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Orlando, FL

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MAKANI

3.7 (135 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

MAKANI Photos

MAKANI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Outdoor seating
Good for groups
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - MAKANI

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Reviews With Photos

Koshary- one of Egypt's dishes! Such a lovely and satisfying comfort food.  This stuff SMACKS!   KA-POW!
Terri M.

The food here is amazing, not to mention great service. This is my second time back here and I am Still Not disappointed. They do have LIVE entertainment, however I am never coming at that time they offer that. I always come before 9pm. But this place is open until 2am and is located right in the middle of entertaining I-drive in icon park!

Hot Green Tea
Alyssa H.

So let's talk about this place! Very delicious food. Very cute set up. Bathrooms was dirty - sink flooded with water and no soap for had washing. Location location location #iconoarkorlando . Great parking options. We visited on a Tuesday @ 8/9 pm during spring break week 2021 we had 3 people at our table- we didn't smoke hookah this time. Let's talk about the customer service though, our waiter was very cocky . NEVER in my years of visiting restaurants have I had a waiter that did not just give a shit, he didn't care. He was slow, smoking hooka, hugging up on his girl. Got an attitude when I asked for a spoon for my tea. We had to wave him down or ask the other women waiter for anything. We WAITED 20 mins for our water. He let the food sit in the window, while he was hanging out at the bar and the manager brought to us. What really pushed me -- when he dropped the check off, he grinned and said tip is already included in the bill. (Our bill was $90 which almost $20 was tip.) Giggled and started to walk away. We experienced help from other waiters even the manager. #orlandoflorida #explore This restaurant does add tip into the bill

View from outside the front door
Cindee P.

My family and I found out about this place from my sister. I called and made a reservation as it looked like the place gets busy despite the COVID situation. The guy who answered was so nice. When we arrived, I was pleased with the aesthetics of the venue. We didn't take advantage of the hookah because COVID, but other patron seemed to be enjoying it. We ordered and shared Hawawshi with fries, Beef Shawarma Platter, Single Mixed Grill and Konafa. Everything was so good. The only thing is that I am picky with my chicken and it was dry to me, but everything else made up for it. Natasha was our server and she was so friendly and beautiful. Rajid (Rajeed?) helped every now and then and he was so nice. I think he was the one who answered my reservation call. There were other items I wanted to try, so we will be back. The menu had Brunch on it, but I'm not sure if they are open for brunch right now. I emailed them, but have yet to have an answer. I hope we can explore that tasting, as well.

Outside
Sanad A.

This place is pretty cool and authentic. Ambiance/ music: top notch! You can tell some thought went into making and decorating this place. Full of nice chandeliers. Twelve different types to be exact. Many pictures of most famous icons of the film and music industry from Egypt. The music is great and fun Egyptian music. Clean and open. Indoor and outdoors sitting. Service: the staff are friendly and helpful. The offer complimentary parking. But you got give tips to the guy of course. Pretty quick service too. Food: pretty delicious and authentic. Prices are okay. Not super cheap or pricey. But definitely not fast food kind of restaurant. More like dine and relax. With a date, friend or family. Or alone :) I would definitely come back to this awesome spot.

Soft opening menu
Kareem T.

I really invite all my Yelp friends at Orlando, Tampa , Jacksonville and all of you who visit Orlando to try this Egyptian restaurant! There are only 2 restaurants in The U.S. that I can be proud of as Egyptian restaurants Fava Pot in DC suburb (Falls Church VA) and this one , Makani which means in the Arabic language "my place" because yes... they want you to feel home! Whether you're an Egyptian looking to playback your memories or an American who wants to explore what is Egyptian, both will %100 get satisfied! Egyptian food doesn't need to be altered so other nationalities can accept like some other ethnic food , but honestly you will eat, you will love it and you will ask for it again! Makani is very large , very luxurious , Egyptian movie stars portraits are decorating the walls (Egyptian cinema is very old and it used to be in top festivals!) . They have an outdoor seating and a hookah area but there is no smoking or hookah allowed inside which is great! I really recommend their Mix Mahshy, Mix Grill , Koshari (amazing vegan/ vegetarian dish) be careful when you use the garlic vinegar sauce! They will start new items today as I was told by the owner and also they will have amazing a la Carter brunch this Sunday! Go visit, try it and Thank me later!

Shawarma Platter and Hummus
Samuel B.

