When we’ve gone in the past we had the QS dining plan. We didn’t do all our eating on it. But, if there wasn’t a reason to eat off plan, we didn’t. So, there are many places we haven’t been. What is everyone’s biased opinions on where and what to eat inside Universal?
Not quite as interested about City Walk. We know what we like there. Catching a sit-down meal at the end of a park day had been a reason for off-plan.
I also have the 2026 Unofficial book on pre-order. It will arrive less than a month before our trip. I don’t know if I can stand waiting.
ETA: Particularly interested in the TP opinion on places to inside Epic.
Awhile back daughter saw me watching a video on a restaurant there. She asked if we’d be eating there. I said, “We’ll be there for two weeks. We might be eating everywhere.” But, we might not get to everyplace and I’d like to prioritize the better ones and skip whatever isn’t worthwhile.
USF:
Finnegan’s (TS)
Central Park Crepes
Leaky Cauldron
Taxi Hut (loaded potatoes)
Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream
Hopping Pot (Pasties snack)
IOA:
Croissant Moon Bakery
Green Eggs & Ham (loaded tots)
Three Broomsticks
Wimpy’s (burgers/dole whip)
Thunder Falls (chicken & ribs)
Finnegan’s is my favorite TS restaurant in the parks. Tip: Reserve a late time and get escorted out of USF by a security guard when everyone else is already gone.
Do not miss out on the two HP restaurants. Breakfast is also good there. Tip: rope drop Leaky Cauldron for some great pictures with an empty restaurant. Tip: If you just want Butterbeer (or a snack), get a table and take a break inside.
Croissant Moon and Green Eggs are great breakfast/brunch options.
There are other decent places, but those are what I would recommend.
We really liked Finnegan’s. But it is worth noting that it is supposed to be closing for most/all of 2026 for a refurbishment, so it may not be an option, depending on when you are there.
I don’t honestly know for sure. All I can remember is that it most, if not all, of 2026. Unless, of course, UOR changes their mind. I have to wonder if they are gutting it. The layout of the place felt a little weird, like it was a mishmash of two different places. Just guessing.
Well, never mind on Finnegans. I think we might have gone there once. I also seem to remember us trying to go one other time and they’d closed. This was in the first year of the lockdown, and I think the reason was they were short-staffed and we had the only reservations (mid-Afternoon)
We had liked the breakfast sandwiches in two places. They were already made and were on the way to the HP area during EA. So, we could pop in and grab sandwiches quickly and eat in line.
For Epic, we ate at Mead Hall in Berk which was awesome! We had a snack at Cafe La Sirene which was also very good.
We had dinner at Toad Hall which was cute and decent food, but I would look elsewhere unless you have kids that would really be into the theming. We were really wanting to try Le Goblet Noir but it closed really early.
@bebe80’s list is consistent with mine, though Finnegan’s probably isn’t top spot for me. For sit down spot, also enjoy Mythos in IOA, though it’s pricey.
In Epic, we did mainly grab-and-go snacking, but enjoyed:
the mac & cheese cones in Berk (ordering system was awful–order in app and when you’re told your food is ready, go wait in a really long line–but food was a big hit);
the burning cheddar bites at The Burning Blade Tavern (walkup window on the side outside the tavern–took us a minute to find it). Pretzel not great.
Cafe L’air de la Sirene in Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Great break for us during a rainstorm. Good crepe, quiche, sandwich, etc. And butterbeer.
We do love Mythos. My MIL was a Kiwi, so DH was raised on lamb. Any place that serves lamb makes him happy. I once waxed poetic about the grilled cheese and tomato soup on the official Universal facebook group and I got a nice note from the chef creator. The trick with that is to have the sandwich plated and then dunk.
We are going in January and I’ve been watching way too many youtube videos about the food options. These are my notes. Some places I’m planning on going in to for a drink or just to walk through to see the theming. I can’t comment on actual quality as I’ve never eaten there:
Island of Berk
Mead Hall - well themed, very large, good variety - hearty meals, salmon and salmon sandwich are well reviewed, meatballs (like ikea style). Must visit for theming and hearty good food.
Spit Fyre Grill - mac and cheese cones (very heavy and can be hard to eat), bowels - well reviewed and balanced and not overly heavy with good veggies. Outside eating.
Hooligans Grog and Gruel - mac n cheese cones, not a sit down
Dark Universe
Das Stakehaus - vampire themed, meat focused meals, quickservice. Must visit for the theming but would not eat there. Might be worth walking through or just grabbing a drink and some french fries. Quickservice.
Delaceys Cottage - frankenstein pretzel and they also have the garlic bread.
Burning Blade Tavern - garlic bread stake (pretzel), cheese bites, mead, mocktails. Must visit for great theming, hunters visit, souvenir cup (discounts on drinks elsewhere) and snacks. Order the Crossbow (½ and ½ of mead and cider)
Wizarding World
Le Gobelet Noir - more “seedy” vibes. Hearty german food - chicken, steak, sliced meat sandwiches, schnitzel. Great vibes and another must see for theming. Have lila check the menu first. Quickservice.
Cafe L-Air de la Sirene - beautiful inside, traditional french cuisine, butterbeer crepe (seems too rich), quiche, sandwiches, has some outdoor seating, food is freshly made so may need to wait a bit. Quickservice. Must visit for the vibes and good food. Can take awhile and would not be in a hurry.
Mario (likely the worst of the food in the park)
Toadstool Cafe - well themed and interesting but food is maybe the worst in the park
Yoshi snack island - smoothies (mango) and shells - red shell cazones (good on the go snack but very cheesy
Bubbly barrel - crush float in DK barrel / sweet and unlikely
Celestial Park
The Blue Dragon - sit down restaurant but have a walk up bar Tiger Bar that you can order the full menu without a reservation. Good pan asian food. Might be a time suck.
The oak and star tavern and plastered owl - good BBQ, good theming, cheesy biscuits, mango bread
Star Sui Bao - dumplings and Bao (same as the Blue Dragon) - snack with no place to sit
Frosty Mood - dessert, ice cream. Seems over the top
These are the lists for the other parks. I had a bad experience with the crepes place. I though wimpy’s was excellent. We didn’t do leaky cauldron but liked 3 broomsticks. I thought the tots were also good. I’m really looking forward to epic and the restaurants there compared to USF and IOA.
USF
London Taxi Hut - Baked potatoes with toppings for $11 near Diagon Alley. They can sell out in the afternoon.
Hopping Pot in Diagon Alley - Beef Pasties (empanadas)
The Leaky Cauldron - british food, very good theming, quickservice.
Wimpy’s - Best quick service burger at Universal and inexpensive
Three Broomsticks - Chicken platter is a great value.
Green Eggs & Ham - Meat covered tots are great any time of day with large portion
Fire Eater’s Grill - Gyros & Falafel
Natural Selections in Jurassic - Beef Empanadas plus best churros in the park
Croissant Moon Bakery - Breakfast Empanadas
Thunder Falls - at Jurassic Park, Rotisserie chicken, ribs, smoked turkey legs, rice and bean bowl, soups, and salads. Generally well reviewed and less busy than 3 Broomsticks.
My favorite places to eat a meal are Three Broomsticks (always go here at least once no matter what) and Louie’s for pizza (really good deal when feeding a family).
@bebe80’s list is good if you want to branch out beyond that.
It’s the only other place at USF that I really like. I don’t like potatoes, don’t like British food, don’t like cold cut sandwiches, and have had mediocre experiences at some of the other places. IoA has more acceptable options, but sometimes I just eat at Three Broomsticks twice.
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