This might sound a little extreme, but if you think you've lived a full life and you've never had the Tonkotsu Ramen from Sapporo Ramen, then everything you know is a sham. But seriously though, Orlando has some incredible dishes, here's 25 that every local should try at least once.
The 25 Orlando dishes you should eat before you die
By Orlando Weekly Staff on Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 7:23 pm
Tags:
Scroll down to view images
Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie
Se7enbites, 207 N. Primrose Drive, 407-203-0727; facebook.com/se7enbites
The absurdly decadent sweet filling is balanced flawlessly with a piecrust so savory, so pumped with butter and salt, that it almost tastes like bacon.
Pic via Hannah Glogower
Se7enbites, 207 N. Primrose Drive, 407-203-0727; facebook.com/se7enbites
The absurdly decadent sweet filling is balanced flawlessly with a piecrust so savory, so pumped with butter and salt, that it almost tastes like bacon.
Pic via Hannah Glogower
Duck Lovers Pizza
The Smiling Bison, 745 Bennett Road, 407-898-8580; thesmilingbison.com thesmilingbison.com
A garlic puree-dressed crust quacks under the weight of duck confit, duck ham and duck sausage, topped with Monterey Jack, scattered with pea tendrils, drizzled with 10-year balsamic and crowned with a fried duck egg.
Pic via Hannah Glogower
The Smiling Bison, 745 Bennett Road, 407-898-8580; thesmilingbison.com thesmilingbison.com
A garlic puree-dressed crust quacks under the weight of duck confit, duck ham and duck sausage, topped with Monterey Jack, scattered with pea tendrils, drizzled with 10-year balsamic and crowned with a fried duck egg.
Pic via Hannah Glogower
Pork Belly Adobo
Scratch, 223 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-325-5165; scratchtapas.com scratchtapas.com
Small plate, big flavors: lush pork belly cooked sous-vide for 12 hours, then crisped up and plated with micro cilantro, nutty-chewy forbidden rice, a salty shoyu-based sauce and a perfectly acidic zing of calamansi lime juice.
Pic via Hannah Glogower
Scratch, 223 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-325-5165; scratchtapas.com scratchtapas.com
Small plate, big flavors: lush pork belly cooked sous-vide for 12 hours, then crisped up and plated with micro cilantro, nutty-chewy forbidden rice, a salty shoyu-based sauce and a perfectly acidic zing of calamansi lime juice.
Pic via Hannah Glogower
Banh Cuon
Vietnam Cuisine, 1224 E. Colonial Drive, 407-228-7053; ttranvista.wix.com/vietnamcuisineorlando
Silky-smooth fresh rice crepes (think elastic Vietnamese rice wrapper, not traditional French pancake) enclose a savory mix of crisp-fried ground pork and chewy wood ear mushrooms, scattered with a crunch of fried onion and sided with a nuoc cham dipping sauce.
Pic via Yelp
Vietnam Cuisine, 1224 E. Colonial Drive, 407-228-7053; ttranvista.wix.com/vietnamcuisineorlando
Silky-smooth fresh rice crepes (think elastic Vietnamese rice wrapper, not traditional French pancake) enclose a savory mix of crisp-fried ground pork and chewy wood ear mushrooms, scattered with a crunch of fried onion and sided with a nuoc cham dipping sauce.
Pic via Yelp
Butter Chicken Tacos
Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa, 1326 N. Mills. Ave., 407-203-0866; facebook.com/pigfloyds
Juicy chopped chicken and jasmine rice topped with creamy orange tikka masala sauce, pickled jalapeños, roasted pumpkin seeds and cilantro, drizzled with yogurt "crema" and served on a flour tortilla.
Pic via Yelp
Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa, 1326 N. Mills. Ave., 407-203-0866; facebook.com/pigfloyds
Juicy chopped chicken and jasmine rice topped with creamy orange tikka masala sauce, pickled jalapeños, roasted pumpkin seeds and cilantro, drizzled with yogurt "crema" and served on a flour tortilla.
Pic via Yelp
Roasted Bone Marrow
The Pharmacy, 8060 Via Dellagio Way, 407-985-2972; thepharmacyorlando.com
An unctuous scoop of "God's butter" (aka bone marrow) served on crisp 100-year-old-sourdough crostini, embellished with pulled oxtail and sweet-hot ghost chili-and-strawberry preserves.
Pic via Yelp
The Pharmacy, 8060 Via Dellagio Way, 407-985-2972; thepharmacyorlando.com
An unctuous scoop of "God's butter" (aka bone marrow) served on crisp 100-year-old-sourdough crostini, embellished with pulled oxtail and sweet-hot ghost chili-and-strawberry preserves.