I had the shawarma platter, hummus appetizer and Orange juice. Or age juice tasted like Florida Natural so thumbs up for that even though the amount of money I paid for it, I could probably get a half a gallon for the same price but it is in Icon Park so they can get away with it. The rice and garlic sauce were a solid 5/5! Great texture, great flavor and I loved how the garlic sauce was in a gravy thing! So cool! The shawarma I'd say was pretty good. 3.75/5. Not the greatest I've had but certainly not the worst. The hummus had a great presentation but tbh, not the worst hummus but not very good. Probably a 2/5. The texture was meh, and the flavor was really lemony but not in a good way. There's barely any tahini to keep it creamy. It honestly felt like beans and lemon paste more than hummus. And for that price it should be better. The pita was also too thin and bland. I liked the waitress but she wasn't very attentive. I also didn't like they added gratuity without mentioning anything beforehand and then still wanted me to tip an extra 18%. The fact that's not illegal is amazing to me. One thing I did but didn't like was I didn't realize it was also a Hookah place. It's a cool idea but I didn't realize how strong the smells were from Hookahs. But I don't blame them. That's just a me problem. If you do decide to go, make sure to get the shawarma platter and remember they do an 18% gratuity

Menu
Ellen C.

All the food looked amazing. I ordered Molokhia, it chicken with a green garlic sauce that you can pour over the rice and/or dip you chicken into. Didn't try hookah. My husband enjoyed the Hawawshi.

Ronee A.

Love the food here! My favorite is the hawawshi and molokhia. They occasionally have a dancer and the vibe is very laid back. Full bar and hookah available. The menu they give you to see the photos doesn't have the actual prices, you can pull up a menu on your phone to see the updated prices which are cheaper. The service is a hit or miss depending on the night, but the food makes up for it.

Hawawash platter
Andre M.

We were a little hesitant at first, but was looking for something different to do in Orlando. We were tired of the cookie cutter establishments and so we decided to try Makani. It wasn't crowded early on a Saturday and so starting as immediate. Overall the food was very tasty, but just be forewarned they add 18% gratuity to the bill to counteract tourists that don't tip. My wife had the lamb, and didn't save her any so I think she loved it. I chose the Hawawsh which was simple and tasty. All for the garlic sauce instead of ketchup!

Half chicken with fries
Aqib J.

The food was amazing. I ordered the half chicken and it was sublime. The restaurant has a nice ambience and the owner is very friendly and present which translates into amazing service.

Restaurant interior

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3 years ago

Best food, best service, best hookah, best chef! Enjoyed my time here from Dallas! Loved the vibe and everything delicious.

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Authentic Egyptian food and a good night out. Never been disappointed with any visit.

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5 years ago

This place had good service and vibe. It's very expensive. I really like rice pudding and this one left behind a chalky feeling in my mouth

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

Best Mediterranean restaurant hands down in the Orlando area! They also do brunch on weekends, so much fun!! Amazing owner and staff!!!

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Page 2 of 4

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The Whiskey - *The Salty

The Whiskey

4.4(1.3k reviews)
1.1 mi•Dr. Phillips, Horizons West / West Orlando
•$$

I have been SO excited to try The Whiskey ever since I saw its amazing reviews here on Yelp, and…read morelet's just say i was definitely NOT let down!!! It was the perfect atmosphere for a quick stop on a Wednesday. We came at about 2:00pm and were greeted by the sweetest bar staff and asked to take a seat wherever we'd like! Choosing which burger was the hardest part. Everything sounded AMAZING!!! I ended up trying the Shroom N' Swiss which fulfilled my craving PERFECTLY!!! Such a flavorful burger that I didn't find too over the top. I had a few of my party's truffle fries and they were incredible as well. I will definitely be back here for some burgers and apps whenever I get the craving! So happy I was able to stop by and finally try!

