35 Best Southern Restaurants in Orlando

“Everyone truly needs to check this place out. The food was absolutely 🔥. We order the Pork Ribs w/ Greens, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans and Loaded Fries w/ Brisket! Everything was on point! The meat was so juicy & tender and the sauce was amazing. The sides were equally delicious. On a scale 1-10 with no problem Smoky Jay BBQ gets a 10 from us!! 🔥🔥🔥 Best bbq spot in Orlando!! A must check out!! Will be back soon!“

“Tori is the best! Service was fast and friendly. The beer was cold, the band was hot and the whole place rocks. I’ll be back.“

“Tired of cooking? Can't cook? Then give Kookin' with Kim a try. You will be glad that you did! Reasonably priced. Hefty sized portions.“

“Was very impressed. My date and I had the cornbread , oyster rockefeller and the truffle deviled eggs, impressive intricate cajun menu“

“If you haven't made it to Soco's Sunday Brunch yet, what are you waiting for?! Grab a friend or two and get a sampling of a few plates to share, you won't be disappointed! Today we had the fresh made biscuits with house jams, fried green tomatoes, Pork Belly Sliders, fried chicken & French toast and breakfast tacos. Talk about flavor and the portions were great. The French toast was downright orgasmic, that bourbon maple syrup will bless your soul. Seriously, go see for yourself, best brunch in Orlando or any other meal for that matter.“

“One of the best homemade food you will ever eat I recommend this place to anyone looking for good quality and clean food just give it a shot and thank me later 😎👍🏽“

“I was helped by Bia today and she was absolute amazing. This was our first time visiting and she spent about ten minutes explaining the menu to us, as well as allowing us to try many flavors. The food was amazing, I got Olivia’s salad on a BLT with the grape salad and both were a 10/10. Highly recommend!!“

“This place is an Orlando treasure. Innovative tasty food served in huge portions . Lots of southern inspired menu items done right. The atmosphere is fun and engaging, especially at the holidays. Lake Eola Park is right next door and the staff are friendly, quirky and helpful.“

“Food was excellent. Cooked to perfection. The service was at another level. Tim, our waiter went above and beyond to meet our expectations. He was attentive, knowledgeable about the entire menu and served with a smile. Love this place. We will be back!“

“Amazing experience! Enjoyed my Christmas Day Brunch Buffet with family. It was quite the experience as the food was amazing! So delicious! The staff was very friendly and courteous. They went above and beyond to assist and take care of all our dining needs. Reservations were made in advance and it took no time for us to be seated. Adequate spacing, large amounts of food and a nice, elegant ambience and moderate environment when it came to noise level. I had quite the time on Christmas Day! Highly recommended! The food was so amazing! From breakfast to the lunch menu, all of the eggs, sausage, bacon one could desire ranging to the brisket, chicken tenders, green beans and potatoes! A wide variety of food options to choose from! Will definitely visit again!“

“I had a great a experience, when we got there their was a long line, but that line went down so fast and we got our food in no time. Jasmine was a wonderful host as well as the rest of the staff. Food was delicious 🤤 I would definitely recommend and be back.“

“The Monroe was fantastic! From the atmosphere to the food and service, everything was spot on.“

“So delicious! Excellent service from everyone, especially our server Shaun. He was so thorough and answered all our questions. The Cedar Key clams were to die for! I had the scallops and my husband had the burger for dinner- so freaking amazing ! I can’t say enough about this place! The owner was walking through the dining room checking on everyone, greeting everyone - thank you Carol for an exceptional experience!“

“On a long layover this morning and needed breakfast. Sat at the bar, his service was excellent. Very kind and friendly. I ordered the breakfast Bowl and it was big and tasted great. It came out of the kitchen quick too. I recommend it.“

“We came to the concert venue for Saved By the 90s and it was an absolutely miserable experience. The event was completely oversold. You could not even walk from one side of the venue to the other to use the restroom without fully pressing your body to someone else from boobs to butt. There was no space whatsoever to stand comfortably and actually see the band. If you wanted a single inch of space, you needed to go to the corner where you couldn't see the band or just leave. They were giving away free tickets to the event as of 2 days prior, making it an absolute miserable experience. It was an absolute safety and fire hazard. They need to focus on the experience, not just profit. Do better.“

“Just called Rivers Lakeland to place a pick up order. Man answered the phone. Stated they don't take orders by phone have to do online. Told him I tried that wouldn't work. Said that's how they do take out. I've been going to 4 Rivers for years. Was ordering for six people over $100. Told him I'll find some place else to order from. Won't be back.“

