Celebrities dominate the Billboard charts, television/movie screens and sports arenas but, as it turns out, they’re just like us… they're foodies! That’s right, entertainers of all kinds are whipping up some of Central Florida’s best bites. So grab your leading love interest and take a seat at a table worthy of the stars. Here’s a round-up of celebrity-owned restaurants in Orlando.
Celebrity-Owned Restaurants in Orlando
Chicken Guy
- Owned by Guy Fieri
- Location: Disney Springs – 1506 E. Buena Vista Dr., Suite A, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Guy Fieri dubs himself the “Mayor of Flavortown,” and now you can decide for yourself if he deserves that title. With a quick-service location in Central Florida, Chicken Guy serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner. Offering sandwiches, salads, tenders, sides, bowls and soft-serve milkshakes, this place is all about comfort food.
Fieri challenges customers to explore a mouthwatering list of more than a dozen different sauce varieties. This includes standard flavors, plus interestingly named blends like Donkey Sauce (mayo, roasted garlic, mustard, Worcestershire and lemon). Silly date idea: Conduct your own taste test or challenge each other to a blind tasting of all the sauce flavors.
FYI: Fieri has visited several Orlando eateries while filming his show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Some Orlando hotspots included Se7en Bites (Milk District), Saigon Noodle and Grill (Mills 50), Willie's Pinchos (Orlando) and Mrs. Potato (Orlando). And Fieri has also contributed signature burger dishes to the menu at Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs.
Carlos Bakery
- Owned by Buddy Valastro, Jr.
- Location: Two cake vending machines — Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets and Orlando International Premium Mall
You know him as the “Cake Boss” from TLC’s reality series. Buddy Valastro is actually a fourth-generation baker, born into the business owned and operated by his parents. Pretty cool, huh?
Their company’s best seller is the lovely Rainbow Cake, comprised of six brightly-hued layers of vanilla-flavored cake, smothered with sweet buttercream icing and finished with heaps of rainbow sprinkles. There are tons of other confections to satisfy your sweet tooth too, like assorted cupcakes, cookies, cannolis, pies and pastries.
Carlos Bakery formerly had a storefront in the Florida Mall. However, now cake connoisseurs can quickly access yumminess via cake vending machines located in two area outlet malls.
eet by Maneet Chauhan
- Owned by Maneet Chauhan
- Location: Marketplace at Disney Springs, 1780 E. Buena Vista Dr., Suite B, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Best known as a judge on Food Network's “Chopped,” Eet by Maneet Chauhan is a vibrant, quick-service Indian-inspired eatery from James Beard Award-winning Chef Maneet Chauhan and her hospitality partner Vivek Deora. The menu blends traditional Indian flavors with modern twists… think shareable breads with pimento-whipped paneer, tandoori chicken poutine and creative naan pizzas.
The spot offers options for families, vegetarian and vegan diners, and even dessert like chocolate-strawberry naan or gulab jamun cheesecake, making it a flavorful highlight among Disney Springs' many dining choices.
Four Flamingos Shrimp Cocktail
Four Flamingos
- Owned by Richard Blais
- Location: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, 1 Grand Cypress Boulevard, Orlando, FL, 32836
Situated within the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Four Flamingos is a concept by Richard Blais, beloved as the “Top Chefs: All-Stars” winner. The menu truly shines a light on the best foods from our Sunshine State, from fresh-caught surf and fire-grilled turf.
Expect a fusion of tropical ingredients elevating the cocktails, produce and proteins. Open from 5-10 pm daily, the dress code is smart casual (meaning no men’s sandals or bathing suits). You can join the email list to be informed as to when Blais will be onsite.
- Owned by Gordon Ramsey
- Location: ICON Park Orlando, 8391 International Drive, Suite C-1, Orlando, FL 32819
Known for his, um, “bold” personality, Gordon Ramsay boldly masters the quintessential English meal. This fast-casual place serves authentic fish and chips, plus chicken, shrimp, shakes and other sweets. It’s a quick, sharable bite to enjoy before daring the many amusements at ICON Park.
You could say Chef Ramsay has added some additional international flair to International Drive!
JALEO
- Owned by José Andrés
- Location: Disney Springs, 1482 E Buena Vista Drive, Orlando, FL 32836
As someone married to a food-lovin’ Spaniard, I can assure you that Chef José Andrés whimsically transports your taste buds abroad with the Jaleo menu. For special occasions, opt for the Chef’s Tasting Menus to savor traditional tapas paired with wines and sherry. Of course, you’ll find the menu is heavily peppered with tons of other classics, like cured meats, assorted cheeses, paella, seafood and much more. There is also a brunch menu and an allergen menu.
Pepe by José Andrés is also located at Disney Springs (West Side), offering Spanish food truck fare.
Related: What to do if You Can’t Get a Disney Dining Reservation
Knife & Spoon
- Owned by John Tesar
- Location: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, FL 32837
Celebrated for its upscale New American cuisine under Chef John Tesar’s leadership, Knife & Spoon's menu artfully blends dry-aged premium steaks with pristine local seafood and seasonal produce in inventive, beautifully-presented dishes.
