Orlando’s Best Vegetarian Food

By Susan & Simon Veness

Are you ready for more Orlando culinary adventures? Following on from our recent Best Steakhouses blog, here is a look at yet another key element of our local dining scene – vegetarian food.

Just to start with, it is a common – if a little off base – complaint from British visitors: Why can’t I get vegetables with my restaurant meal? It is certainly true that, at first glance, Central Florida’s menus might seem devoid of veggies. Much of that is because of the fast-food style in which Orlando grew up, in modern terms.

Today’s reality is distinctly different, though. First of all, there are definitely restaurants that offer vegetables as a side dish. You just need to look under ‘Sides’ on most menus, and you should find things like broccoli, green beans, asparagus and sweetcorn.

It is also true that you will find various types of salad almost universally, and some of them can be highly creative, notably at places like Seasons 52, Mia’s Italian Kitchen and Café Tu Tu Tango, which are all in prime tourist territory, while even the big chains like Panera Bread, Chipotle and Olive Garden can produce some decent meatless fare with their salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta dishes and grain bowls.

The Theme Parks Are Great, Too

So it’s definitely not true that you can’t find a plate with vegetables! Even the theme parks can now offer a veggie option or two in some of the counter-service options and at all full-service restaurants. Disney’s Tusker House and Yak & Yeti restaurants at Animal Kingdom and Universal CityWalk standouts Cowfish and Vivo Italian Kitchen all feature excellent veggie food. And, if you don’t see an obvious vegetarian choice on the menu, feel free to ask if the chefs can come up with something. It’s a challenge they are usually happy to meet.

One other thing to look out for – if you see “Impossible” on a menu (good examples being the Impossible Meatloaf or Impossible Meatballs at several Magic Kingdom restaurants), these are purely plant-based versions of the original, and are pretty tasty, too. Having said all that, here is a wide selection of vegetarian-heavy options to look out for:

Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine: In four Orlando locations, including the Dr Phillips Plaza and Winter Park, this is classic Mediterranean fare done with great distinction and style, featuring super-tasty traditional dishes like Falafel, Hummus and Pide, as well as an excellent vegetarian Okra main course option. Their desserts are to die for, too!

Seasons 52: This high-quality national wine bar and grill changes menus seasonally to reflect the freshest produce, and that includes vegetables! With two central Florida locations (Altamonte Springs and Sand Lake Road, Orlando), plus another opening later this autumn (Winter Garden), you can be sure of an array of creative vegetarian choices alongside their signature flatbreads, salads, steaks, chops and seafood.

Cafe Tu Tu Tango: An International Drive icon since 1994, the eye-catching Café Tu Tu Tango offers a tapas-style menu that features a solid array of vegetarian choices. Their current menu shows fully 16 dishes that are either vegetarian or vegan, along with regular choices like chicken, pizza, seafood and Tex-Mex tacos.

Black Bean Deli: With two restaurants, in Winter Park and the Mills 50 district in downtown Orlando, the Deli has long been a bastion of imaginative Latin veggie fare. Their beans-and-rice dishes are highly recommended, along with side dishes featuring plantains and yuca, as well as being able to add chicken, pork and ground beef for the non-vegetarians.

Chamberlin’s Natural Foods: Here’s another national chain that specialises in vegetable dishes of many kinds, with a distinct accent on healthy choices. All four Orlando area outlets feature a salad bar, homemade soup and veggie chili, hot and cold sandwiches and hot vegetarian entrées. The Altamonte Springs location is at the LA Fitness Shopping Center while the Kissimmee restaurant is on John Young Parkway.

Tamarind Indian Cuisine: Our favourite Orlando restaurant for great curries, this long-time Winter Park staple features a wide variety of fully vegetarian dishes, all with the great flavours and tastes you expect of Indian cuisine. The vegetable biryani, Malabari and paneer Makhani are all well worth sampling, along with their small-plate offerings.

The Melting Pot: Get ready for a veggie feast, fondue style, at this delightful Orlando location (on Sand Lake Road) of another national name. Melting Pot offers a full Vegetarian Menu alongside their regular choices, including Cheese and Vegan Cheese fondues. The salads are also a great choice, as is the full Vegan Garden Pot, with a chef’s selection of vegetables.

Seito Sushi: For the latest Japanese version of veggie indulgence, look no further than this excellent option, with restaurants in Baldwin Park and on Sand Lake Road. Their menus feature specific dietary symbols to indicate items that are vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free, or those that can be altered upon request, so don’t hesitate to ask.

Sofrito Latin Café: One of our “hidden gems” in the Lake Buena Vista area, like Black Bean Deli, Sofrito features various Latin-style veggie dishes, including an excellent Special Sandwich filled with zucchini (courgette), yellow squash, cauliflower, red and green peppers, onion, garlic, mushroom, Swiss cheese and cilantro-garlic mojo on Cuban bread. Yum!

For more variations on the vegetarian scene, there are several upscale Brazilian offerings that all feature an extensive salad bar, alongside their main meat-heavy menu, with enough options to make a very decent meal. They usually include fresh artisanal salads, roasted and fresh vegetables, artisan cheeses, charcuterie, cold cuts, fresh fruits and hot side dishes. Look for them at any of Texas de Brazil, Fogo do Chao, Rodizio Grill and Adega Gaucha.

Happy vegetarian dining!

Simon and Susan Veness are Orlando-based travel experts and guidebook authors writing exclusively for Debbie’s Villas.