Daytripping to Orlando’s Chinatown

ABOVE: Entrance to Orlando's Chinatown shopping center (Mount Dora Buzz photo)

West of the bustling downtown area, Orlando’s Chinatown stands as a small hub of ethnic culture, commerce, and community. It is located in a sprawling, yet nondescript, shopping center along Colonial Drive, and, although tiny,  features a diverse collection of Asian restaurants, markets, specialty shops and salons that reflect the vibrant culture of the city’s Asian-American community. Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Korean businesses are all represented in the plaza.
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While exponentially smaller in scale than Chinatowns in cities like New York or San Francisco, Orlando’s version has carved out its own unique identity in Central Florida. In addition to the expected Chinese cuisine, featuring authentic Chinese dishes, dim sum, traditional Asian sweets, and boba teas. Chinatown also boasts Korean hot pots, Vietnamese pho and banh mi, and other Asian dishes.

There are a lot of eateries to pick from, so here are just a few places to get you started:

• Hunan Taste: This is one of Orlando’s most highly recommended authentic Chinese restaurants. 
• JuicyPot: Try one of their varieties of Korean hotpots of broth, with seafood, fresh toppings, plus unlimited appetizers.
• Sun Pearl Bakery:  If you love Asian bakeries, this is your sweet spot.  
• One Stop Dumpling: A huge selection of freshly made dumplings of every type, plus other tasty dishes in a nice atmosphere.
• Walala Asian Noodle House: Their hand-pulled noodle dishes with Wagyu beef set them apart.
• Banh Mi Cali: Their traditional and affordable Vietnamese Banh Mi (sandwiches on fresh baguettes) are always delicious take-out. 

The anchor of the aging shopping center is a large Asian grocery store, Enson Market.  In addition to one of the most impressive fresh fish markets in Orlando which features a wall of tanks with various types of live crabs, Enson also offers a barbecue duck counter, hard-to-find fresh produce, meats, and aisles of Asian packaged goods, including teas, snacks and treats. After exploring the supermarket, you can duck into smaller shops in the Chinatown plaza offering imported household and miscellaneous items. 

Once you’ve satisfied all of your food cravings and done a little shopping, pop into the Asian karaoke spot on the west side of the shopping center for a beverage and entertainment. To go to Orlando’s Chinatown, enter 5100 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32808 in your GPS, and remember, you’re looking for a large shopping plaza, not a big district.

​Parking is always free and plentiful at the Extravaganzas.  Renningers Antique Center is located at 20651 US Hwy 441.  ​
For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​Be sure to follow  Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and Twitter for more local info.

​For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​Be sure to follow  Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and Twitter for more local info.

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