Orlando influencer Christina Petsos shares her top restaurant picks for AAPI Heritage Month.

Orlando’s ever growing food scene is home to amazing Asian restaurants. With May being Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, I want to introduce you to some of my favorite spots in the city that are another reason Orlando is Unbelievably Real. These delicious destinations are open all year long for a savory celebration that never has to end. You won’t want to miss a bite!

Discover: AAPI History & Culture

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Sorekara

Two MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide Service Award

Sorekara was just awarded Two MICHELIN Stars, making it one of only two restaurants in Florida to achieve such a high level of recognition and Orlando’s first. To say it is well deserved would be an understatement. There is no other dining experience like it in Orlando.

Discover: MICHELIN Guide Dining

For starters, Chef William Shen and his team have kept a lot of their experience off of social media in an effort to keep the magic for new diners. This team knows no bounds to creating memories, from serving incredible food to going above and beyond for their guests. Everything is intentional and tells a story. The multi-course dinner will surprise you, delight you and all around fulfill you.

Dragonfly Robata Grill & Sushi

Dragonfly Robata Grill has been a staple in Orlando for quite some time now and is located in the Dr. Phillips area on Restaurant Row. It is a beautiful restaurant with great service and food. The menu at Dragonfly is curated with a mantra of using only the freshest and finest quality ingredients. I’ve always enjoyed their sushi rolls, but they have an incredible selection for robata, too. Their kogarashi lamb and name umi pot are two great choices.

Discover: Restaurant Row Dining

Edoboy

MICHELIN Recommended

Edoboy is an intimate, eight-spot standing sushi bar located in the Mills 50® district. It is the only one of its kind in Orlando. The customer orders directly from the chef, cutting out the middleman to increase efficiency. This is a popular style in Japan as it makes high-quality sushi convenient to eat at a reasonable price. The fish served at Edoboy is incredibly fresh and flavorful.

Discover: Things to Do in Mills 50

Pocha 93

Pocha 93 is the first Korean pub in Orlando. The vibe is 1990s Korean, boasting a large amount of Korean artwork. There are K-pop videos playing in the front lounge area and neon signs throughout. They have a large selection of drinks, including cocktails, locally sourced and imported beer, and a variety of soju spirits. They use fresh fruit to make their drinks, and all syrups and mixes are made in house. They offer KBBQ at Pocha 93 and provide quality meat. The short rib and bulgogi were my favorites. They also serve Korean stews here, something I haven’t found in too many other places.

Sampaguita

Located in the Mills 50 district, Sampaguita serves Filipino-inspired ice cream. Drawing from the flavors of her childhood, owner Marie Mercado is able to create unique ice cream flavors like guava and cheese, ube latte, butterscotch soy sauce, and many more. They also serve shakes, sundaes, halo halo and baked goods. I am addicted to the Birthday Mamon flavor and definitely recommend ordering it. Or get a flight; this is the best way to try it all!

Zeta Asia

Zeta Asia is located inside the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. They serve pan-Asian cuisine that draws inspiration from Asian tradition and Western culinary techniques. On the menu you can find sushi, poke bowls, bao buns and a variety of appetizers. This is a great restaurant to head to after a long day at the parks or if you’re staying over by Walt Disney World® Resort. The sushi is fresh and the drinks are strong.

Soseki Modern Omakase

One MICHELIN Star

Soseki Modern Omakase, located in Winter Park, is one of the first restaurants in Orlando to be awarded a MICHELIN Star. Each time I dine here, I am reminded why. The food quality, ambience and service are all superb. Everything they use is made from the finest, top-quality ingredients. They partner with local Florida farmers, fisheries, cheesemongers and even ceramic artisans. The courses are very sushi forward and feature seasonal ingredients.

Discover: Things to Do in Winter Park

Bar Kada

MICHELIN Recommended

From Chef Michael Collantes comes Bar Kada, a sake bar in Winter Park. It is connected to Soseki and offers the same high quality as its sister omakase. Here you will find carefully selected sakes, sushi, small plates and noodles. They offer educational sake tastings, thoughtful pairings and a five-course tasting menu.

Though it is connected to Soseki and offers elevated food and service, expect a more relaxed atmosphere. They make sake more approachable and have one of the best beverage directors in the business: 2023 MICHELIN Sommelier Award winner Benjamin Coutts. Give it a try, you will learn a thing or two while you’re here!

