---Best Places to SHOP & EAT in Orlando...? -Help A Outta Towner Out--- (restaurant, sushi)

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Lol I see plenty of tourists at Florida mall and millennia.

Exactly, just because a thing is popular with tourists doesnt mean its not popular with locals or not worth visiting. When we lived in SF, my gf bought lingerie, soon after we vacationed in orlando and saw the exact same $60 lingerie thing at the VS outlet for $10 or $20, I forgot the exact price, but it was a lot cheaper. Same thing with one of the bikinis she bought. I think the OP is referring to tourist traps that are a waste of time and money along with tourist restaurants like Olive Garden.

[Queensres]

Agave Azul and Border Grill are two of my favorite Mexican restaurants... both are on/slightly off Kirkman. Agave Azul is more upscale and specializes in seafood. Border Grill is your more traditional Mexican restaurant, but nearly as good. My favorite is their Chicago Burrito with steak/al pastor.

Second the recommendation for Saigon. Orlando has some really good Vietnamese food

Mikado Sushi is in my opinion the best sushi for the money. There are 3 locations... I've been to the ones in MetroWest and Hunter's creek... both are good but the MetroWest location is slightly more consistent.

If you want a good burger Teak is the best I've come across thus far... also in MetroWest. I must've had at least 30 burgers from there by now.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Queensres

Agave Azul and Border Grill are two of my favorite Mexican restaurants... both are on/slightly off Kirkman. Agave Azul is more upscale and specializes in seafood. Border Grill is your more traditional Mexican restaurant, but nearly as good. My favorite is their Chicago Burrito with steak/al pastor.

Second the recommendation for Saigon. Orlando has some really good Vietnamese food

Mikado Sushi is in my opinion the best sushi for the money. There are 3 locations... I've been to the ones in MetroWest and Hunter's creek... both are good but the MetroWest location is slightly more consistent.

If you want a good burger Teak is the best I've come across thus far... also in MetroWest. I must've had at least 30 burgers from there by now.

The Mikado Sushi in Maitland is my favorite. It’s buffet style but still fairly upscale, and is absolutely delicious... For the price anyway. I wish I still worked close to it, as now my sushi lunch options are limited to the mediocre Shakai Sushi and the severely overpriced Amira downtown Orlando.

[parrallon]

watch out for the rican influx, but try around Lake Mary/Heathrow

[MrKnight]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Lol I see plenty of tourists at Florida mall and millennia.

The point is that both of those malls cater primarily to locals and are not located in tourist areas, neither mall was designed nor intended to be a magnet for tourists.. The outlet malls on the other hand cater primarily to tourists, are marketed towards tourists, and are located in tourists areas, that is what the OP does NOT want..

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by MrKnight

The point is that both of those malls cater primarily to locals and are not located in tourist areas, neither mall was designed nor intended to be a magnet for tourists.. The outlet malls on the other hand cater primarily to tourists, are marketed towards tourists, and are located in tourists areas, that is what the OP does NOT want..

I disagree, the Mall at Millenia and the Florida Mall definitely cater and advertise to tourists as well as do the outlets. However, locals visit all four of them too. The non-tourists ones would be like Altamonte Mall, Fashion Square Mall, Oviedo Mall, but their prices are no lower and sometimes even higher compared to some of the outlet malls.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I disagree, the Mall at Millenia and the Florida Mall definitely cater and advertise to tourists as well as do the outlets. However, locals visit all four of them too. The non-tourists ones would be like Altamonte Mall, Fashion Square Mall, Oviedo Mall, but their prices are no lower and sometimes even higher compared to some of the outlet malls.

And quite frankly, Oviedo Mall is absolute trash. Is Fashion Square still open? And Altamonte is nothing special either. The main shopping areas for both locals and tourists are Florida Mall, Millenia and the Outlets. And yes, they definitely do cater to tourists as well. Doesn’t Florida Mall have a Disney store inside it? Among other tourist-geared stores? It even has a hotel and a ton of parking spaces reservated for valet. in it. I doubt the locals are staying in that hotel and using valet service.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

And quite frankly, Oviedo Mall is absolute trash. Is Fashion Square still open? And Altamonte is nothing special either. The main shopping areas for both locals and tourists are Florida Mall, Millenia and the Outlets. And yes, they definitely do cater to tourists as well. Doesn’t Florida Mall have a Disney store inside it? Among other tourist-geared stores? It even has a hotel and a ton of parking spaces reservated for valet. in it. I doubt the locals are staying in that hotel and using valet service.

Exactly, at least when I say I don't want touristy spots, I'm mostly talking about tourist traps, places that are over-priced and/or a waste of time. Places that only tourists go. Places that rip the customer off. Central Park in NYC is beautiful, but it's one of the biggest tourist attractions, but locals still go there too. Just an example lol.

[Mark59]

Winter Garden Village and the Loop north of Kissimmee are good shopping areas.

My opinion is Orlando does not have the great food places you would think.

Some Mom and Pops we like but not a lot of "great" restaurants.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Mark59

Winter Garden Village and the Loop north of Kissimmee are good shopping areas.

My opinion is Orlando does not have the great food places you would think.

Some Mom and Pops we like but not a lot of "great" restaurants.

It has its share... Dr Philips and Winter Park in particular have some nice spots.