Discover events, cuisine and more ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in Orlando.

Orlando is a melting pot of cultures, and this May, we’re highlighting the best ways to get involved during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. From award-winning cuisine and cultural hotspots to special events and exhibits, here are some of the best ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in Orlando.

Discover: AAPI History & Culture in Orlando

Orlando vacation planning made easy — and free. Make a complimentary appointment with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners at a time and date of your choosing for the latest insider advice, special offers and more ahead of your next visit.

Asian American and Pacific Islander History and Landmarks in Orlando

Celebrate and experience Asian American and Pacific Islander culture and contributions in May and all year long by visiting distinct Orlando neighborhoods and landmarks with strong AAPI influences

Colorful mural on the side of Little Saigon in the Mills 50 area of Orlando.
Mills 50®

Mills 50® / Little Saigon

Just north of downtown Orlando is the Mills 50 district, a diverse, delicious melting pot of cultures and flavors. The area was shaped by Vietnamese immigrants in the 1970s, whose authentic shops, supermarkets and eateries laid the groundwork for a bustling commercial district beloved by locals and visitors alike.

Discover: Things to Do in Mills 50

“The Asian business community has burgeoned,” says Mills 50 Executive Director Joanne Grant, adding that the district’s partnership with AAPI-supported organizations and businesses is paramount. The roots here run deep, as evidenced by Mills Market, a third-generation dining collective established as Tien Hung Market in 1986. Three of its restaurants — Bánh Mì Boy, Kai Kai and UniGirl — were honored by the MICHELIN Guide in 2025, joining Orlando staples like MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Zaru (also part of Mills Market), MICHELIN Recommended Edoboy (Florida’s first standing sushi bar) and MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Z Asian. You’ll find even more foodie flavors throughout the district, including Japanese, Filipino, Thai, Korean, Indian and Vietnamese fare.

Discover: Orlando MICHELIN Guide Dining

Marie Mercado, who owns popular ice cream shop Sampaguita, adds that "AAPI influence is deeply woven into Orlando’s local culture, especially in the Mills 50 district, where visitors can experience Asian-owned restaurants, markets, and businesses. By introducing unique Filipino-inspired ice cream flavors, [Sampaguita] promotes an appreciation of Filipino ingredients and culinary traditions, which can lead to greater understanding and cultural exchange among the community."

And global cuisine is just the beginning of all this diverse, entrepreneurial neighborhood has to offer. For over a decade, the district has hosted the award-winning Central Florida Dragon Parade in partnership with numerous AAPI community organizations. Mills 50 is the perfect starting point for a taste of AAPI culture in May and all year long.

Downtown Orlando M&C Unbelievably Real UR campaign
Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Park

Sister cities in Japan, Taiwan and China have left their mark on Orlando over the years, particularly in downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola Park. Relax and enjoy the lake views in a beautiful red ting (similar to a pagoda) gifted by the city of Guilin, China — a city which, incidentally, shares Orlando’s nickname of “The City Beautiful” — then continue your stroll to a beautiful Japanese rock garden and bridge gifted by Tainan City in Taiwan. Lake Eola Park is also home to several sculptures, vibrant local events and annual fireworks celebrations throughout the year.

Discover: Things to Do in Thornton Park

Orlando’s Chinatown

Located 15 minutes west of downtown, Orlando’s small but mighty Chinatown offers Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, exotic grocery stores, and retailers. The area’s centerpiece is a traditional Chinese arch known as a paifang or pailou. Enjoy all-you-can-eat noodles at MICHELIN Recommended Walala Hand-Pulled Noodle House (pictured), explore traditional fare from authentic mom and pop shops, and stock up on hard-to-find treats and unique ingredients to create a special meal at home.

> Back to Top

AAPI Heritage Month Events & Exhibits

Origami in the Garden (Ongoing)

AAPI Heritage Month is the perfect time to explore Origami in the Garden, a limited-time exhibition available through Sept. 20, 2025 at Harry P. Leu Gardens. Discover over 20 unique pieces inspired by the Japanese art of paper-folding, including original compositions by Santa Fe artist Kevin Box, collaborations with his wife Jennifer Box, and collaborations with renowned origami artists like Robert J. Lang and Te Jui Fu.

Discover: Orlando Gardens

Orange County Asian-Inspired Art Exhibition (May 2025)

The Orange County Asian Committee will host an Asian-Inspired Art Exhibition in downtown Orlando throughout the month of May, featuring works from Central Florida artists in a variety of mediums. Stop by the Orange County Administration Building weekdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. to witness AAPI history and heritage through the eyes of Orlando locals, and don’t miss a special awards ceremony for the top-rated pieces on May 19, 2025.

Discover: Things to Do in Orlando’s City District

Buddha’s Birthday Celebration (May 4, 2025)

Join Buddha’s Birthday Celebration at Guang Ming Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Central Florida. The day’s festivities will include traditional ceremonies, stage performances, authentic cuisine, games, guided meditation and more opportunities for hands-on fun.

Kaleidoscope 360: Crazy Rich Asians at Luminary Green Park (May 7, 2025)

Catch a free showing of the film Crazy Rich Asians during downtown Orlando’s monthly Luminary Market at Luminary Green Park. The movie begins at 7 p.m., with plenty of time to shop from local vendors before the show.

Discover: Orlando Events

Asian Cultural Festival (May 17, 2025)

The Asian American Heritage Council of Central Florida will host their annual Asian Cultural Festival at Bill Breeze Park, 20 minutes west of Orlando. This free event will include live music, dance performances, a local vendor marketplace, and tasty food and drink available for purchase.

