TastyChomps founder Ricky Ly shares his top foodie finds in Orlando’s Chinatown Plaza.

Some of Orlando’s best hidden gems can be found in the most unexpected places. Take Chinatown Plaza (also known as Westside Crossing), a vibrant hub of Asian culinary delights. Located along West Colonial Drive, this unassuming shopping center offers a treasure trove of hidden flavors, from hand-pulled noodles to Taiwanese desserts and savory dumplings. Whether you’re a local foodie or a visitor exploring Orlando beyond the theme parks, here are eight must-try spots in this cultural enclave that showcase the diversity and richness of Orlando’s Asian cuisine.

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Enson Market

Enson Market is a massive grocery store featuring authentic Asian ingredients ranging from fresh produce and seafood to Asian spices, seasonings, a plethora of ramen noodles, packaged snacks, frozen treats and more. Enson Market boasts an impressive array of fresh vegetables and fruits, many of which are staples in Asian cooking, such as bok choy, gai lan (Chinese broccoli), bitter melon, durians, lychees, longans and more. Tanks brim with under-the-sea creatures like lobsters, Dungeness crabs, blue crabs, king crabs and even live fish, making it a go-to spot for seafood lovers planning a crab boil or trying out a new fresh fish recipe at home.

Inside Enson Market, you will also find Pang’s BBQ, home to some of the best Chinese-style barbecue for carry out. Here you will see a display showcasing succulent roast duck, crispy roast pork, honey glazed barbecue pork and other barbecued meats, perfect for a quick meal or to take home.

Meet Fresh

For a sweet escape, Meet Fresh brings Taiwanese dessert traditions to Orlando. This cozy spot specializes in refreshing traditional treats such as taro ball dessert, featuring chewy taro balls in a sweet syrup. Pair it with their herbal jelly for a cooling, slightly bitter contrast, or indulge in a mountain of shaved ice topped with condensed milk and your choice of toppings like strawberries and mango — perfect for cooling off on warm Central Florida days.

Hunan Taste

Known for its liberal use of chili peppers and garlic, Hunan Taste delivers the bold, fiery flavors of Hunan cuisine right here in Orlando. The spicy Hunan chicken is a must-try, with tender chicken stir-fried in a vibrant red sauce. The sliced, slow braised pork belly in soy melts in your mouth, while the garlic eggplant provides a savory, slightly sweet dish for veggie lovers.

Malu Bian Hot Pot

The only skewer-style hot pot restaurant in Florida, Malu Bian Hot Pot provides a fun choose-your-own-adventure dining experience. Choose your broth — spicy, mild, or mushroom-based — and customize your meal with an array of fresh ingredients including vegetables, lamb, beef, seafood, fish balls and tofu. It’s all served on skewers that you can cook in flavored, boiling broth at your table. The spicy beef hot pot features a rich, tongue-tingling. Sichuan-style broth, while the earthy mushroom broth offers a soothing option for those who prefer less heat.

Sun Pearl Bakery

Since 2004, Sun Pearl Bakery has been a beloved Asian bakery here in Orlando, churning out Taiwanese-style baked goods that are light, beautiful and delicious. The pineapple buns, with their crunchy, sweet topping, are a classic, while the red bean pastries offer a subtle, nutty sweetness. For a celebration or just a treat, their fruit-filled whipped cream cakes are light, fluffy and irresistible. We love ordering the chiffon-style fruit-filled cakes here for birthdays and celebrations.

Walala Hand Pulled Noodles

MICHELIN Recommended Walala Hand Pulled Noodles is a noodle lover’s paradise where you can watch skilled chefs stretch wheat dough into perfectly chewy strands. The handmade Lanzhou beef noodles, served in a fragrant broth with tender braised beef, are a 1,400-year-old Chinese tradition. If you’re still hungry after slurping down your first bowl, you can ask for more noodle refills for free. Don’t forget to order their house made dumplings as well, featuring pork, beef and chicken varieties. They are juicy, broth-filled morsels, paired well with chili oil and soy sauce.

East Garden

East Garden features Cantonese-style cuisine, including some of the best dim sum in Orlando. On the weekends, the place is typically full of patrons waiting to get their fill of dumplings, noodles and more. Their translucent shrimp ha gow dumplings are a succulent delight, slurped down with a dash of soy sauce. East Garden’s beef chow fun noodles are a must, hand cut and stir fried in house with the fiery wok hei heat. Don’t forget to try a little bit of everything on the menu, bring some friends and family, and share with a cup of hot tea.

One Stop Dumpling

One Stop Dumpling serves up some of the tastiest dumplings in Orlando. Try their rainbow-colored pork and crab soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), delicately wrapped dumplings encasing a savory pork filling and hot broth. Make sure to pierce the dumpling with a chopstick and sip the soup from the dumpling in your spoon first as is tradition. The boiled or fried pork and cabbage dumplings are also a simple yet satisfying classic, as are the spicy wontons, bathed in a fiery chili oil.

A Culinary Journey to the East Awaits at Orlando’s Chinatown

Orlando’s Chinatown Plaza at Westside Crossing is the perfect spot to have a taste of Asia right here in Central Florida. From the bustling aisles of Enson Market to the delicate desserts at Meet Fresh, there is something to delight every foodie. These are just a few of the many dining establishments and cuisines available at the plaza so grab your chopsticks, bring an adventurous palate, and savor this epicurean journey to this hidden gem right here in Orlando.

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