Epic Universe has excellent restaurants and snack spots, with tons of must-eat dishes, drinks & desserts. It’s the new #1 food theme park at Universal Orlando, and maybe better Walt Disney World’s in-park dining, too. This list covers our top eats so far, sharing the best cuisine at Epic Universe.
One of the big selling points for visiting Epic Universe early is the cuisine quality. In case you missed it, this was something we discussed at length in Here’s Why You Need 2 Days at Epic Universe. That explains how Universal Orlando’s new theme park is significantly better than Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, and even most of the on-site hotel restaurants and CityWalk. The other parks are limited once you get outside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands, with more crowd-pleasing and standard theme park cuisine of varying degrees of edibility.
Epic Universe is a massive departure from this, with both inventive and intriguing options and theme park staples done at a really high level. You can tell that Universal Orlando’s culinary team had a lot of fun creating the menus, and aimed for this to be a foodie park. It’s really nothing like IoA and USF, both of which are well below Walt Disney World. My concern is that this won’t last.
It is very often the case that new restaurants at theme parks open with menus that swing for the fences, only to be dumbed-down over the months and years that follow. This is done to comport with the expectations of average guests, and in the name of operational efficiency and throughput. These issues are already starting to appear to some degree, and the busiest restaurants will probably have to end up simplifying their menus in the months to come–especially if the park has issues with capacity and crowd flow.
Speaking of which, I’m torn when it comes to Epic Universe. I love Universal Orlando’s new park, and cannot wait to go back this summer and beyond. But there major downsides to visiting this highly-anticipated new park during its opening season(s), as laid out in Why You Should Skip Epic Universe.
That’s the counterpart to the 2-days article, and makes the case for waiting to visit the new theme park. On the plus side, if you do go now and run into issues with ride breakdowns, you can always just pivot and eat your way around the park!
Visiting earlier gives you a greater opportunity to enjoy the Epic Universe menus in their full glory. Going for two days gives you a chance to do a table service meal or two in addition to counter service and snack stands. The more time to try all of the ambitious and fun foods, the better.
Even after spending multiple days at Epic Universe, I’ve still only scratched the surface of what its culinary scene has to offer. I want to be abundantly clear from the outset that this list isn’t comprehensive–not even remotely so. Dining was not the top priority for my days and I was staying Club Level at Helios Grand Hotel, so I had breakfast (and sometimes dinner) in the lounge. My main focus was formulating park touring strategy and taking photos.
Nevertheless, I did eat several meals in Epic Universe along with my friends, and wanted to share a very early, very rough list of recommendations. What I did try was largely exceptional, a fantastic mixture of fun, photogenic, delicious, and ambitious. I’m really excited to go back and revisit some of these favorites, while also doing the table service restaurants in Celestial Park that weren’t open yet during my first days in the park.
Given my limited experience with the Epic Universe restaurant lineup thus far and the reality menus probably will change in the months to come, I’m going to do this list a little differently. Rather than offering detailed thoughts or even fully-fledged restaurant reviews, this will mostly be food photo forward, with a bit of accompanying text for each location. Anything beyond that feels premature. I’ll continue updating this list with photos and thoughts from my summer and fall day at Epic Universe, and then start dedicated restaurant reviews based on meals in 2026 and beyond.
With that out of the way, let’s dig into the best food at Epic Universe!
Pizza Moon – Celestial Park
Blast off to Pizza Moon in Celestial Park, an early 1900s Victorian theater converted into a spectacular eatery where the finest pizzas in Universal Epic Universe are prepared. At least, that’s what Universal Orlando claims. I think the creatives actually themed it to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins. Regardless, Pizza Moon is cleverly-themed, from the vignettes lining the walls to the oven to the Team Member costumes.
As for the cuisine, the highlight of what I’ve tried thus far is without a doubt the Pizza Lunare ($18.99) topped with roasted garlic béchamel, fromage de lune, ricotta, pancetta, garlic confit, and ube pizza crust. This is the “purple pizza” and is deserving of the hype, with a chewy crust and rich flavor. This is a personal-sized pizza, although those with smaller appetites will find it shareable.
The biggest difficulty for me is going to be ordering anything but the Pizza Lunare on subsequent visits because it’s that good. I also like the Brownie Eclipse, but it’s more of a guilty pleasure–rich, gooey, and definitely shareable. Pizza Moon prepares its pies in a fired-oven, and the quality is miles above any other counter service pizza at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando. Pizza Moon approaches the quality of Via Napoli, a table service pizzeria at EPCOT. It isn’t quite that good, but believe the hype: Pizza Moon is a must-do.
Das Stakehouse – Dark Universe
Shrouded in mystery, Das Stakehaus is an old inn and dining hall built over the ruins of ancient catacombs in the village of Darkmoor. Here you can enjoy a meal surrounded by vampire artwork and artifacts. In fact, the restaurant is run by vampires’ “familiars”, or servants. Just don’t venture down to the catacombs below, or you might find yourself on the vampires’ menu.
From a design perspective, Das Stakehouse is a lot of fun, with clever details and moody atmosphere. Das Stakehouse is also the only Epic Universe restaurant to be parodied on Saturday Night Live, so that alone makes it a must-do.
I ordered the Carved Staked Steak served with charred green onion mashed potatoes, roasted baby carrots, acorn squash, crispy maitake mushrooms with a bloody jus was very good. But it was also $24. You see that portion size, right?! Not only is it a really small (and thin) cut of meat, but the vegetables in the description are plural, and I got one of each.
The rest of my friends all ordered the Bird on a Stake, and none of them were impressed with the chicken. (They’re not bloggers, so they’re not subject to the #1 rule that everyone must order something different.) I’d definitely do Das Stakehouse again–and would recommend it for the novelty alone. But be careful. It might be your last.
