You may think theme park food is overpriced and unappealing, but there are actually some restaurants at Universal Orlando that serve quite tasty meals (or at least quality food) for a reasonable price. This article will list the restaurants that I suggest dining at because of their reasonable price, appealing meals, and/or one-of-a-kind themed environment.
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Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters Cafe
Location: Universal Studios Florida, Across from the Music Plaza
Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters Cafe serves rotisserie chicken, pizza, pasta, salads, ribs, lasagna, burgers, and hot dogs. Basically, this restaurant serves the same food as any other quick service restaurant at the parks, but based on my dining experiences here, this restaurant charges about the same price for the same food you’ll find at the other restaurants for a larger quantity of food. Now that’s a bonus!
The Monster Cafe also has a unique theme that features dining areas themed to Dracula’s castle, the swamp, and the flying saucer. Plus, there is an array of monster movie memorabilia throughout the dining location.
The Leaky Cauldron
Location: Universal Studios Florida, Nearby the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
The Leaky Cauldron is a popular wizarding pub and inn in the Harry Potter series. The restaurant is also used as an entrance to Diagon Alley, a cobblestoned wizarding alley and shopping location completely hidden from the Muggle world. The Leaky Cauldron is by far Universal Orlando’s most authentic dining location. This staggering restaurant looks just as it does in the Harry Potter films!
At The Leaky Cauldron, you can order cottage pie (a meat pie with a crust of mashed potato), fish and chips (chips as in fries), bangers and mash (a traditional British dish made of mashed potatoes and sausages), Scotch eggs (a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs and baked or deep-fried), stew, and more. The portions are rather small but the dining experience definitely makes up for that, especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan.
Mythos Restaurant
Location: Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Across from Poseidon’s Fury
Mythos Restaurant serves pork, beef, salmon, risotto (a rice dish cooked in a broth to a creamy consistency), Pad Thai (a stir-fried rice noodle dish), burgers, and sandwiches. The restaurant also serves scrumptious desserts!
You may recognize Mythos by its awe-inspiring structure. This one-of-a-kind building is a top photo spot and definitely a top dining location. The restaurant came in first place as the “Best Theme Park Restaurant” from 2003 through 2009 and came in third place as the “Best Theme Park Restaurant” in 2010. If you’re amazed by the exterior, you’ll be even more amazed by the interior of the restaurant, which has a cavernous interior with images of gods engraved into the walls and an amazing view of the backside of the waterfall.
The Cowfish
Location: Universal CityWalk Orlando, Next to Red Oven Pizza Bakery and Vivo Italian Kitchen
The Cowfish is a sushi burger bar that serves, well, sushi and burgers… and a few other dishes as well. The Cowfish is a one-of-a-kind dining location with unusual but amazing food. The restaurant has a wide range of different burgers including The Dynamic Duo, The C.B.C.L.T., The Texas Longhorn, The Big Squeal, The Heavenly Veggie, The Rise & Swine Burger, Jammin’ The Blues, The Cowfish Has Officially Left The Building, and The Boursin Bacon Burger. It’s the first and only Sushi Burger Bar that offers both the best sushi and the best burgers. Everything at the restaurant is fresh, innovative, and delicious!
Along with the incredible meals, you also receive a sophisticated dining experience where everything is modern, lively, and engaging. The Cowfish is undoubtedly recommended to you if you’re looking for delicious food in an amazing environment.
Some of the restaurants in this list offer discounts to AAA members. If you’re a AAA member, be sure to show your membership card to see if the restaurant you are dining at offers any discounts. American Express customers also receive discounts at select dining locations. If you are visiting Universal’s parks for the entire day, you should consider looking into Universal’s Dining Plan. Universal’s Dining Plan is a great way for you to budget your day.
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