Ethnic Food in Orlando (Kissimmee, Tarpon Springs: homes, live, restaurant)

[vdecapio]

Can anyone recommend a good spot to get ethnic food in Orlando? When I think of Orlando I think of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, etc. Is there any hole-in-the-wall type of place, where I can get authentic, homestyle, mom and pop food that is Puerto Rican, Dominican, or some other ethnic variety in Orlando?

Thanks for the help...will be in town on business....looking for good, cheap, authentic ethnic food!

[Grady]

Well, if you like West Indian Food, there is a place called "Caribbean Sunshine Bakery". It is located on the corner of Colonial Drive and John Young Parkway in West Orlando. They have great food.

[Wilshire81182]

My Puerto Rican friend said just today actually that her favorite is La Lechonera on Colonial and Dean in East Orlando. She has brought their food to work before too, and it is pretty delicious.

[vdecapio]

Thanks for the info on Carribean Sunshine and Lechonera Latina.

Does Colonial Drive have a lot of ethnic food? Are there areas of Orlando that have a clustering of ethnicities and their food....or is it spread out? Are there clusters of hispanics....asians...etc? If so, I could just drive into that area and take my pick of a number of ethnic places! Thanks

[Wilshire81182]

There are a lot of Puerto Rican and Dominican places along East Colonial from Semoran to Alafaya, along OBT around the Florida mall, along 192 in Kissimmee close to the downtown Kissimmee area, along 436 from Colonial to Curry Ford.
When you say ethnic, I do not know if you are interested in Indian, Mexican, Vietnamese or Thai food but there are plenty of those options as well.

[vdecapio]

Yeah for ethnic I mean anything that is not American. I mean Just off the Boat Italian, Greek, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Real Chinese, Brazilian, Peruvian, Colombian, and as we discussed Puerto Rican, Dominican, etc.

The thing is I can get a lot of this stuff elsewhere, so I think Orlando would be best for Puerto Rican.....or Dominican....or whatever you guys recommend.

[Wilshire81182]

True, our biggest ethnic minorities would be Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Haitians, transplanted New Yorkers, and English.
Even if you want some good NY pizza, you are probably going to have an easier time finding it in Orlando than most places on the east coast outside the tristate area up there.

[Cart24]

My wife and I are major foodies and have lists of our favorite in all the cities we have live and luckily Orlando is one of them.

I will list my favorite for each ethnic group.

Italian: Antonios L Fiamma Restorante
Greek: Mykenos
Middle Eastern: Sultan's Kitchen
Ethiopian: Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
Vietnamese: LacViet Bistro and Pho 88 (named 2 because Viet is something Orlando does very well)
Thai: Napasorn
Chinese: Ming Bistro (Go for Dim Sum)
Brazilian: Texas De Brazil, the international Drive area also has a few very good Brazilian bakeries as well.
Peruvian: Brazas
Colombian: Melao
Mexican: Taquitos Jaliscos
Irish: Fiddler's Green
Sushi: Shari Sushi Lounge
German: Bavern Stube
Indonesian: Asia Bagus
Cuban: Habana Grill
Venezuelan: Q'Kenan
African Fusion: Boma (At Animal Kingdom)
Spanish: Costa De Sol
Puerto Rican: Rancho Latino Cuchifrito Restaurant
West Indian: Millies by UCF and Caribbean One Stop on W.Colonial (I am West Indian so I fully endorse both of these)
Indian: Kohinoor

You can do a search on Google for the locations based on the restaurant names. That should keep you covered for a while

[luvthatmouse]

Jam Rock in Old Town (192) is good for Caribbean/Jamaican
Boma/Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge) are good for African
For Greek I would make the trip to Tarpon Springs. I heard Taverna Opa in The Pointe Orlando is pretty good but loud.
Lots of Indian, Thai, Sushi around. Have not found great Cuban yet! We like Robertos in Coco Beach (past Ron Jons) for that.

[BeenAroundTheBlock]

I'm meeting a friend for lunch at Millies Caribbean café tomorrow. I can let you know how it was so you can add to the list.