I ATE MY WAY THROUGH UNIVERSAL ORLANDO IN ONE WEEKEND—HERE'S WHAT I'D ORDER AGAIN

When most people think of theme parks, food might not be the first thing on their minds. But at Universal Orlando Resort, the dining options are part of the fun. From pretzels shaped like daggers to Butterbeer-flavored everything, Universal is really taking theme park food to the next level. And even better, some of the best dishes don’t require a park ticket to order.

On a recent weekend trip to the sprawling resort, I tried as many snacks, drinks, and full meals as I could handle between riding Harry Potter-themed roller coasters and helping E.T. save his home planet. From family-friendly shareables to dishes you’ll want all for yourself, these are the best things to eat at Universal Orlando right now.

Baklava French Toast From Flora Taverna

Overlooking Celestial Park at Epic Universe is Flora Taverna, a restaurant that’s actually inside Universal Helios Grand Hotel, A Loews Hotel. The must-get item on the breakfast menu is the Baklava French Toast, which starts with a few hearty slabs of baklava-inspired bread pudding, griddled to golden brown perfection. Then it’s topped with honey and dried roses for a spectacular finish.

I enjoyed my morning meal outside on Flora Taverna’s patio overlooking Epic Universe, but the inside dining room is just as beautiful with a Mediterranean feel. This is one breakfast I will always leave Epic Universe to enjoy after riding a few attractions in the morning.

Butterbeer Waffle From The Leaky Cauldron

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it can also be the sweetest. At the Leaky Cauldron inside Universal Studios Florida, the breakfast menu is small, but the star of the show is the Butterbeer Waffle. This is the ultimate celebration of the sweet butterscotch and vanilla drink from the Harry Potter world. The waffle is shaped like a Butterbeer barrel and is flavored like Butterbeer. It’s then topped with a thick Butterbeer cream, fresh strawberries, and a pat of butter that’s also shaped like a Butterbeer barrel. And if that’s still not enough Butterbeer, it’s served with a Butterbeer-flavored syrup.

I have a sweet tooth, but this portion was a little too much for me. So next time, I’m getting this to share with my crew so everyone can try some.

Lava Chicken Sandwich From Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club

One of the most underrated parts of a trip to Universal Orlando Resort is taking some time to enjoy the on-site water park, Universal Volcano Bay. The tropical paradise is filled with unique water rides, but the food is also worth the trip. I’ve tried a lot of the options at the water park, but one that I often return to, as I did on my most recent visit, is the Lava Chicken Sandwich. The towering lunch special starts with a base of sweet coconut bread topped with a crispy spiced chicken thigh. Then there’s the mountain of toppings: bacon, fresh jalapeño slices, sriracha mayo, and slaw. It’s served with a side of fries, too, which makes this already filling lunch even better.

One thing to remember is that this sandwich is very messy, especially as the bread gets a little soggy from the slaw and sauce, so grab a few extra napkins if you decide to order it.

Hunter’s Garlic Stake & Crossbow From The Burning Blade Tavern

Deep in the heart of Darkmoor, the fictional village where Epic Universe’s Dark Universe is set, is The Burning Blade Tavern. After watching the windmill blades actually light on fire, walk into the bar and sit down to enjoy two culinary highlights from Epic Universe. The first is the Hunter’s Garlic Stake, a garlic pretzel that will keep even the most notorious vampires at bay. The pretzel comes out hot and doused in garlic butter, and if that’s not enough garlic, it’s also served with a buttery garlic dip.

Wash it all down with a Crossbow, a once-secret menu drink that was so popular it made the real menu. The alcoholic beverage is a mix of Darkthorne Mead (a delightful blackcurrant-boysenberry, vanilla, and pink peppercorn-flavored mead) and Strongbow Gold Apple Cider. It’s refreshing and not too heavy. It may also give you the courage to take a tour of Frankenstein’s Manor to see what’s going on inside.

Space Cowboy Pizza From Pizza Moon

Pizza Moon, the quick-service pizza joint at Epic Universe, gets a lot of hype, and I understand why now. Each 12-inch pizza is made to order and has a variety of topping combos for a crowd-pleasing meal. While the Pizza Lunare (a unique take on a white pizza) gets most of the love here, I opted for the BBQ chicken pizza, called the Space Cowboy.

The pizza had a crispy crust and was topped with BBQ sauce, cheese, rotisserie chicken, pickled red onions, olives, and BBQ chips. I loved how the onions cut the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, and the chicken was abundant. I do wish there had been more chips on the pizza, instead of the single chip on each slice, to really take it over the top, though.

Chicken Parmigiana Sliders From The Palm Bar

Hidden inside the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort is the Palm Restaurant and its adjoining bar. The Palm Bar is where you want to be for happy hour, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Sunday through Friday. The menu showcases Italian-American specialties like fried calamari, Italian sausage and peppers, and mini meatballs.

On this trip, I decided to try the Chicken Parmigiana Sliders, and I’m glad I did. The meal came with two sliders, towering high with crispy chicken cutlets, melty cheese, and a flavorful red sauce. I opted for hand-cut fries instead of onion strings, which wasn’t an issue with the bar team. This was truly a budget-friendly deal, too, because the entire plate of food was just $11.

2026-06-11T14:24:05Z