The Orlando Real - Life in Orlando

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By Yasmene Warren

Orlando is Central Florida’s very own melting pot, and it continues to prove to be so every day by bringing us new, unique spots to eat. Located not too far from Little Vietnam in Mills 50 is the new Mongolian BBQ spot The Mongolorian. Let’s check it out!

What is The Mongolorian?

The Mongolorian is a brand new Mongolian BBQ spot located in Mills 50 on East Colonial Drive in Orlando.

This restaurant serves wok and stir-fried Mongolian dishes, and you can customize bowls to craft the perfect meal for your taste buds!

The Mongolorian had its soft opening on May 26, and as of right now, you can dine at the establishment every day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Mongolorian’s Menu

The main menu item…

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By Kismet Kohn

J-Petal Japanese Crepe and Poke is a Japanese restaurant located in East Orlando. The restaurant specializes in different types of crepes, poke bowls, Thai rolled ice cream, bubble tea, and more!

Crepes

The crepes can either be a sweet treat for after the meal or a savory entree, and there are about ten you can choose from. Each of these are very unique, such as the Tokyo Sakura crepe which comes with a macaroon on top! 

If you like matcha I highly recommend the Matcha Chocolate Truffle crepe, but if you’re more of a traditional sweet crepe kind of person definitely order the Hawaii Sunset crepe. This crepe comes with strawberries, bananas, mangos, whipped yogurt, cream, pistachio, and of course, Nutella.

 

If you…

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By Holley Long

Mini golf is a beloved pastime for many reasons. It’s interactive, it’s perfect for a daytime or nighttime activity, and it’s downright fun. With the right theming, a mini golf course can make groups of players feel like kids again, pretending to have adventures in their backyard. 

And if one of those adventures ever involved living the pirate’s life, we know just the place to bring those imaginings to reality. 

The History 

Orlando’s Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is located on I-Drive, but the golf chain dates back to 1983, when the first course opened in Traverse City, Michigan. Today, Pirate’s Cove has over twenty locations across over a dozen states, and each course is dedicated to providing an entertaining and fun time…

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By Holley Long 

It’s finally Summer, and the Florida sun is already out in full force for the season. Cool treats are a good way to beat the heat, and if you’re in Winter Park, we know just the spot! 

Gelato-go Orlando 

The first Gelato-go location opened in 2013 in South Beach, but since then more than a dozen shops have opened in Florida and California, including the one on Park Avenue in Winter Park. The Orlando-area shop, which opened in 2018, is bright and spacious with fun decor, including a wall of brilliantly colored gelato spoons. 

As for the gelato, you’ll find healthier options here than you might at other ice cream shops. The base is made daily with fresh ingredients imported from Italy, and all over the world. The milk…

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By Yasmene Warren

Have you ever had food so good that all you want to do after eating is pass out? Well, that’s exactly what a dish from The Pass Kitchen will do to you — it’s even in the name!

What is The Pass Kitchen?

The Pass Kitchen is a restaurant and food truck that serves unique Latin dishes, some of which have American-style dishes incorporated into them.

The kitchen is based in Altamonte Springs on Sunshine Lane, and it’s open to order pickup on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to the restaurant’s website, the food truck events can also run on Sundays, and the best way to stay informed about where it’ll be is by following its Instagram and Facebook - @thepasskitchen.

The Big Bites

Tacos…

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By Kismet Kohn

The Three Birds Cafe is an independent and woman-owned cafe located in Downtown Winter Garden, serving specialty drinks and food in a relaxing atmosphere.

The Cafe

The cafe has a cute indie, rustic feel to it. The wood chairs and tables are welcoming and comfortable if you plan on getting some work done. Surrounding the walls and tables are various plants, adding to the rustic vibe of the cafe. 

If you order a drink, all of their glasses (and plasticware for to-go orders) are adorable and feature the cafe’s logo, with the attention to detail unlike any other cafe I’ve been to in the Orlando area. They also have hats and some other merchandise for sale, if desired.

On a nice day, you can also…

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By Yasmene Warren

Fancy food comes in all genres, and luckily, there is an over abundance of upscale restaurants to dine at in the Orlando area. This one is called Doshi, and it’s bringing Korean flavors to your very own neighborhood!

What is Doshi?

Doshi is a Korean-American restaurant in Winter Park located on North Orlando Avenue. This restaurant seeks to fuse traditional Korean flavors with American fine dining — and it does an excellent job at it!

When it made its first debut as Doshibox in 2020 serving dishes out of a ghost kitchen, this restaurant was a success. Once the need for contactless dining began to die down, the owners decided to give its menu a brick and mortar to call home!

Doshi is open for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.…

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By Yasmene Warren

Some people like to go to bars and buy drinks when they’re feeling stressed. Others like to chuck axes at wooden targets. At the Axe Trap in Winter Park, you can do both!

All About Axe Trap

The Axe Trap is Winter Park’s first-ever axe throwing venue, and it’s located on Lee Road — ready to bring new, action-packed experiences to the city.

Inside the Axe Trap is The Trap, which is the venue’s bar and kitchen that serves Counter Culture coffee in the daytime and food, beer and wine all day.

Hone your axe throwing skills Tuesdays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Axe Throwing

Axe throwing is easy — at least, the lane reserving aspect of…

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By Yasmene Warren

Do you love Chipotle but have a palate that you’re trying to switch up? Orlando is filled with so many delicious Mexican spots, and we’re about to show you your new favorite! If you’re looking for some good, quick Mexican-Mediterranean food, then head down to The Mexican Camel.

What is The Mexican Camel?

The Mexican Camel is a Mexican-Mediterranean fast casual restaurant located in Orlando on International Drive. This restaurant offers dishes that are full of flavor and prepared with fresh ingredients from scratch.

The Mexican Camel has five objectives that it considers the foundation for the success of the restaurant, and according to its website, they are: quality, service, speed, cleanliness and fun.

You can…

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By Roger Jimenez

As the heat of summer starts and the long-awaited Memorial Day weekend approaches, there's no better way to embrace the season than by planning a trip to the sun-kissed shores of the beach! A time for reflection and remembrance, it’s the perfect invitation to take in the sun and make some summer fun. Make sure to visit one of these sandy shores for your holiday getaway and make the perfect plan for you and your loved ones!

Daytona Beach

Est. Travel Time: 50-65 Minutes

Discover the allure of Daytona Beach, a coastal gem located just an hour away from Orlando. This vibrant destination offers a captivating blend of natural beauty and endless entertainment. Grab some grub, or stroll along the stunning boardwalk; if…

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