Burning Blade Tavern – Dark Universe
The Burning Blade Tavern is the old mill which Darkmoor Village’s monster hunters have transformed into their hangout. Here guests will discover stories of some of the countryside’s most accomplished creature capturers along with a menu of burgers, wings, bratwursts, pretzels and beverages.
Burning Blade Tavern is more of a bar than it is a restaurant, with the food ordering oddly located outside at the walk-up window (something that it would’ve been nice to know before lining up inside). The inside is foreboding and nails the gothic tavern theme, with lots of exposed beams and taxidermy trophies from the monster hunts.
I loved the Burning Cheddar Bites, which are crispy fried poppers with sriracha ranch. They’re the perfect bar food, with great flavor and a bit of kick even before being dipped. The Hunter’s Garlic Stake pretzel is not recommended.
Café L’air De La Sirène – Ministry of Magic
The streets of wizarding Paris are home to delightful cafes, including Café L’air De La Sirène. Dine inside or outside as you enjoy French baked goods, sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts. You can quench your thirst with Butterbeer along with a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks including beer, cocktails and French wines.
Out of the restaurants I’ve tried thus far in Epic Universe, Café L’air De La Sirène in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is the best. Everything from the interior design to the thoughtful and diverse menu is exceptional. The only downside is that it was also far and away the busiest place we ate in Epic Universe, and part of our order took 45 minutes to arrive.
Regardless, I would absolutely eat at Café L’air De La Sirène again (and again). It’s good enough to overcome that ridiculous delay. (I’d dine here before the lunch rush next time.) Café L’air De La Sirène is one of the Epic Universe restaurants that I can’t wait to revisit. The cuisine quality at this counter service restaurant is somewhere between the original lunch menu at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom and the current Chefs de France in EPCOT.
Literally everything we tried at Café L’air De La Sirène was excellent, so I’ll simply draw your attention to the Baguette Ratatouille Provençale, which punches way above its weight for a plant-based sandwich. And of course, there’s the Bierauberre Crêpe. This dessert has a massive Butterbeer tax ($19.99!), but it’s fantastic.
Le Gobelet Noir – Ministry of Magic
Sticking with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, we have Le Gobelet Noir, where Dark magic is always on the menu. A mysterious time worn auberge (small inn) sits in the shadowy corners of Paris’s Place Cachée. Here, away from the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry, Dark witches and wizards have gathered for centuries to share a hearty meal, a drink and hushed conversations.
I didn’t dine at Le Gobelet Noir with the rest of my crew, but they all praised the counter service restaurant. Le Gobelet Noir serves up heartier and more comforting cuisine, exactly what you’d expect from a small tavern tucked away into a dark back alley. (Photo credit to Wesley Smoker.)
Toadstool Cafe – Super Nintendo World
Fuel up at Toadstool Cafe, where you can watch Chef Toad cooking up some of his favorite recipes and see playful scenes of the Mushroom Kingdom through the windows. Enjoy tasty creations prepared daily, including soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as delicious entrees and delectable desserts.
I have extensive experience with Toadstool Cafe at both Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood. I’ve tried almost everything on the menu in both locations. Toadstool Cafe is a decent to good restaurant by the standards of those two parks, which are much lower than Epic Universe.
Toadstool Cafe is a place to go for theme park Italian food if there are no other crowd-pleasing options suitable for your party, or if you really want the Nintendo atmosphere. And it’s a fun atmosphere! I’m just not sure it’s worth one of your meals. What I might recommend instead is going for the Princess Peach’s Birthday Cake. It’s $23, but it’s gorgeous, delicious and shareable. Getting that dessert to split for a taste of the atmosphere is probably the smartest move.
Super Nintendo World Snacks
There are a couple of snack options worth calling your attention to in Super Nintendo World. Yoshi’s Snack Island is a cozy burrow tunneled into the base of Mount Beanpole. Here you can enjoy a variety of juices and fruit-based specialty beverages, inspired by Yoshi’s favorite food: fruit! The smoothies here are good, and the calzones are more or less what you’d expect–a fun guilty pleasure with a high price tag.
Then there’s the Bubbly Barrel, where you can enjoy a refreshment beneath the thatched roof in the heart of Donkey Kong Country. Currently, the only thing being served here is the DK Crush Float for $18.99. This expensive dessert does come in a souvenir Donkey Kong barrel cup, so at least there’s that. This drink is made with Dole Whip Banana Cream, chocolate pieces, and caramel popcorn in a waffle bowl served on top of Pineapple Fanta Soda. If you can get past the price, it’s a fantastic dessert perfect for banana lovers.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel – Isle of Berk
Last but not least, we have Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. No dragon rider’s day is complete without a tasty bite from the festive racing-themed food stand, Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel. After cheering on their champions, Vikings can enjoy Mac & Cheese cones in a variety of styles.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel has already become the viral hit of the Epic Universe food scene, and for good reason. I was a bit apprehensive given the high price–as I pictured something on par with the Cars Land Cozy Cones or Disney’s Handwiches. This is the same idea, but it’s colossal by comparison–and much tastier.
While the fillings are good, it’s the cone itself where Universal wins over Disney. The texture and taste are excellent–soft, buttery, slightly-chewy and seasoned to perfection. I’ll be ordering one of everything on the menu at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel–for research–later this summer.
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
Will you be attending Epic Universe this summer for its opening season, or will you skip it until the new park settles into a groove? If you do visit, are you planning on spending multiple days at Epic Universe to appreciate the new park in its full glory–or give yourself more of a safety net to experience more of the park and endure downtime and delays? Concerned about unreliable rides, how hot the park gets, or anything else? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!