Mills Market

Mills Market is home to amazing food concepts to include UniGirl (MICHELIN Bib Gourmand), Banh Mi Boy (MICHELIN Bib Gourmand), Kai Kai (MICHELIN Recommended), Zaru (MICHELIN Recommended), Saigon Snow, and its newest addition, Cowboy Curry. Since adding these new stalls, Mills Market has been packed with customers.

UniGirl serves onigiri, a tough thing to find done well in Orlando. On the weekends, you can find long lines due to the popularity. My favorite is the beef and the fried chicken.

Kai Kai brings NYC level Cantonese to Orlando. The dumplings are incredibly tender, and you can watch them being made. Chefs Jerry and Jackie Lau have 35 years’ experience in Cantonese cuisine. Menu highlights include fresh made dumplings, turnip cakes, crispy roast duck, honey BBQ char siu, Singapore rice noodles and Chinese sausage fried rice. My favorite thing on their menu is the beef chow fun.

Zaru is an udon noodle shop. The noodles are cooked perfectly here. The restaurant interior is cute with thoughtfully placed decor. Guests pick their noodle base and can then add on to it. I loved the tempura sweet potato and ikura add on. The nori paper they coat with sugar makes the perfect snack.

Banh Mi Boy produces flavorful and unique banh mi sandwiches, plus prepared grab and go meals, Vietnamese coffee, and fresh sugar cane juice. I love the pho French dip banh mi. They also serve breakfast banh mis, fresh summer rolls, spring rolls, and a Philly cheesesteak banh mi.

Saigon Snow, created by Top Chef winner Chef Hung Huynh, serves shaved ice bowls, smoothies and waffles. The shaved ice has a consistency like snow. The snow bowl features tsua bing, a style of shaved ice akin to fluffy Japanese Kakigori and Korean bingsu, while tropical fruit toppings are a nod to Vietnamese cuisine.

Natsu

One MICHELIN Star

Natsu was awarded a MICHELIN Star in 2024 after only being open for about six months. This is currently the most affordable omakase in Orlando and it features a 16-course dinner. Each dish is innovative, elegant and uses the freshest ingredients possible. The menu at Natsu is seasonal and changes every few months. They are located in downtown Orlando with plenty of parking available.

Walala Hand Pulled Noodles

MICHELIN Recommended

Located in Orlando’s Chinatown, Walala draws a crowd to try their incredible Lanzhou hand pulled noodles. Their noodles are made fresh daily. You can even watch them make the noodles behind the glass. One of the best things about Walala is that their noodles are bottomless! The broth is so buttery and flavorful, you’ll want to drink it by itself!

Mosonori

From James Beard Award-nominated Chef Henry Moso is this beautiful hand roll bar. The original location is in Winter Park, with a new outpost that just opened in Dr. Phillips. The fish at Mosonori is fresh and high quality. You can order tastings, the chef’s selection, a prix-fixe selection of hand rolls, or choose your own hand rolls for a fully custom affair. I usually pick out my own. My favorite is the salmon and the toro.

Zen Dumpling

Zen Dumpling recently opened in the Waterford Lakes area, with plans to open soon in Altamonte Springs. They specialize in soup dumplings made fresh in house. This is a restaurant where you can watch them roll out the dough and shape the dumplings behind glass before they take them in the back to cook them. I suggest getting the sampler so you can try one of each. My personal favorites are the beef and the truffle pork as well as the mini soup dumplings. The zen chili wontons are a must order appetizer (unless you do not like spicy food).

So Gong Dong

This authentic Korean restaurant can be found on West Colonial across the street from Orlando’s Chinatown. They serve generous portions, and the food is tasty. They focus on classic, traditional Korean flavors. My favorite items are the short rib, tofu soup with dumplings, pork belly bento box, and the bi bim bop, which is served on a hot stone.

Palm Beach Meats 407

Palm Beach Meats recently opened in the SODO Main Street District and has been gaining quick popularity, as it is an all-wagyu restaurant. This creative concept started in Palm Beach, with the original location earning MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recognition in 2025. Their goal is to make wagyu more approachable to a wider audience. The meat served here is of the highest quality, and they have some unique creations such as a frito pie, wagyu cheesesteak, wagyu hotdogs, and wagyu tallow brownie sundaes.

Discover: Things to Do in the SODO District

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