Kappo Tsan chef de cuisine Toshi Credit: courtesy of Kappo Tsan
RESTAURANT OPENINGS & CLOSINGS:
Kappo Tsan by Norigami chef David Tsan is now serving Japanese kappo-style meals at 11815 Glass House Lane, just off Daryl Carter Parkway … Bambuu Asian Eatery, a fast-casual Asian fusion restaurant, has opened across from UCF at 12250 Strategy Blvd. The location also features two subconcepts: Hasuu Japan, offering Japanese cuisine, and Bambuu Bar, offering brews and shareable plates … True Island Grille has opened near Waterford Lakes at 875 Woodbury Road, serving Jamaican fare … AYCE joint Sushi Rock & Grill has opened at 525 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs.
Van Goghblin Cafe has opened inside the Goblin Studios at 805 W. Central Blvd. in downtown Orlando, offering a host of hand-crafted coffee drinks, matcha, chai and tea varieties … Look for Olea Taverna to open next month in The Local Bar & Grill space at 3231 Edgewater Drive in College Park. The concept is by Nazih Sebaali, who runs Grazie Modern Italian Kitchen in Audubon Park and Meza Mediterranean Grill in Baldwin Park … Aniko, The Balkan Market has opened in Ivanhoe Village offering baked and packaged goods from Eastern Europe at 1700 N. Orange Ave.
Mecatos Bakery & Cafe, the homegrown chain offering Colombian baked goods, hot bites, desserts, fruit smoothies and, of course, coffee, will move into the space once occupied by The Coop at 610 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park. Owner Edwin Lurduy is anticipating a summer opening … Also in Winter Park, Tacos My Guey has opened in the same plaza as Donut King at 3736 Howell Branch Road … Potbelly Sandwich Works has opened its Winter Park location at 1003 S. Orlando Ave. … And Sushi Island, offering a host of rolls and an AYCE experience, has opened at 227 S. Semoran Blvd. near Full Sail … Hooked Fish Camp, a new venture from F&D Restaurant Concepts (F&D Prime, F&D Cantina and F&D Woodfired Italian Kitchen) will move into the old Hooters building near the Seminole Town Center in Sanford. The seafood restaurant is slated to open next month.
Closings: Ivanhoe Village wine bar Arden has closed a year after opening … Colibri Mexican Restaurant has closed after serving Baldwin Park for nearly 20 years … After 36 years of sloshing downtown revelers, Tanqueray’s has also shuttered.
RESTAURANT NEWS:
Chef DJ Tangalin (Chez Les Copains, Taglish, Asin) is now chef de cuisine at Primo, Melissa Kelly’s Mediterranean/Italian restaurant at the Grande Lakes Resort … Chef Jes Tantalo is leaving Redlight Redlight at the end of January to relocate to North Carolina.
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This article appears in Jan. 14-20, 2026.
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