Best of ORL 2026: Central Florida’s Favorite Restaurants

What Is Best of ORL 2026?

Orlando Magazine has released its Best of ORL 2026 winners for Food & Drink, a reader-voted roundup covering everything from breweries to hotel lounges throughout Central Florida. The restaurant category alone spans eight different areas — a genuinely useful snapshot of what dining looks like across the communities I work in every day.

Which Restaurants Won Throughout Central Florida?

Orange County dominated this year’s list, claiming six of the eight geographic restaurant categories:

• College Park: The Tap Room at Dubsdread
• Downtown Orlando: Maxine’s on Shine
• I-Drive: Café Tu Tu Tango
• Restaurant Row: Eddie V’s
• Winter Garden: The Hangry Bison
• Winter Park: AVA MediterrAegean

Rounding out the list, Seminole County‘s top spot went to Mi Casa Kitchen, followed by Jimotti’s Restaurant and Agave Azul. In Osceola County, Columbia Restaurant took the win, with Charley’s Steak House and Sun on the Beach close behind.

What Other Central Florida Winners Are Worth Knowing?

A few standout winners outside the geographic categories: Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. took Best Brewery, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice won Best Frozen Treat, Foxtail Coffee Co. was voted top community coffee spot, El Zocalo topped the Tacos category, and Maru Sushi & Grill took the win for Sushi.

Why Does This Matter for Central Florida Home Buyers?

A “best of” list like this is really a snapshot of what a region offers day-to-day — the restaurants people actually choose to visit and vote for aren’t just dining options, they’re part of what makes a neighborhood feel lived-in and worth settling into. Whether you’re weighing Orange County against Seminole or Osceola, having a locally-loved, award-winning food scene nearby is a genuine quality-of-life factor, not just a nice-to-have.

Where Can I See the Full List?

Orlando Magazine’s complete Best of ORL 2026 Food & Drink winners, covering every category from cocktails to wine stores, is available on their site.