REVIEW: We Ate at One of the Few Sit-Down Restaurants in Epic Universe, and We Have Thoughts

Planning a trip to Universal Orlando and not sure where you should eat while you’re there? You’ve come to the right place!

Celestial Park in Epic Universe

Here at AllEars, we know all the ins and outs of Universal restaurants — including where you should definitely eat, and where you should skip. We recently stopped by Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant at Epic Universe and are bringing you our FULL review!

Background

This restaurant is located in Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe. It sits in the entry land of the park, Celestial Park, and is absolutely gorgeous. As soon as you walk up to this restaurant your met with a lovely courtyard and pretty lanterns

The Blue Dragon

This restaurant is a sit-down experience with an Asian-Fusion menu. There is also a place to grab a nice drink at the adjoining Tiger Bar. So let’s dive into everything you need to know about dining at the restaurant.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere here is incredible! When you walk inside, you are met with some incredible decor and theming. 

It’s beautiful in here!

The lighting is dark and moody, and really helps to set the tone of this space.

Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant

But make sure you keep an eye out to spot all kinds of fun details, and even some nods to Celestial Park.

So many details!

But enough about that, what are we eating?!

Food & Drinks

First up, to drink we grabbed the Chengdu Dream for $19. This is made with Ming River Sichuan Baiju, DeKuyper, blue curaçao, BG Reynolds Falernum, white grapefruit juice, and pineapple juice.

Chengdu Dream

This is the most popular cocktail and a great way to start the meal. It was very tropical but with a more unique flavor profile. The pineapple flavor comes through strongly, and it has a similar taste to lychee. It is definitely sweet from all the fruit but not overpowering, and overall it was a great, well-balanced cocktail.  

Chengdu Dream

Next, we picked up the Smashed Cucumbers for $14. This is made with cucumbers, dragon sauce, cilantro, peanuts, and Sichuan spice.

Smashed Cucumbers

This was very delicious. The dragon sauce was similar to a light soy-based sauce. The cucumbers were really fresh, crispy, and covered with tons of sauce and a great seasoning.

Smashed Cucumbers

The Sichuan spice added a pleasant spice without creating a buildup of heat in your mouth, and the soy balanced it out well with a savory saltiness. The peanuts added a nice nutty element, and this was a great light appetizer to start the meal.

Smashed Cucumbers

Then we tried the Wontons in Chili Oil for $17. This is made with chicken wontons, dragon sauce, and chili oil. These were delicious!

Wontons in Chili Oil

We were not expecting to enjoy this so much, but the filling was an amazing burst of flavor that was warm and comforting. There was a bit too much chewiness in the wrapper itself, but the filling perfectly balanced it out. The chili oil and the great dragon sauce made for a really delicious bite.

Wontons in Chili Oil

We also tried the Beef Xi’an Noodles for $31. This is made with spicy braised beef, Napa cabbage, Sichuan spice, garlic, hot oil, dragon sauce, and hand-cut noodles.

Beef Xi’an Noodles

We got this on a recommendation from the server as their favorite item on the menu; however, we were slightly disappointed. The noodles themselves were slightly gummy, with just a little too much resistance when your teeth went through them, almost as if they’d been a little overcooked.

Beef Xi’an Noodles

The beef was nice and super flavorful. There was plenty of beef in the dish, and the Sichuan spice and garlic made for a great flavor. Overall, this dish was alright, but we felt it was slightly overpriced for what we got.

Beef Xi’an Noodles

Last up we grabbed the The Dragon’s Stardust Tea Pot for $11. This is made with a jade-green infusion of lemongrass, ginger, stevia, pineapple, butterfly pea blossom, and a blend of other herbs and spices.

Dragon Stardust Tea

This was fruity and so fun since it changes colors from blue to purple as you squeeze in the lemon. It had an amazing burst of flavor, although be warned, if you do not like stevia, that flavor is very present. This was big enough for two people and would be great to split. Overall, we found this to be very delicious.

Dragon Stardust Tea Pot
Magic or Tragic?

This Universal restaurant is a must-visit if…

You are looking for a sit-down meal and a break from the heat. Epic Universe is a park with very little shade, and it can get hot, especially in the summer. So if you are looking to escape the heat for an hour or two this is a great option.
You are looking for a more upscale experience with a great atmosphere. It can not be denied that the atmosphere in the restaurant is next level, so if you are looking to have more of a luxurious and relaxing meal, you will definitely find that here.
You want a meal with great service. The service here is truly phenomenal, and we would definitely recommend trying this restaurant out if great service is something you look for in a sit-down meal.

You should skip this Universal spot if…

You want to maximize your day in Epic Universe. There is so much to do and see around this park that it can be difficult to justify spending one to two hours of your park day at a meal.
You want to try other food around the park. Epic Universe is a rare theme park in which most of the quick service is absolutely incredible. So it might not make sense to spend more time and money at a sit-down restaurant when there is so much amazing quick service food to try around the park.
You are looking for an out of this world meal. While the food is really good, we often find that you pay that theme park up charge without the quality of the food quite matching the price. So if you only want to splurge on a meal that will absolutely blow you away, this might not be the spot for you.

Overall, this is a very solid meal with some stand out food like the Smashed Cucumber and Wontons in Chili Oil, and the atmosphere is absolutely stunning. However, it does take a very large portion of your day at Epic Universe. So we would really recommend this spot if you have been to Epic several times or need a break from the heat. But if you’re looking to maximize your time in the park we would suggest checking out some of the quick service options instead.

Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Universal news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Epic Universe restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

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