Orlando - Cheap Good eats Orlando FL

We all know that Vegas is famous for this, what are the best options for good or best possible cheap eats/gourmet meals/ cuisine rustic in Orlando FL?

We all know that Vegas is famous for this, what are the best options for good or best possible cheap eats/gourmet meals/ cuisine rustic in Orlando FL?

For cheap eats, you can't do better than those Southern staples - Waffle House (http://www.wafflehouse.com/welcome/home) and Cracker Barrel (http://www.crackerbarrel.com/). ^

For cheap eats, you can't do better than those Southern staples - Waffle House (http://www.wafflehouse.com/welcome/home) and Cracker Barrel (http://www.crackerbarrel.com/). ^

Well some have complained about the quality of waffle house recently and cracker barrel is complicated.
golden corral was OK, actually the fried chicken was pretty good.

There are so many restaurants I usually just check with the locals in my hotel or timeshare

We all know that Vegas is famous for this, what are the best options for good or best possible cheap eats/gourmet meals/ cuisine rustic in Orlando FL?

If you will share what cuisine(s) you favor and the general area you will be staying in, I will try to help. Of course, if you're staying around I-Drive or the resort area, I'm not going to be able to help. :p

There are so many restaurants I usually just check with the locals in my hotel or timeshare

While I enjoy le coqau vin, and its a fine resturant the locals I know are too old to look for "cheap eats"!

If you will share what cuisine(s) you favor and the general area you will be staying in, I will try to help. Of course, if you're staying around I-Drive or the resort area, I'm not going to be able to help. :p

Thank you for your help.
I am near college park, winter park, and altamonte springs
thanks again

Thank you for your help.
I am near college park, winter park, and altamonte springs
thanks again

You're in a good area. Lots of independent restaurants. I'll start you here:

http://www.scottjosephorlando.com/

Scott Joseph is a long time restaurant critic and I find his reviews to be very good. Start there and feel free to ask questions.

Sweet Tomatoes is a good place to eat. If you sign up for their emails they send BOGO coupon often.

http://www.sweettomatoes.com/

too busy now to google it...

Chris's Steak House used to be absolutely fantastic.
Not sure they still exist.

what are the best options for good or best possible cheap eats/gourmet meals/ cuisine rustic in Orlando FL?

frank_10b

Looks like you're not geting too many answers outside of chains, so I will move the thread to the dedicated Orlando forum where, hopefully, locals and frequent visitors can share their recommendations.

EmailKid
Budget Travel modrator

In Altamonte Springs:

Amigo's
Steak 'n Shake
Mimi's Cafe
Boston Market

We also like Sweet Tomatoe and Golden Corral for inexpensive meals.

My favorite cheap eat in the Orlando area is a hole-in-the-wall dim-sum place called Ming's Bistro in downtown Orlando. The food is tasty and filling, and it's easy to get a meal for three for under $20. The appearance/service of the place isn't memorable, but the food is worth the trip. I've taken many visitors there and they have enjoyed it.

More info:
Ming's Bistro
1212 Woodward St # 6, Orlando, FL 32803-4173
Open Daily 10:30am-9:30pm
(407) 898-9672

In Winter Park:

Black Bean Deli
http://findlocal.orlandosentinel.com/listings/black-bean-deli-winter-park

Be aware that this is take out only, but you can get a delicious meal for under $10.

I love Black Bean Deli. I had kind of forgotten about them since 4Rivers opened, but last time I was at Black Bean they did have a small surface with some bar stools if you wanted to dine in. It would be an excellent stop on the way to walk around Park Avenue or to the Winter Park boat tour. If you go to Black Bean Deli ask them what their special of the day is, since those are sometimes slow-cooked longer than normal.

My favorite cheap eat in the Orlando area is a hole-in-the-wall dim-sum place called Ming's Bistro in downtown Orlando. The food is tasty and filling, and it's easy to get a meal for three for under $20. The appearance/service of the place isn't memorable, but the food is worth the trip. I've taken many visitors there and they have enjoyed it.

More info:
Ming's Bistro
1212 Woodward St # 6, Orlando, FL 32803-4173
Open Daily 10:30am-9:30pm
(407) 898-9672

I'll second your endorsement. Ming's Bistro has fantastic food.

I stumbled upon this website and under restaurants, there is a drop down menu featuring cheap eats

http://www.explorationorlando.com/search/label/Cheap

I highly recommend driving down to Guavate, a Puerto Rican restaurant just south of the 408 on Alafaya. It's some of the best Puerto Rican/Cuban style food in town. Its one of our favorites and well worth the drive.

