The Orlando restaurant Kaya is the front door to Filipino food for many who have never tried it before.

“We really do see ourselves as ambassadors of that experience, and we want people to leave loving Filipino food so they can go support more Filipino businesses and grocery stores and restaurants,” said Jamilyn Salonga Bailey, the restaurant’s general manager.

The food incorporates a mix of flavors and techniques from Spain, China, Indonesia, Japan and elsewhere while also borrowing “from that ethos of there’s nothing more Filipino than eating what’s in the backyard,” Bailey said.

The truffle adobo risotto is topped with fresh herbs picked from Kaya’s front yard garden. For dessert, chewy mochi donuts are ube flavored.

“Filipino food is simultaneously very familiar and very comforting, but also something that’s different from anything you’ve ever had,” Bailey said.

Kaya is part of Orlando’s growing food scene that’s gaining national attention and helping grow tourism beyond the theme parks.

It’s also one of the restaurants featured in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, a program known as the best eat-out deal in Central Florida of the year.

Running through Sept. 30, all participating restaurants are offering a three-course, prix-fixe meal for $40 or $60.

This year’s Magical Dining is unique: Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park is the first true Michelin-starred restaurant to participate in the promotion.

In addition, Magical Dining also has 14 other restaurants, including Kaya, also recognized by the Michelin Guide. 

Magical Dining started 21 years ago when local restaurants were struggling during the slow season. Visit Orlando CEO Casandra Matej said “the secret sauce” of Magical Dining was later adding a charity component and sending $1 or $2 from every meal to help a different charity every year.

This year, the main charity beneficiary is OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability), a nonprofit that helps people with autism and disabilities by offering camps, Special Olympics training, therapies and more.

“We now have restaurants that are like, ‘This is a good cause and because it’s a good cause, I want to participate,’” Matej said. “Magical Dining is such an amazing recipe of helping small businesses and having residents and visitors enjoy great meals and then giving to a charity.”

This year, a record-high 188 restaurants are participating in Magical Dining, which runs throughout Central Florida. New restaurants this year include a rooftop restaurant overlooking Epic Universe at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel and a restaurant in the private pickleball club Hamlin House. Another restaurant at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek is on the roof and offers a good view of Disney World fireworks.

Kaya is located in the trendy Mills 50 neighborhood near downtown Orlando. 

Kaya. Image via Gabrielle Russon

Visit Orlando takes Magical Dining so seriously, they train restaurants and look over the menus to make sure visitors are getting normal full-size portions — even though they are only paying $40 or $60, Matej said.

“We wanted to make sure that you’re actually getting above the value,” Matej said.

At Kaya, the special promotion is welcomed.

“We love Magical Dining,” Bailey said. “Magical dining just gives the local community a reason to go out and support local independent restaurants. And so we think about it as our opportunity to welcome a whole new group of people as well as our regulars into the fold.”