Asian

Ayothaya (7555 W. Sand Lake Rd., 407/345-0040, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. Mon.–Fri., noon–10 p.m. Sat.–Sun., main courses from $10) serves excellent Thai food in teak-heavy surroundings; in addition to the standard curries, soups, and noodle dishes, they also offer a number of specialties like spicy duck and steamed fish.

Amura (7786 W. Sand Lake Rd., 407/370-0007, lunch 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri., noon–3 p.m. Sat.–Sun., dinner 5–10 p.m. daily, sushi rolls from $9) is consistently touted as one of the best sushi restaurants in Orlando [1], which is an opinion that’s difficult to argue with. From the modern decor and the see-and-be-seen atmosphere, the vibe is decidedly hip and upscale—they even refer to their sushi preparations as “high-definition”…whatever that means.

The staff is exceedingly friendly and will even guide novices through the menu’s wide range of options. Masterfully constructed rolls are brimming with flavor, and some of the more exclusive preparations, like the Coco-Mango roll (tuna, salmon, mango, coconut, and cilantro), are absolutely mind-blowing.

Those craving Vietnamese cuisine in Orlando usually head toward downtown’s Little Vietnam neighborhood; however, the recent addition of Rice Paper (7637 Turkey Lake Rd., 407/352-4700, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., noon–9 p.m. Sun., main courses from $12) to the Restaurant Row area has given theme-park visitors a much closer option. An extensive menu of pho, curries, clay pots, and other Vietnamese staples is prepared expertly, although service here can sometimes be a little scattered.