For many visitors to Orlando, their introduction to the city’s dining scene is one of the many chain restaurants that have set up shop within the tourist district. Honestly, who can blame them? Tourists are spending a full day standing in line for hours to board a two-minute ride, and food prices within the theme parks can make them feel like they have to take out a loan just to afford lunch. After dealing with all of this, a moderately priced meal at a fast food spot doesn’t sound so bad. However, while the chains can be comforting, many miss out on the incredible range of local cuisine that Orlando offers.
As a longtime resident that has watched this city’s dining scene grow and expand over the years, Orlando’s scene doesn’t nearly get the attention that it deserves. Sure, we may not be in the same league as Miami or New York City, but people who consider themselves foodies will be pleasantly surprised at just how good our food scene is if they decide to leave the tourist bubble. You still don’t believe me? Well, let me give you five underrated restaurants that prove that Orlando — the home of Mickey, Harry, and Shamu — is also home to great food.
Egg Dose, Ivanhoe Village
I discovered this place while on a bike ride one day. I didn’t eat any breakfast before the ride, and by the time I came out of downtown Orlando heading back to my car, my stomach was growling. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon City Food Hall, a 12,550-square-foot foodie institution that’s home to numerous local restaurants serving a variety of taste palates. I needed some breakfast, but I knew that something heavy wouldn’t bode well on my return ride to the car. That’s when I laid my eyes on Egg Dose.
Egg Dose is a quick-serve restaurant that specializes in everything eggs, with the star of the show being the breakfast sandwiches. You can opt for a regular scrambled sandwich, which contains scrambled eggs and your choice of protein, or you can go for the pricier steak-and-egg sandwich, containing picanha steak cuts topped with a fried egg (cage-free), cotija cheese, caramelized onions, chipotle aioli, and pickles, served on an artisan brioche bun. If I’m eating at a restaurant for the first time, I normally go with a simple menu item to feel the place out. So, I went with the regular scrambled egg sandwich with bacon, and it was delicious. The eggs were scrambled soft (which I love), there was plenty of bacon, and the cheese covered nearly the entire sandwich. If you’re not into sandwiches, no worries, as Egg Dose also offers build-your-own bowls that are just as filling. The best part of all? The food hall is connected to a small hike-and-bike trail that makes it easy for walkers and bikers (like myself) to reach it without a car.
Chicken Fire, Coytown
I love hot chicken, and, here in Orlando, we have a plethora of restaurants that will satisfy your hot chicken desires. However, there is one that is king of the rest in my book, Chicken Fire, located in the Coytown area of East Colonial Drive, just 10 minutes outside of downtown. Chicken Fire has long been a local restaurant that I hold near-and-dear to my heart. The mom-and-pop joint sells hot chicken tenders that are the size of your hand, and you can choose just how hot you want them. The heat meter ranges from Soulful, which contains no heat, to Hot X, which feels like it requires a waiver for you to sign because this flavor is extremely hot…