No longer member, let expire
Orange County Regional History Center

Brechner Speaker Series: Asian American Pacific Islander Icons in Central Florida (May 18, 2025)

Discover the history and stories of Orlando’s AAPI community during a one-hour Brechner Speaker Series lecture at the Orange County Regional History Center. Hosted by award-winning journalist Valerie Boey Ramsey, this lecture will highlight trailblazing pioneers past and present, with firsthand accounts from influential AAPI figures.

Moana Jr. at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (May 22, 2025)

Witness the next generation of Orlando performing artists as Tap Into Theater Academy presents Moana Jr. at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Based on the Disney film Moana, the play highlights real cultural themes and beliefs of people from the Polynesian Islands and beyond.

One OK Rock at Hard Rock Live Orlando (May 25, 2025)

Japanese rock band One OK Rock will bring their 2025 tour to the “Coliseum of Rock,” Hard Rock Live at Universal Orlando Resort. Established in 2005, the band has performed in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and recently opened for Muse. Join them at Universal CityWalk for a night of rocking tunes.

Discover: Things to Do at Universal CityWalk

> Back to Top

Asian American and Pacific Islander Restaurants in Orlando

Whether you’re looking for year-round eats or an especially tasty way to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, these Orlando eateries with strong Asian American and Pacific Islander influences are sure to satisfy your cravings. TastyChomps.com founder Ricky Ly agrees, noting that “new generations from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, India, and more have left an indelible mark on the food scene, winning MICHELIN Guide awards and James Beard nominations and bringing Orlando worldwide acclaim.”

Discover: 4 Must-Try Restaurants for AAPI Heritage Month

In fact, over half of Orlando’s MICHELIN Guide restaurants are Asian-owned or inspired. Ly continues, "It is a testament to the strength of our Orlando community, diversity and commitment to continue to build and dream big, where the impossible is possible, where the American dream lives on."

Sushi bar at Morimoto Asia restaurant in Disney Springs
MICHELIN Recommended Morimoto Asia at DISNEY SPRINGS®

MICHELIN Guide Restaurants

  • Edoboy: An eight-person standing sushi bar in Mills 50
  • Kabooki Sushi: Contemporary Japanese cuisine and omakase in The Milk District® with a second location on Restaurant Row
  • Morimoto Asia: Pan-Asian cuisine presented in collaboration with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto at Disney Springs®
  • Ômo by Jônt: A progressive Winter Park dining experience that takes inspiration from Japanese cuisine
  • Shin Jung Restaurant: Orlando staple serving Korean barbecue for over 30 years
  • Tori Tori: Japanese pub and cocktail bar in Mills 50
  • Z Asian: Authentic Vietnamese pho and street food served in Mills 50
  • Kaya: Filipino fine dining crafted with seasonal ingredients in Mills 50
  • Bánh Mì Boy: Vietnamese cafe and bakery in Mills 50
  • Bar Kada: Laid-back sushi and sake bar in the lobby of ONE-MICHELIN-Star Soseki
  • Bombay Street Kitchen: Authentic Indian food inspired by Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and beyond, located near The Florida Mall®
  • Camille: Vietnamese cuisine with French influences, served omakase-style
  • Chuan Fu: Traditional Schezuan cuisine in stylish Winter Park digs
  • Domu: House-made noodles, ramen, small plates and more, featured on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil
  • Gyukatsu Rose: East End Market food stall specializing in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlets)
  • JUJU: Japanese-style izakaya with a seven-seat kappo bar
  • Kadence: One-MICHELIN-Star sushi and sake bar with an omakase-style menu
  • Kai Asian Street Fare: Street food with Vietnamese, Thai and other Asian influences
  • Kai Kai: Cantonese barbecue and dumplings in a Mills 50 walkup
  • Isan Zaap: Thai cuisine with Laotian influences near The Mall at Millenia
  • Natsu: 10-seat omakase concept serving sushi and Japanese cuisine near Mills 50 and the Ivanhoe Village Main Street district
  • Norigami: Eight-seat sushi counter with omakase and build-your-own bite options, located inside Winter Garden’s Plant Street Market
  • Sticky Rice: Laotian street food in Mills 50
  • Sorekara: A progressive dining experience highlighting contemporary Japanese cuisine with just one seating per night
  • Soseki Modern Omakase: 10-seat omakase serving sushi, sake and fusion fare
  • Sushi Saint: Sushi and temaki in downtown Orlando’s City District
  • Taste of Chengdu: Authentic Sichuan cuisine in the West Lakes Market Street District
  • Twenty Pho Hour: 2D Noodle bar serving modern Vietnamese cuisine
  • UniGirl: Unigiri and Japanese house specials in Mills 50
  • Walala Hand-Pulled Noodle House: Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles in Orlando’s Chinatown
  • YH Seafood Clubhouse: Cantonese cuisine and dim sum in Restaurant Row
  • Zaru: Udon noodles and Japanese comfort food
201436 Nami
Nami

More Asian American and Pacific Islander Flavors

Beyond our robust MICHELIN Guide offerings, Orlando boasts Filipino ice cream, Pan-Asian fare, local family recipes and inventive contemporary cuisine. Prepare your appetites and read on for more ideas.

> Back to Top

Stay Connected to Orlando
You never know what we will dream up next. Connect with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planning Services for free, personalized assistance, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads and YouTube for valuable offers, exclusive tips, fresh attractions and the latest events. You can also subscribe to our eNewsletter for more information from Orlando: Theme Park Capital of the World.

Have feedback about this blog? Let us know.