Where To Find The Best Street Food In Orlando

Almost everyone is familiar with Orlando in one way or another and what generally comes to mind when you think about this Central Florida city is Disney World. Orlando is much more than friendly characters and theme parks, although there are more than a dozen of those in the city limits. It has warm weather, more than 100 lakes, fabulous shopping, and amazing food. The surrounding areas offer excellent hiking opportunities, and the nightlife will satisfy any night owl.

When you come to Orlando, chances are your schedule will be jam-packed with things to do and you may not always have time to sit down to a long and drawn-out meal. Street food in Orlando is prevalent and can be the ideal way to try fantastic food that is more affordable and convenient for people on the go. Orlando street food vendors manage to combine tasty flavors from all over the world into portable quick bites. They do this so well that you may not need to venture into an actual formal sit-down restaurant the whole time you're here.

With so much to see and do in Orlando, FL, make sure you don't waste time fussing with your bags. Visit a convenient Bounce luggage storage location and drop off your luggage. You'll have the peace of mind that everything is safe and secure so you can enjoy every moment of your vacation.

The Best Street Food Vendors in Orlando

With over 200 food trucks operating in Orlando, it's difficult to narrow down the best. Most have something unique to offer from burgers and hot dogs to beef skewers and roti canai. Whatever flavor you're after, you can probably find it in one of the city's food trucks. This list is an assortment of the best street food in Orlando, and hopefully, you get to try every single one.

Treehouse Truck

Who doesn't like a burger? It's the perfect street food since you eat them with your hands and if wrapped properly, they are completely portable. Treehouse Truck specializes in burgers from their mobile food truck and also offers a catering service. The menu is quite simple but loaded with tastiness. You can get one of four burger options or one of four cheesesteak options. The cheesesteak buns, Amorosa rolls, are shipped to Orlando directly from Philadelphia. It doesn't get more authentic than that! Vegetarian choices are included on the menu as are sides of truffle or seasoned fries. They also do some of the most decadent deep-fried Oreos you've ever had. This truck brings the classic burger and fries to a whole new level. Check out the calendar on their website to see what location will be handy for you.

Mamak Asian Street Food

Although they don't have a truck, the Lo family built Mamak Asian Street Food based on recipes from their grandparents and offers a spin on street-style fare with an Asian flair. In Southeast Asia, the term Mamak means food stall or street vendor and is pronounced Mah-Mahk. The menu at this modern yet casual counter-service restaurant is inspired by Thai, Singaporean, and Indonesian cuisine, and the Lo family uses their Malaysian homegrown recipes to dazzle diners.

Famous for their Malaysian flatbread called roti canai, Mamak Asian Street Food has a selection of tapas, salads, and both noodle and rice dishes. The bulgogi beef skewers are a particular highlight, as is the roast duck fried rice. With one location on Colonial Dr. and another near the University of Central Florida, you'll have no trouble swinging by one of the restaurants.

Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food

Tamale Co. on Curry Ford Road is a one-stop-shop for all your Mexican food needs. Also a brick-and-mortar location, this restaurant uses fresh ingredients and traditional recipes to delight patrons. The menu is extensive with everything from tacos to tamales to salads. The sopes are the ideal street food with three fried tortilla boats covered with your choice of meat and all the fixings. The kid's meals are another nice feature at Tamale Co. since many people who visit Orlando do so with kids in tow.

Sticky Rice Lao Street Food

The home of the first quick bite in Orlando specializing in Lao street food, Sticky Rice is a local favorite on Colonial Dr. This counter-service gem offers fast and friendly service in a casual atmosphere. The menu is stacked with small plates, soups, and rice bowls, and although soup may not be the best on-the-go street food, head to nearby Lake Druid Park to enjoy an impromptu picnic. The curry ribs are braised for six hours and the pork tapioca dumplings melt in your mouth. Almost every meal in Laos begins with a taste of sticky rice eaten with your hands. Why not order some and leave your fork behind?

Jamaica Jamaica

For something a little different, look out for the roving Jamaica Jamaica food truck that offers tender Caribbean-style meat and fish, including the iconic Jamaican beef patty. Made to dine and dash, Jamaica Jamaica has what some might call exotic flavors, with oxtail and goat topping the menu. Most dishes are served with a side of rice and cabbage, and the result is a satisfying meal for an affordable price.

Alfajor Cafe

Alfajor Cafe has both a food truck and a restaurant that prepares some of the best Argentinian food in the state. The concept's namesake, the alfajor, is a traditional confection made with honey, dulce de leche, almonds, and hazelnuts. Often shaped like a layered cookie, they are the perfect compact desserts to eat without utensils. The menu at Alfajor is full of succulent meats, empanadas, and sandwiches. Since Asian and Asian-fusion cuisines tend to be the most prevalent street foods in Orlando, this South American truck is worth a visit for the sake of variety alone.

