One of Florida’s booming culinary scenes is nestled against a backdrop of rollercoasters and castles in Orlando, Florida. What makes Orlando a culinary wonderland, besides the sheer number of restaurants to try, is the incredible diversity in the restaurant scene. The city boasts everything from dive-style seafood restaurants slinging oysters on the half-shell to incredible Michelin-starred establishments serving steaks and Japanese fusion. So whether you’re a tourist wanting to stick to the theme park corridor or a local who’s willing to drive across town for an incredible meal, there’s always a great restaurant nearby; you just need to know where to look.
Updated January 2026: I love January because it feels like a new beginning. Part of my New Year’s traditions includes writing a list of restaurants I want to try. While not every restaurant on this list is newly opened, there’s a mix of staples in the city and new eateries that you may not have gotten to yet. Some long-time favorites include Wine Bar George at Disney Springs and Kaya in the Mills 50 neighborhood. A few of the new inclusions on my list this time are Mills Market, Piggza, and Walala Hand Pulled Noodles, all located in the popular Mills 50 neighborhood.
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This guide was updated by Florida-based writer Megan duBois. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.