24 essential Colonial Drive restaurants you should’ve tried by now

Linda’s La Cantina
No matter how you slice it, Linda’s La Cantina serves a superb steak and has been doing so for more than a half a century. Sit in the Fire Fountain Lounge sipping a grasshopper while you’re waiting for your checked-tablecloth table in the dining room – and keep in mind that on most nights, reservations are recommended. All steaks are cut in-house, including the monster 2-pound T-bone.
4721 E. Colonial Drive, 407-894-4491; $$$

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Sapporo Ramen
Banish all thoughts of salty plastic-wrapped bricks: It isn’t that kind of ramen. This West Colonial noodle house is bent on spreading the foodie cult of ramen, and after sampling richly flavored bowls of tonkotsu, shio, miso or shoyu ramen, you will be too. Udon and soba noodles are also offered, as are curries and gyudon, both of which are worth ordering. Starters (overdone edamame, mushy octopus fritters, ho-hum croquettes) are best skipped. Ramen rules here.
5080 W. Colonial Drive, 407-203-6777; $

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Mellow Mushroom
The quasi-hippie vibe at this Atlanta mainstay means you can get tofu on your pizza and it still tastes good; a menu of hoagies and superb salads, as well as more traditional pizzas, make this a chain you don’t have to feel guilty about loving. Try the Maui Wowie, a Hawaiian pizza with pesto, bacon and banana peppers.
11680 E. Colonial Drive, 407-384-4455, $

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Kabooki Sushi
Behind the city-slick mask sits a restaurant bent on a focused and serious approach. At Kabooki, chef Henry Moso gets creative while keeping theatrics to a minimum. From sublimely fresh cuts of sashimi to amazingly gratifying escolar splashed with kimchi vinaigrette, Moso knows fish. Rolls are thoughtfully prepared; cooked dishes (like crisp hamachi collar) are expertly rendered. Don’t skip chef Pedro’s house-made desserts.
3122 E. Colonial Drive, 407-328-3839; $$

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That One Spot
The drolly named That One Spot is a hipster burger joint right down to the graffiti mural, but that hasn’t scared off the suburbanites. Crowds line up patiently for the spectrum of 13 burgers comprising red meat, other meats and two veggie options. The curry chicken burger has a surprising flavor burst, and the crunch burger was an absolute beauty – it’s the one you’ll be hankering for until your eventual return.
10968 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee, 407-877-7575; $

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Loving Hut
The tiny building is a sparkling-white temple of oddly delicious vegan dining. The environmentally friendly Loving Hut offers a win-win proposition: Along with more typical Asian options like “noble rice” and “saintly stir-fry,” the menu is stocked with snacks like cheesecake, “golden nuggets” and “happy dogs,” but it’s all vegan.
2101 E. Colonial Drive, 407-894-5673; $

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Tamarind Indian Cuisine
Tamarind’s familiar, fiery and focused dishes are worthy of Subcontinental food cravings. Samosas and sizzling tandoor-fired lamb chops are the way to start; end with exotic falooda kulfi, ice cream made of condensed milk, rose syrup and crushed pistachios.
12309 E. Colonial Drive, 407-237-0920; $$

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La Casa De Las Paellas
Seafood is actually most prominent on the vast menu, but paella fiends can choose from seven variations. Paella marinera teems with fish and shellfish, but we lamented the lack of the characteristic crisp bottom crust. Make it a point to start with crunchy, juicy chicharrones de pollo.
10414 E. Colonial Drive, 407-736-9880; $$

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Korea House
The Colonial Drive outpost of Korea House is just as meat-centric as its Longwood counterpart. All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is the clear choice for most patrons – given the quality of meat and the relatively low AYCE price, it’s easy to see why. Not up for barbecue? Stir-fries and soups, like mandu-guk with dumplings and rice cake in beef broth, will make happy fun dance in your tummy.
4501 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-5994; $$

