The Michelin Guide has added four Orlando restaurants, including Coro and UniGirl, showcasing the city’s diverse culinary talent.
Orlando: Restaurateur Johnny Tung was surprised this morning when the Michelin Guide announced four new additions to its list. The restaurants Coro, Ômo by Jônt, Sorekara, and UniGirl made the cut.
Two of these spots, Sorekara and UniGirl, are run by Tung’s team, led by chef William Shen. They join Zaru, another restaurant by the same group, in the Guide.
When he heard about UniGirl, Tung was shocked. “But it’s a food stall!” he exclaimed. He noted that it’s not the first food stall to earn Michelin recognition.
He mentioned Jay Fai, a street food chef in Thailand known for her crab omelets, as a famous example. With this recognition, Shen might need to grab some shades for the bright future ahead.
It’s an interesting contrast. Sorekara offers a lavish 20-course meal that lasts 3.5 hours and costs $270 per person. Meanwhile, UniGirl, a stall at Mills Market, serves onigiri for about five bucks each.
Tung speculated that the Michelin inspectors noticed the quality across both venues. He pointed out how the team at Sorekara dresses up for fine dining one night and then works hard at UniGirl the next morning.
It’s not surprising that upscale places like Sorekara and Ratino’s Winter Park venue are getting Michelin attention. At Ômo by Jônt, guests can expect a blend of classic French techniques with fresh Japanese ingredients, plus some Florida flair.
Ômo also offers three pricing tiers, making it accessible for different budgets. Chef Tim Lovero from Coro was dealing with a broken freezer when he heard the news. “That brings a little bit of joy to a harder morning,” he said, excited about the recognition.
In total, Florida saw ten new Michelin nods, with six in Miami, leaving Tampa out for now. UniGirl might be the first Michelin-recognized spot serving dog biscuits, and it shares a team with the high-end Sorekara.
All new additions will be marked as “new” in the Michelin Guide before the annual Bib Gourmand and Stars announcement later this year. Tung believes the public’s view of Michelin restaurants is changing for the better.
“It has this rep for fine dining, but the more affordable options like UniGirl help break that stigma. It’s really about great food at the right price,” he said.
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