Located in Orlando, Florida, Universal Orlando Resort offers some of the best food experiences outside of its theme parks. And no ticket to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure is required to dine at these Universal CityWalk restaurants. Our TravelingMom team rounds up our favorite eateries at Universal CityWalk, including some honorable mentions!
Milkshakes at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen are a MUST try! Photo Credit: Sarah Gilliland
Best Universal Orlando CityWalk Restaurants
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Shopping, entertainment, and dining all converge in the amazing outdoor space that is Universal CityWalk. And since there’s no admission fee, anyone can enjoy this lively destination featuring CityWalk’s restaurants. Come for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, stay for the plethora of food options!
Universal CityWalk comes alive at night! Restaurants, entertainment, and more are all waiting for you! Photo Credit: Sarah Gilliland.
One of my favorite things to do at CityWalk is eat! With more than 26 different restaurants to choose from, it can be hard to choose. Are you looking for a quick service option? Would you rather have a full-service restaurant? To help you decide, our TravelingMom team narrowed down our list to the following CityWalk restaurants. No matter your decision, you’re sure to enjoy a great meal!
1. Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
Mexican food is my jam, especially when guacamole and margaritas are involved! Several friends and colleagues jumped at the opportunity to recommend Antojitos when I asked about the best CityWalk restaurants.
2. Vivo Italian Kitchen
My second restaurant recommendation goes out to all the carb lovers out there. Two words: Handmade. Pasta. Yes, you read that right. They make their pasta in-house daily. You can watch the meals being prepared through the semi-open kitchen. In addition, the restaurant can accommodate those with allergies. I’m sold, how about you?
3. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen
Next on our list is The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. It’s a mouthful to say, so I’ll just stick to Toothsome for short. Toothsome is not just a chocolate factory. Yes, do go for the sweets and treats, but stay for the savory foods!
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen is a CityWalk must-do! Photo Credit: Sarah Gilliland
Do yourself a favor and order the warm chocolate almond bread as an appetizer. Served with salted caramel butter for spreading, the bread will knock your socks off with its unique, semi-sweet flavor. It’s a great departure from typical bread service!
Enjoy multiple macaroon flavors at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. Photo Credit: Sarah Gilliland
Toothsome is famous for its incredibly large and sweet milkshakes, so make sure you save room for dessert (or at least get a macaroon to go)!
4. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
I am so fortunate to have had The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar open in my hometown last year. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this restaurant! The Cowfish is a restaurant my girls love too, which makes deciding on a lunch or dinner location that much easier.
What’s good at The Cowfish? Since I can’t just say “everything,” I will recommend the All-American Bacon Double Cheeseburgooshi if you want to get really crazy. The bento boxes are pretty popular, but I think they’re too safe for a cool restaurant like The Cowfish.
My kids love this one because their meals all come in bento boxes too! Entrée, two sides, and a cute “sushi” dessert make little ones feel like they can hang with the grown-ups!
5. Red Oven Pizza Bakery
At some CityWalk restaurants you can watch the chefs at work. “All the pizzas are made while you wait. They use fresh ingredients and then cook it in a stone bake oven. Kids love watching the chefs work, and the food is over the top delicious every time,” says one former TravelingMom of three kids. A restaurant that serves good food and entertains the kids? Sounds like a winner to me!
Red Oven Pizza Bakery may not be out of the box, but sometimes you just need something that’s familiar and satisfying at mealtime.
Beach vibes without the sand are what you’ll get at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville! Food, fun, and entertainment abound at this nostalgic crowd-pleaser. Enjoy live indoor music on the restaurant’s main stage, along with a live outdoor guitarist on the Porch of Indecision.
What would a trip to Margaritaville be without a margarita? Choose from 10 distinct varieties of margaritas to satisfy your tequila fix. If you can’t make up your mind, order a margarita sampler featuring some of the most popular versions of this classic drink.
Save room for dessert! Traditional key lime pie and their famous Chocolate Hurricane dessert are the perfect finish to a great dining experience.
