Best Chicken Parmesan Near International Drive

Chicken Parm That Is Actually Worth Ordering

Every Italian restaurant on International Drive has chicken parmesan on the menu. It is the most popular Italian-American dish in the country. The problem is that most of those versions are forgettable. The chicken is pre-frozen, the breading is thick and falls off, and the marinara tastes like it came straight from a can. If that is what you are expecting near I-Drive, Ciao Italia Ristorante is going to change your mind.

At Ciao Italia, the chicken parmesan is made the way it should be. A fresh chicken breast is hand-breaded with a thin, crispy coating and pan-fried until golden. It is topped with real mozzarella that melts into the kitchen's house-made marinara, a sauce that has been simmered for hours. The dish is served over spaghetti and finished in the oven so everything comes to your table hot, bubbling, and ready. No shortcuts, no frozen components, no microwave.

More Than Just Chicken Parm

While the chicken parmesan is one of the most ordered dishes at Ciao Italia, it is not the only chicken dish worth trying. The chicken Marsala features tender chicken sauteed with mushrooms in a rich Marsala wine sauce. The chicken piccata comes with capers, lemon, and a butter sauce that is bright and balanced. All three are made to order with fresh ingredients, and all three are dishes that guests come back for specifically.

Beyond chicken, the menu includes handmade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, lamb chops, eggplant parmesan, and desserts made in-house. It is a full Italian menu built on traditional recipes that the Navarra family has been using since they opened the restaurant in 1991.

2 minutes from International Drive

Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, 5 minutes from the heart of International Drive. It is close to SeaWorld, Aquatica, the Orange County Convention Center, and all of the I-Drive hotels. The difference is that when you step inside Ciao Italia, the tourist atmosphere disappears. The dining room is warm, the staff treats you like family, and the food tastes like it was made by someone who actually cares.

Free self-parking, no resort fees, no tourist pricing. Open seven nights a week from 5 to 10 PM, with over 4,000 guest reviews and nine culinary awards to back it up. If you are staying near I-Drive and want chicken parmesan that is actually worth ordering, this is where you go.

About Dining Near I-Drive

International Drive runs through the center of Orlando's tourism district. It connects SeaWorld, Aquatica, ICON Park, the Orange County Convention Center, and dozens of hotels. Every night, thousands of visitors walk the strip looking for dinner.

Most of what they find are chain restaurants with corporate menus and frozen ingredients. The Italian restaurants on I-Drive tend to be the usual suspects: Olive Garden, Carrabba's, Buca di Beppo. They are fine for what they are, but they are not authentic Italian cooking.

Ciao Italia is different. Located on Westwood Boulevard just off International Drive, it is a family-owned restaurant where the Navarra family has been making everything from scratch for over 35 years. The sauteed calamari, the handmade pasta, the Risotto alla Pescatora, the Australian lamb chops — this is real Italian food, not a chain interpretation.

The restaurant is casual and welcoming, perfect for families, couples, and groups. The kids menu is $13 and includes gelato. Beer and wine are available to pair with dinner. Reservations are recommended but walk-ins are always welcome.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from I-Drive

Getting to Ciao Italia from International Drive could not be simpler. The restaurant sits on Westwood Boulevard, one block off the main I-Drive corridor. Whether you are coming from the north end near ICON Park or the south end near the outlets, you are looking at a 2-minute drive. Free self-parking is available for all guests.

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