The 2025 Orlando Dining Awards: Brendan’s Picks Part 2
Now that you've read Part 1, it's on to Part 2 of the Orlando Dining Award winner breakouts.
Back to the 2025 Dining Awards 
Best Chef’s Table: ÔMO BY JÔNT
BRENDAN’S PICKS
Best MICHELIN Star Restaurant & Chef: RYAN RATINO
READERS’ CHOICE
ÔMO by Jônt elevates dining to a deeply personal journey. Limited to just 16 guests, its progressive tasting menu moves from a living room reception with welcome snacks and cocktails to an intimate chef’s counter where diners watch each savory course being prepared, then concludes in a dessert parlor with a signature magic box of sweets. The team embraces omotenashi, or “wholehearted hospitality” delivering high‑energy, one‑on‑one service and explaining ingredient origins and techniques as you eat. Brendan says each time he’s had a chance to visit, he ended up with a personalized thank you card and a smile on his face. They make guests feel like friends, and that’s something that deserves an award in today’s world. omobyjont.com
Best Theme Park Restaurant: JALEO
BRENDAN’S PICKS
Best Spanish Restaurant: JALEO
READERS’ CHOICE
Jaleo by José Andrés at Disney Springs elevates theme park dining with authentic Spanish flavor. This vibrant, multi‑level space serves an extensive array of tapas highlighting the rich regional diversity of Spain and paellas cooked over a wood fire. Guests can kick back with sangria and feast on everything from delicate cheeses to hearty salads in a lively setting perfect for families or date nights. The menu’s quality and variety, guided by world‑renowned chef José Andrés, make Jaleo widely regarded as Orlando’s premier theme‑park‑area restaurant. It pairs sangrias and Spanish wines with a celebratory atmosphere. And the best part is that there are rarely any kids there so you can camp out in the air conditioning and watch the aquatic cars hum by in peace. jaleo.com/location/jaleo-disney-springs
Runners Up: THE BOATHOUSE ○ LE CELLIER STEAKHOUSE
Best Pizza: DOUGH BOYZ PIZZA
BRENDAN’S PICKS
Family‑run Dough Boyz Pizza in Oviedo is a humble shop whose craft puts it atop Orlando’s pizza scene. Everything is proudly homemade in‑house, and the owners bring three generations of pizza‑making pride to each pie they serve. Even their plain cheese slice is a perfectly balanced, crispy yet chewy, experience with robust sauce, melty mozzarella and a thin crust that doesn’t flop—which is so important. Their Grandma Sicilian features house‑made plum tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and pesto, while the Brooklyn Sicilian layers cheese under chunky sauce and shows they take their sauce as seriously as dough and cheese. Which checks out, because everything they make is seriously good. doughboyzpizzaoviedo.com
Runners Up: ZIGGIE’S PIZZA ○ SODOUGH SQUARE ○ BLACK MAGIC PIZZA
Best Ice Cream: SAMPAGUITA ICE CREAM
BRENDAN’S PICKS
Sampaguita Ice Cream in Orlando’s Mills 50 district isn’t just a scoop shop; it’s an exploration of Filipino culture and self‑identity, and it actually shares its name with the Philippines’ jasmine flower, which symbolizes love, purity and guidance. The space has bright, modern tropical décor and welcoming staff who offer samples and explain the flavors to (mostly white) people who aren’t familiar with the “exotic” fruits they’re made with: flavors that range from vegan buko pandan and mango float to soy sauce butterscotch and keso guava cheesecake, plus a vanilla‑ube soft serve swirl. sampaguitausa.com
Runners Up: THE GREENERY CREAMERY ○ KELLY’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
Best Cheap Eats: LOS HERMANOS GROCER
BRENDAN’S PICKS
Los Hermanos Grocer on Curry Ford Road is a true hidden gem where affordability meets flavor. The market/café offers an array of Mexican lunch specials displayed on a steam‑table; the chilaquiles, served with eggs, refried beans and yellow rice, is hefty and under $13; the flauta plate has five pieces for under $10. The staff is courteous and fast and doesn’t necessarily speak English. The atmosphere is quaint and unassuming. They serve large portions of genuine Mexican comfort food, and they are without a doubt, the best cheap eats in town. grocery-los-hermanos.com
Runners Up: STICKY RICE ○ BEEFY KING ○ LATIN SQUARE CUISINE
Best Indian Food: BOMBAY STREET KITCHEN
BRENDAN’S PICKS
Bombay Street Kitchen has earned its reputation as Orlando’s best Indian restaurant. Everyone knows it. The menu is huge, but the kitchen is so great at what they do, they manage it all (seemingly) effortlessly, while also having extremely reasonable prices. MICHELIN’s Bib Gourmand inspectors praise the cheerful interior with orange booths and well‑prepared South Indian small plates such as a street special dosa stuffed with potato, cabbage, paneer and onion, plus jackfruit masaledar and hara teekha murg tikka grilled to crisp perfection. But don’t sleep on their fish dishes either, which are complete treats. Everything is so tight and perfect, it feels like they’re on the edge of launching 100 more of them across the country. bombaykitchenorlando.com
Runners Up: TABLA WINTER PARK ○ TAMARIND
