Epic Universe has wonderful eating places and snack spots, with tons of must-eat dishes, drinks & desserts. It’s the brand new #1 meals theme park at Common Orlando, and perhaps higher Walt Disney World’s in-park eating, too. This record covers our prime eats up to now, sharing the very best delicacies at Epic Universe.
One of many huge promoting factors for visiting Epic Universe early is the delicacies high quality. In case you missed it, this was one thing we mentioned at size in Right here’s Why You Want 2 Days at Epic Universe. That explains how Common Orlando’s new theme park is considerably higher than Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida, and even a lot of the on-site resort eating places and CityWalk. The opposite parks are restricted when you get outdoors the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands, with extra crowd-pleasing and commonplace theme park delicacies of various levels of edibility.
Epic Universe is an enormous departure from this, with each ingenious and intriguing choices and theme park staples finished at a extremely excessive degree. You’ll be able to inform that Common Orlando’s culinary staff had quite a lot of enjoyable creating the menus, and aimed for this to be a foodie park. It’s actually nothing like IoA and USF, each of that are effectively under Walt Disney World. My concern is that this gained’t final.
It is extremely typically the case that new eating places at theme parks open with menus that swing for the fences, solely to be dumbed-down over the months and years that comply with. That is finished to comport with the expectations of common company, and within the title of operational effectivity and throughput. These points are already beginning to seem to a point, and the busiest eating places will most likely have to finish up simplifying their menus within the months to return–particularly if the park has points with capability and crowd movement.
Talking of which, I’m torn in terms of Epic Universe. I like Common Orlando’s new park, and can’t wait to return this summer season and past. However there main downsides to visiting this highly-anticipated new park throughout its opening season(s), as specified by Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe.
That’s the counterpart to the 2-days article, and makes the case for ready to go to the brand new theme park. On the plus facet, in the event you do go now and run into points with journey breakdowns, you’ll be able to at all times simply pivot and eat your method across the park!
Visiting earlier offers you a larger alternative to benefit from the Epic Universe menus of their full glory. Going for 2 days offers you an opportunity to do a desk service meal or two along with counter service and snack stands. The extra time to attempt all the formidable and enjoyable meals, the higher.
Even after spending a number of days at Epic Universe, I’ve nonetheless solely scratched the floor of what its culinary scene has to supply. I need to be abundantly clear from the outset that this record isn’t complete–not even remotely so. Eating was not the highest precedence for my days and I used to be staying Membership Degree at Helios Grand Resort, so I had breakfast (and generally dinner) within the lounge. My major focus was formulating park touring technique and taking photographs.
Nonetheless, I did eat a number of meals in Epic Universe together with my associates, and needed to share a really early, very tough record of suggestions. What I did attempt was largely distinctive, a incredible combination of enjoyable, photogenic, scrumptious, and bold. I’m actually excited to return and revisit a few of these favorites, whereas additionally doing the desk service eating places in Celestial Park that weren’t open but throughout my first days within the park.
Given my restricted expertise with the Epic Universe restaurant lineup up to now and the fact menus most likely will change within the months to return, I’m going to do that record a little bit in a different way. Moderately than providing detailed ideas and even fully-fledged restaurant evaluations, this can principally be meals photograph ahead, with a little bit of accompanying textual content for every location. Something past that feels untimely. I’ll proceed updating this record with photographs and ideas from my summer season and fall day at Epic Universe, after which begin devoted restaurant evaluations based mostly on meals in 2026 and past.
With that out of the way in which, let’s dig into the very best meals at Epic Universe!
Pizza Moon – Celestial Park
Blast off to Pizza Moon in Celestial Park, an early 1900s Victorian theater transformed right into a spectacular eatery the place the best pizzas in Common Epic Universe are ready. No less than, that’s what Common Orlando claims. I believe the creatives truly themed it to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Unhappiness by the Smashing Pumpkins. Regardless, Pizza Moon is cleverly-themed, from the vignettes lining the partitions to the oven to the Staff Member costumes.
As for the delicacies, the spotlight of what I’ve tried up to now is for sure the Pizza Lunare ($18.99) topped with roasted garlic béchamel, fromage de lune, ricotta, pancetta, garlic confit, and ube pizza crust. That is the “purple pizza” and is deserving of the hype, with a chewy crust and wealthy taste. This can be a personal-sized pizza, though these with smaller appetites will discover it shareable.