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Mamak Asian Street Food
Mamak brings a semblance of Malaysia’s food-stall culture to Mills 50 with plenty of pan-Asian noodle soups, wok-fired delicacies and small plates. From beef bulgogi and seasoned cod in black bean sauce to char kway teow and kari mee, the dishes here are exemplary and thoroughly gratifying. Get a plate of stir-fried green beans to nosh on throughout your meal. To end, sweet ice kacang is a cold comfort.
1231 E. Colonial Drive, 407-270-4688; $

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Chuan Lu Garden
Colonialtown’s Chuan Lu Garden employs plenty of fiery stimulants in their authentic, real-deal Sichuan fare. Must-try dishes: cumin lamb, laced with aromatic and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, ground pork dandan noodles, and Best of Orlando award-winning la zi chicken.
1101 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-8966; $$

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Lam’s Garden
The long-standing dim sum hot spot cools somewhat in the evening hours, but that doesn’t stop diners craving traditional Cantonese-American from indulging in the copious dishes. For freshness, look to the tanks teeming with striped bass, tilapia and lobster; otherwise, take your chances with the huge menu. Wor shu duck is a crispy, garlicky winner.
2505 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-0370; $$

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Oblivion Taproom
One of the city’s better beer bars sits, unexpectedly, on a forgettable strip of Colonial Drive, with 40 beers on tap and more available by the bottle – but the meaty bar bites, inventive burgers especially, are what sets this place apart from the rest. Don’t overlook crisp battered-and-fried items. Oddly enough, vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful. (Note: They're currently closed, but will be re-opening soon under new ownership.)
5101 E. Colonial Drive, 407-802-4800; $$

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Tasty Wok
You’ll be saying “thank you” repeatedly to your quick-to-educate servers at this modest corner barbecue and noodle house. Singapore rice noodles are a don’t-miss, and roast duck and chicken offer a proper juicy-to-crisp ratio. The real deal.
1246 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-8988; $

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Hot Dog Heaven
Pretty much a Colonial Drive staple, Hot Dog Heaven has been slangin' dogs for quite some time and for good reason ... they serve a hell of a tube steak.
5355 E. Colonial Drive, 407-282-5746; $

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U Roll Sushi
Design your own sushi roll or bowl by choosing your protein (salmon, fried tofu, shrimp, spicy tuna and the like), your fillings (asparagus, cream cheese, avocado, etc.) and your toppings (sesame seeds, wonton strips, tempura flakes and more) and sauces for a truly individual dining experience. Not in the mood to create your own dish? Choose an entree from the kitchen menu instead.
7685 E. Colonial Drive, 407-730-9699; $

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Quickly Boba & Snow
This Best of Orlando winner is mostly a boba and slush spot, but they’ve got the savory goods, too. Besides waffles and ice cream, grab a basket of Taiwanese-style popcorn chicken for spicy crunch and a side of summer rolls for some fresh veg. Or just have macarons for lunch; it’s your life.
3214 E. Colonial Drive, 407-270-4570; $

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Pho 88
Yes, they also have a location on Colonial and you won’t need burgers for a fast-food fix once you find this Vietnamese noodle shop. Specializing in gigantic, weirdly addictive bowls of very thin rice noodles and various cuts of beef submerged in delicately seasoned broth, they also serve the usual exotics of shrimp paste and grilled pork?– but the soup’s the thing.
9728 E. Colonial Drive, 407-930-7670, $

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Mama B’s Giant Subs
Just off of Colonial and surrounded by high-rise developments, Mama B's refuses to budge. Their sammies are great and may even have a following that rivals Publix – well, at least in the downtown area.
692 N. Orange Ave., PHONE NUMBER; $

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Black Bean Deli
A constant Best of Orlando winner, Black Bean's "new" Colonial Drive location is also a favorite. We love the medianoche (midnight) sandwich, which is basically the same a Cuban, only it's presented on a soft, yellow, toasted sweet roll.
1835 E. Colonial Drive, 407-203-0922; $

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