EL IMPORTADO

The crowd and the inspector disagree about EL IMPORTADO, and it isn't close: 3,596 reviewers settle on 4.5 stars, while its latest health inspection lands at a D, 63/100.

By health score it sits safer than 5% of Orange County restaurants we grade — among the riskier kitchens in the county. The grade reflects 2 high-priority, 3 intermediate, and 12 basic violations at its last inspection on February 25, 2026. Worse, the trend is downward. Safer, higher-graded picks nearby are listed below.

Loved (4.5★) but failing (D, 63/100) · safer than 5% of Orange County

Get directions Call (407) 930-5563

Safer options nearby

Higher-graded restaurants close to EL IMPORTADO, by Florida DBPR grade:

Restaurant details

Health grade
D (63/100)
Violations
17 total — 2 high-priority, 3 intermediate, 12 basic
Address
2108 WHISPER LAKES BLVD, Orlando, FL
Cuisine
Other
Categories
Nuevo Latino restaurant, Venezuelan restaurant
Price
$10–20
Rating
4.5 stars (3596 reviews)
Seats
40
Phone
(407) 930-5563
Website
Official website
Photo of EL IMPORTADO
Photo: EL IMPORTADO "ORLANDO"

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.5 Community-sourced rating 3,596 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

This is the pattern the site exists to surface: strong reviews, weak inspection. Reviewers who mention front-of-house rate this place 5.0 on average — it is working in the restaurant’s favour.

The split is 22 positive to 1 negative across 23 rated reviews. The single most common rating left here is 5 stars (21 of 23). No one in this corpus comments on speed of service at all.

None of that is visible in a star rating: the most recent DBPR inspection graded this kitchen a D (63/100), citing 2 high-priority, 3 intermediate, and 12 basic violations. Diner sentiment and inspection result are measuring different things here, and only one of them is checked by the state. The visit behind that grade was February 25, 2026. The trend across inspections is decline. Ranked against Orange County, it is safer than 5% of the restaurants we score. For specifics, the last inspection cited food & equipment thermometers provided and accurate and cross-contamination.

What to do with that is a judgement call — the reviews describe the experience, the grade describes the conditions behind it. The reviews themselves follow, unedited and newest first.

Our own analysis of 23 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 28, 2026

    Excelente atención buenissima la comida recomendado 5 estrellas

  • June 27, 2026

    Me encanto este lugar de comida venezolana! estuve en orlando ayer con mi familia y comimos en este lugar. El restaurante esta decorado con motivo del mundial de futbol, todo lucia muy bien y limpio, la comida estaba muy rica (soy fan de la comida venezolana y maracucha) y tambien pude ver que tenian donaciones para las personas que sufriendo el terremoto en venezuela, los admiro por su consciencia social y por no olvidarse de su gente! Gracias por tan deliciosa comida y tan acogedor lugar.

  • June 27, 2026

    Omg! I went to EL IMPORTADO today after a long day at seaworld, it was one of the best Maracucha food I ever tried! I will go back for sure because I need more of those tumbarranchos and tequeños!

  • June 27, 2026

    Súper bueno! Esta semana fuimos TRES VECES. Pasamos nuestro aniversario en Orlando y mi esposo jamaiquino/americano y yo quedamos encantados con el importado. A mi esposo le encantan los patacones y los tumbarranchos. Le gustó TANTO que la segunda vez que fuimos pidió un combo de 3 tumbarranchos para comérselos luego en el hotel 😅. Nuestras vacaciones de aniversario se terminaron y aún así HOY VOLVIMOS a Orlando y por supuesto fuimos a comer en el importado, esta vez con toda la familia! Hoy no pude tomar fotos porque se comieron todo muy rápido 😅🩷 todo estaba rico y los tequeños fueron Wow! Demasiado! No puedo esperar para volver a ir! Son muy amables muy chéveres y la comida súper rica!