The largest issue for me goes to be ordering something however the Pizza Lunare on subsequent visits as a result of it’s that good. I additionally just like the Brownie Eclipse, however it’s extra of a responsible pleasure–wealthy, gooey, and positively shareable. Pizza Moon prepares its pies in a fired-oven, and the standard is miles above some other counter service pizza at Walt Disney World or Common Orlando. Pizza Moon approaches the standard of By way of Napoli, a desk service pizzeria at EPCOT. It isn’t fairly that good, however imagine the hype: Pizza Moon is a must-do.
Das Stakehouse – Darkish Universe
Shrouded in thriller, Das Stakehaus is an previous inn and eating corridor constructed over the ruins of historical catacombs within the village of Darkmoor. Right here you’ll be able to take pleasure in a meal surrounded by vampire paintings and artifacts. In truth, the restaurant is run by vampires’ “familiars”, or servants. Simply don’t enterprise all the way down to the catacombs under, otherwise you would possibly end up on the vampires’ menu.
From a design perspective, Das Stakehouse is quite a lot of enjoyable, with intelligent particulars and moody environment. Das Stakehouse can also be the one Epic Universe restaurant to be parodied on Saturday Night time Stay, in order that alone makes it a must-do.
I ordered the Carved Staked Steak served with charred inexperienced onion mashed potatoes, roasted child carrots, acorn squash, crispy maitake mushrooms with a bloody jus was superb. Nevertheless it was additionally $24. You see that portion measurement, proper?! Not solely is it a extremely small (and skinny) lower of meat, however the greens within the description are plural, and I received one in every of every.
The remainder of my associates all ordered the Chicken on a Stake, and none of them had been impressed with the hen. (They’re not bloggers, in order that they’re not topic to the #1 rule that everybody should order one thing completely different.) I’d positively do Das Stakehouse once more–and would advocate it for the novelty alone. However watch out. It is perhaps your final.
Burning Blade Tavern – Darkish Universe
The Burning Blade Tavern is the previous mill which Darkmoor Village’s monster hunters have reworked into their hangout. Right here company will uncover tales of a number of the countryside’s most achieved creature capturers together with a menu of burgers, wings, bratwursts, pretzels and drinks.
Burning Blade Tavern is extra of a bar than it’s a restaurant, with the meals ordering oddly positioned outdoors on the walk-up window (one thing that it might’ve been good to know earlier than lining up inside). The within is foreboding and nails the gothic tavern theme, with a lot of uncovered beams and taxidermy trophies from the monster hunts.
I beloved the Burning Cheddar Bites, that are crispy fried poppers with sriracha ranch. They’re the right bar meals, with nice taste and a little bit of kick even earlier than being dipped. The Hunter’s Garlic Stake pretzel just isn’t beneficial.
Café L’air De La Sirène – Ministry of Magic
The streets of wizarding Paris are dwelling to pleasant cafes, together with Café L’air De La Sirène. Dine inside or outdoors as you take pleasure in French baked items, sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts. You’ll be able to quench your thirst with Butterbeer together with quite a lot of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks together with beer, cocktails and French wines.
Out of the eating places I’ve tried up to now in Epic Universe, Café L’air De La Sirène within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is the very best. The whole lot from the inside design to the considerate and numerous menu is phenomenal. The one draw back is that it was additionally far and away the busiest place we ate in Epic Universe, and a part of our order took 45 minutes to reach.
Regardless, I’d completely eat at Café L’air De La Sirène once more (and once more). It’s ok to beat that ridiculous delay. (I’d dine right here earlier than the lunch rush subsequent time.) Café L’air De La Sirène is likely one of the Epic Universe eating places that I can’t wait to revisit. The delicacies high quality at this counter service restaurant is someplace between the unique lunch menu at Be Our Visitor Restaurant in Magic Kingdom and the present Cooks de France in EPCOT.