Pic via Yelp
Jamon Iberico de Bellota
Capa, Four Seasons Resort Orlando, 10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, 407-313-7777; fourseasons.com/orlando
A plate lavishly draped with shavings of sweet, nutty jamón de bellota, a pure Iberico acorn-fed ham, carved from the haunch that perches on the ledge near the kitchen.
Pic via Rob Bartlett
Capa, Four Seasons Resort Orlando, 10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, 407-313-7777; fourseasons.com/orlando
A plate lavishly draped with shavings of sweet, nutty jamón de bellota, a pure Iberico acorn-fed ham, carved from the haunch that perches on the ledge near the kitchen.
Pic via Rob Bartlett
Chicken and Dumplings
Soco, 629 E. Central Blvd., 407-849-1800; socothorntonpark.com
A witty dish that resembles the Southern classic in name only: delicate Asian lobster dumplings paired with shreds of the tenderest chicken breast, dotted with local mushrooms, edamame and a soy-butter emulsion.
Pic via Yelp
Soco, 629 E. Central Blvd., 407-849-1800; socothorntonpark.com
A witty dish that resembles the Southern classic in name only: delicate Asian lobster dumplings paired with shreds of the tenderest chicken breast, dotted with local mushrooms, edamame and a soy-butter emulsion.
Pic via Yelp
Foie Gras Nigiri
Kabooki Sushi, 3122 E. Colonial Drive, 407-228-3839; kabookisushi.com
A tender, umami-rich slab of seared foie gras over sushi rice (tied up with a ribbon of red sorrel) over a generous lake of sweet unagi foam, touched with snappy shallot jam and dusted with black sesame-seed powder.
Pic via Yelp
Kabooki Sushi, 3122 E. Colonial Drive, 407-228-3839; kabookisushi.com
A tender, umami-rich slab of seared foie gras over sushi rice (tied up with a ribbon of red sorrel) over a generous lake of sweet unagi foam, touched with snappy shallot jam and dusted with black sesame-seed powder.
Pic via Yelp
Fu Man Chu Sandwich
Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria, 67 N. Bumby Ave., 407-894-0865; pompomsteahouse.com
Spicy Asian pulled pork, peppery watercress, tangy goat cheese and sweet red onions spread with ginger-cranberry chutney, slapped between two slices and pressed.
Pic via Yelp
Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria, 67 N. Bumby Ave., 407-894-0865; pompomsteahouse.com
Spicy Asian pulled pork, peppery watercress, tangy goat cheese and sweet red onions spread with ginger-cranberry chutney, slapped between two slices and pressed.
Pic via Yelp
Japanese Breakfast Bowl
Artisan's Table, 22 E. Pine St., 407-730-7499; artisanstableorlando.com
Two eggs any way (we recommend poached) over Japanese sticky rice studded with bacon lardons and sliced scallion, drizzled with sweet chili sauce and sprinkled with black sesame seeds and spicy togarashi.
Pic via Yelp
Artisan's Table, 22 E. Pine St., 407-730-7499; artisanstableorlando.com
Two eggs any way (we recommend poached) over Japanese sticky rice studded with bacon lardons and sliced scallion, drizzled with sweet chili sauce and sprinkled with black sesame seeds and spicy togarashi.
Pic via Yelp
Chongqing Lazi Chicken
Chuan Lu Garden, 1101 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-8966; chuanluyuan.com
Sugar-and-salt-dusted nuggets of super-crunchy chicken nestle in a heap of delicately crisp red tientsin chilies, laced with the intense citrusy blast of Sichuan peppercorns.
Pic via Yelp
Chuan Lu Garden, 1101 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-8966; chuanluyuan.com
Sugar-and-salt-dusted nuggets of super-crunchy chicken nestle in a heap of delicately crisp red tientsin chilies, laced with the intense citrusy blast of Sichuan peppercorns.
Pic via Yelp
Butter Masala Dosa
Woodlands, 6040 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-854-3330; woodlandsusa.com
The thinnest, crunchiest rice-flour crepe wraps around a soft, complexly spicy filling of potatoes and onions cooked in butter. Slather liberally with green-chili-hot coconut chutney.
Pic via Yelp
Woodlands, 6040 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-854-3330; woodlandsusa.com
The thinnest, crunchiest rice-flour crepe wraps around a soft, complexly spicy filling of potatoes and onions cooked in butter. Slather liberally with green-chili-hot coconut chutney.
Pic via Yelp
Nashville Hot Chicken
Cask & Larder, 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 321-280-4200; caskandlarder.com
The Southern-fried chicken with a fiery bite and a telltale red hue pops up at C&L's dinner sided with cornbread and mac & cheese and at brunch perched atop a waffle.
Pic via Yelp
Cask & Larder, 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 321-280-4200; caskandlarder.com
The Southern-fried chicken with a fiery bite and a telltale red hue pops up at C&L's dinner sided with cornbread and mac & cheese and at brunch perched atop a waffle.
