{"id":330163,"date":"2026-07-05T20:44:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T20:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/330163\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T20:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T20:44:22","slug":"the-best-universal-orlando-restaurants-for-first-timers-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/330163\/","title":{"rendered":"The BEST Universal Orlando Restaurants for First-Timers in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heading to Universal Orlando in 2027? We\u2019re spilling the secrets on the best places to dine<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dragon Fire Chicken Spire Mac & Cheese Cone<\/p>\n

Across the three dry parks and one water park, CityWalk, and the hotels, there are dozens and dozens of restaurants to check out<\/a>. How do you know which one to choose? Well, we\u2019ve eaten all around Universal Orlando and we\u2019re here to break down the best of the best for your 2027 trip.<\/p>\n

\"Click \n<\/p>\n

Universal Studios Florida<\/p>\n

Starting out at the OG park, Universal Studios Florida, one of our favorite places to stop is Illumination\u2019s Minion Cafe, right near the front of the park in Minion Land. The menu is a mix of Despica-Bowls and handheld options, and they\u2019ve got a little something for everyone. The presentation of these dishes is particularly fun, and we\u2019re big fans of the Minion tots!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Freedonia Festival of Mac and Cheese<\/p>\n

For\u00a0Harry Potter fans, the ultimate stop is Diagon Alley. Here, you can eat at the Leaky Cauldron, inspired by the pub of the same name from the books and movies. They serve British fare like fish & chips, bangers & mash, and miniature pies. Their menu is hearty and portions are sizable.<\/p>\n

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Leaky Cauldron<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re in the area, make sure to stop at Florean Fortescue\u2019s Ice Cream Parlour for a sweet treat! This spot serves soft serve and hard pack ice cream. The signature flavor is Butterbeer Soft Serve, but we\u2019re particularly fond of Strawberry & Peanut Butter and Sticky Toffee Pudding as well.<\/p>\n

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Huckleberry ice cream flavor<\/p>\n

Our last big recommendation at Universal Studios Florida is Central Park Cr\u00eapes. Oddly enough, this stand is located in the Hollywood section of the park. It serves both savory and sweet cr\u00eapes, with unique seasonal flavors.<\/p>\n

Universal Islands of Adventure<\/p>\n

Heading next door to Universal Islands of Adventure, one of our go-to snack spots is in a place you\u2019d least expect \u2014 Seuss Landing! Here, the Green Eggs and Ham Cafe is a one-stop-shop for fun loaded tater tots, including one recipe with its namesake. We\u2019re also big fans of the Pizza Tots (they remind us of the Halloween Horror Nights pizza fries) or the iconic Who Hash.<\/p>\n

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Who Hash in a can!<\/p>\n

Like at the other parks, the Harry Potter food stands out here. In Hogsmeade, you can visit the Three Broomsticks, which serves many of the same menu items as the Leaky Cauldron, but also a few British feast-style platters. It\u2019s a large indoor space with great air conditioning, so you can see why it\u2019s a fan favorite.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Three Broomsticks<\/p>\n

Finally, there are some big restaurant changes happening at Islands of Adventure in 2027 that you\u2019ll want to check out. The fan-favorite Mythos Restaurant is closing in 2027<\/a> as part of the retheme of The Lost Continent. No closing date has been revealed yet, but if you find yourself in the park while it\u2019s still open, you might want to stop by.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mythos Restaurant<\/p>\n

Also, Thunder Falls Terrace in Jurassic Park closes in summer 2026 to be rethemed into the park\u2019s new signature restaurant. It will reopen in 2027 (no date announced yet at the time of publishing), so it\u2019s going to be a hot-ticket spot to visit if you\u2019re there after its opening.<\/p>\n

Universal Epic Universe<\/p>\n

Universal\u2019s newest park opened in May 2025 with a slew of new dining options to explore. Our team\u2019s favorite choice in Epic Universe has been Cafe L\u2019air de la Sirene, which is located in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter \u2014 Ministry of Magic (shocker, more delicious Harry Potter food!). Their menu is French-inspired with a delightful Butterbeer Crepe and some lighter fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Breakfast!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got picky eaters or pizza lovers, you need to head over to Pizza Moon in Celestial Park. This spot has both basics on the menu as well as some unique options like the Pizza Lunare. The theming inside is incredible, and it has been a very popular spot since it opened.<\/p>\n

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Inside Pizza Moon<\/p>\n

Now, of course, the most viral food item at Epic Universe is the mac and cheese cones you get in How to Train Your Dragon \u2014 Isle of Berk. You can find these at either Hooligan\u2019s Grog & Gruel or Spit Fyre Grill. Hooligan\u2019s has Mobile Ordering available and only sells the cones, plus beverages. Spit Fyre Grill does not offer Mobile Ordering, but has a few healthier (and yummy!) bowls on the menu in addition to the cones.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mac and Cheese Cones!<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re looking for something to wet your whistle, head over to Bar Moonshine in the Ministry of Magic. This spot is home to some very cool themed beverages and a well-themed atmosphere. It has been a favorite stop for our team to grab a cocktail!<\/p>\n

