Ask most visitors where to eat in Orlando and they’ll point you toward International Drive. Ask a local, and they’ll send you to Mills 50 and Little Vietnam instead — a stretch of Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue that’s quietly become the most interesting food corridor in the city, and it’s a short drive or rideshare from our Downtown Collection homes.
Little Vietnam earned its name honestly. Along a few blocks you’ll find some of the best pho in the Southeast, banh mi shops that have been slinging sandwiches for decades, and Vietnamese bakeries where the coffee alone is worth the trip. Order the pho tai, let it sit for a minute so the broth finishes cooking the beef, and don’t skip the herb plate — that’s half the dish.
Mills 50 next door is where Orlando’s food scene experiments. Craft breweries sit next to ramen counters, tiki bars sit next to Korean BBQ, and the whole district has a lived-in, unpolished energy that’s the opposite of a tourist strip. It’s where Orlando chefs eat on their nights off, which tells you most of what you need to know.
A few honest tips from someone who’s lived here 20-plus years: go on a weeknight if you can, since weekends get genuinely busy. Parking is street-side and metered in spots, so budget a few extra minutes. And don’t just stick to one block — some of the best spots are a five-minute walk from wherever you started, tucked into strip malls that don’t look like much from the outside.
This is exactly the kind of thing we mean when we say booking downtown changes your trip. You’re not stuck choosing between a hotel restaurant and a chain near the parks — you’re minutes from a food scene most Orlando visitors never find.
Staying in one of our Downtown Collection homes puts Mills 50 and Little Vietnam well within reach for a low-key dinner night. Browse our properties to find your base, or check availability for your trip.