Places to eat around Orlando right now - February 2024
Kook’n with Kim
If you drive down West Kennedy Blvd in Eatonville on a Sunday, you will notice a small red building with a line out the door. They are all waiting for some good comfort food from Miss Kim. Eatonville is a richly historic Black neighborhood in Orlando with a couple of great spots for dining that can often get overlooked. You have Dajen Eats and Mad Crab Seafood & Wings, which I’ve patronized, but this was my first trip to Kookn with Kim.
The line reached the patio on the day I visited but kept at a good pace. You need your time in line to decide entirely on what you want to eat because as you edge closer and closer to visually seeing the heaping spoonfuls of food, you may waiver back and forth on what you'd like. Everything looks so good. I settled on a chicken plate that automatically comes with your choice of rice, cornbread, and one additional side. Upon seeing the thick and creamy mac and cheese with golden brown hues on top, I knew that was my option.
The plate is massive. I shared it with my husband while still feeling stuffed by the half portion, which is impressive considering the lunch plate cost $12.99.
I also ordered a side of banana pudding, and it was another steal at $4.99, considering it felt like my bag weighed two pounds when they handed it to me. And it was some of the best banana pudding I’ve ever had. Overall, the food was excellent; my only preference would be crispier skin on the chicken, but the flavors were there, and it was well worth my time in line and the price.
307 W Kennedy Blvd, Orlando, FL 32810
Outdoor seating: very minimal - more of a takeaway spot
Meng’s Kitchen
Meng's doesn't know it, but I'm one of their biggest fans. Nothing can happen to them; they must be protected at all costs. They specialize in Hainanese Chicken, often called Hainan Chicken, and other Asian comfort foods - and that's exactly how I describe their dishes. They are pure comfort. Hainan Chicken dishes have a balance of flavors that I love. If you've ever watched Chef Arrington talk about how flavors dance on her palate, this is what I think of. The mildness of the chicken pairs so well with the spicy kick of the sauces. The most satisfying dishes don't need to be complex; instead, they should highlight the natural goodness of their ingredients. Those are the dishes that always win me over.
What got me hooked is the Five Spice Roasted Chicken & Rice dish. It's a dish consisting of marinated Chicken thigh served over Hainanese-style rice pilaf and a side of broth. The sauce you get with it to pour over the chicken is slightly sweet and tangy and makes the whole dish. I've also gotten somewhat addicted to their Tom Kha Gai, a dish I love and haven’t found done as well lately anywhere but Meng's. Another great addition is their cucumber salad and the Thai tea, which is potent without being overly sweet or strong.
If you haven’t tried Meng’s I would quickly move it to the top of your priority list. It’s located inside the iFresh Supermarket.
2415 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
Outdoor seating: No, but great takeaway containers
Cow & Cheese
Burgers are a rare treat for me, so when I'm getting the craving, I want it to be good but also compact, so I am okay with the splurge. Cow + Cheese is an excellent option for just that scenario with their delicious smashburgers.
I got the Doc, which comes with two patties well seasoned with American Cheese, their CC sauce, and caramelized onions on a brioche bun. Pickles are extra.
Some may think it's just a "basic burger," and if that's true, it's still a satisfying bite with all the elements working together, delivering what I think we're all looking for. Meat with a charred exterior while remaining juicy inside, perfectly melted cheese, and the right balance of toppings that complement rather than overpower the flavor of the beef. Cow + Cheese does that easily. If you want a towering burger stack with much more going on, other places in town offer that.
The best part is the price tag. For a double, at $9 before any add-ons, this is a leisurely lunch or dinner that won't make you feel bad about not cooking at home. If you are stretched for cash, a single starts at $5.
Now, I won't tell you to splurge on the fries. They are plain crinkle fries (unless you add cheese), and they cost $4.99. It might feel weird to eat a burger sans fries, but to me, it wasn't a worthy add-on, and the burger is plenty on its own. I'd rather pay for the add-on of pickles.
400 S Orlando Ave #101, Maitland, FL 32751
Outdoor seating: Not that I saw
Chuan Fu
When Chuan Fu opened back in the fall of 2023, we went and had ourselves a feast. The space, which used to house Orlando Meats, got a beautiful upgrade and gives you an elevated dining experience from your new local Sichuan restaurant. We ordered Sichuan wontons, Chuan Fu Style Fried Noodles, salt + pepper wings, and Dan Dan Noodles.
The menu is expansive, and it was hard to settle on our final options, but we played it safe, going with what items we were already familiar with. My favorites were the fried noodles and the wings. The Dan Dan noodles were good but lacking in a little bit of extra flavor and slightly too oily for my taste, and while the wontons were perfectly adequate, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was comparing them to the ones at Taste of Chengdu. Overall, it was a solid meal, and it was nice to have an option closer to home where there was zero risk of our car getting towed.
As a fan of Taste of Chengdu, I think you'll have some that prefer one over the other, and I certainly love Taste of Chengdu. Besides some slight differences, Chuan Fu has a more extensive menu and outdoor seating, giving it a potentially more broad appeal. (I asked to eat outside at Taste of Chengdu since there were tables and was told I could not). In time, I will have favorites at each and rotate them.
