Restaurants in Ocala, Florida
From barbecue and seafood to Mexican, Italian and fine dining, explore every cuisine in Ocala and Marion County. For verified drink specials, see our guide to happy hour deals in Ocala.
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Where are the best places to eat in Ocala?
Ocala's restaurants cluster in two main areas: downtown around the historic square, and the SR 200 (SW College Road) corridor in southwest Ocala. Downtown restaurants include Mark's Prime Steakhouse at 30 S Magnolia Ave, Brick City Southern Kitchen at 10 S Magnolia Ave and District Bar & Kitchen at 110 SW Broadway St.
The cuisine guide below names popular spots for barbecue, seafood, Italian, Mexican and Latin, pizza, steak, breakfast and Asian food, and links to a dedicated guide for each.
By Darrin DeTorres, Only In Ocala. Under our editorial guidelines, restaurant names and addresses are checked against each restaurant's Google Business Profile or own website. AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing. See our editorial guidelines.
What is the dining scene like in Ocala?
Ocala's restaurant scene has evolved well beyond its small-town roots. The influx of visitors from the World Equestrian Center and a growing population have fueled a wave of new restaurants that span every cuisine imaginable. For a short, ranked list, see our guide to the top restaurants in Ocala. To find somewhere near you, our guide to places to eat in Ocala by area sorts restaurants by part of town.
The main dining corridors include downtown Ocala around the historic square, the SR 200 corridor near On Top of the World, and SW College Road. Each area has its own character — downtown skews upscale and eclectic, SR 200 offers familiar chains and growing independent options, and College Road serves the everyday dining needs of central Ocala. On the one day most kitchens close, our list of restaurants open on Christmas Day in Ocala covers the 24-hour diners and the chains that shut for the holiday.
What kinds of restaurants are in Ocala?
BBQ & Smokehouse
Barbecue in Marion County runs from a Southern kitchen on the downtown square to a Florida barbecue chain and a country smokehouse south of Ocala.
Popular spots: Brick City Southern Kitchen, Sonny's BBQ, Artman Country Smokehouse (Summerfield)
Best BBQ in Ocala →Seafood
Seafood in Ocala ranges from New Orleans-inspired cooking downtown to a seafood chain on SW College Road.
Popular spots: Harry's Seafood, Bar & Grille, Red Lobster
Best Seafood in Ocala →Italian
Italian dining in Ocala includes family-run restaurants on the SR 200 corridor, an Italian grille on SW College Road and a ristorante on NW 26th Street.
Popular spots: Milano Italian Grille, Sammy's Italian Restaurant and Pizza, Marcelina's Italian Restaurant, Bella Cosa Italian Ristorante
Italian Restaurants in Ocala →Mexican & Latin
Ocala's Mexican and Latin American restaurants include Mexican kitchens across town, a Mexican restaurant and supermarket on SR 40, Colombian paisa cooking on South Pine Avenue and Cuban plates.
Popular spots: Azul Tequila, El Toreo, La Hacienda Restaurant and Supermarket, Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio, Latinos Y Mas, Cafe Havana
Best Mexican Food in Ocala →Pizza
Ocala's pizza runs from neighborhood pizzerias to Detroit-style pan pizza downtown.
Popular spots: Arianna's Pizza, Sammy's Italian Restaurant and Pizza, District Bar & Kitchen (Detroit-style)
Best Pizza in Ocala →Steakhouse
Steak in Ocala ranges from a Brazilian churrascaria and a downtown prime steakhouse to familiar chains on SW College Road.
Popular spots: Ipanema Brazilian Steak House, Mark's Prime Steakhouse, LongHorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse
Best Steakhouses in Ocala →Breakfast & Brunch
Breakfast in Ocala runs from diners and bagel shops to early-opening Latin cafes and 24-hour chains.
Popular spots: Scrambles Cafe, Bagelicious Deli & Bakery, Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio, IHOP, Waffle House
Best Breakfast in Ocala →Sushi & Asian
Thai, Japanese, hibachi, ramen and Chinese buffet restaurants are spread across Ocala, with several on SW College Road.
Popular spots: Ayuttaya Thai Cuisine, Samurai Hibachi & Ramen, Sushi Feast AYCE, China Lee Buffet
Best Sushi in Ocala →Which Ocala restaurants have their own guide?
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocala Restaurants
What are the best restaurants in Ocala, FL?→
Well-known restaurants in Ocala include Harry's Seafood, Bar & Grille (New Orleans-inspired) and Ivy on the Square (Southern) on the downtown square, Mark's Prime Steakhouse, Ipanema Brazilian Steak House, Milano Italian Grille and Katya Vineyards. The dining scene spans BBQ, Mexican, Italian, Thai, sushi and more.
Where should I eat in downtown Ocala?→
Downtown Ocala restaurants include Harry's Seafood, Bar & Grille, Ivy on the Square, Mark's Prime Steakhouse at 30 S Magnolia Ave, Brick City Southern Kitchen at 10 S Magnolia Ave, District Bar & Kitchen at 110 SW Broadway St, Bank Street Patio Bar and Katya Vineyards at 11 E Silver Springs Blvd. See our downtown Ocala guide for more.
Are there any fine dining restaurants in Ocala?→
Yes. Upscale options in Ocala include Mark's Prime Steakhouse downtown, Katya Vineyards, Ipanema Brazilian Steak House, Ivy on the Square, and Stirrups at the World Equestrian Center.
What restaurants in Ocala are good for families?→
Family-friendly restaurants in Ocala include Sonny's BBQ, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Mojo's (Food. Music. Soul.) on SW 17th St, Sammy's Italian Restaurant and Pizza, and the casual chains along SR 200 and SW College Road. Check our kids eat free guide for family dining deals.
Where can I find cheap eats in Ocala?→
Budget-friendly options in Ocala include Scrambles Cafe for breakfast, Bagelicious Deli & Bakery, Cafe Havana for Cuban plates on weekdays, El Toreo for Mexican food, and B D Bean's Coffee Company in Belleview. Our kids eat free guide lists restaurants offering free meals for children on specific days.
Do restaurants in Ocala take reservations?→
Many sit-down restaurants in Ocala do. Mark's Prime Steakhouse, Ipanema Brazilian Steak House, Milano Italian Grille, Katya Vineyards, Bank Street Patio Bar and Stirrups all offer table booking through their Google listings. Many casual restaurants seat walk-ins first come, first served.
What food is Ocala known for?→
Ocala's dining reflects its farm country and its growing population. Barbecue and Southern cooking are local staples, Mexican and Latin American restaurants line South Pine Avenue and SR 40, and some kitchens buy from Marion County farms; District Bar & Kitchen, for example, uses beef from Ft. McCoy Beef.
Are there food festivals in Ocala?→
Food and drink events in Ocala change from year to year, so the best place to check is our events calendar, which lists upcoming food, drink and market events in Ocala and Marion County.
Restaurantes en Ocala, Florida
Los restaurantes de Ocala se concentran en dos zonas principales: el centro, alrededor de la plaza histórica, y el corredor de la SR 200 (SW College Road) en el suroeste de Ocala. En el centro están Mark's Prime Steakhouse (30 S Magnolia Ave), Brick City Southern Kitchen (10 S Magnolia Ave) y District Bar & Kitchen (110 SW Broadway St). Para comida mexicana y latinoamericana hay opciones como Azul Tequila, El Toreo, La Hacienda Restaurant and Supermarket, Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio, Latinos Y Mas y Cafe Havana.