Your new favorite restaurant awaits
If you’re looking to go on a worldwide journey without leaving the state, look no further than Restaurant Row in the Dr. Phillips area of Orlando. With a wide range of cuisines Dr. Phillips has something for every taste bud, conveniently without breaking the bank. These restaurants stand at two-dollar signs ($$) and below.
So when you get hungry leaving the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, or picking up a few things at the nearby Mall at Millenia, this list is for you. If you’re looking to step out of your comfort zone, or simply find a new sandwich shop, Dr. Phillips has got you covered. In no particular order, the roadmap of your next flavor adventure begins.
Pammie’s Sammies
Grab a great lunch with the sandwiches, burgers, and soups at Pammie’s Sammies. Here you get that nice home-cooked feeling. Mostly because all menu items are recipes Pam, the founder, grew up with. Now that doesn’t mean it’s all PB&Js and ham sandwiches at Pammie’s. No, they’re known for their unexpected flavor. Sink your teeth into their Guinness Braised Beef Brisket sandwich or their Spicy Chicken Quesadilla Wrap. Not feeling lunch just yet? They also serve breakfast all day long!
Hot Krust Panini Kitchen
Paninis, wraps, salads, wings, all freshly made to order. That is what you’re signing up for when you walk into Hot Krust. There is a reason they have won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, not once, not twice, but five times from 2014 to 2018. Paninis start with your choice of chicken, beef, veggie, seafood, or turkey, and that’s just the beginning. You can choose from the spice of the Volcano Steak, to the sweetness of the Hawaiian Jam-AL, and everything in between. With Halal, vegan, and gluten-free options, there is truly something for everyone.
Flippers Pizzeria
Looking for a low-key pizza night option? Flippers is the place for you. Founded in 1987, Flippers is the result of three friends on a mission to perfect the pizza. Baked at 600 degrees in a brick oven, this pizza is melt in your mouth, cheesy goodness. The fun doesn’t stop there. Flippers also offers a variety of sandwiches, calzones, and pasta dishes to round out your perfect Italian feast. With all-natural meats and handpicked spices, Flippers Pizzeria is a head above your run-of-the-mill pizza delivery.
Bonsai Sushi
This cozy sushi bar offers a variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, and lunch/dinner bowls, all for affordable prices. Bonsai also offers dinner specials for groups of two and four people to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Do you have a non-sushi lover in your group? Bonsai offers chicken and pork dishes, as well as eight types of salads. Bonsai Sushi is a great place for the seasoned sushi lover, and for those looking to expand their palette.
El Inka Grill
Take a trip down to South America with this Peruvian cuisine restaurant. Try traditional dishes such as ceviche and papa a la huancaina, potatoes covered in Inca yellow pepper cheese sauce. At El Inka Grill chefs take every day ingredients like potatoes, meat, shrimp, and chicken, and infuse them with authentic Peruvian flavors to give you the culinary experience of a lifetime. Enjoy the flavors of Peru with each bite. From meat to seafood, pasta to soups, there is something new to discover with every trip to El Inka Grill.
Flame Kabob
Flame Kabob offers authentic Mediterranean cuisine right here in Orlando! As a family-owned restaurant, the staff strives to make you feel right at home as soon as you enter their doors. Flame Kabob is a great place for someone looking to explore their taste buds. Try traditional dishes such as falafel, baba ghannouge, or shawarma. Get out of your comfort zone with their fattoush salad, or their shish tawook marinated chicken dish. Or keep it simple with their chicken, lamb, and fish options. Whatever your preference, Flame Kabob will serve up an explosion of flavor.
Ayothaya
Between the décor and the authentic Thai cuisine, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported across the globe to Thailand. Ayothaya is an award-winning restaurant using only the freshest ingredients to bring the flavors of Thailand, to Orlando. With a long list of curry specialties, noodle dishes, and fried rice options, you can really explore what Thai cuisine has to offer. If you’re looking for a challenge, all entrees come with your choice of spice level: mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot. Foodies beware!
Steak on Fire
As the self-proclaimed “first of its kind,” this Brazilian steakhouse mixes Brazilian tradition with American culture. Steak on Fire is family-owned and is known for their steak sandwiches. Sirloin, ribeye, filet mignon, flank steak, all perfectly cooked and served on ciabatta bread. Of course, everything you can order on a sandwich is also offered as a regular dish, served with roasted potatoes and mixed vegetables. Not in the mood for steak? Steak on Fire also offers seafood, chicken, pork, lamb, and salads.
Cedar’s Restaurant
Cedar’s Restaurant is a Lebanese restaurant with a more personal touch. In addition to reflecting the flavors of Lebanon with authentic Lebanese cuisine, each dish leaves the kitchen having been personally overseen by owner Charbel Saab. With meat, chicken, seafood, and fish dishes, you have a wide range of lunch and dinner options. You can also enjoy the flavors of Lebanon with Cedar’s extensive wine and cocktail menu.
King Cajun Crawfish
King Cajun Crawfish provides customers with a twist on the classic Louisiana dish of crawfish. With a Vietnamese-Cajun fusion, or viet-cajun, you’ll have a new take on the taste of the bayou. King Cajun doesn’t just stick to crawfish. You can explore their flavors throughout the land and sea with dishes featuring crab, oysters, mussels, shrimp, chicken, and much more. There is also a secret Shabang sauce that is sure to keep you coming back for more.
Fitlife Foods
If you’re on the go or not in the mood to have a sit down meal, but you still want something healthy to keep you going, then Fitlife Foods is the place for you. You can choose from over 60 all-natural, healthy, made from scratch dishes, all packed up and ready to go. From breakfast to dinner, snacks to dessert, Fitlife has you covered. Try a meal of Mongolian beef or butternut turkey for dinner, while still indulging you sweet tooth with their vegan chocolate chip cookies. Can’t make it to the store? FitLife offers delivery. Fitlife Foods also offers a free one-on-one health and wellness program for those looking to take another step into a healthier lifestyle.
Fresco Cucina Italiana
If you’re in the mood for a taste of Italy, check out Fresco Cucina Italiana. This Italian restaurant is family owned and operated, so each dish has that homemade taste. Between their lunch and dinner menus, Fresco has just about any pasta dish you can think of. Try their fresh Gnocchi Caprese, or their Shrimp Scampi. If you want something extra with your pasta, they also have dishes featuring chicken, fish, and veal. Looking to keep it simple? Fresco also has soups and salads, along with a long list of pizzas made in a wood oven with their homemade dough and sauce.
Craig Miller’s Field House
Craig Miller’s Field House is a classic American sports bar and restaurant, but this isn’t your average sports bar. At Craig Miller’s, they pride themselves on elevating your dining experience between the atmosphere and the more refined menu. Among your classic options of burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and wings, you can also try their Mahi Mahi tacos, New York strip steak, or Cordon Bleu chicken. There is a reason why Craig Miller’s Field House has been voted the #1 sports bar by places like the Sports Bar City Eats Magazine.
Seito Sushi
Seito Sushi is known for its award winning sushi and contemporary Asian cuisine. With two locations in Orlando, they are part of the ever-changing culinary landscape of the city. Choose from menu items like their signature Godzilla shrimp tempura roll, or their pork belly bao buns. Seito Sushi also offers vegetable rolls and noodle dishes. Between their wine and cocktail list and their extensive list of classic and specialty sushi rolls, the flavor combinations here are almost endless.
