Six places to eat in Orlando Right Now (July 2023)
Red Panda Noodle
I first had a noodle dish from Chefs Eliot Hillis and Seth Parker during their Orlando Meat days. I got the Goblin, and it lit me on fire. It was so good, but I couldn't finish it and gave the remainder of the bowl to my husband, who can handle his heat far better than me. At the time, while I stood in my kitchen doing shots of milk to cool me down but also wanting to torture myself with another delicious bite, I had no idea what would soon be in store in the form of Red Panda Noodle.
If you haven't been to one of their pop-ups, you are missing out on noodle dishes that, in my opinion, are among Orlando's most enjoyable. As they become more popular long lines will await you, but as someone who HATES long lines for food, it's worth it. The noodles are thick, have a nice firm bite, and are not too soft or mushy. But what the duo adds to each dish generously supplies another layer of enjoyment and spice (if you want it). I've tried the biang biang, garlic noodles, and pork belly lo mein, and if you see me in a parking lot pop-up screaming MORE like Kylo Ren, it's because I finished my bowl.
Whether you prefer the thicccc baddies or the long and lean noods, they really are the perfect way to slurpingly squire all the other accompaniments in the dish right into your mouth for the best mouth feel and exciting blend of flavors.
Their Instagram is the best place to follow their now Michelin-recommended pop-ups around town until they bless us with a brick-and-mortar.
Vibe: Casual
Pricing: For 2 people $30-$40
Kid Friendly - Yes
Vegan Options - Yes
Outdoor Seating - Yes
the current seafood counter
Shame on me for not trying The Current's location in Sanford, but sometimes laziness and procrastination are rewarded when a business expands and opens closer to you. It's bittersweet to College Park residents who lost Jade Asian in the process. Still, I was hopeful that the opening of The Current would signal a new wave of good eateries along the many vacant spots on Edgewater Drive.
I took advantage of their soft opening pre-ordering strategy and selected my dinner with the ease of my phone. The Lobster Roll is what I had my heart set on, but it was already sold out, so I opted for the Blackened Shrimp Pasta and an order of their fish n chips.
Once we arrived, the process was seamless, we gave them the name for the order and grabbed a seat, and our food followed shortly.
The Blackened Shrimp Pasta was good, it had a nice flavor, not a bland bite in sight, and with an added touch of lemon, it was almost refreshing to eat on the sunbaked patio (yes, they have plenty of indoor seating). I was jealous of my husband's fish and chips because they were perfect. The batter was light, fully enveloping the fish, and the fries were crispy.
To keep up to date on when they are fully open I suggest lurking over to Facebook, they don’t seem very active on their College Park Instagram account. If you live closer to Sanford, no need to wait you can go enjoy them inside Henry’s Depot now!
Vibe: Casual
Pricing: For 2 people $40-50
Kid Friendly - Yes
Vegan Options - N/A
Outdoor Seating - Yes
john and JOHN'S pizza
What is more polarizing than a thread of people talking about the best pizza in Orlando? Maybe only the best fried chicken in Orlando. It’s always seemed odd to me that people argue about things that are a matter of taste, but I guess arguing is all Facebook is good for anymore. Entering the chat of who reigns supreme is John and John’s Pizza, located in the SODO area of Orlando, off Michigan.
I took my first trip and was just happy I could order by the slice; immediate points for me. The spot is small, with limited indoor seating and a few tables outside. We were greeted by a very friendly person behind the counter that was happy to answer some questions and made us feel welcome (adds more points).
I opted for two slices after starting at the large vertical stack of pies that draw you in from the moment you reach the counter. I knew what slice I wanted just by looking at it without knowing its name. I got the Upside Down (provolone cheese, tomato sauce, Pecorino Romano, chopped garlic, crushed red pepper, fresh basil, EVOO) and a slice of veggie (Grande mozzarella, green peppers, mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, black olives, onions, fresh chopped garlic). At the first bite of the Upside Down, I immediately regretted my veggie pick because I knew it wouldn’t be as good as this slice. The toppings tasted fresh, and overall the slice had great flavor. Also, as someone who likes a crispy crust, I really enjoyed how sturdy it was, holding all the toppings with ease without sogging, and it had a nice little snap when I went to fold it, but it wasn’t dry or stale. The veggie slice was ok, but it didn’t have the same great flavor as the Upside Down so I wouldn’t get it again. After the fact, many people recommended the Mediterranean Blue, so I might try that next.
Overall, solid slices I would happily eat again. The slice prices range from plain cheese for $3.99 - $6.99.
Vibe: Casual
Pricing: Varies if you get slices or pies
Kid Friendly - Yes
Vegan Options - Veggie yes - Vegan didn’t look like it
Outdoor Seating - Yes
lemongrass thai KITCHEN
One of my favorite Thai places recently went downhill, and I’ve been searching for new Thai to try. I had heard many positive rumblings about Lemongrass Thai Kitchen, so I trekked to Oviedo to try it out.
The first order of business is always Thai tea, and then I dove into the expansive menu and had difficulty selecting dishes; everything looked so good. As I sat there with menu overload paralysis, I watched as the kitchen handled not only a full restaurant but several to-go orders with what looked like (at least from the FOH) ease.
