Morimoto Asia Opens in Orlando: A Pan‑Asian Culinary Experience at Disney Springs

Orlando food blogger Ricky Ly takes a culinary journey at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs.

Orlando’s vibrant food scene gets a high‑profile boost with the debut of Morimoto Asia, Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s first Pan‑Asian restaurant at Walt Disney World® Resort’s Disney Springs® entertainment hub.

Renowned for his role as the masterful Iron Chef Japan, Morimoto blends his extensive travel experiences across China, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan into a menu that celebrates authentic street‑food flavors while elevating them with contemporary techniques.

Unlike his previous Japan‑centric concepts, Morimoto Asia is built around shared plates and communal dining, making it ideal for families, couples, and groups eager to explore a spectrum of Asian cuisines in one setting.

Chef Morimoto’s kitchen is staffed by seasoned cooks and supported by chefs from his Asian restaurant group, ensuring every dish delivers genuine flavor while showcasing his signature style.

Guests are welcomed by hostesses dressed in traditional red Mandarin qipao gowns, evoking Shanghai’s 1930s social elite, before entering the two‑story space.

The interior boasts striking glass chandeliers reminiscent of jellyfish, with a visible glass‑encased kitchen that offers a front‑row view of chefs in action. Peking‑style roasted ducks, fresh and ready to be sliced for ramen or steamed buns, line the walls.

On the upper level, a 14‑seat sushi bar presents world‑class rolls and sashimi, while the Hidden Lounge serves cocktails such as the Morimotini, crafted with Morimoto’s own sake line. The beer selection includes Asian imports, Rogue Ales’ Morimoto Soba Ale, and the exclusive Black Obi Soba.

Morimoto tailored the menu to the Disney Springs crowd, focusing on approachable, delicious, and fun Asian dishes that appeal to international guests.

"People from all over the world expect first‑class entertainment. This is a brand‑new culinary theme—an entirely Asian menu, not just Japanese. Growing up, I tasted many Asian cuisines, so I had a wealth of ideas. I’m thrilled for this new challenge," Chef Morimoto explains.

Start your meal with sticky ribs—hoisin barbecue, chili‑glazed pork ribs that are crisp on the outside yet melt‑in‑your‑mouth tender inside. Share bamboo‑basket dumplings of pork and shrimp shu‑mai, a Cantonese dim sum staple. For a crisp contrast, try the fried rock shrimp tempura, drizzled with a Korean‑inspired gochujang aioli.

Among the standout appetizers is the kakuni pork bao: braised pork belly between soft steamed buns, simmered in a sweet, tangy sauce until the meat falls apart.

Korean aficionados will relish the LA BBQ Kalbi—marinated boneless short ribs grilled to perfection, served with house‑pickled kimchi and silky red‑pepper strands. Indonesian influence shines in the duck nasi goreng, a fragrant fried rice topped with a sunny‑side‑up egg and tender roast duck. Seafood lovers shouldn’t miss the Alaskan king crab, grilled and finished with a spicy, buttery tobanjan aioli.

Families will delight in the crispy Peking duck, carved and served thinly with crackling skin, complemented by flour pancakes and apricot‑sweet chili and hoisin‑miso sauces.

Finish with a dessert masterpiece: the mochi‑mochi bowl, layered with silky annin tofu, coconut‑mango soup, popping boba, and frozen mango‑lemon yogurt powder—a visual and gustatory treat.

Morimoto Asia joins an elite roster of celebrity and James Beard‑award‑nominated chefs, enriching Orlando’s dining landscape with authentic, vibrant flavors.

With its sophisticated design and expertly prepared cuisine, Morimoto Asia is a must‑visit for anyone exploring Orlando’s culinary scene.

Images courtesy Morimoto Asia/Patina Restaurant Group

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