would take all day. It is far more come out and see for yourself! Here, you are sure to experience delights to the senses that you have never known before. Get out there and find you new favorite place to eat on a budget!
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