Orlando's Mills 50 district has long been a go-to for adventurous eaters and neighborhood regulars alike, and it's about to get a significant boost: more than 20 new restaurants and businesses are on their way to the area, with most expected to open before the end of 2026.
The incoming lineup leans heavily into global flavors and specialty concepts. New additions will include Cowboy Curry, Fan Hwa, Hayashi Tarō, Koa Sushi & Poke, Little Sister Dumpling, Ngoc Ha Vietnamese, Okonomi, Oza Izakaya, Udon Fifty, and Uji Matcha, alongside coffee and matcha café Earth Grounds Coffee + Matcha and Kapé Kaya. Sweet-tooth visitors can look forward to Robin's Creamery, while Unimart: Conbini Experience promises a Japanese convenience-store concept. Non-food tenants rounding out the wave include Amp'd Guitar Den and Tremble.
Long-time district fixtures Nicholas Olivieri and Eddie Nickell, owners of Bites & Bubbles Restaurant and Bar — who have been part of Mills 50 since 2007 — say they're enthusiastic about the growth, noting that a new neighbor is preparing to open right next door to their own spot later this year.
With more foot traffic comes more pressure on infrastructure. The city of Orlando has proposed a seven-story parking garage near Mills Avenue and East Colonial Drive to address what Jeff Dry, board president of Mills 50 Main Street, called one of the district's top complaints. The city is also planning a mid-block crosswalk at Canton Street on busy Mills Avenue, right in the heart of where several new restaurants will be concentrated — though Dry noted that additional crosswalks would be welcome as the district continues to grow.
This story was originally reported by Spectrum News / MyNews13.
