11 Places to Eat Right Now (January 2022)
Uncle Dendogs at Orlando Brewing
You might think it odd or unhealthy to have Korean hot dogs for dinner, but how many times did you grab a Costco hot dog for a quick bite and think nothing of it. I can assure you what you will get at Uncle Dendogs is much better and a far more exciting journey for your palette. Take, for instance, the first dog below. The “El Guapito Bandito” is topped with guacamole, kimchi salsa Rosada, microgreens, and lotus chips with a touch of sriracha. These dogs are more of a meal, and when paired with something from the bar inside Orlando Brewing and dining outside at their picnic tables, it elevates it to foodie date night level.
Quesa Loco
Birria tacos, while delicious, have become another trend you might have found exhausting with post after post from people saying they’ve located the "best" in Orlando. It is possible that multiple good spots may exist in our greater Orlando Metro area, and I would love for everyone to chill out and stop overhyping things. Regardless, Quesa loco is delicious - full stop. The quesa birria tacos aren’t as greasy as others. When you add one of their agua frescas or horchata and Cheeto esquites to the mix, you are going to have an enjoyable experience. Was it worth waiting in line for 20 minutes? Well, I guess it was because it didn’t end in disappointment, but hopefully, now that they have opened up their brick-and-mortar location on Fairbanks, it will be easier to get your hands on them when the mood strikes.
Jam Hot Chicken
Jam Hot Chicken was on my last roundup, but at that time, the pop-ups were far and few between to get our hands on these massive hot chicken sandos. Since then, they have officially opened their permanent location in Winter Park’s Hannibal Square. It’s a walk-up window, so all seating is outdoors, or you can sweat privately in your car while you eat. Each meal is given in a handy to-go box so you can easily take your meal wherever you want to enjoy it. I’ve only gotten the mild still, but I might try the next level up next time. The sandwich is a solid (and huge) feast, so it’s worth the price tag. A full meal with a drink will run you close to $20, but you won’t regret it.
Jimotti’s
Over in Sanford, you might have driven right by Jimotti’s without noticing it as it’s pretty nondescript. The website makes it very clear in an almost Ron Swanson-Esque manner what to expect: “This is a restaurant where you can enjoy real Japanese food served by a Japanese chef.” This aligns perfectly with my personal preference of a quiet, out-of-the-way spot over waiting in a long line of boozed-up loud talkers for a bowl of Ramen. Jimotti’s did not disappoint on any front. There were covered tables in the parking lot, no wait, fast service, and excellent food. Being a Japanese tapas restaurant means more than ramen is available, so you can create a feast of different textures and flavors to enjoy at your leisure.
Theo’s Kitchen
Theo’s Greek is not new, and it’s not a hidden gem. The Orlandoans who get it, get it, and the ones who don’t probably aren’t ever driving down Curry Ford. This Mediterranean restaurant often gets glimmers of notoriety whenever the subject of Publix winning Orlando’s best-fried chicken for the umpteenth time in row shocks and angers everyone. The Theo fans sing its praises as a better option, and it’s true. The fried chicken and wings are solid and are made fresh, so if you don’t want to wait 20 minutes for a walk-in order, call ahead and pick them up.
Alex’s Kitchen
Here’s another local spot off the usual path, tucked away in a strip center in Casselberry. Who needs downtown dining anymore?! Alex’s Fresh Kitchen is small with just a few tables (and only one outside), but plenty is happening in their tiny kitchen. I ordered the Chicken and Waffle Tower, which had light and not overly greasy crispy skin, and the infused vanilla maple syrup sweetened the whole meal so perfectly. My husband got the Mama burger, which in his words, was perfectly seasoned, which makes sense since the menu says the patty has 24 spices. It was the kind of meal that makes you wonder what else you need to try that you might be missing out on if you don’t go back.
TUrci pasta
For a long time, Prato was my go-to when craving pasta from a restaurant. However, I was quick to realize that for an amazingly fresh homemade bowl of pasta, I didn't have to dress up to fit in on Park Avenue; I could stay closer to home and visit Turci Pasta on Edgewater Drive. Depending on what time of day you visit, you just might get to see someone's nonna working with the pasta dough in the window. While my favorite dish, the pesto potato gnocchi burrata, isn't cheap at almost $20, it is scrape-the-bowl; maybe lick it if nobody is looking, good. Add a slice of Tiramisu with a shot of espresso on top for a “dessert-cap”, and no matter what is going on in your life, at that moment, you will be completely satisfied.
Clermont Fish House
I don't think I will convince anybody of my culinary prowess by making the obvious statement that fried fish is delicious, however it’s so easy to get wrong that when it’s right, it deserves some love. Now you may not have such a deep admiration for fish and chips that you would actually drive all the way to Clermont to try them, but if you happen to be in the area, I suggest stopping at this local, very British-themed pub. The two huge pieces of cod will be more than enough to get your fill, fried to perfection with thick steak fries, and a few hush puppies on the side. I love Gordon Ramsay, but they do it better here.
The Deli Llama
I never discount or exclude Lake County from my wanderings, and with good reason. Tavares and Eustis aren’t known for having a wide variety of restaurants that drive Orlandoans westward, but I think any day trip you might plan can be filled with more spots than you might imagine. For example, this local sandwich shop, The Deli llama. Hot and cold sandwich options make up most of the menu, and they are all well-sized portions. On my visit, I actually got served the wrong sandwich but just continued to eat it because it was so good it didn’t really matter. There is plenty of covered outdoor seating here, and while you are out there, go visit Nautilus Coffee Co.
JALAPEÑOS MEXICAN EATS
I know a lot of people feel like the taco craze has been overdone here, and they aren’t completely wrong, but if there's one thing to know about me - if you give me a good taco I'm gonna keep eating good tacos. Jalapeños definitely falls under the good taco category. All you have to do to win me as a taco consumer for life are these four simple things: Give me fresh handmade tortillas that don’t fall apart, well-seasoned meats (including chorizo with a real kick), simple authentic toppings, (I don’t’ need doritos sprinkled on top), and more than enough lime wedges. If that sounds good to you, go to Jalapeños.
Duck & Drake Kitchen at Digress Wine
It’s not everyday that you get to visit a food truck that comes with a full patio of dining, access to a wine bar, and where you are served as though you were in a restaurant. The Duck & Drake Kitchen truck is normally parked outside of Digress Wine in College Park, which allows for such a comfortable ease of dining. The menu is sustainable so it changes often which keeps things interesting for regulars.
No mention of any business is paid for or sponsored, all meals were paid for personally. Support your local businesses and stop DMing people asking if you can get paid $200 to post about a $6 coffee.