Cheap: Kim Wu Chinese. In a strip mall 4904 S Kirkman Rd. We dropped in here on the way back from a half day at Universal. Decent and inexpensive.

Great, not expensive but not "cheap": Padrino's Cuban Bistro. 13586 S John Young Pkwy. OMG. Really good family owned Cuban.

4 Rivers Smokehouse (BBQ)
2103 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, FL
(321) 972-4398

Anna's Polish Restaurant
3586 Aloma Ave # 7, Winter Park, FL
(407) 657-0020

Pho 88 Noodle (Vietnamese)
730 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL
(407) 897-3488

4 Rivers Smokehouse (BBQ)
2103 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, FL
(321) 972-4398

Anna's Polish Restaurant
3586 Aloma Ave # 7, Winter Park, FL
(407) 657-0020

Pho 88 Noodle (Vietnamese)
730 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL
(407) 897-3488

dont know anna, but agree with others 4 sure
also there is nice viet resturant on main corner near Pho, begins with A. Their tofu dish is the best.
The best thing at Pho is the soup.

what is anna's like?

dont know anna, but agree with others 4 sure
also there is nice viet resturant on main corner near Pho, begins with A. Their tofu dish is the best.
The best thing at Pho is the soup.

what is anna's like?

There are so many good Vietnamese restaurants around that Colonial/17-92 intersection, I thought Pho 88 was priced reasonably and decent service. I stumbled across Anna's on the way to Jermiah's (another cheap eat for gelati) and I thought the food was terrific. Excellent selection of Polish foods and some German cuisine, I actually had the snitzel which I thought was one of the best I have had outside of Germany.

A couple of more suggestions . . .

Hot Dog Heaven
5355 East Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32807-1816
(407) 282-5746

Kappy's Sandwiches
501 North Orlando Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751-4402
(407) 647-9099

Hibachi Express
3950 U.S. 17-92 #1072
Casselberry, FL 32707
(321) 207-0988

Jeremiah's Italian Ice
6864 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park - (407) 679-2665
111 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland - (407) 599-9991
12271 University Boulevard, Orlando - (407) 277-7769

In Altamonte Springs:

Amigo's
Steak 'n Shake
Mimi's Cafe
Boston Market

We also like Sweet Tomatoe and Golden Corral for inexpensive meals.

Are these a joke?

I know Orlando doesn't have too much, but listing fast food chains and buffets in embarrassing.

Some mentioned Ming Bistro and Pho 88. That area near Colonial and Mills is filled with inexpensive Asian places. My favorite Vietnamese is Pho Vihn, behind the Einsteins Bagels on Colonial and Primrose. Thai House is great Thai food.

There is also a great Turkish place, simply called Steak and Salad, in the same area. Inexpensive and tasty.

On I-Drive and Kirkman, there is Pio Pio. Technically a Peruvian place, but a tasty and nice Caribbean-style place.

4-Rivers (mentioned) is the best BBQ around. Amazing.

Are these a joke?

I know Orlando doesn't have too much, but listing fast food chains and buffets in embarrassing.

Some mentioned Ming Bistro and Pho 88. That area near Colonial and Mills is filled with inexpensive Asian places. My favorite Vietnamese is Pho Vihn, behind the Einsteins Bagels on Colonial and Primrose. Thai House is great Thai food.

There is also a great Turkish place, simply called Steak and Salad, in the same area. Inexpensive and tasty.

On I-Drive and Kirkman, there is Pio Pio. Technically a Peruvian place, but a tasty and nice Caribbean-style place.

4-Rivers (mentioned) is the best BBQ around. Amazing.

I could not remember the name, but Pho Vihn is excellent!

For cheap eats, you can't do better than those Southern staples - Waffle House

Pronounce waffle without the W and you have what those places really are. They have been found to be the dirtiest restaurant chain in the country. If you are brave enough to go in one, you will probably agree.

excellent Dominican/Puerto Rican food.
very large portions; can easily share.
Excellent typical seasoning.
http://www.allmenus.com/fl/orlando/39539-caridad-restaurant/menu/

For fast in and out.. and I know some think it may be too mainstream.. Sizzlers, Ponderosa's, Black Angus and Golden Corral (we tried Cici's years ago) actually worked well, as we have a 1 year old and 5 year old..

So selection was quick, easy, fast and cheap.. in and out..

But we usually dined in various restaurants in Disney World.. but outside.. needs to be quick and easy for the kids..

