Many restaurants will open up in 2023, but none will be as dear to me as the opening of OverRice over on Lee Road in Orlando.

I found OverRice at what was then called Tasty Tuesdays in the Milk District back in 2013. I blame his truck for claiming most of my attention at those events because I rarely bothered trying new trucks if Joel was there. After all, he was the main event I was looking for with the food that consistently delivered and his kind and welcoming demeanor.

Over these past 10+ years, OverRice has become one of Orlando's more notable and popular food trucks because the food is worthy of the following. So I rotated between the Kalua Pig (Hawaiian pulled pork) and the Pork Adobo and savored every last crunch of his well-known lumpia.

For a food truck, you always got a great portion size for the price, which was consistent. Always juicy and flavorful, and a bonus is that Joel is one pretty rad local business owner. Now, along with his wife Mayra, we will get all of that without searching for his truck at food truck rallies or at local Farmers Markets.

THE VIBES

Some of the best foodie news to my ears was that he was finally opening up his first brick-and-mortar location. The nine-table restaurant is minimally decorated, with the focal point being a stunning mural by local artist Andrew Spear. Andrew designed the OverRice food truck's original look, so Joel returned to Andrew for something updated for the new location. They kept it in line with the iconic girl in the original logo but updated it, and her colorful island flare brings life to the shop.

THE FOOD

If you are familiar with the food truck offerings, you'll find the standard lunch plates that made us all fans over the years. The Filipino Pork Adobo and the Kalua Pig are the mainstays. You can choose "Hawaiian Style" with jasmine rice and Ono mac salad or "Filipino Style" with jasmine rice and pancit noodles (my personal favorite). Both dishes come with lumpia. These dishes are so packed with deep flavors that's what has kept us all coming back for more after all these years, and they will surely make fans out of newcomers.

With a more extensive menu, I'm excited to try more options. On this first dine, I got something new, the Spam Musubi, which was so good that I'm eager to see how it is with the Kalua Pig. During the soft opening, they offered an incredibly refreshing drink of pineapple, apple, and muddled mint, and I hope it sticks around on the menu. If you see it when you go, get it over a Coke.

I'm sorry to report to my vegan friends I didn't' see any items on the initial menu that was meatless, but we'll see if that changes.

An opening date has not been announced yet, but keep tabs on their social media for updates. Additionally, the food truck will remain operational, so you can always catch it, as they have weekly updates of where it will be.

New restaurant location: 1084 Lee Road