09-07-2025
I herd that! Guests looking for leaner proteins are leaning into bison
I first had a bison burger in a diner on the west side of Manhattan in the early '90s.
This city was my home, but it was not where the buffalo roam. Back then, not even on menus. And so, I had to try it.
Leaner, but still juicy. Flavorful. Some might say earthy. Or sweet. It took quite some time before it began to show up with any real regularity in restaurants (at least on the East Coast), but slowly, surely, much like the eventual rebounding of this beautiful animal's once decimated numbers, bison is something we see more often when dining out, and even in grocery stores.
Several in the Orlando metro, including Wild Fork in Winter Park, Petty's Meat Market in Longwood and The Local Butcher and Market in Winter Garden, carry it for your home-cooking purposes.
But if you've never partaken of this noble and wholly American protein — and you might want to, since July is National Bison Month — there are quite a few options around the metro for meat sampling. Not to be too on-the-nose about it, but The Hangry Bison is one of them, with three locations around the metro: 250 West Plant St. in Winter Garden, 407-347-9099; 480 Orlando Ave. in Winter Park, 407-677-5000; 951 Market Promenade in Lake Mary, 321-363-3084;
'Bison protein is catching on fast, and for good reason. It's leaner than beef, loaded with nutrients like iron and B vitamins, and fits beautifully into health-focused diets,' says Hangry Bison marketing director Brenda Carrero.
'Because bison are usually grass-fed and raised with less environmental impact, they've become a solid pick for people who care about sustainability, too.'
It's versatile, as well, she says: 'Think burgers, roasts, even tacos.'
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Guests at the HB restaurants, she says, enjoy the build-your-own option best. The basic burger starts at $18 with some toppings gratis and others added on for a range of 50 cents to $1.50 apiece. Each comes with your choice of side.
Want more? Stampede through this herd of options.
Sooooooo many people love The Whiskey. Enduringly, too. While tens of joints and trucks have come and gone over the years, live music, smooth pours and killer burgers have made this Sand Lake restaurant's vibe a slow, hot burn. And sometimes, that last part of the trifecta sees guests choosing bison over beef.
'We strive to have our guests enjoy top-notch gourmet burgers from our signature blend to unique game meats,' says The Whiskey's owner Katie Zagaroli. Indeed, culinary adventurers often find themselves here, exploring the flavors of all kinds of alternative proteins, including camel, elk and wild boar. All, she notes, 'are sourced from the west with strict regulations.'
Of the menu's bison offerings, the Drunk Bison ($27.50) is a guest favorite, cooked to temperature and topped with applewood bacon, three thick Whiskey onion rings and a warm bath of housemade cheese sauce.
Wanna try almost all the 'exotics' in one visit? Order The Beast, says Zagaroli.
'It's a blend of Wagyu, bison, elk and wild boar,' she notes.
Bring someone for the camel burger and you've got all the game you can handle.
The Whiskey: 7563 W. Sand Lake Road in Orlando, 407-930-6517;
'Disney's Wilderness Lodge is themed after the grandeur of the Pacific Northwest,' says the resort's chef, David Hutnick. 'Bison have a historical and ongoing connection to the Pacific Northwest, so adding a bison burger to the menu made perfect sense as a fun twist to a traditional offering.'
As such, Geyser Point Bar & Grill's bison cheeseburger features bacon, sweet onion straws, marionberry sauce, and garlic aioli with lettuce and tomato.
'Guests the unique flavor combination,' he says. 'It's the most popular menu offering at Geyser Point.'
Geyser Point: Disney's Wilderness Lodge, 901 Timberline Drive in Lake Buena Vista, 407-939-5277;
They've had bison on the menu since 2018, says Teak owner Jon Proechel, and it's definitely not going anywhere.
'So many people are getting more adventurous in their choices,' he notes, 'but for others, it's more of a health-based decision, since bison is a leaner option.'
Teak's got roughly 30 burgers on its menu, Proechel says, 'and the bison is always in our top five. We also do a bison-elk-wild boar-Wagyu blend, as well.'
Three bison offerings will become four in about a month, he teases, 'but guests can always build their own or sub a bison patty in for any other burger they want. People do it all the time.'
Teak Neighborhood Grill: 6400 Time Square Ave. in Orlando, 407-313-5111;
Sous chef Jennifer Arroyo has seen several menu turnovers since she started at this Kissimmee eatery two and a half years ago, but the bison meatloaf, an original recipe she says has been with the growing chain since its founding 20+ years ago, hasn't gone anywhere.
'I love working with bison because it cooks up moist and holds onto its flavor without being overly fatty,' she says. She also thinks the dish — wrapped in bacon, piled atop creamy potatoes — is well suited to Lazy Dog's 'Wyoming cabin' atmosphere.
'It's one of those hearty dishes that sticks to your ribs, keeps you warm and fills you up,' she notes. The Central Florida weather doesn't seem to discourage anyone from ordering it, either.
'There are times we'll sell a bunch of the meatloaf, and I'm thinking, 'it's like 105 outside, doesn't anyone want a salad?' But people just love it.'
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar: 8019 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee, 689-228-4418;
'Everyone loves a good burger, but we wanted to appeal to those who consider themselves a little more health-conscious,' says Liz Lasher, chef at this Lake Mary eatery. 'Bison is a pretty lean meat and a great alternative to get more protein in your diet.'
It's a popular order among the lunch crowd, she says.
'It's filling, and you're able to modify and add toppings like sautéed onions, mushrooms, jalapeños or fried eggs. Our guests can tell that we don't buy frozen, pre-pattied burgers. They're made fresh every morning, and I think that's why they're so popular. Guests know they're getting a quality burger with fresh ingredients.'
The Vineyard Wine Company: 1140 Townpark Ave. in Lake Mary, 407-833-9463;
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