Celebrity Chefs Have Made Orlando the New Las Vegas for Dining

Orlando, Florida, is known for its theme parks, but it’s an ever-evolving culinary destination for the Sunshine State, especially with the rise of celebrity chef-led restaurants. In fact, Orlando seems to be the new Las Vegas for dining with celebrity chefs opening outposts around the Central Florida city, at theme parks and in trendy neighborhoods like Winter Park.

For a taste of star power, start at Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, which has become a popular casual restaurant for fans of the TV shows Masterchef and Hell’s Kitchen, at Icon Park. While the traditional fish and chips combination can be found here, for a real indulgence, get the lobster and shrimp combo, which comes with two pieces of deep-fried lobster and two pieces of shrimp, plus thick-cut fries and two of the six signature sauces.

Just down the street at Disney Springs, there’s an overwhelming amount of celebrity chef-led restaurants including Jaleo by Jose Andres, chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Morimoto Asia by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and Chicken Guy! from the Mayor of Flavortown himself, Guy Fieri.

The name recognition alone brings food fans from around the world to dine at Disney Springs versus other restaurants off of Disney's property. The quick service restaurant Chicken Guy! often has a line of guests out the door looking to try Fieri’s famous Donkey Sauce (garlic aioli) and chicken tenders, and Homecomin’, a table service spot, is frequently booked with walk-in wait times estimated at an hour or more to get a taste of Art Smith's iconic fried chicken.'

Even better than dining at one of the Disney Springs restaurants is dining with the chef who owns the restaurant. The iconic Indian American chef who’s won Tournament of Champions on the Food Network twice, invites diners to join her for a family-style meal at Eet by Maneet Chauhan. During the ticketed Greet, Meet & Eet with Chef Maneet Chauhan meals, you can experience a five-course lunch or dinner, plus drinks and a question and answer time with Chauhan. Be sure to snap photos with her to make all of your foodie friends jealous.

If you want to stay out of the theme parks but still want a fantastic meal, give Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen a try at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. You may know Blais as a Food Network judge or from his time hosting and judging Next Level Chef on Fox. The chef frequents the restaurant throughout the year, and dates are always posted on social media well in advance so you can get a coveted reservation when he’s cooking. Of course, the menu here leans heavily into seafood. The tuna tostada is a must-try with big chunks of fresh raw tuna piled on a crispy shell and topped with a passion fruit yolk that runs over everything once it’s broken open.

Also outside the theme parks is Knife & Spoon from Top Chef contestant John Tesar. The restaurant is located inside the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. The seafood and steakhouse has won prestigious accolades like a coveted Michelin star in 2022 and 2023.

When the Michelin Guide first released an Orlando edition, it was a big deal for the city. It showed the country that Orlando is more than just character-clad buffets and chain restaurants for tourists. In the debut Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa, four restaurants were recognized with one-star distinctions.

Two years later, seven restaurants have one star. Scattered across the city, they include Natsu in downtown Orlando, Kadence in the Audubon Park Garden District, and Camille in Baldwin Park. Over at Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you’ll find the one-starred Victoria & Albert’s, the first and only restaurant owned and operated by a United States theme park to hold a Michelin star. Additionally, Kaya, a Filipino restaurant in the Mills 50 neighborhood was honored with the city's only Michelin Green Star, which is given to restaurants championing sustainable gastronomy. 

This is the time to visit Orlando’s buzzing food scene as more celebrity chefs bring their unique culinary viewpoints to a city that’s been riddled with boring options for decades. For locals and travelers, this means even more diverse dining destinations. Whether you’re going to the trendy neighborhoods like Winter Park or Baldwin Park, or staying around Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, there’s a celebrity chef-led or Michelin-starred restaurant nearby to try.