Universal Orlando has shared a sneak peek at the food coming to all five lands at Epic Universe. Here are photos of the dozens of dishes coming to Florida’s brand new theme park, including the killer cuisine in Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and more. We’ll start with the announcement and descriptions of the dishes, drinks, and desserts–followed by our commentary after that.
According to Universal Orlando, this is a first look at the incredible food and beverage offerings guests can savor during their visit to Universal Epic Universe, officially opening on May 22, 2025! Known for consistently raising the bar (according to them), Universal Orlando’s award-winning culinary team (also according to them) has reached epic heights with the development of more than 100 creative new menu items.
These 100+ new menu items at Epic Universe add yet another layer of immersion for guests to enjoy across the five imaginative worlds that make up the all-new theme park. Epic Universe marks the next step in elevating the dining experiences across the destination with food & beverage that goes beyond the typical theme park fare and has become an attraction in and of itself (once again, all according to Universal).
From full-service restaurants to fast casual dining locations, Epic Universe offers a wide range of menu items across 30 dining locations that feature options to satisfy every palate. Guests can savor everything from popular culinary staples like seafood, eclectic Asian, barbecue, Italian and French cuisine to uniquely themed items like the Butterbeer Crêpe in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, the Mario Burger in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Yaknog in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Stakes in Dark Universe.
Here is a first look at some of the appetizing items guests can expect at Universal Epic Universe:
CELESTIAL PARK
While strolling through the heart of Universal Epic Universe, guests can find a diverse slate of cuisine across more than 15 dining locations, including the Atlantic restaurant – which sits across the shimmering waters of Neptune’s Pool and lives by the motto “Sea food? Eat food;” The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant – where guests can dine under the constellations alongside two neon dragons adorning the walls, The Oak & Star Tavern – where guests can gather around an oak tree and relish in savory barbecue, and so much more.
Some of the delicious dishes guests can enjoy in Celestial Park include:
Sea Bass (Atlantic) –a delectable portion of Sea Bass nestled amid the subtle sweetness of carrot mochi and vibrant crunch of fresh sugar snap peas. Aromatic lemongrass broth complements the buttery bass, while starfruit slices add a splash of tropical citrus notes.
Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot (Atlantic)– a fun beach-style dessert perfect for young explorers featuring a snickerdoodle cake served in a beach pail with cookie butter ganache, surrounded by Biscoff sand and gummy sharks.
Tonkotsu Ramen (The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant) – this Asian comfort food features delicate ramen noodles immersed in a rich pork broth, topped with tender chashu pork, tare egg, shiitake mushrooms, and fragrant togarashi oil.
Platter with Mango Bread & Pickles (The Oak & Star Tavern) – guests can choose from smoked brisket, smoked ribs, pulled pork, cheddar jalapeno sausage or spit-roasted herbed-infused chicken and pair with sides like braised greens, mac and cheese, and more.
Harvest Moon Pizza (VG) (Pizza Moon) – this vegan masterpiece features rich tomato sauce adorned with grilled artichoke hearts, Divina tomatoes and roasted peppers, topped with Castelvetrano olives and arugula for a crisp finish.
Grand Atlantic Martini (Atlantic) – a tantalizing cocktail with dry gin, aperitif wine and a gilded lemon twist for garnish.
Waturi Punch (Celestiki) – guests can transport to an island oasis with a refreshing blend of rum, bitters and fruit juices.
The Plastered Owl (The Oak & Star Tavern) – a perfectly blended cocktail crafted with dark rye whiskey, simple syrup, cherry syrup, lemon juice, lemon wedges and muddled cherries.
Khaosan Boba (The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant) – a delightful blend of Thai-inspired milk tea and paired with coffee boba and frothy coffee foam
Meteor Strike (Bar Zenith) –a cosmic blend of light rum, triple sec, zesty lime and pineapple juices, topped with lemon-lime soda and a sprinkle of edible gold glitter, and garnished by a flaming lemon extract-infused raw sugar cube meteor
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER – MINISTRY OF MAGIC
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will include a variety of enchanting dining locations – Café L’air De La Sirène, Le Gobelet Noir and more – filled with French-inspired cuisine and new iterations of familiar favorites, including:
Butterbeer Crêpe (Café L’air De La Sirène) – for the first time ever, guests can enjoy the flavors of Butterbeer in a crepe that includes shortbread cookie butter, Bavarian cream, Butterbeer cream, strawberries, Butterbeer drizzle and a Butterbeer shortbread cookie.
Baguette de Dinde (Café L’air De La Sirène) – a charmingly scrumptious dish featuring sliced cracked black pepper turkey piled high with arugula, crisp apples and creamy Brie served with a warm crusty baguette with zesty mustard butter and apple butter.