Pic via Yelp
Pulpo de Gallego
Txokos Basque Kitchen, 3201 Corrine Drive, 321-972-8852; txokoskitchen.com
Bar snack deluxe: A chewy squiggle of lightly charred, ocean-sweet octopus tentacle balances on a solid slab of grilled potato, adorned with slippery golden caramelized onions and kissed with sharply sour-sweet salsa vizcaina.
Pic via Yelp
Txokos Basque Kitchen, 3201 Corrine Drive, 321-972-8852; txokoskitchen.com
Bar snack deluxe: A chewy squiggle of lightly charred, ocean-sweet octopus tentacle balances on a solid slab of grilled potato, adorned with slippery golden caramelized onions and kissed with sharply sour-sweet salsa vizcaina.
Pic via Yelp
Bavarian Soft Pretzel with Pilsner Fondue
Schumann's Jäger Haus, 25 W. Church St., 407-985-1950; schumannsjagerhaus.com
Schumann's hand-twisted pretzel is big (but not comedically so) and poofy, strewn with salt crystals and served with a generous portion of beer-infused cheese sauce dabbed with whole-grain mustard.
Pic via Yelp
Schumann's Jäger Haus, 25 W. Church St., 407-985-1950; schumannsjagerhaus.com
Schumann's hand-twisted pretzel is big (but not comedically so) and poofy, strewn with salt crystals and served with a generous portion of beer-infused cheese sauce dabbed with whole-grain mustard.
Pic via Yelp
Squid-Ink Pappardelle with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Trevi Pasta, 2120 Edgewater Drive, 407-985-2577; facebook.com/trevipastallc
This soft, toothsome fresh-rolled black pasta (choose your cut; we like wide ribbons of pappardelle), with its faint briny aroma, is best topped with Trevi's funghi bianca: a light, wholesome cream sauce seasoned with white wine and lightly studded with chopped portobellos and porcini.
Photo via Yelp
Trevi Pasta, 2120 Edgewater Drive, 407-985-2577; facebook.com/trevipastallc
This soft, toothsome fresh-rolled black pasta (choose your cut; we like wide ribbons of pappardelle), with its faint briny aroma, is best topped with Trevi's funghi bianca: a light, wholesome cream sauce seasoned with white wine and lightly studded with chopped portobellos and porcini.
Photo via Yelp
Southern Poutine
The Coop, 610 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 407-843-2667; asouthernaffair.com
It's not a traditional poutine, nor a traditional breakfast, but it's a humdinger of a plate: seasoned crinkle-cut fries smothered with sausage gravy and spicy cheese sauce, then topped with a fried egg and a delicate sprinkle of parsley. (Don't spare the hot sauce.)
Pic via Facebook
The Coop, 610 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 407-843-2667; asouthernaffair.com
It's not a traditional poutine, nor a traditional breakfast, but it's a humdinger of a plate: seasoned crinkle-cut fries smothered with sausage gravy and spicy cheese sauce, then topped with a fried egg and a delicate sprinkle of parsley. (Don't spare the hot sauce.)
Pic via Facebook
Tonkotsu Ramen
Sapporo Ramen, 5080 W. Colonial Drive, 407-203-6777; facebook.com/Sapporo-Ramen
Rich, pork-bone-based broth swimming with thin slices of cha-siu pork, mushrooms, ginger, sesame seeds, bamboo shoots, green onions and fishcake; add corn and a soft-boiled egg for the full experience.
Pic via Yelp
Sapporo Ramen, 5080 W. Colonial Drive, 407-203-6777; facebook.com/Sapporo-Ramen
Rich, pork-bone-based broth swimming with thin slices of cha-siu pork, mushrooms, ginger, sesame seeds, bamboo shoots, green onions and fishcake; add corn and a soft-boiled egg for the full experience.
Pic via Yelp
Fried rainbow smelt
The Boheme, 325 S Orange Ave, 407-581-4700, grandbohemianhotel.com
"If the fried rainbow smelt ($12) had been the only thing we ordered, we'd leave utterly gratified. The wee battered wonders were crisp and lemony, and a dip in Moroccan-spiced aioli made them all the more stellar." (from our April 2015 review)
Photo via Rob Bartlett
The Boheme, 325 S Orange Ave, 407-581-4700, grandbohemianhotel.com
"If the fried rainbow smelt ($12) had been the only thing we ordered, we'd leave utterly gratified. The wee battered wonders were crisp and lemony, and a dip in Moroccan-spiced aioli made them all the more stellar." (from our April 2015 review)
Photo via Rob Bartlett
Page 1 of 2
Chava Communications
Read our sister publications
Orlando Weekly
PO Box 953127.
Lake Mary, FL 32795
© 2024 Orlando Weekly
