STREET EATS AROUND THE WORLD

Orlando’s culinary scene is an a ordable melting pot of flavors.

BY BROOKE FEHR

(OPPOSITE PAGE): ©ROBERTO GONZALEZ (2); (THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): COURTESY COOKES OF DUBLIN (2); ©ROBERTO GONZALEZ Left, from left: Hunger Street Tacos; Mamak Asian Street Food. Above, clockwise from top left: Cookes of Dublin Battered Burger and Fish & Chips; Hunger Street’s patio at their Winter Park location.

You may think that Orlando’s food scene is dominated by chains, but a closer look shows a surprising amount of diversity. And while splurging on a special meal is fun, eating well doesn’t always require you to spend a fortune. From inexpensive meals to spots celebrating the world’s bounty of street food, it’s all waiting for you in The City Beautiful.

COOKES OF DUBLIN

At Disney Springs, stop by this authentic fish and chips shop for a taste of expertly prepared dishes inspired by the streets of Dublin. The shop, around the corner from Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, is actually named for the family of Raglan Road’s co-owner, John Cooke, who have a history in the fish and chips business going back generations. Here you’ll find lots of dishes that will keep you coming back for more. Of course, you can opt for the classic Fish & Chips, available in both adult and kid portions. However, if you want to venture off the beaten path a bit, opt for one of the shop’s savory pies, or dig into the Hog in the Box, a delightful and generous combo pork shoulder, baby potatoes, sage and sweet onion stuffing and apple sauce. You’ll swear you’ve stumbled into someone’s Sunday supper with this one. Looking for libations? Stop at the patio bar next door for a pint of Guinness to complete your experience. raglanroad.com

HUNGER STREET TACOS

Created by brothers Joseph and David Creech and Joseph’s wife, Seydi, this beloved Orlando spot knows Mexico City street food. In their Winter Park location, colorful murals set the stage for an uncommon dining experience infused with an authenticity that only comes from the true

Clockwise from left: Black Bean Deli breakfast items; BBD’s patio at their Mills 50 location; Noodles from Mamak Asian Street Food.

love of a culture—and its cuisine. All tacos are served on house-made tortillas, made with heirloom corn that’s nixtamalized in-house for freshness that’s unparalleled. You can’t go wrong with, well, anything on the menu. Known especially for their scrumptious Al Pastor tacos, the real draw is the love and care that go into every dish. Don’t want to drive all the way to Winter Park? Visit their new location in Winter Garden’s Plant Street Market, close to the attractions. hungerstreettacos.com

BLACK BEAN DELI

With locations in Winter Park and the Mills 50 District, Black Bean Deli serves up the freshest Cuban food around. Owner Andres Corton draws inspiration from his grandparents, and the 1960s Miami cafes with their ventanitas, Cuban sandwiches and platos fuertes. A plate will easily serve two people, so split it with your favorite person. We recommend the Havana Pork served with rice, black beans, sweet plantains and a green salad. Their sweet plantains are a delicious side, but for the ultimate in simple pleasure, opt for their fresh pressed Cuban bread with butter. It’s also a great stop for breakfast; don’t miss their cafe con leche and guava and cheese pastries. blackbeandeli.com

MAMAK ASIAN STREET FOOD

You won’t be able to resist this stylish stop offering some of the tastiest Southeast Asian street-style fare around. The concept’s namesake, pronounced “Mah-Mahk,” comes

From left: Mamak’s dining room; an assortment of dishes from Bao’s Castle.

from the term for a street vendor or food stall in Southeast Asia. These stalls are owned and operated by chefs putting their own spin on traditional recipes. The Lo Family built Mamak upon this idea and brought their homegrown recipes to the table, many of which came straight from their grandparents. Don’t leave without trying dishes like their Roti Canai, a traditional crispy Malaysian flatbread toasted till golden brown, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, served with their signature spicy coconut kari gravy, or the charcoal-grilled Satay chicken or beef skewers. The Kari Mee Noodle Soup, a Malaysian staple, is hearty, filling and generous enough to share (if you want to). mamakeats.com