Just this month Chuan Fu was added to the list of restaurants on the Michelin Guide for Orlando. So you don't have to listen to me; you can listen to the tire man and see what you think.
1035 N Orlando Ave #105, Winter Park, FL 32789
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Bakery 1908
I was sad when we lost Lac Viet, but I was happy that the new occupant would bring one of the largest ranges of sweet buns, savories, desserts, dim sum, dumplings, cakes, and Boba Milk Tea to Orlando.
The space is now almost entirely open and bright from the well-done renovation. To your left, when you walk in, you'll see the bakery cases filled (or perhaps almost empty, depending on what time of day you go) with both sweet and savory baked goods.
If you want to order from the dim sum or tea menu, there is a kiosk where you can order those items from.
I tried the egg sandwich, Siu Mai, summer vegetable dumplings, and some bites of my friend's savory items like the curry chicken pastry, which was so good! Everything was good, and nothing was dry, which is a huge gripe of mine at some bakeries. Even the dim sum items were juicy and flavorful.
I've seen mixed reviews about Bakery 1908, so all I can say is my experience was great. The only thing I didn't like was my drink, a latte with cheese foam, which tasted like water. However, if I weren't trying to be more aware of how much wheat/gluten I eat, I would pop in weekly for some of these pastries, like the egg sandwich. There are other bakeries like this, like Sun Pearl, but the variety here goes beyond what most others offer. The good news is, if you go for a pastry and don't like it, you'll only be out a few bucks, as most of them are under $5.
2021 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Border Grill fRESH-Mex
Two words: California Burrito.
Border Grill is a favorite for those who know about it. Tucked away in a small strip center near Universal, it's not an Instagram darling with everyone flocking to see or be seen there. It's a humble, authentic, family-owned spot with a small cult following. I've been many times before, but I'm more of a taco than a burrito person. However, my friend told me how it's so hard to find California-style burritos here, so of course, I took it as a duty to find one.
Turns out there is one on Border Grill’s menu that my eyes never fixated on and I can’t believe I had been missing out.
Their California Burrito is a thick babe wrapped in a warm flour tortilla, packed with well-seasoned steak, French fries, creamy guacamole, and house-made queso. I know it's just a burrito, but it's such a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. The addition of those golden fries sets it apart, infusing the burrito with a unique crunch and an extra layer of comfort.
Like I said before, I've never been a burrito person. They are usually too much food for me, but my eyes have been opened. I now see it as the ultimate delivery vessel for food and praise the ingenious combination of elements traditionally served in an open tortilla. Closing the tortilla allows for more elements, i.e., French fries, to get stuffed directly into the burrito and make cozy bedfellows with all the greats (why no onion tho, I wonder). Despite the burrito's size and exclaiming I'd probably eat half, I inhaled it Kirby-style in record time, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
V’s Diner
This one is for my vegans. Over in Casselberry, in the same strip where you'll find one of my favorite spots, WA Sushi, you will find V's Diner. It's a classic American-style diner, but where all the food is vegan.
I got the grilled chicken Caesar wrap and was taken aback by how good it was. The grilled soy-based chicken was really flavorful. Adding vegan parmesan and croutons made me believe I was eating a regular ol' Caesar wrap. The fries are tasty as well, crispy and seasoned. I tried a bite of my husband's burger, and it was pretty good, but not as good at fooling me as the chicken (from a texture standpoint).
The only thing I didn't like and didn't finish was the mac and cheese. There was a grit to it I couldn't get past, but with fries as good as they were, a side of mac and cheese isn't necessary.
If I were a full-time vegan, this spot would be in heavy rotation.
908 FL-436, Casselberry, FL 32707
Outdoor seating: no
Briskets BBQ
Briskets BBQ in Oviedo was a delight. The star was the brisket (hence the name, I suppose). I haven't had brisket this well done for quite some time. The dark, caramelized crust's exterior bark had so much flavor, and the meat had been smoked well enough that it was melt-in-your-mouth and effortlessly pulled apart. Everything you look for in the correct time, temperature, and technique was indicative here. Another win was the jalapeno cheddar sausage. While I could have had a touch more jalapeno, it had such a good snap, and you have to give props to a well made flavorful sausage.
The literal "shack" is probably a hundred square feet at most, with their smoker out back and picnic tables surrounding the area. You'll likely see a line outside because only four to five people can fit inside simultaneously. Menus are posted, so you have plenty of time before you get inside to decide your order. However, not all sides were listed, so you should wait to see their full array before settling on that. Knowing what I know now, I'd pass on the mac and cheese and try something else, but the coleslaw was a keeper for me.
They also have homemade desserts, which I reluctantly passed on, but they looked terrific.
BBQ is getting increasingly expensive, even while being such a casual meal. Still, two people getting single or double meat platters can easily cost upwards of $50-$60, so I want the most flavorful options possible—where you grab sauce just in case but never need to use it.
298 Geneva Dr, Oviedo, FL 32765
Outdoor seating: All outdoor seating
All food was paid for personally.