“Always the best! A friendly but serious restaurant. Great everything.“

“We loved the food but sad we didn’t get to do the trivia quiz we have heard about. We had a lovely meal tonight and cocktails but unfortunately it wasn’t the experience we had hoped for. As we are from England it’s a very rare chance we would be able to visit. We have heard about the forest gump quiz but unfortunately our server didn’t do this with us. It wasn’t busy as we had just walked in so we were hoping for the full experience. If we have had the full experience we would have given a top rating.“

“Worth visiting! Food, atmosphere and service were all great! Donna is amazing and so welcoming and kind. The best chef! We went back multiple times because of her.“

“¡Una experiencia deliciosa! Este restaurante de BBQ combina lo mejor de las parrilladas tradicionales con sabores auténticos. Las carnes estaban perfectamente ahumadas, jugosas y llenas de sabor. Probé el pernil y el brisket. ¡Increíbles! Los acompañamientos como los plátanos maduros, el arroz con frijoles y la ensalada, el plato a la perfección. El ambiente es acogedor, el personal fue muy amable y conocía bien el menú, lo cual se agradece. Sin duda, un lugar al que volveré. Recomendado para quienes quieran disfrutar de una BBQ con un toque único.“

“Hands down the best seafood I have had in a very long time. I was lucky to try this great food at a food truck Friday. The chicken and shrimp, my wife and 3 year old enjoyed. I went with the shrimp and crab. It was amazing. Fresh cooked to order. It came with potatoes, sausage and an ear of corn all smothered in this amazing homemade butter.I could go on and on about how great this meal was. And normally I don’t write about food, but this deserves 5 stars and more.I hope they are back in my town again next month because I really want to try the lobster.Great customer service and great people all around. Give them a try and you will not be disappointed.“

“Great service, great food“

“An amazing surprise. Who would have thought you'd find excellent food and service in an airport restaurant. There were 4 in our party. We each ordered something different and every plate was outstanding. Miguel was our server. He was excellent! Big thanks to Miguel and the entire team. You really made a long layover 1000x better.
Happy Holidays“

“The food and staff were amazing! Everything was served piping hot, straight from the grill or fryer. It was incredibly delicious — definitely a must-try! The taste and service were both outstanding. I always crave food served this fresh and hot, not cold.“

“Doordash needs to update their menu. Because there’s nothing worse than calling to confirm correct order with staff that’s most of the time rude. Every time I call it’s a problem but nothing I can do when I’m just trying to order food correctly and spend money there.“

“Great dining for families. It’s hard to get a good value these days. Great food and service. Plenty of variety with food and desserts. Love the rolls! This location is clean and friendly. I enjoy dining in but take out when I don’t have as much time.“

“Prob my new favorite restaurant. Very affordable and large portions of food. I got a chicken sandwich and the trio option with 3 tenders and a huge pile of cheese bites. For less than $25. Thats two entrees. The butter croissant they give you is really good and their coke is really good. Food tasted excellent and was plentiful as well as very affordable.“

“Cracker is my go to for all things breakfast! I am never disappointed!“

“Once you navigate through the various rules associated with the all-you-can-eat menu (explained by the server), be prepared for some awesome Korean/Sushi cuisine! Come hungry to get the most bang for the $50 per person. Our group tried a combination of meats and sushi. I gorged myself on tuna nigiri, which was very good. The meats were also excellent. I particularly liked the marinated sirloin. Salad bar and bread selections were good. Our waiter was attentive, which always makes a big difference.“

“Love my server especially with large group of ladies from church. The food was excellent and so many choices. Compliment to the chef especially on my Key West flavored shrimp and chicken. The Cesaer salad very good as well and the strawberry 🍓 lemonade 🍋. 5 stars quality with having food all over Florida, US, and the world.“

“Cheddars has become our favorite restaurant in the Central Florida area! Last night again, it did not disappoint! The blackened chicken got rave reviews from my friends, as did the salmon, and I got my usual blackened white fish on rice with a loaded baked potato and house salad. Friends raved about the carrots and the broccoli casserole. And oh yeah, the chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream -- out of this world! Ample portions, reasonably priced, nice staff, and upscale environment.“

“The Chicken and the mash potatoes with gravy!!“

“I finally visited this location on today. The food is good, but the plating could be better when separating sides“

“Omg the southern food here is delicious! Been awhile since I had southern food this good!“

“Great staff. Made my 3 year old buttered noodles !“