Soup dumplings are having something of a moment here in Orlando. It seems like any Chinese restaurant that isn’t doing so well pivots to adding them to the menu to draw in a larger audience. But in Zen Dumpling’s case it was always the focal point, and they have done very well for themselves with…
I am not someone that eats a lot of American BBQ. I find it way too indulgent of an affair and I’ve been burned too many times by dry smoked briskets. My main motivation for coming to Smoke and Donuts was mainly for the donuts. Compared to the other barbecue joints I’ve tried in Orlando…
This has been a slow year for the Orlando Michelin scene. Natsu closed down so they obviously lost their star, and Capa and Papa Llama also both lost theirs. Orlando didn’t gain any new stars or bib gourmands, only a handful of restaurants with Michelin Select recognition. The Stars That Were Lost Papa Llama and…
Kaya is like a pillar of the Filipino food community here in Orlando. I see them host a lot of different pop-up events and it seems great to have a local business support other small local businesses and help each other out. I have been to Kaya a few times back when they were focused…
The Orlando Banh Mi Showdown: Ranking the Best Banh Mi in the City Banh mis are my all time favorite sandwich. I’d pick it over Italian heroes, hot chicken sandwiches, Japanese katsu sando, the Florida man classic chicken tender pub sub, Philly cheesesteaks, and damn sure the desperate road trip rest stop Subway. Nothing for…
Q Sushi appeared on my most anticipated restaurants list of 2026 and now that it has finally opened I knew I had to secure an early reservation during soft opening. It is only the second week of this place being open and it is a lean operation with only the chef and a waitress, so…
After a disastrous New York City trip during Christmas time, I learned a lesson not to go to the most packed city in America during the busiest time of the year. But one of the solaces I found was this fantastic pizza joint near my hotel that served an amazing margherita slice that I quietly…
I have been wanting to try Mae Tao and Sons for a while now, but because they mostly run a dinner operation I haven’t really gotten the chance. Luckily I was able to make it out during their limited lunch hours on a Friday afternoon. Tips for Visiting
Puerto Rico is the first Latin American place I visited and while I was there I ate a lot of pork and had a great trip. I don’t think I’ve had Puerto Rican food in years since that vacation. That changed today and Crocante exceeded my expectations. Maybe it’s because I didn’t do much restaurant…
For most restaurants, I usually hear some buzz around them or come across them on social media before they even open, but Mugendai completely slipped my radar. Maybe because it is out of the way in Oviedo, away from the center of the foodie boom in Orlando. But as a sushi fanatic this place showed…
