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Best Haitian Restaurants in Orlando & Kissimmee: A Local's Guide to Griot, Legume & Pikliz
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items Craving crispy griot, slow-simmered legume, a mound of diri ak djon djon and a spoonful of spicy pikliz? Central Florida has one of the biggest Haitian communities in the country, and Orlando, Pine Hills and Kissimmee are full of family-run Haitian r...
Map
Le Lambi Bistrot on S Apopka Vineland Rd is the closest thing to a sit-down Haitian bistro near the Disney side of town. The lambi (stewed conch) is the namesake for a reason, the griot is crispy on the outside and tender inside, and the plantains an...
Le Lambi Bistrot
Little Haiti Paté Kode on W Colonial Dr is my go-to for Haitian street food, especially the paté kòde (fried pastries stuffed with spiced beef, chicken or herring). Grab a few with a cold Cola Couronne and you have the perfect quick Haitian snack on ...
Little Haiti Paté Kode
Taste of Haiti sits right on W Irlo Bronson (192) in Kissimmee, which makes it the easiest Haitian stop if you live in Poinciana or are staying near the 192 resorts. Order the griot plate with rice and beans and extra pikliz, and ask about the legume...
Taste of Haiti
Lilly's Creole Restaurant on N Pine Hills Rd is a neighborhood favorite in the heart of Orlando's Haitian community. Expect generous plates of griot, tassot (fried goat) and fried fish with rice, beans and plantains, all cooked the way a Haitian gran...
Lilly's Creole Restaurant
Echantillon Bakery on Old Winter Garden Rd is where I send people for Haitian paté, pain patate and proper Haitian bread. It is a bakery first, so go in the morning for the freshest pastries, and grab a box of cookies and a bottle of juice for the dr...
Echantillon Bakery
Le Petit Restaurant & Bakery on Cypress Pkwy is Poinciana's own Haitian spot, so this is the one I hit most often. It is part bakery, part takeout counter: come for the griot and legume plates at lunch, and leave with Haitian bread and paté for t...
Le Petit Restaurant & Bakery
Manje Creole on S Orange Blossom Trail is a no-frills Haitian kitchen that serves big portions at fair prices. The griot, fried turkey and stewed chicken (poul an sòs) are the standouts, and the rice and beans with sauce pois is comfort food at its b...
Manje Creole
Kalalou Caribbean Bar & Grill on S John Young Pkwy is the spot when you want Haitian food with a night-out vibe: full bar, music and a dressed-up menu of griot, lambi, fried snapper and kalalou (okra stew). Great for birthdays and group dinners n...
Kalalou Caribbean Bar & Grill
The Griot Bowl on Silver Star Rd takes the classic griot plate and turns it into a fast-casual bowl, which makes it a great intro to Haitian food if you have never tried it. Build your bowl with rice or plantains, pile on the crispy pork and finish w...
The Griot Bowl
No Haitian plate is complete without pikliz, the fiery pickled cabbage, carrot and Scotch bonnet relish that cuts through fried griot. Keep a jar in the fridge and put it on everything from rice and beans to burgers; it is the easiest way to bring th...
Haitian Pikliz Spicy Pickled Cabbage & Carrot
Djon djon are the tiny black Haitian mushrooms that give diri ak djon djon its signature dark color and earthy flavor. A small bag goes a long way: steep them, strain the black liquid, and cook your rice in it for a dish that tastes like it came from...
Madame Sarah Dried Djon Djon Black Mushrooms
Epis is the green herb and pepper marinade that every Haitian dish starts with, and a ready-made jar saves you from blending parsley, scallions, garlic and peppers every weekend. Rub it on chicken or pork the night before and you are halfway to resta...
Haitian Epis Seasoning
Cola Couronne Fruit Champagne is the bright red Haitian soda you will see on every table at these restaurants, and it is the perfect sweet counterpunch to spicy pikliz. Grab a case for backyard cookouts in Poinciana; kids and adults both love it.
Cola Couronne Fruit Champagne Tropical Flavor
If eating your way through these restaurants makes you want to cook, Nadege Fleurimond's Haiti Uncovered is the cookbook to get. It walks region by region through Haitian cuisine with recipes for griot, legume, soup joumou and more, plus the stories ...
Haiti Uncovered: Art of Haitian Cuisine
Cafe Rebo is Haiti's best-known coffee brand, and this dark roast is what you would be served after a big Sunday meal in a Haitian home. Brew it strong, sweeten it a little, and pair it with a slice of pain patate from one of the bakeries above for t...
Cafe Rebo Haitian Dark Roast Ground Coffee