We popped over here for lunch on a Saturday around two in the afternoon. We were very surprised…read morewith how busy it was as it's typically not that busy on Saturday afternoons. We chose seats at the bar and were greeted promptly by Brian and Rowan. Because there were a lot of people and just the two of them, they were running around taking orders from tables as well as servicing the bar so it did take a little bit to get our drink orders in, but we were enjoying looking through the whiskey library anyways. I started off with a Suncreek blonde ale. It is strawberry blonde ale and it's delicious. My husband started with the Yingling. He keeps hoping they will bring the Kentucky bourbon ale back on tap again. For lunch, I got the whiskey dip which is full of chopped beef with cheese and onions. Served with an herb, dipping sauce, and your choice of side. I opted for the sweet potato waffle fries because they are delicious. My husband got a burger with fries cooked perfectly. Once we are done with our food, we did opt for a taster. My husband had to go through several different bottles before he found one they actually had in stock. That is one of the downside is the whiskey library that is online is not always reflective of what they actually have in stock as he was really looking forward to trying the old Fitzgerald birthday, but alas, they did not have it in stock. He ended up going with the jack Daniels 12 year and really enjoyed it. I opted for the widow Jane 14 year very sweet easy to drink. Great service from Bryan and Rowan always enjoy seeing them behind the bar

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The Whiskey - Bar Ambience

Bar Ambience

The Whiskey - S & S Potatoes

S & S Potatoes

The Whiskey - The Royale medium rare bacon on the side. Delicious!

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The Royale medium rare bacon on the side. Delicious!

Ka La Rooftop Lounge - Specialty Chef's

Ka La Rooftop Lounge

3.4(38 reviews)
1.3 mi•International Drive / I-Drive

Gorgeous sunset view filled the evening here while out with friends!…read more This was my first time here and we were celebrating a birthday . I truly enjoyed the food , the laughs but especially the sunset ! Anyone who knows me knows o love a good sunset anytime ! Service was a bit scattered 3/5 but overall we enjoyed ourselves. Kinda weird too see people I'm swimming attire since theirs a pool close to the restaurant. I'd come back if invited but not something I'd plan .

Kala Rooftop Lounge was such a great experience, and I'll definitely be back! The atmosphere,…read moreservice, and overall vibe made for an enjoyable evening. To start, I ordered the spring rolls and the salmon bites. Both appetizers were delicious and made excellent starters. My only suggestion would be to include a little more sauce with the salmon bites. Even so, they were incredibly flavorful and enjoyable on their own. For my entrée, I had the lamb chops with basmati rice. The lamb chops were absolute perfection--cooked perfectly, tender, and seasoned exceptionally well. The basmati rice, however, was a bit dry, and I think it would have been much better with a gravy or sauce. Looking back, I wish I had ordered the mashed potatoes instead. I also swapped out the roasted potatoes for French fries, which ended up being the better choice for me. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience with delicious food and a great atmosphere. The lamb chops alone are worth coming back for, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

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Ka La Rooftop Lounge - Scenery!

Scenery!

Ka La Rooftop Lounge - Delicious Food

Delicious Food

Ka La Rooftop Lounge - The waiter insisted a few times I get this drink

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The waiter insisted a few times I get this drink

Cafe Tu Tu Tango

Cafe Tu Tu Tango

4.4(5.4k reviews)
0.4 mi•International Drive / I-Drive
•$$$
Full bar
Large group friendly

The Small Plates: The menu is built for sharing, giving you an excuse to try half a dozen things…read more The Cajun Eggrolls and Baked Goat Cheese are absolute classics that never miss, while the Chorizo & Goat Cheese Flatbread brings incredible bold flavors. Every dish comes out hot, fresh, and bursting with creativity. The Atmosphere & Service: Loud, colorful, and buzzing with an infectious creative energy. The service matches the pace--fast, friendly, and expert at guiding you through how many plates to order. Guys this shrimp Tacos WERE AWESOME!!!

This experience was one for the books…read more From the moment we walked into Café Tu Tu Tango, the atmosphere immediately pulled us in. The restaurant was decorated for Halloween, but it still beautifully captured its signature mix of art, music, creativity, and energy. One of the biggest highlights for my kids was the live contortionist, who completely embodied the Halloween vibe with just the right amount of spookiness. Between that, the local artwork throughout the restaurant, artists painting live, and even a small jewelry station where you could watch pieces being created and purchase them, there was always something interesting happening around us. Ben, our server, and his trainee -- I believe her name was Crystal -- were phenomenal. Both were high-energy, personable, and added so much to the experience. Ben explained the small-plate concept perfectly, including how the food would arrive as it was ready and recommending about 2-3 plates per person for sharing. We took that advice seriously and practically ordered the menu. Between the chicken empanadas, chicken skewers, chicken egg rolls, dynamite shrimp, udon noodles, chorizo sliders, elote, mini hamburger sliders, kids chicken tenders, and fish tacos, everyone at the table found something they loved. Everything was flavorful, everyone was satisfied, and we were FULL by the end. The energy is high, the music is loud, and there is a lot happening -- but that is absolutely part of the experience. If you are looking for a quiet dinner, this may not be it. But if you want great food, incredible energy, art, entertainment, and a dining experience your family will actually talk about afterward, Café Tu Tu Tango is absolutely worth it. One of our favorite Orlando experiences.