BAO’S CASTLE

This SODO District darling is nestled on the ground level of the Target Shopping Plaza on Orange Avenue, perfectly located for the visitor looking to explore Orlando like a local. Bao’s Castle serves up a wide range of bao, a warm fluffy bun stuffed with amazing ingredients. Try the Sidestepper, a fried soft shell crab with apple-kimchi and dressed arugula. Fair warning: it’s spicy! The Fiesta, a bao filled with braised short rib and topped with pico de gallo, and mojo sauce is flavorful and filling. Vegetarians and meat eaters alike can tuck into the Toadfu, featuring panko-crusted tofu served with kimchi cucumber, pickled onions and sake aioli. baoscastle.com

Clockwise from top left: Kale Chaat from Bombay Street Kitchen; Sticky Rice Lao Street Food; Outside Bombay Street Kitchen on a beautiful Orlando evening.

BOMBAY STREET KITCHEN

Come explore the spirit of Indian Street Food Culture from the moment you enter Bombay Street Kitchen to the moment you leave and start planning your return! The eatery has recently relocated to a beautiful new spot on Orange Blossom Trail in South Orlando, and offers some of the best examples of unique Indian culture direct from the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and beyond. Get the Dahi Bhalla Papri Chaat, lentil balls with spiced yogurt and chutneys, or the Tandoori Vegetable Momo, grilled vegetable dumplings. On a recent visit, we couldn’t get enough of the Kale Chaat, a vibrant and colorful mix of crispyfried kale, yogurt and chutneys, topped with jewel-like pomegranate seeds. Save room for dessert, because Bombay offers a Gola Station. bombaykitchenorlando.com

STICKY RICE LAO STREET FOOD

If you drive by too fast you just might miss Sticky Rice Lao Street Food, a tapas-sized Laotian restaurant on Colonial Drive in the Mills 50 District. Bucket list-level items include the Shrimp Chips, and Sai Oua, or lemongrass pork sausage. Popular in Laos and northern Thailand, the sausage is usually served alongside another regional favorite, sticky rice, to create a contrasting and layered dish, so order a side to complete the experience. facebook.com/ StickyRiceStreetFood

A SALUTE TO SOME OF AMERICA’S FAVORITES

Thanks in part to plenty of homegrown favorites to savor in The City Beautiful, Central Florida attracts visitors eager to enjoy our fantastic city. As a result, iconic regional chains have taken note, and are flying south, too. Here are three favorites from other parts of the country that are now calling The Sunshine State home.

WHITE CASTLE

If someone casually asks who started the fast-food revolution, you might be tempted to answer that the Golden Arches were first; but you’d be wrong. The much less ubiquitous and still-family-owned White Castle actually ushered in the concept long before others got there. The chain, known for its famed square sliders, got its start in 1921, when Edgar Waldo “Billy” Ingram and Walter Anderson opened their first location in Wichita, Kansas. And yes, if you are the math-y sort, you’ll deduce that the company turns 100 years old in 2021. In a fitting tribute to its centennial, White Castle has returned to the Florida market (four locations operated in Miami during the 1960s). The new Orlando location, its largest free-standing store, opened to the cheers and cravings of fans earlier this year in The Village at O-Town West, near the attractions. whitecastle.com

PORTILLO’S

Craving dogs instead of burgers? How about a Hot Italian Beef Sandwich, or a Chocolate Cake Shake? Portillo’s has been a Chicagoland institution since 1963, when Dick Portillo opened his “Dog House ‘’ in Villa Park. Serving those iconic Chicago-style dogs—an all-beef frank topped with mustard, neon-green relish, celery salt, onions, tomatoes, pickle and peppers on a steamed poppy seed bun—is their calling card. But they’re also known for Italian Beef sammies, piled high with addictive hot giardiniera peppers. (Order it dipped and prepare for the deliciously messy results. Trust us.) portillos.com

CULVER’S

Holy Butter Burgers, Batman! This little midwest chain serves up craveable bites made famous in America’s heartland: think creamy frozen custard, addictive cheese curds, and of course, those burgers. What began as one spot in 1984 has blossomed into more than 740 stores scattered across the U.S., with eight locations right here in Central Florida. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go order a Blueberry Cheesecake Concrete Mixer. culvers.com