Universal Volcano Bay<\/p>\n

Volcano Bay isn\u2019t like any other water park you\u2019ve been to before, it\u2019s a\u00a0seriously cool\u00a0water park. So much, that Universal counts it as a \u201ctheme park.\u201d One of our favorite dining spots here is\u00a0Whakawaiwai Eats. The big highlights of the menu are the longboard pizzas and the loaded mac and cheeses.<\/p>\n

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Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando<\/p>\n

The most famous snack at Volcano Bay (and a great way to cool off on a hot day) is the Waturi Fusion, a colorful mix of banana, blue raspberry, orange, and strawberry soft serve ice cream flavors. You\u2019ll find this cone, along with other ice cream treats, at Koka Poroka Ice Cream Kona.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9Universal<\/p>\n

And for a fun themed beverage, our go-to stop is the\u00a0Kunuku Boat Bar. They have frozen drinks, specialty cocktails, and draft beers.<\/p>\n

CityWalk<\/p>\n

Serving as the hub for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and several of the hotels is CityWalk, Universal Orlando\u2019s dining, shopping, and nightlife district. Here reside some serious hidden gem restaurants, like The CowFish, where you can find burgers and sushi, and even burger sushi!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9Universal<\/p>\n

Another beloved spot is BigFire Restaurant, where everything is cooked over a flame! They\u2019ve got surf and turf with the fire-kissed treatment, and one of the highlights is actually on the dessert menu \u2014 tableside DIY s\u2019mores.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9Universal<\/p>\n

For delicious Mexican fare and tableside guac, you\u2019ll want to head to Antojitos. This spot is lots of fun with live music, and has a ton of indoor seating, so it\u2019s a great last-minute reservation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Antojitos<\/p>\n

But perhaps the most well-known spot to dine in CityWalk is The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. It\u2019s a restaurant, bar, and confectionery rolled into one. You can order classics like steak and seafood, but the real star here is dessert. They\u2019re well-known for their chocolate creations and over-the-top milkshakes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Red Velvet, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Bacon Brittle Milkshakes<\/p>\n

Another great dessert spot is Voodoo Doughnut, which is a doughnut shop where you walk up and order at the counter. They have some really unique creations and fun flavors in both yeast and cake doughnut options. But be prepared to wait a little while, because it is POPULAR.<\/p>\n

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VooDoo Doughnut Doughnuts!<\/p>\n

Last but not least in CityWalk, we\u2019ve got to recommend you visit the Butterbeer Bar in the back of the Universal Studios Store. This is a must-have treat when you\u2019re visiting Universal Orlando, and you can now snag it outside the parks, which is a HUGE deal.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Butterbeer!<\/p>\n

Generally, when we go to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, one of the best strategies is to eat lunch in-park at one of the quick service locations we mentioned above, then make dinner reservations at a sit-down restaurant in CityWalk. That\u2019s a surefire way to get some of the best food possible.<\/p>\n

Resorts<\/p>\n

Of course, if you\u2019re staying on Universal property, there are some must-try spots at the hotels. Jake\u2019s American Bar is located at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. It offers delicious American fare like burgers and fun apps, plus a mixture of island-inspired cocktails.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9Universal<\/p>\n

At Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, you\u2019ll find Bice Ristorante, a sit-down spot that offers Northern Italian cuisine. Handmade pasta is rolled fresh here daily, and they\u2019re known for menu items like the seafood fettuccini. Don\u2019t forget to save room for dessert, because they have a lovely tiramisu.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9Loews<\/p>\n

Finally, we have two options that we loved at Universal Helios Grand Hotel. For a beverage, head up to the rooftop bar with spectacular views \u2014 Bar Helios<\/a>. This spot has some delightful small bites and stunning atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Greek God Cocktail<\/p>\n

And for Mediterranean fare at lunch or dinner or a delightful breakfast<\/a> to kick off the day, Flora Taverna<\/a> is a go-to. This spot has a chill vibe with windows that look out over Epic Universe.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Flora Taverna<\/p>\n

Whew, that was a lot of food talk! Stick to this list, and you\u2019re bound to have a delicious trip to Universal Orlando in 2027!<\/p>\n

Not to Be Dramatic, But This Epic Universe Snack Has Changed My Life<\/a><\/p>\n

Are you making a Universal trip in 2027? Tell us in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Heading to Universal Orlando in 2027? We\u2019re spilling the secrets on the best places to dine! Dragon Fire…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330164,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":["post-330163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330163"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330163\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}