7 Best Kissimmee Restaurants | Best Places To Eat In Kissimmee Florida

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Foodie Flash Packer| November 5, 2021

https://www.foodieflashpacker.com/best-kissimmee-restaurants/

I’ve been coming to Kissimmee since I was a very little girl. My parents, who honeymooned at nearby Clearwater when Walt Disney World was still being built, made WDW our first grand family adventure… back in the time where tickets per ride was the name of the game, not a daily pass. 

For years, many people only knew Kissimmee as the jumping-off point for Walt Disney World. 

The city, with a population approaching 80,000 in 2020, lies along the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga, called “Lake Toho” by the locals. 

What started as swamp adjacent, a horse town, then Disney World, then Sea World and Universal Orlando, Kissimmee remains very much a small town in the historic district, where they’re proud of their very own restaurant row. Thirty-two restaurants, all independent or family-owned, according to the downtown Kissimmee Visitor Center, reside along this row. Not a single chain in the area.   

The specific feel to the neighborhoods is still recognized by “old-timers,” away from the creeping sprawl that retains the Kissimmee mailing address, and many things to see in addition to the wonderful worlds of Walt Disney and Harry Potter. 

Outside historic downtown, you can feel right at home with many of your local restaurant chains. BJs, Charley’s Steakhouse, Carrabba’s, Chilis, Checkers, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Panera, and TGI Fridays. You get the idea. But if you want to have something different than home – or in just a few other locations across the country, you might like to check these Kissimmee restaurants out.

Visiting other destinations in Florida? Check out our other guides:

The 7 Best Kissimmee Restaurants

The Italian Pizzorante Joint

215 Broadway // +14074837031

A chef’s favorite, entering this Italian pizzeria is like walking in to see an old friend. Cases filled with fresh bread lay to your left, in front of the pizza oven. And pizza is the name of the day for me this day. They have gluten-free options. 

The Margherita does not disappoint. You can taste fresh tomatoes in the San Marzano tomato sauce. The mozzarella is perfectly dappled across the crust and the fresh basil is neither salted nor grilled but truly fresh. Utterly delicious!

You can create your own pizza or choose one with another descriptive name. They offer the Verdura, the Formaggio, the Alba, the Goat, the Carne, the Double Jointed (pepperoni and more pepperoni), the Calzone, the Stromboli, or the Create Your Own option and even specialty Argentinian pizzas. 

If you’re in the mood for great Italian food that is not pizza, my server recommends their Garlic Bombs as a start, Crunchy Calamari for my foodie, and “Grandma’s Goodness: Pasta on Sunday the way you remember.” Looks like I’ve already got my next meal picked out. 

Unless the Chef’s Special wins out. Right now it’s “Da Vinci Chicken.” Chicken stir-fry with hints of northern Italian wines, braised peppers, and mushrooms served with penne rigatti. It looks delicious. One of the other customers said she loves it … we all ate out, take away, so couldn’t find it.

Hand-crafted sandwich options include colorful names like “The Gobbler” (turkey), or “The Chooch Burger” (Angus Beef and Pork Belly), “The Hot Gardener” (veggie), or “The Porky Sandwich.” With their freshly baked bread, it’s hard to believe you could choose a bad sandwich.

And, yes, they have soup and salad options. Two names in particular made me smile: “Pasta E’ Fagioli” and “Makin’ Me Caprese Salad.” It reminded me that while living in Italy, several things made me crazy. But the food wasn’t one of them. I found the best gluten-free bread sticks in the world at a supermarket there … not in the frozen section. If you’re celiac, you know what a big deal that is.  

Dessert. Glorious dessert. Choose from cheesecake, crème brulee, tiramisu, lemon cake with mascarpone, cannoli, chocolate with gelato, or tasting desserts. It’s easy to imagine how fun it would be to just come in and do a tasting of the desserts.

Taino’s Bakery

4150 W. Vine Street // +14074822404

Located on an access road, you should make the time to go out of your way to try the food and baked goods offered at this wonderful local restaurant with locations in Kissimmee and Orlando that’s been bringing Puerto Rico’s authentic flavors to Central Florida since 2006.

My Spanish is rudimentary, at best, so the initial server needed a manager to help assist me.  They are well-known for their all-day breakfast service and artisanal sandwiches. The manager told me they’re growing their catering business. The way she described the birthday cake and pastry options made me wish it was time for my own birthday to happen here.

Their menu can be really overwhelming at first, stretching across the entire length of the restaurant. It made me feel a little better when I realized it was only half that long … it’s duplicated over the meal section and then again over the baked goods. Their all-day breakfast includes options like pancake selections, egg dishes, ham and eggs, toast, waffles, or breakfast burritos.

The later-day options include burgers, rice and bean plates with your choice of protein (served with sweet plantains), mofongos rellenos, and jibaritos. If you’re really hungry, try a triplets sandwich with ham, steak, pulled pork, and Swiss. The pulled pork is a Taino special. And they even carry a Montecristo. Last time I saw that, I was on a train.

I had the empanadilla pollo which was utter perfection in its simplicity. It’s as though they’ve taken every cooking show judge’s advice to heart. If you’re going to make something simple, be certain it is perfect. It tasted like it had a double crust, crisp on the outside and easily separating flaky on the inside, packed with diced chicken in a light sauce.

The only problem? It smelled so good I didn’t get a photo. 

Check out the baked goods display cases and you may feel as though you’ve gained five pounds. The Bizcocho de Oreo was super tempting, as was the apple turnover. I must take my appetite back to sample more items.

Diane’s Creations & Tea Room

114 Broadway // +14072014733

Walk into this delightful tea room, and you’ll find a festive, twinkle-light festooned ceiling with chandeliers from front to back. The tables flow at varying heights with tastefully mismatched seats. Be careful, though, about taking photos. The proprietress doesn’t care for them. Too many people have tried to copy her design. 

Come for lunch or high tea (two days’ notice required) and you’ll enjoy a wonderful meal with your favorite cup of tea. If you’re willing, try a new tea. The list contains 43 hot tea options, and the tea sommelier will recommend them to you by number for your consideration. 

For example, I’ve been partial to the English and Irish Breakfast teas for about a year and had more than my share of the Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas. He recommended #33, a British Blend that wasn’t quite as brash as the breakfast teas, and I agreed. 

The individual teapot came with a lovely fine china cup and saucer. Ask for water, and you’ll have refreshing water (not tap) in fine-cut crystal. The teabag is presented on its own caddy for easy reuse. 

The water is so piping hot, that it’s obvious the teapot was pre-heated with hot water prior to filling with my water. It took an ice cube to cool enough for me to drink the initial cup. By the time I got to the third cup, it didn’t take quite so long before I could drink it.