7. Bob Marley-A Tribute to Freedom
Working with the Bob Marley Foundation and Rita Marley, Universal Orlando recreated Bob Marley’s home on 56 Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica, right at the beginning of Citywalk. Featuring artifacts, photos, and videos from the legendary singer’s storied career, Bob Marley-A Tribute to Freedom is as much as a place to eat flavorful Jamaican food as it is a walk through history.
TravelingMom Yvonne Jaskinski shares, “[The restaurant] would be my first choice of entertainment at Universal CityWalk, but on the day I visited, it was closed for a private event. From what I heard, it happens quite often, so check your dates in advance.”
CityWalk Restaurants Honorable Mentions
A round-up list of CityWalk Restaurants wouldn’t do without some honorable mentions. The following restaurants are great choices, albeit less unique choices. If reservations are hard to find at the first seven listed, these eateries will do in a pinch.
8. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Our first honorable mention is Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Themed after the movie Forrest Gump, you’ll find each restaurant playing the movie on loop as well as displaying some of the memorabilia unique to the film.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is one part good seafood, one part nostalgic memorabilia. Photo Credit: Sarah Gilliland
The fare is typical seafood fare, and it is consistently good seafood, no matter which location you visit. It is also the first CityWalk restaurant you come to when entering the Universal Studios Florida property from the parking garage, so it is conveniently located for easy access.
9. Hard Rock Café
With locations all across the world, Hard Rock Café is a familiar favorite for many. Just like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Hard Rock Café has unique memorabilia housed in its Universal Orlando location.
Universal CityWalk is spectacular at night and must be included on your one-day itinerary to visiting Orlando, Florida. Photo Credit: Melody Pittman.
While Toothsome is located closer to Islands of Adventure, Hard Rock Café is located closer to Universal Studios Florida. Both restaurants have great views from the second story if you can manage to get seated up there!
10. BigFire American Fare
Located between the Universal Studios Store and Margaritaville, BigFire focuses its food offerings on items that can be cooked over an open flame.
My family hasn’t had the opportunity to eat there just yet, but I recently saw they offer s’mores-making right at your table. I know my kids would love that, so maybe we need to book that restaurant on our next visit!
11. NBC Sports Grill & Brew
For sports enthusiasts, NBC Sports Grill & Brew is the place to be. With over 100 high-definition screens, be prepared to immerse yourself in the world of sports.
Even though it is geared to adults watching sports, they do have a great kids’ menu of familiar favorites that kids love to eat. For the grown-ups, there are over 100 bottles and drafts of beer to choose from that pair perfectly with loaded nachos or traditional wings with your favorite sauce.
12. Quick Service Restaurants
Sometimes, you just don’t have time to enjoy a full-service restaurant. That’s where the quick service options come in. Familiar choices like Moe’s Southwest Gill, Burger King’s Whopper Bar, Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches, Hot Dog Hall of Fame, Panda Express and more are all available, and just a few short steps up from the CityWalk full-service restaurants area.
So many choices await at Universal CityWalk! Which dining experience will you choose? Photo Credit: Sarah Gilliland
For some sweet treats to end your awesome day, you can choose from Cold Stone Creamery, VooDoo Doughnuts, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt and Cinnabon. There’s even a Starbucks near the front of CityWalk if you need a pick-me-up caffeine boost for your drive home or to your hotel.
One of the most popular CityWalk Restaurants is actually a doughnut shop called Voodoo Doughnuts. Photo: Sarah Gilliland
Make sure to check the Universal Orlando website for the most accurate information on what is now open at CityWalk. As theme parks and other businesses are moving toward re-opening, changes to schedules and dining options should be expected.
Where to Buy Discounted Universal Tickets
TravelingMom recommends purchasing your Universal tickets through Get Away Today. Not only does the company have the lowest prices, it offers a best price guarantee. If you ever find park tickets cheaper, Get Away Today won’t just match the price, the company will beat it. If you call to make your purchase be sure to mention TravelingMom!
With so many best restaurants at Universal Orlando, which restaurant are you going to try first? Share with us in the comments below.
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