What I tried:
Summer Rolls (fresh rolls wrapped in rice paper stuffed with sautéed ground chicken, shredded lettuce, fresh basil, sliced carrots and rice vermicelli, homemade hoisin peanut sauce)
Steamed Dumplings (minced chicken and vegetables wrapped in wonton skin topped with roasted garlic, soy vinaigrette dipping sauce)
Crispy Calamari (Lightly battered and golden fried, mild sweet and sour chili dipping sauce)
Yellow Curry (Potato, onion, and carrot in a mild yellow curry coconut milk stew)
Drunken Noodles (Wide rice noodles sautéed in spicy basil seasoning with onion, mushroom, bell pepper, and garlic)
Durian Ice Cream
There were no misses on any of these items. The steamed dumplings won out for my favorite small plate, but the Crispy Calamari had such a light breading it was different from any other calamari I’ve had, and I much prefer it this way.
The Yellow Curry is a warm hug of sweet and savory flavor, and I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day.
The Drunken Noodle packed a nice bit of heat at the end of each bite and was another solid dish.
And for dessert, I had never had Durian ice cream before, and I liked the flavor and texture. It can be a turn-off for some people, but it’s very similar to a vanilla-ish banana taste. The fragrance may be a little different, but I found it to be a nice, not overly sweet, ending to a satisfying meal.
The only negative is that I don’t live nearby, so while I loved my experience, I probably won’t be adding it into the regular rotation, but if you live out in Oviedo, I would recommend!
1016 Lockwood Blvd #170, Oviedo, FL 32765
Vibe: Casual
Pricing: For 2 people $40-$60
Kid Friendly - Yes
Vegan Options - Vegetarian
Outdoor Seating - Yes
Bamita
Bamita is a new, teeny tiny little spot that has opened next to the Happy Lemon off E. Colonial. There’s no website, no social media accounts; only word of mouth (or being a member of the Orlando Asian Foodie Group) will alert you of this spot. When I say it’s tiny, you probably can’t fit more than three customers inside at a time, and even then, you’d feel on top of each other. Bamita is a spot to grab a sandwich and coffee and go. As a big fan of downing a delicious Vietnamese coffee and then wondering why I feel bright-eyed and nervously clutching my stomach the rest of the day, I made their Egg Coffee a top priority in my week.
I was the only customer on my visit, so I went at just the right time. My egg coffee and sandwich were ready within about 6 minutes of ordering. The egg coffee is delectable and luxurious. If you aren’t familiar with egg coffee, it’s just beaten egg yolks with sweetened condensed milk. To some, it may be considered more of a dessert coffee as it is sweet, but I find the best egg coffees match the silky sweet foam with a strong coffee underneath, allowing the flavors to balance out in the end. You can judge if it’s for you or get one of their other coffee options.
Regarding the Bánh mì, I got the number 7, grilled pork. My experience (again with no wait) was that the bread was light, airy, and crispy, and while I could have handled a little more inside (meat or veggie), I enjoyed it. Bánh mì Cali and Bánh mì Boy are currently my go-to's when I have a Bánh mì craving, so we will see how Bamita fairs as it gets through their soft opening stage. No matter what, the coffee is going into heavy rotation!
The address is 2100 E Colonial Dr Unit D, Orlando, FL 32803. Hours and days of operation are still being figured out, but they said right now it’s 10-5.
Vibe: Casual
Pricing: For 2 people $20-$30 - Coffees under $10
Kid Friendly - Yes
Vegan Options - Vegetarian
Outdoor Seating - No
Sherry’s Trini Flavors
My Tiktok feed is full of food, not Orlando food, just food in general. After some searching, the algorithm started serving me Doubles videos, leading me to articles about Doubles. Cut to me under the covers at 2 am, unable to sleep, frantically searching WHERE CAN I GET DOUBLES IN ORLANDO? STOP TEASING ME!
If you don’t know what Doubles are, they are a Trinidad street food made up of one (singles) or two deep-fried mini roti often with curried chickpeas and other elements or meat. Easily handheld, it’s something you can take on the go that acts like a sandwich but is something all its own.
I found where to get some doubles over in Altamonte inside a gas station I was already familiar with, as other smaller food spots had been in this space, and now it’s home to Sherry’s Trini Flavors.
I got a chicken double, a beef double, and the Curry Beef entree. I am a big flavor person. I want to taste lots of spices and depth of flavor, and if it’s bland, I will never go back. Sherry knew what she had, so she clearly, unabashedly, put FLAVOR in the title.
I loved the doubles, I didn’t eat them as a sandwich, instead strategically pulling pieces of roti and picking up the meat, savoring each bite. The curry beef was also delicious, another food hug with a hefty portion size. There is some counter seating here, or you can take the food to-go.
Sherry’s Trini Flavors is at 1200 W State Rd 436, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.
Vibe: Casual
Pricing: For 2 people $30-$40
Kid Friendly - Yes
Vegan Options - Yes
Outdoor Seating - No
All food was paid for personally.