Aside from being a James Beard nominee and one of Bravo's “Top Chef” contestants, Tesar was called “the single most talented cook I ever worked with” by Anthony Bourdain. Holy canoli!
Morimoto Asia
- Owned by Masaharu Morimoto
- Location: Disney Springs, 1600 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Every inch of this gorgeous eatery is breathtaking but head straight upstairs to start at the bar. Here you can get a taste of the vision of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. He masterly presents Japanese flavors with melt-in-your-mouth sushi, noodle bowls and more.
Once your dinner table is ready in the main, first-floor dining room, feast on dumplings (pork, napa cabbage and garlic chive) and Buri-Bop (Korean-style yellowtail rice bowl prepared tableside in a hot clay pot with an egg yolk finish) − aka the dish that helped Morimoto earn his Iron Chef title. Order a Morimoto Signature Hazelnut Brown Ale (yes, this Iron Chef has his own beer line made at the Oregon-based Rogue Brewery).
(Featured image above is of Morimoto Asia one of our favorite celebrity owned restaurants in Orlando)
Homecomin' Florida Kitchen
- Owned by Art Smith
- Location: Disney Springs, 1602 East Buena Vista Drive, Orlando, FL 32830
Art Smith is a sixth-generation Floridian! That’s why, after working as Oprah Winfrey's personal chef and appearing on “BBQ Pitmasters” and “Top Chef Masters,” he returned to his local roots. With the slogan “Florida Kitchen. Southern Shine.,” Smith magically honors Florida’s rich agricultural heritage to present a fresh, farm-to-table experience.
Aside from the comfort-style main menu, Homecomin’ has a separate brunch menu, plus moonshine and whiskey menus too.
Ole Red
- Owned by Blake Shelton
- Location: ICON Park Orlando, 8417 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
Country crooner Blake Shelton offers a taste of Nashville right here in Orlando. Part bar, part restaurant, and part music venue, Ole Red is a lively country establishment. While Gwen Stefani’s hubby rarely makes an appearance, the talent line-up is still pretty solid.
For grub, the Southern Gentleman is a hearty serving of Wagyu beef topped with fried green tomato, bourbon onion and tomato jam, pimento cheese and a signature sauce. Brave epicureans may order the Bar-B-Que Gator Wings, which is smoked alligator with Tishomingo potato salad, vinegar slaw, orange and BBQ sauce. Then, you can easily line-dance those extra calories right off!
More Celebrity-Owned Restaurants in Orlando:
- Frontera Cocina Mexicana– Known from Bravo’s “Top Chef Master’s,” Chef Rick Bayless conquers Mexican fare at this Disney Springs restaurant.
- Margaritaville – At Universal CityWalk, this casual franchise was founded by the dearly departed musician (and cheeseburger lovin’) Jimmy Buffett.
- Norman’s Orlando – Formerly located within The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, this upscale eatery relocated to Dellagio Town Center on Restaurant Row and remains under the culinary direction of acclaimed Chef Norman Van Aken.
- Rock and Brews – With several Orlando locations featuring a lengthy beer list, we can only assume that owner Gene Simmons, of the band KISS, prefers beers over liquor.
- Todd English's bluezoo – A seafood restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort operated by celebrity Chef Todd English.
- Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill – This longstanding Mediterranean-influenced restaurant is owned by famed Chef Wolfgang Puck.
Local Celebrity-Chef Owned Restaurants in Orlando
- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar – Chef Guillermo Pernot is a two-time James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic Region; and Best Single Subject Cookbook.
- Kabooki Sushi – Chef Henry Moso made history as the first chef in Central Florida dubbed a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef – South Award.
- Primo – Within JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, this local ingredient eatery got a MICHELIN nod thanks to Chef Melissa Kelly.
- Ômo by Jônt – Ryan Ratino is the Executive Chef and owner of two starred Michelin concepts: One MICHELIN-starred Bresca and Two MICHELIN-starred JÔNT, and the newly opened MAASS at Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is also the recipient of the MICHELIN Guide 2023 Young Chef Award for D.C.
- Reyes Mezcaleria – Chef Wendy Lopez is undeniably a local celebrity, and now she's earned a nomination for a 2026 James Beard Award.
- Se7en Bites – Trina Gregory has upped Orlando's brunch game thanks to impressive fare and numerous appearances on the Food Network.
- Sister Honey's Bakery – A hidden gem of desserts made by award-winning baker Evette Rahman.
- The Reverie – James Beard Award Nominated Chef Brandon McGlamery is set to open The Reverie, a new American brasserie opening in Fall 2026 in Winter Park’s Hannibal Square, replacing the former Chez Vincent space. McGlamery earned previous recognition with Luma, Prato and Luke’s.
- The Ravenous Pig, The Polite Pig and Cask & Larder – James & Julie Petrakis earned numerous James Beard nominations.
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse – John Rivers reimagined award-winning BBQ and went on to author cookbooks.
RELATED: Date Night at Orlando’s MICHELIN Star Restaurants
Hungry for more? Check out the Most Romantic Restaurants in Orlando.