Alchemist’s Platter (Le Gobelet Noir) –an exquisite spread featuring smoked sausage, potato and cheese pierogies, tangy pickled eggs, vibrant marinated beets, savory caramelized onions, and a warm pretzel served with zesty German mustard and cheese fondue
Lentil Stew (VG) (Le Gobelet Noir) –a hearty stew of lentils, savory vegan bacon, and vibrant root vegetables served with artisan bread.
Quiche Lorraine (Café L’air De La Sirène) – a savory dish featuring egg custard baked in a flaky pie crust filled with crispy bacon, gruyère cheese and caramelized onions with mornay sauce, and a side of fresh berries topped with a lavender honey drizzle.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Guests can power up for their next adventure in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD with tasty cuisine inspired by the story and experiences within the world at four dining locations like Toadstool Cafe, Yoshi’s Snack Island and more with items such as:
Mario Burger (Bacon, Mushroom & Cheese) (Toadstool Cafe) – power up with this all-beef patty, topped with savory mushrooms, fresh lettuce, tomato and melted American cheese, served on a brioche bun with a side of truffle French fries.
Luigi Burger (Pesto Grilled Chicken) (Toadstool Cafe) – this flavorful dish features grilled chicken topped with basil pesto, melted Swiss cheese, green peppers, and fresh spinach, all served on a soft brioche bun with a side of Truffle French fries.
Bowser’s Fireball Challenge (Toadstool Cafe) – step up to this challenge featuring a towering one-pound meatball topped with gooey mozzarella cheese in rich mushroom marinara sauce and fresh parsley served with a Bowser-inspired puff pastry and a side of hot sauce
Yoshi’s Smoothie (Apple Melon) (Yoshi’s Snack Island) – cool off with a refreshing blend of tart Granny Smith apple and sweet honeydew syrup, frozen to creamy perfection with milk and topped with whipped cream and green apple bursting boba
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – ISLE OF BERK
Guests can feast like Vikings within dining locations like Mead Hall, Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, where they’ll find:
Thawfest Platter (Mead Hall) – feast like a Viking with this grand spread of tender chicken drumsticks glazed in a wild berry BBQ glaze, grilled salmon, and succulent sausage served with a medley of roasted carrots, cipollini onions, Nordic fries, and side sauces.
Yaknog (Mead Hall) – a fun drink that captures the spirit and adventure of Berk with its rich and creamy concoction of malted chocolate, cinnamon and a generous swirl of whipped cream.
Sullen Sea Sandwich – Dive into this Viking fare featuring salmon with pickled cucumbers and zesty horseradish dill crème on a pumpernickel Kaiser bun and a side of ancient grains with sun-dried berries.
Nordic Harvest Salad (VG) (Mead Hall) – this salad features kale and arugula greens, crisp red cabbage, radishes and hearty ancient grains, with blueberries and crisp apples for a tangy flavor, a sprinkle of trail mix that adds a satisfying crunch and raspberry vinaigrette to top it all off
Stormfly’s Catch of the Day (Mead Hall) – a fun dessert perfect for young Vikings featuring a chocolate mousse fish nestled atop a bed of colorful crispy rice cereal for a delightful combination of creamy and crunchy sweetness.
DARK UNIVERSE
While exploring Darkmoor, guests will find the ghastly dining locations Das Stakehaus, The Burning Blade Tavern and De Lacey’s Cottage – each featuring food and beverage offerings that are to die for, including:
Stakes (Das Stakehaus) – guests can sink their teeth into a scrumptious meal on a stake with a choice of three protein options:
- Fish on a Stake (blackened salmon steak)
- Bird on a Stake (grilled dry rubbed chicken tenderloin)
- Bits and Pieces (seared and glazed wild mushroom brisket meatloaf)
All “stakes” are served with roasted veggies and charred green onion mashed potatoes.
“Blood” Orange Chicken Sandwich (Das Stakehaus) – flash-fried marinated chicken breast tossed in a tantalizing blood orange sauce served in a sinister black bun with tangy pickles, a slaw and crispy fries.
Our Favorite Vegan Familiar’s Stuffed Cabbage (VG) (Das Stakehaus) – featuring impossible meat wrapped in tender cabbage leaves nestled in a rich bell pepper tomato sauce and accompanied by a vibrant beet bucatini.
Darkmoor Black Wings (Das Stakehaus) – Dare to try the Darkmoor spicy, chili-dusted fried wings with smoky cheddar, charred scallions and soy chili garlic sauce. A pimento cornbread skull adds a charmingly creepy touch. Coleslaw offers a reprieve from the heat of this dark dish.