  • June 27, 2026

    Me atendió Daniela, la comida estuvo súper rica, con auténtico sabor venezolano y maracucho de verdad

  • June 21, 2026

    Muy buena la atención de Gaby súper y nos atendió súper bien rápido y eficiente

  • June 21, 2026

    Excelente servicio de Gaby súper rápida y nos atendió a todos con mucha alegría

  • June 21, 2026

    La atención de gaby, increíble a pesar de q estaba sola en cocina y era una familia grande, atención siempre increíble y rápido

  • June 21, 2026

    Buenísimo sabe a Maracaibo

  • June 21, 2026

    Muy bueno como siempre

  • June 20, 2026

    Nos encanta venir con frecuencia. La comida siempre está muy rica y mi hijo ama la chicha.

  • June 13, 2026

    Excelente

  • June 6, 2026

    This place used to be wonderful, although expensive. Now it's double the expensive, and the food and ambience leaves a lot to be desired. When asked for food replacement for 2 patacones, they told they could replace only one of then given it was 2x1 when i ordered on delivery, and had to be something of lesser value.

  • May 26, 2026

    Me encanta sus hamburguesas , cliente fiel al importado

  • May 26, 2026

    Mi familia y yo vivimos de vacaciones de knoxville esta semana, así que tuvimos age venir al Importado… Crecí comiendo su comida en Maracaibo! ¡Hoy, después de 20 años, pude volver a comerla! ¡Y la comida estaba riquísima! ¡Me transportó de aquí a Mcbo! Los patacones Las hamburguesas La parrilla, y la chicha estaban para chuparse los dedos! Volveremos mañana, y pasado mañana!!! Les di 4 estrellas por… que las mesas y el piso estaban sucios… tal vez estén cortos de personal… creo que también los cooperar llevando la basura a su lugar al terminar de comer así como se hace en muchos otros lugares de comida como este.

  • May 25, 2026

    Excelente servicio y la comida exquisita!!!

  • May 25, 2026

    Excelente servicio,muy buena comida,10 de 10

  • May 25, 2026

    La mejor atención y la mejor comida 100% recomendados

  • May 22, 2026

    Argenis did a fantastic job. I loved the Patacon, cachapas, quesillo and chicha. He was so kind and made recommendations as well. He deserves a raise 🙌

  • May 22, 2026

    Excelente lugar para comer y compartir con la familia. La atención de Argenis fue muy buena y muy atento. Lo recomiendo al 100% 👍

  • May 18, 2026

    Excelente comida muy rica

  • May 16, 2026

    We always come here for the patacones and authentic Venezuelan burgers, they're incredibly delicious, and Argelis who was our server today was awesome!

  • May 14, 2026

    Buen servicing, sitio limpio y rapidos Probe frituras muy Rica volvere a probar otros platos..

Overall Score

33 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 10/40
    Grade D
  • Dietary transparency 3/20
    1 option listed
  • Community rating 18/20
    4.5★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 2/10
    Declining, 0% clean

Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.

Opening hours

Monday
11 AM to 11 PM
Tuesday
11 AM to 11 PM
Wednesday
11 AM to 11 PM
Thursday
11 AM to 11 PM
Friday
11 AM to 12 AM
Saturday
9 AM to 12 AM
Sunday
9 AM to 12 AM

Inspection history

The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.

  1. February 25, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    2 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 12 basic

    • 05 — Food & equipment thermometers provided and accurate
    • 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage (×3)
    • 11 — Employee health knowledge; no ill/symptomatic employee present
    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided (×3)
    • 32 — Bathrooms
    • 33 — Garbage and refuse; premises maintained (×3)
    • 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests (×2)
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
  2. October 3, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    0 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 10 basic

    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided (×3)
    • 33 — Garbage and refuse; premises maintained
    • 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests (×2)
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
    • 40 — Employee personal belongings
    • 42 — Cleaning and maintenance equipment
    • 53 — Food manager certification; employee food-safety training

This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →

Data last updated: February 25, 2026