Chef Roberto Treviño will open his new Latin/Asian restaurant concept, El Buda (Website), on Thursday, December 7.
The new restaurant is located in the former home of Chicago Pizza and the short-lived Maddey’s Craft and Cru at 116 West Church St [GMap] just between Hamburger Mary’s and the train tracks.
An Iron Chef alum, Chef Treviño has opened a number of restaurants in Puerto Rico including fan-favorites like Aguaviva (Website) and Budatai (Website), and is now opening his first mainland restaurant here in Orlando. Treviño told Bungalower that he likes to be in exciting up-and-coming markets and sees a lot of similarities between San Juan and Orlando, and felt compelled to try his hand in the City Beautiful.
“I just want to make it a really sexy place to have a good time with good food.”
– Chef Treviño
El Buda (formerly Buda Libre) that will feature a menu of dim sum small plates, katsu Cubano pork buns, octopus kaisu, fried rice dishes, and an extensive menu of craft cocktails and beer, with an emphasis on local brews. Treviño also loves tater tots, so keep your eyes peeled for the Teriyaki Tots.
El Buda will also make use of the oft-ignored wine cellar located in the space since it was first built. The Cellar, a prohibition-style cocktail lounge will serve a variety of El Buda’s signature cocktails featuring guest mixologists during dinner service.
El Buda will open daily for lunch and dinner at 11:30 a.m. with a weekend brunch option to start at the end of the month.
We first wrote about this new restaurant concept HERE in April.
