Check out some amazing food in Orlando! My recommendations are compiled from numerous visits to this city.
I travel to Orlando for work at least twice per year. Sometimes I’m too busy or my trip is too short to get out and explore the city, but other times I make it a point to try amazing food when I’m there. I’ve listed below some of my favorite spots that I absolutely recommend checking out (and none of these are within Disney parks).
I love great Mexican food and, in my opinion, Florida is one of the best places on the East Coast to find it! Viva Cocina & Tequila has a great menu with enough variety that everyone in your party will be able to find something they love. They even have sushi! (Think Mexican-inspired sushi – the plantain roll is amazing.) Last time I visited, I tried the chicken flautas (pictured below) while my coworkers both tried the shrimp tacos (“Los Marineros”). So good! The drink menu is also impressive; get a margarita – you won’t regret it. The vibe here is upbeat and trendy. (I’ve seen a lot of people there celebrating birthdays and other events.)
Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery
I dragged my boss here specifically so that I could try the Fried and Gone to Heaven roll (pictured below), and I was not disappointed. Also, both our margaritas were delicious! The place itself is super cute and has a very laidback, chill vibe with plants everywhere. They have a good variety of small plates, sliders, sushi, torched nigiri and desserts. There is also a great brunch menu available on Saturday and Sunday.
We went to the East End location, which was packed, so we sat at the bar. The bartenders were attentive (although busy) and fun. This Japanese restaurant makes their own noodles and I’m not surprised to see that they have apparently won awards for how good their food is. I had the classic Tonkotsu, only because I had just had miso the day before or I would have tried their creamy miso instead. They had some really cool drinks, including a smoked old fashioned.
This Italian restaurant is in a really cute area called Winter Park. (I suggest finding a nearby garage to park because street parking is hard to come by.) One of the things I love about this restaurant is that you can get either a half or full order of pasta – meaning you can try more than one pasta or actually finish your plate if you have a small appetite. I really enjoyed the rigatoni bolognese. (So much so that I got it last time when I went back also.) My coworkers tried the sweet potato ravioli and said it was amazing! They also had a great wine selection.
You can probably tell from the restaurant’s name that this is a wine-focused restaurant (and by the way, it’s also in Winter Park). Because of this, they have a great wine selection but don’t worry – if you’re not a wine person, they also have plenty of beers, cocktails and mocktails. I really enjoyed the burrata, which comes with a delicious pesto and ciabatta, and truffle fries. For my meal, I tried the Creste di Gallo, a pesto cream pasta with roasted chicken and spinach. It was delicious and, surprisingly, not too heavy.
Of course you can’t forget dessert! This Filipino ice cream shop has the most amazing, creative flavors. I went here for the Keso Guava Cheesecake and ended up getting the Mango Peach Pie. They let you try multiple flavors before committing to what you want to order and then you can add your own toppings (or not) and choose between a cup and a cone. I went back twice in one trip because it was so good!
If you’re looking for even more ideas, I learned about DOMU and Sampaguita from watching “The Real Orlando” episode of Somebody Feed Phil (season 7). I haven’t yet had a chance to check out the other featured restaurants from the show, but they also looked amazing!
Carolyn Always Earley 
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