Actually every thing we tried at Café L’air De La Sirène was wonderful, so I’ll merely draw your consideration to the Baguette Ratatouille Provençale, which punches method above its weight for a plant-based sandwich. And naturally, there’s the Bierauberre Crêpe. This dessert has an enormous Butterbeer tax ($19.99!), however it’s incredible.
Le Gobelet Noir – Ministry of Magic
Sticking with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, we’ve Le Gobelet Noir, the place Darkish magic is at all times on the menu. A mysterious time worn auberge (small inn) sits within the shadowy corners of Paris’s Place Cachée. Right here, away from the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry, Darkish witches and wizards have gathered for hundreds of years to share a hearty meal, a drink and hushed conversations.
I didn’t dine at Le Gobelet Noir with the remainder of my crew, however all of them praised the counter service restaurant. Le Gobelet Noir serves up heartier and extra comforting delicacies, precisely what you’d count on from a small tavern tucked away right into a darkish again alley. (Picture credit score to Wesley Smoker.)
Toadstool Cafe – Tremendous Nintendo World
Gas up at Toadstool Cafe, the place you’ll be able to watch Chef Toad cooking up a few of his favourite recipes and see playful scenes of the Mushroom Kingdom by means of the home windows. Take pleasure in tasty creations ready each day, together with soups, salads, and sandwiches, in addition to scrumptious entrees and delectable desserts.
I’ve intensive expertise with Toadstool Cafe at each Common Studios Japan and Common Studios Hollywood. I’ve tried virtually every thing on the menu in each areas. Toadstool Cafe is an honest to good restaurant by the requirements of these two parks, that are a lot decrease than Epic Universe.
Toadstool Cafe is a spot to go for theme park Italian meals if there are not any different crowd-pleasing choices appropriate on your occasion, or in the event you actually need the Nintendo environment. And it’s a enjoyable environment! I’m simply unsure it’s price one in every of your meals. What I would advocate as a substitute goes for the Princess Peach’s Birthday Cake. It’s $23, however it’s attractive, scrumptious and shareable. Getting that dessert to separate for a style of the environment might be the neatest transfer.
Tremendous Nintendo World Snacks
There are a few snack choices price calling your consideration to in Tremendous Nintendo World. Yoshi’s Snack Island is a comfortable burrow tunneled into the bottom of Mount Beanpole. Right here you’ll be able to take pleasure in quite a lot of juices and fruit-based specialty drinks, impressed by Yoshi’s favourite meals: fruit! The smoothies listed below are good, and the calzones are kind of what you’d count on–a enjoyable responsible pleasure with a excessive price ticket.
Then there’s the Bubbly Barrel, the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in a refreshment beneath the thatched roof within the coronary heart of Donkey Kong Nation. At the moment, the one factor being served right here is the DK Crush Float for $18.99. This costly dessert does are available a memento Donkey Kong barrel cup, so at the least there’s that. This drink is made with Dole Whip Banana Cream, chocolate items, and caramel popcorn in a waffle bowl served on prime of Pineapple Fanta Soda. If you will get previous the worth, it’s a incredible dessert good for banana lovers.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel – Isle of Berk
Final however not least, we’ve Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel in The right way to Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. No dragon rider’s day is full and not using a tasty chunk from the festive racing-themed meals stand, Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel. After cheering on their champions, Vikings can take pleasure in Mac & Cheese cones in quite a lot of kinds.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel has already grow to be the viral hit of the Epic Universe meals scene, and for good purpose. I used to be a bit apprehensive given the excessive worth–as I pictured one thing on par with the Automobiles Land Cozy Cones or Disney’s Handwiches. This is similar concept, however it’s colossal by comparability–and far tastier.
Whereas the fillings are good, it’s the cone itself the place Common wins over Disney. The feel and style are wonderful–mushy, buttery, slightly-chewy and seasoned to perfection. I’ll be ordering one in every of every thing on the menu at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel–for analysis–later this summer season.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Be certain to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be attending Epic Universe this summer season for its opening season, or will you skip it till the brand new park settles right into a groove? If you happen to do go to, are you planning on spending a number of days at Epic Universe to understand the brand new park in its full glory–or give your self extra of a security internet to expertise extra of the park and endure downtime and delays? Involved about unreliable rides, how sizzling the park will get, or the rest? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you might have within the feedback under!