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Cafe Tu Tu Tango
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
Cafe Tu Tu Tango

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Strong Water Tavern - Hamburger sliders

Strong Water Tavern

4.3(300 reviews)
1.5 mi•Dr. Phillips, Horizons West / West Orlando
•$$

Although this is a tapas place, the portions are big! It is also a rum bar, so all the cocktails on…read morethe menu are made with different rums. I'm not a fan of rum, but the drink I had (at the recommendation of our server) was actually very good. I can't remember the name unfortunately, but it was one of the "tide" drinks - not the velvet - but it's not on the online menu. For food my friend and I shared the cheesy arepas, which were good but not like usual arepas. She had the empanadas and liked them, I had the la canoa, which is a take on a Puerto Rican dish, it was really good, but different than I expected. For dessert we tried the banana bread pudding. It was huge and tasty, but way too much for two people. I will say, I always get confused and read this dish as bread pudding with bananas, but no it is made with banana bread. So if you don't like that, I'd try something else. Also, shoutout to our great server Freddie. He was very patient and knowledgeable.

Never Made It Inside - Poor Wait Time Management…read more We were really looking forward to trying this place for the first time, but unfortunately never got to eat here. We arrived at 6pm on a Sunday and were told the wait would be 45 minutes to 1 hour. We understood it was busy and put our name down. After waiting 1 hour and 15 minutes, we checked back in, only to be told they had no idea when we'd be seated. We gave it another 10 minutes, but still no timeline or update. I completely understand that restaurants get slammed and wait times can be unpredictable. What was frustrating wasn't the wait itself - it was the lack of honest communication. If it was going to be a 1.5-2 hour wait, just tell us upfront so we can make an informed decision about our evening. Honestly, the host seemed to have forgotten about us as she seemed surprised and scrolled way down the list to find our name even though we were "top of the list". After waiting over 1.5 hours with no end in sight and getting increasingly hungry, we had to leave and grab food elsewhere. With three hosts working, I would have expected better expectation management than what we experienced tonight. I hope this was just an off night, but we left disappointed and hungry.

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Strong Water Tavern
Strong Water Tavern - Amberjack collars

Amberjack collars

Strong Water Tavern - Cocktail with blueberry basil shrub

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Cocktail with blueberry basil shrub

Velvet Bar - Pork Bao bun

Velvet Bar

4.3(38 reviews)
2.2 mi•Dr. Phillips, Horizons West / West Orlando
•$$$

I stayed at The Hard Rock for 4 nights to celebrate my birthday in June, and Anthony, the…read morebartender, truly made the trip unforgettable. From the first night, he was welcoming, fun to talk to, and mixed some of the best cocktails I've had. He not only remembered my favorite drinks but also recommended a few new ones that quickly became favorites. What stood out even more was how much he cared about making the experience special. Anthony gave me great food recommendations around the resort, and on the night of my birthday he surprised me by sending an assortment of snacks up to my room. It was such a thoughtful touch that made me feel celebrated and really added to the whole trip. Anthony goes above and beyond--great drinks, great conversation, and genuinely top-notch service. If you're at The Hard Rock, or enjoying the universal parks or resort, do yourself a favor and spend some time at the bar with him. He was there the last time we stayed there for my birthday as well. He's the best.

Another great experience at the Velvet Bar. Stopped in for drinks before heading to Halloween…read moreHorror Nights. Whitney was a great server, giving our group guidance based on preferences, and gave just the right amount of attention while we were there. The cocktails were tasty. The inside is cozy with seating at the bar, tables or couches and chairs. They seem to always play good music too!

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Velvet Bar
Velvet Bar - 2am Pizza and alcohol for the win

2am Pizza and alcohol for the win

Velvet Bar - Rib eye tacos

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Rib eye tacos

MAKANI - hookah_bars - Updated October 2026

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