Hunter’s Garlic Stake (The Burning Blade Tavern) – a crispy cheesy garlic pretzel perfectly prepared to a golden brown served with a rich garlic dipping sauce.
Our Commentary
I don’t know who is handing out awards to Universal Orlando’s culinary team, but it certainly isn’t us. My best guess is they’re referring to the since-removed banner outside of Mythos, which had become a punchline. (Mythos is good by theme park standards and is a highlight at Universal Orlando, but it’s certainly not one of the 10 best theme park restaurants in Orlando, let alone the entire world.)
This isn’t to say Universal Orlando doesn’t have decent cuisine in certain locations–it absolutely does! Some of the hotel restaurants are worthwhile, we like most of the dishes in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the food booths during Mardi Gras are ambitious, CityWalk has a few fantastic restaurants, etc.
However, I would also say that on the whole and a pound-for-pound basis, Universal Orlando’s food scene lags behind Walt Disney World–and by a fairly wide margin. For the most part, the restaurants at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida are subpar. They are stereotypical theme park fare, and not even good versions of it. It’s mostly Restaurantosaurus and Pinocchio Village Haus tier.
I’d also add that even most of the good restaurants at Universal Orlando serve dishes that are heavy. There are a few exceptions to this at the hotels and CityWalk, but our experience has been that it’s a lot of comfort food with a scattering of more ambitious options. I’d say the same thing about Universal Studios Hollywood and Japan, too. Neither hold a candle to what Disneyland or Tokyo Disneyland offer, cuisine-wise. It’s not even close, and this isn’t fan bias talking. I cannot imagine anyone with taste buds disagreeing.
The good news is that Epic Universe is a brand-new park–a chance for the chefs to push the creative envelope! Universal will presumably want to make a strong first impression in all regards, and that could mean better cuisine than the legacy restaurants in the existing two parks!
To that point, some of these dishes look and sound fantastic. The Butterbeer Crêpe, in particular, looks like it’ll be an epic addition to Epic Universe. I cannot wait to try that. Hopefully it’s every bit as addictively good as the existing Butterbeer drinks and desserts here and in Hollywood. (The concept is brilliant.)
We both love French cuisine, and I hope Ministry of Magic takes the opportunity to push the envelope with more nuanced and delicate foods–and that it’s not just done in the style of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley (heavy British pub-style foods), but with a French flair. The food in the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands are the culinary highlights of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, but I’d love something that’s more than just a rehash of what’s already offered in those lands.
Of these offerings, the restaurant in Super Nintendo World is already a known quantity. We’ve eaten there a few times in Osaka and Los Angeles, and it’s a fun setting but the food is underwhelming. It’s not only heavy, but also not very good (see our Toadstool Cafe Review).
This is part of where my concern comes from. While the cuisine in the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter (all of them) reached new in-park counter service heights for Universal, the same cannot be said for the recent efforts revolving around Mario and Minions (again, all of them).
In fairness, I’d absolutely expect Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk to have more kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing cuisine. This especially works with the Nordic restaurant, but it’d be nice if there are also some lighter seafood options. But Celestial Park should certainly be taking big swings, and offer fine dining that’s a Signature-equivalent (unless that’s going to be inside nearby Helios Grand). I also have to admit to being a bit disappointed that Das Stakehouse isn’t a, you know, steakhouse.
Ultimately, not trying to be a debbie downer here or do the tired Walt Disney World fan thing of baselessly knocking Universal Orlando. That much should be clear from our history of hyping up Epic Universe. I’m incredibly excited for the new theme park, was shocked by the relatively reasonable pricing of Helios Grand Hotel, have sky-high expectations for Dark Universe, and think several of the new attractions are going to be game-changers that push the envelope–and put Imagineering on its heels.
However, I’m also familiar with Universal’s culinary track record. That plus the lack of variety in the dishes they chose to feature in this press release (safe to assume they’re focusing on the highlights) and the fact that stock photos present the idealized version of cuisine, I just can’t say I’m too excited about the food at Epic Universe.
A lot about Epic Universe will be a game-changer, but this doesn’t give me any reason to believe the dining scene will be one of those things. I’d love to be wrong and blown away by the quality and inventiveness of the menus! Given that we will be spending a lot of time at Epic Universe this summer, nothing would make me happier than more fantastic food than I can eat–as opposed to stuff that puts me in a food coma in the Florida heat.
Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this food featured for Universal’s Epic Universe? Expect the culinary scene to be better and more ambitious for the third theme park at Universal Orlando? Or do you think it’ll be similar to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida? Which land’s food looks most intriguing to you: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, or How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk? Agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
