Orlando has always been synonymous with family fun, and yes, the Mouse, but while you were sleeping, the food scene has been heating up. It's now considered one of the country's top foodie cities, and breakout star William Shen is certainly one of the reasons why. He's the chef/owner of UniGirl, just awarded a Bib Gourmand at the Florida MICHELIN Guide Ceremony on April 17th, as well as Sorekara, which was awarded Two MICHELIN Stars. This special spot, which also received the 2025 Service Award, joins an elite group, as it's only the second Two MICHELIN Star restaurant in all of Florida.
The mild-mannered Shen certainly won't let this go to his head, though. In fact, when he's not working, you'll likely finding him taking adorable pup, Uni, for a walk around Lake Baldwin.
Below, Chef Shen shares some of his favorite spots in and around Orlando.
What is your go-to coffee spot?
I've come to love Vietnamese coffee ever since I moved to Orlando. Ga Ta has a delicious Vietnamese egg coffee made with whipped egg yolk. My dear friend Chef Hung Huynh's new sweet shop Saigon Snow also makes a delightful Vietnamese espresso topped with pandan foam that I drink on a weekly basis. I recently had the pleasure to try a new coffee pop-up called Black Phin which also serves a wonderful Phin drip coffee.
Any favorite bakeries or places for breakfast or lunch?
Deli Desires makes some wonderful bialys, and their latke, labneh, and gravlax are all spot on. Sampling pho around town is usually my lunch when I ever have time on weekdays. Pho Huong Lan in Mills50 has been my go-to spot, always delicious, service is fast and precise, perfect for a quick meal.
Where do you head after hours?
I go home and spend time with my shiba pup, Uni. Take her on a walk around Lake Baldwin.
What is your guilty pleasure?
This might sound stupid, but a ham and Swiss baguette from Starbucks!
What is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion?
Any of the Universal and Disney parks are always magical. For restaurants, AVA in Winter Park is a stunning place to celebrate; not far from there, Ômo by Jônt's cuisine is excellent and perfect for special occasions. If you enjoy sushi, chef David Tsan's Norigami at Winter Garden is wonderful.
First impressions are everything. Where would you take an out-of-towner?
Mills 50 for a food tour, Disney Springs for shopping, Magic games, and Otto's High Dive for cocktails.
Is there a particular spot, outside of the restaurant scene, that feels special to you?
I'll have to say Lake Baldwin. It's not only the home to our restaurant, but also a place where time really slows down for me in a city that's home to some of the most popular destinations on earth. More personally, my partner Johnny's house! His wife, Ceci, makes some of the most comforting food and has helped me through some of my longest days. They are a big reason I now call Orlando home.Where would we find you on your day off?
Not that I have any, but on the rare occasion that I do, you can most likely find me in one of the Universal parks, and very soon, Epic Universe!
Address Book:
Black Phin
1900 Alden Road
Orlando, FL
Deli Desires
715 N Fern Creek Avenue
Orlando, FL
Disney Springs
1486 Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Ga Ta
1206 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL
Mills 50
1221 N Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL
Pho Huong Lan
1216 E Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL
Saigon Snow
1110 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL
Universal
6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL
Hero image: William Shen