Bento Sushi. There's one on Sand Lake next to Chic-fil-A and one downtown. Kinda hip places, like the one downtown better. Thre was also a good French cafe in downtown Winter Garden. Don't remember the name of it and if it is still there or not. used to be a good one at Watertower Place on 192, but last I knew it was moving and dont know where to.

le coq au vin in lake buena vista?

Habibi. (http://lakebuenavista.habibiusa.com/) Great Lebanese food right in Lake Buena Vista.

le coq au vin in lake buena vista?

Le Coq au Vin??? If you conside that inexpensive, I hate to hear what you consider expensive! Would love to try it some time, but afraid my credit rating is not strong enough yet.

Any good oyster bar/restaurant in Orlando?

I believe there is a pretty good oyster bar at Fulton's Crab House in Downtown Disney

http://www.levyrestaurants.com/restaurants/fulton-s-crab-house

When I was there last month they were advertising their fresh oysters.

Well some have complained about the quality of waffle house recently and cracker barrel is complicated.
golden corral was OK, actually the fried chicken was pretty good.

Recently?

I grew up in Waffle House land.

They have never had quality food.... LOL! Waffle House and quality are not compatible terms...Waffle House is cheap greasy food. Generally enjoyed by drunk college students... (And another quality resturant in this vein... Krystal!)

Recently?

I grew up in Waffle House land.

They have never had quality food.... LOL! Waffle House and quality are not compatible terms...Waffle House is cheap greasy food. Generally enjoyed by drunk college students... (And another quality resturant in this vein... Krystal!)

This thread is about cheap eats.. quality seperate issue, although should be material consideration.:)

Recently?

I grew up in Waffle House land.

They have never had quality food.... LOL! Waffle House and quality are not compatible terms...Waffle House is cheap greasy food. Generally enjoyed by drunk college students... (And another quality resturant in this vein... Krystal!)

Speaking on behalf of all drunk college students, I disagree. Their pecan waffles are especially good and the best thing on the menu.

Every time I pass the WAffle House on 535 I want to go in for old-times sake, and I just can't bring myself to do it.

Are the pecan waffles still that good?

Every time I pass the WAffle House on 535 I want to go in for old-times sake, and I just can't bring myself to do it.

Are the pecan waffles still that good?

Yeah, I like them. See what you think.

Why not visit the Waffle House?

Yeah, its beneath some people.. but to each their own..

wow. never seen so much hate for a WaHo. and how in the heck is cracker barrel complicated?!?! WaHo has many sub-$5 breakfast deals that will leave you with a fully belly for a while.

Miller's Ale House!!!!!

Ok, so we don't necessarily go for the food, though you can get a killer slab of meatloaf for around $5 on Thursdays at lunch..... The beer/drinks are the attraction at attractive prices....

It's a bit chainy, but not a bad go to...

There is always Golden Corral and The Sizzler. You can then go to Disney and walk off the calories.

Any good oyster bar/restaurant in Orlando?

Best in the greater Orlando area is "The Oyster Bar" in Clermont on the southbound side of Route 27 just after it crosses 50.

Other great "cheap eats" (some are more in the category of "very reasonable" rather than actually "cheap") in the Greater Orlando area would be San Jose's (locations in Altamonte, Clermont, and Winter Garden), Linda's La Cantina on 50 near Executive Airport (steak house), Boston's Fish House on Aloma in Winter Park, Antonio's on 17-92 in Maitland, and any of the several food truck events each week.

Has no one mentioned breakfast at Ponderosa? cheap, yes. Good errr


www.floridathoughts.co.uk

Gross. No better than Waffle House or Golden Corral.

Best cheap breakfast eats are a fresh muffin and coffee from Bluebird Bakery over near Audobon Park.

I know it's a chain, and highly Americanized food, but I really like Tijuana Flats for cheap & tasty:

http://www.tijuanaflats.com/

(web site may have obnoxious music)

I've also heard good things about Pollo Tropical:

http://www.pollotropical.com/default.aspx

Best good cheap food restaurant in my book in Orlando (Universal/I-drive area) is Aki Sushi.
Worth the trip if you are far from there. It is on Universal Blvd/Carrier Dr in a dilapidated strip mall next to a Japanese grocery store. Real Japanese food. Real sushi. Dinner happy hour (5-7PM) prices: $1 a piece for nigiri or sashimi and $2.50 for rolls. Ma and Pa place. Great food and uber fresh. Cannot beat it. Here (http://www.yelp.com/biz/aki-restaurant-orlando) are some more details