King Bao

With their first location in Mills 50 that started in 2015, King Bao quickly became a go-to street food destination. Now with three locations, they specialize in tasty tots, gourmet portable steamed buns, and an elusive lobster roll that isn't always available. Each of the bao buns is loaded with things like pickled carrots, ground peanuts, daikon, and pork belly. The buns have a slightly sweet taste resulting in the perfect savory-sweet combination. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere and prepares tasty concoctions ideal for a walk around town.

Where to find the best Orlando street food spots

Street food is widely available in Orlando with counter-service restaurants and food trucks scattered throughout the city. For the highest concentration of options, check these areas out:

Mills 50 District

The Mills 50 District is just north of the downtown core and is one of Orlando's oldest neighborhoods. The name comes from its defining boundaries: Mills Ave and State Road 50, which is also called Colonial Dr. Of the street food places mentioned above, Mamak Asian Street Food, King Bao, and Sticky Rice are all in this area. Other highlights include Hawkers Asian Street Food and MX Street Food.

The neighborhood skews young and is known for its unique and diverse cuisines. It's a fantastic place to wander around, with boutique shopping and colorful murals around every corner. Chances are, if you're visiting Orlando and aren't laser-focused on theme parks, you'll end up in this vibrant neighborhood at some point.

Downtown Orlando

Given the hustle and bustle of the working professionals in the neighborhood, it's no surprise that Downtown Orlando has a good amount of convenient food trucks. Changing trucks offer lots of selection, and this neighborhood is rife with street food vendors for both lunch and dinner. Hamburger Mary's, Grilled Cheezus, and Street Cantina are some of the local favorites. Who wouldn't want a burger, grilled cheese, or Mexican food for lunch?

Disney World

Visiting Orlando means you're probably going to hit up Disney World along with Universal, Legoland, and maybe even Sea World. Since all these theme parks know that visitors want to maximize their time exploring, they are all heaven for street food lovers.

The Disney food trucks are loaded with gourmet cuisine and are generally located at Exposition Park but do move around. Hit up Hot Diggity Dogs for fancy hot dogs, like the Reuben, BLT, and Texas chili cheese. The 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck has tasty Mexican fare, and the Mac & Cheese truck offers unique twists on this classic American favorite.

Southwest Orlando

Unshockingly, the neighborhood of Southwest Orlando is located southwest of downtown. This neighborhood offers a decent selection of casual counter-service places and food trucks. Most notably, try to visit the Venezuelan Food Truck and the El Burro Loco Food Truck. This area also has tons of fast food like wings and burgers. These are the places to visit before you go into the more expensive Southwest Orlando theme parks.

Street food festivals in Orlando

With so many food trucks, counter-service restaurants, and fast food options, Orlando and the surrounding areas are full of food truck events and street food festivals. Most are free to enter and offer family-friendly entertainment.

Food Truck Night

On the third Sunday of the month from 5 pm to 8 pm, Downtown Avalon Park hosts a beats and eats event featuring local food trucks. The cuisine comes from all over the world and residents and tourists bring blankets and chairs to the park for the evening. Grab your food and relax while listening to local bands in the warm open air.

Casselberry Food Trucks and Live Music

A little north of Orlando in Casselberry, food trucks gather for this monthly event. Held at Lake Concord Park, on the second Friday of the month, this event features live music and a selection of food trucks offering tasty treats from 6 pm to 9 pm. Each month offers new and different trucks, so there's never a dull moment. Parking is free as is the entrance to the event.

Vegan Around the World

Also on the outskirts of Orlando in Longwood, the Vegan Around the World Food Truck event caters to vegetarians and vegans. You get to experience vegan cuisine from around the world and shop at local vendors. This can be a great place for a casual meal and to pick up a unique souvenir. The event takes place in February if that coincides with your trip.

Food Truck Thursday at Center Lake Park

Center Lake Park in nearby Oviedo hosts a food truck event on Thursdays once a month. There is live entertainment and an assortment of local food trucks to provide you with a fabulous dinner. Kids will love this event as the park has a splash pad and playground. Make sure you bring your own blanket or chair to enjoy the evening on one of the many open lawns.

Conclusion

Orlando receives over 60 million tourists are year, so it's no surprise that the food selection here is vast and diverse. Street food stalls offer the best bang for your travel buck in terms of cost and time, and the food they provide is out of this world. A quick check of the restaurant's websites will tell you the food truck locations, and every day you can try something new. From Asian to Mexican to classic American cuisine, there's truly something for everyone in Orlando's street food scene.