The 2024 Orlando Dining Awards: Brendan’s Picks Part 1
We are thrilled to have Brendan O'Connor make his selections for the best of the best in food & drink in Orlando.
A Note from Brendan O’Connor:
Choosing favorites can be fun and scary at the same time. Like surfing, or rock climbing, or tipping cows. Naming something as special or above the norm invites people to share their opinions, often loudly, as to why you’re wrong and they’re right. So as I present this list of what I consider to be the best bets in Orlando, please consider that you could be totally wrong and that you do not need to send me an email to tell me how dumb I am. So, I trepidatiously present to you, my list of amazing local restaurants that do a great job and deserve your business. If you like something more, that’s great, keep supporting them. But you’d be cheating yourself to not check out these fantastic local businesses.
Back to the 2024 Dining Awards 
THE H ORLANDO | DR. PHILLIPS
Best Instagrammable Restaurant: Brendan’s Choice
Sometimes, well, most times, style does not match substance in the restaurant world. I see lots of places open up that are flashy or promise an out-of-planet experience, but they tend to fall a bit short when you’re saddling up to dinner. The H Orlando doesn’t have that problem. It’s a Mediterranean/Turkish steakhouse in Dr. Phillips, with an open-fire kitchen cranking out slow-cooked barbecue, charcoal oven-fired and sustainable dishes. Their vegetarian options should have made them a contender for Best Veggie-Forward Eats, but I’m bad at my job. The dining room feels like a millionaire’s treehouse, the bar is always full of beautiful people with beautiful bank accounts, and the food looks just as good as it tastes. They prepare pappardelle on a giant wheel of cheese and carve gold-encrusted steaks close enough to your table you could sneak it all home in your purse. And if you stay late enough, it gets a little Miami clubby and you can wiggle off some of those calories you just packed on. thehorlando.com
Runners Up: Chuan Fu // Bacan
KAYA | LAKE EOLA HEIGHTS
Best Barr Food: Brendan’s Choice
Kaya lives in a small retrofitted bungalow in Lake Eola Heights, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Mills 50 nightlife, but within earshot of all of the fun so you still feel a part of it all. The Michelin-loved Filipino restaurant serves dish after stunning dish like elevated pancit, lumpiang and oxtail kare-kare. Reservations can be tough to get, but walk-ins are always encouraged at the bar, where you can order food a la carte or go along with a chef’s choice adventure. But don’t sleep on the full liquor outdoor bar, y’all. With the help of what I can only describe as a beautiful wedding tent, the Kaya team has transformed their outdoor courtyard into a Kasbah of sorts, with lush tropical plants, wooden furniture and the beautiful natural glow that only a white tent can provide. The Bayani Bar offers specials throughout the week, including Tuesday chef pop-ups, Wednesday karaoke and happy hours on Thursdays. kayaorlando.com
Runners Up: Tori Tori // Sushi Saint
RED PANDA NOODLE | FOOD TRUCK
Best Food Truck : Brendan’s Choice
The crew at Red Panda Noodle burst onto the scene like a bus full of Muppets in 2022 following the closure of Orlando Meats in Winter Park. The chef duo behind the concept, Seth Parker and Eliot Hillis, are some of the biggest food nerds in the local game here in Central Florida and would happily talk your ear off about fermentation if you give them the chance.They love food, and it shows in their dishes, which I told you last year were “unapologetic celebrations of their ever-growing skill sets and are full of flavor and innovation,” and I still stand by that statement. They must be on a Szechuan kick lately because those peppercorns give me life. redpandanoodle.com
Just keep in mind that if they say it’s spicy, they really mean it.
—Brendan O’Connor
CAPA | LAKE BUENA VISTA
Best Hotel Restaurant : Brendan’s Choice
A Michelin-starred steakhouse that encompasses the entire 17th floor of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Capa pays homage to Spain’s Basque culture in its cuisine and design. Its recent expansion showcases chefs in an open kitchen as they assemble dishes. Delicate fans now hang from the ceiling, mimicking a flamenco dancer’s dress and a matador’s suit. Outdoor terraces (with spectacular views of Walt Disney World fireworks) have refreshed décor and new planters. Capa also received the seal of approval from the Embassy of Spain, who awarded it a prestigious “Restaurants from Spain” designation. fourseasons.com/orlando/dining/restaurants/capa
