Summer roll with shrimp & pork, served with peanut sauce Summer roll with shrimp & pork, served with peanut sauce

An Orlando vacation should be an adventure for the whole family to experience new thrills, shows, and of course food! One way to diversify and really spice up your Orlando visit is by going beyond the chain I-Drive restaurants and fast food grease buckets in town and try the delectable cuisine that locals know and love. Plus, it’s just a short drive from your I-Drive Hotel! It’s a place called “Little Saigon,” a district filled with Vietnamese and Asian influences that offer just as many exciting shops, restaurants and adventures you’ve come to expect from Orlando.

It all began in the 1970’s when thousands of Vietnamese war refugees fled their native land, desperately seeking a new beginning. Many of those refugees surprisingly settled just north of downtown Orlando and began opening businesses and revitalizing that part of the city. 

Vietnamese stir-fried chicken with onions & scallions

Today, the area is filled with dozens of Asian restaurants, shops and markets in a 10-block stretch of Orlando’s Colonial Drive near Mills Avenue. While most of the storefronts are decorated with Vietnamese characters, there are plenty of Chinese, Thai, Korean and other Asian establishments to meander through. A stroll through the area also reveals Asian-owned medical and dental offices, nail salons, travel agencies, health food stores, martial arts studios, the popular Boba tea shops and more.

But perhaps the biggest draw to the area is the incredible Vietnamese restaurants. One of Best of Orlando’s favorites is Ha Long Bistro (1231 E Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL).  Touting itself as having the “Best Vietnamese food in town,” Ha Long Bistro serves up in traditional Vietnamese dishes specializing in Northern style cooking. We keep coming back to this place and trying different dishes each time. Without fail, the flavors and presentations at Ha Long Bistro blow us away every time. Don’t be discouraged when you can’t read their Menu; there are English descriptions of every plate, and your server will be pleased to offer you suggestions. Our favorite dishes include Summer Rolls with Peanut sauce (it’s a must every time,) Spring Rolls, Pho, Vietnamese stir fried chicken, and Bun (Rice Vermicelli.) Ha Long Bistro is not too far from Universal Orlando, so if you leave the park for the night and don’t feel like eating the usual. Head to the I-4 East and take a drive to Orlando’s Little Saigon district.

Bún -- Grilled pork and spring rolls on rice vemicelli

If you’re looking for something more portable, you have to try Vietnamese Banh Mi Sub Sandwiches! Nha Trang Subs (1216 E Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL) is also another Best of Orlando’s favorite restaurants in the area. Located in the Colonialtown North neighborhood, this restaurant has been named as “…the best restaurant in town” by the New York Times. Perfect for lunch, Banh Mi Nha Trang serves up Vietnamese sub sandwiches including the Banh Mi Bo Kho, beef stew sandwich; the Banh Mi Thit Heo Nuong, grilled pork sandwich; Banh Mi Nem Bo Nuong, the grilled minced beef with sweet glazed sandwich and many more.

In between Walt Disney World ®, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando visits make sure you stop by Little Saigon in Orlando. You’re sure to find a shop or two you love and enjoy an authentic Vietnamese meal like you’ve never tasted before!

Orlando, FL – 1/30/14

Photos by: Alex Mateo