Orlando, Florida’s International Drive is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Orlando. It’s full of restaurants of all kinds. We typically try to look around for the most localized experiences when we visit some place new and therefore avoid chain restaurants, we have come to realized that a large number of the people who enjoy International Drive are internationals especially our friends from the UK, and we learned that they love to eat “American food” when they visit.
Here are some great American places to eat on International Drive:
- Denny’s
- Olive Garden
- TGI Friday’s
- World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s
- Hash House A Go Go
- Chili’s Bar and Grill
- CiCi’s Pizza
Denny’s
Denny’s is an absolutely iconic American dining institution. Open 24-hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, this diner-style restaurant is especially known for its breakfast selections.
Honestly, what is more American than a hot coffee, a large plate of bacon and eggs, and a side of pancakes? Or maybe a giant plate of nachos? Denny’s has it!
They also feature some “meat and three,” (one meat and three vegetables/sides) homestyle dishes, but they are most famous for their various breakfast plates.
Just go in and order a “Moons Over My Hammy” (yes, that’s a real thing on the menu)!
Olive Garden
Ok, Olive Garden is technically Italian, but it’s very Americanized, so we feel that it deserves a spot on the list. Olive Garden is the place to go if you’re feeling a little fancy, but you’re on a budget. The pasta plates are pretty good; but the continuous breadsticks and salad is where the gold is. Chew away to your hearts’ contentment as you jam out to some Frank Sinatra music in the background.
TGI Fridays
If you’re looking for a good place to get some American food, TGI Fridays is the place to go. One neat about this restaurant is that they have different specials each day of the week, so you can come here multiple times during your vacation without getting bored with their menu. They are probably most known for their appetizers which will give you total American vibes no matter which one you choose. Perhaps the most popular is their famous loaded potato skins, which is also available for purchase in bagged chip form.
World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s
What’s more American than McDonald’s? This fast-food restaurant chain is known the world over. You may even have one down the road from your house no matter where in the world you live, but the one on International Drive, is unique.
The World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s is a must-see for anyone visiting the Orlando area. This is not your typical Mickey D’s, it’s more like a gigantic playland for kids and adults alike. It has an arcade, laser tag arena, and mini golf course on top of all the regular McDonald’s food options.
The restaurant also hosts birthday parties for groups up to 30 people! The price range of this place varies depending on what you order, and the menu is unique at that! This location features the full McDonald’s menu, plus a whole selection of pizza and pasta, some other unique items, and not the least of which is cheesecake on the dessert menu!
Hash House A Go Go
Hash House A Go Go is a casual, family-friendly restaurant located at the corner of International Drive and SeaWorld Drive. This restaurant serves “farm food with a twist.” The dishes on the menu you are very homey-midwestern united states vibe.
Hash House A Go Go serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with an emphasis on comfort foods like pancakes, waffles and chicken & waffles. The menu also offers more healthful options such as salads and sandwiches. Hash House A Go Go has gotten positive reviews from TripAdvisor and from us as well. We love this place!
Chili’s Bar and Grill
If you’re looking for some typical American food, Chili’s Bar and Grill is your best bet. This chain has been around since 1975 and has become a staple of the casual dining scene thanks to its Tex-Mex cuisine, which comes served with a side of fun. At Chili’s, you can expect delicious burgers, fajitas, quesadillas—the list goes on! They also serve a big cookie that is cooked in a small skillet with ice cream and chocolate sauce on top. Trust us! This is worth the entire trip!
CiCi’s Pizza
If you’re looking for inexpensive pizza, CiCi’s Pizza is an excellent choice. It’s American-style fast food pizza with a variety of options. They have pepperoni pizza, supreme pizza, spinach pizza, Alfredo pizza, macaroni pizza, Buffalo chicken pizza, and the list goes on.
While some say that the pizza isn’t actually fantastic, we love it. The fact that you can purchase an all-you-can eat meal for less than $10 a person is very appealing…and very American!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our list of American places to eat on International Drive. We hope this helps you choose the best American-style restaurants for you and your family while you visit!