TaKo Cheena: Orlando’s Fusion Street Food Hub
TaKo Cheena is a popular, late-night Asian-Latin fusion restaurant located in the vibrant Mills 50 district of Orlando, Florida.
What Makes It Unique
TaKo Cheena is renowned for its inventive concept that fuses flavors from Latin America (primarily Mexican) with diverse Asian cuisines, leading to the playful slogan, “Dim Sum Good Takos!” The restaurant’s atmosphere is described as having a quirky, funky, and hip vibe, drawing inspiration from food truck culture. It offers a counter-service style of ordering and features eclectic decor with local artwork. A major draw is its late-night operating hours, staying open until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. on weekend nights, making it a favorite for post-bar crowds. Additionally, it operates on a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) policy as it does not sell alcohol.
History
The restaurant’s concept originated from Pom Moongauklang, who also owns the popular Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria, and Edgardo Guzman. The name itself is a tongue-in-cheek nod to the featured food, tacos, and Moongauklang’s Thai heritage (the “Cheena” refers to the Asian influence). The concept initially gained popularity as a food truck before moving to a permanent brick-and-mortar location.
- 2011: The original storefront location opened in the Mills 50 district.
- Later Transition: Pom Moongauklang is no longer involved, and Edgardo Guzman is the current owner, maintaining the original fusion concept.
- Expansion/Relocation: There was a planned move to a larger space in the former Forbidden City Chinese restaurant, just a few doors from the original location, which took a significant amount of time before the move was complete. An additional, quieter location also briefly opened inside a car dealership on John Young Parkway.
Highlight Menu Items
The menu consists of tacos (or “Takos”), burritos, arepas, empanadas, and Asian hot dogs, with everything made fresh to order. They also offer several vegan and vegetarian options, often featuring crispy tofu.
- Signature Takos:
- Thai Peanut Chicken Tako: With mixed cabbage, cilantro scallion, and crushed peanuts.
- Indian Yellow Curry Dusted Tofu Tako: With mixed cabbage, cilantro, celery, and scallions.
- Korean Beef Tako: With mixed cabbage, sesame seed, cilantro, and kimchi slaw.
- Chinese BBQ Char Siu Pork Belly Tako: A fatty cut of pork belly with mixed cabbage, cilantro, ginger, scallions, oil, and crispy pork rinds.
- Tom Yum Mojo Shrimp Tako: Latin and Asian infused marinated shrimp with a seasoned slaw.
- Burritos (known for being large):
- Korean Burrito: Marinated bulgogi, kimchi fried rice, scallions, sriracha, and cilantro.
- Thai Panang Chicken Burrito: Served with jasmine rice, bell peppers, basil, and peanut sauce.
- Other Popular Items:
- Three Cheese Arepa: (Corn cakes with melted Mexican cheeses).
- Asian Hot Dogs: Such as the Korean Hot Dog (Chinese sweet sausage, kimchi, cabbage, spicy mayo, sesame seed, cilantro) and the Japadog.
- Dessert: Fried Crispy Churros and Ginger Apple Empanadas.
Customer Feedback
Customers frequently praise the restaurant for its unique and flavorful flavor combinations, the quality of its food, and the fact that it offers a diverse menu with many vegan/vegetarian options. The late-night hours are consistently mentioned as a major benefit.
- Positive Feedback: The Indian Curry Dusted Tofu Tako, Korean Burrito, and the Panko Crusted Cod Tako are highly recommended. Many appreciate the friendly staff and the ability to customize orders.
- Constructive Feedback: Some reviewers note that the location and exterior may seem “uninviting” or a “hole in the wall,” and a few have mentioned the tacos being small or the burritos containing a low proportion of meat to rice. Parking can also be a challenge in the busy Mills 50 district.
Significant Events
The most notable events in its history appear to be the transition from its initial food truck-inspired origins to a permanent, popular storefront, and the prolonged process of relocating to a larger space within the Mills 50 neighborhood. It has been recognized as one of the Best Late Night Restaurants by Orlando Magazine.
Location & Contact Information (Mills 50 Location)
- Address: 948 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
- Contact Information: +1 407-930-8608
- Website/Social Media: Specific direct links to an official website or social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) were not consistently provided in the search results.
