This CityWalk Orlando restaurants list will help you plan your dining when visiting Universal Orlando. I am also sharing our picks for the best restaurants at CityWalk to include in your Universal Orlando vacation.
When visiting Universal one of the most common questions I hear is “Where should we eat?” Luckily, Universal CityWalk has lots of dining options for families.
Dining at Universal Orlando CityWalk is such a great addition to your Universal Orlando vacation. We love that there are affordable and delicious options that are great for families.
We have eaten at almost all of the CityWalk Orlando restaurants and have narrowed down our favorites that we continue to visit during our Universal vacations.
Universal Orlando has three theme parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay as well as a great dining and entertainment complex Universal CityWalk.
Universal CityWalk is located between the parking garage and Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure entrance making it a great spot to eat during your trip.
Most Universal CityWalk restaurants do not require reservations in advance but I suggest you make them if you have a set time and date planned. Reservations can be made here.
Guide to Universal Orlando CityWalk Restaurants
There are two types of dining options at Universal CityWalk. They are full-service restaurants and quick-service restaurants. Both offer great options for the entire family.
At a full-service restaurant you will sit down for your meal with a waiter. I suggest making reservations at least a week in advance if you have your heart set on a place to eat at CityWalk.
Walk-ups are welcome but there can be long wait times for a table during busy hours.
At a quick-service restaurant expect good food and casual dining. This is often ordered at a counter. The quick-service restaurants are a good option for a break from the parks or as you are headed back to your resort.
Quick-Service Dining at Universal’s CityWalk
This is a quick list of the casual dining options at CityWalk. You do not need reservations and most are open after the theme parks close.
- Moe’s Southwest Grill
- Panda Express
- Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches
- Auntie Anne’s
- Bend the Bao
- Burger King Whopper Bar
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Fat Tuesday
- Hot Dog Hall of Fame
- Lone Palm Airport
- Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
- Starbucks
- Voodoo Doughnut
- Fusion Bistro Sushi
Full-Service Dining at Universal’s CityWalk
Universal Orlando Resort has some of our favorite casual dining options. These are sit-down meals but not fancy and are great for the whole family. Reservations are suggested.
- Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
- Bigfire
- Bob Marley-A Tribute to Freedom
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant and Market
- Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
- Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
- NBC Sports Grill & Brew
- Pat O’Brien’s
- Red Oven Pizza Bakery (Take-Away pizza and Mobile ordering is available here.)
- The Cowfish (Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar)
- The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen
- Vivo Italian Kitchen
As I am writing this list I realized there are only 2 restaurants we haven’t tried yet. They are Big Fire and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. We always seem to go back to the places we love and make our top list!
List of the Best Restaurants at CityWalk Orlando
These are (in my opinion) the best places to eat at CityWalk Orlando. We like them because they are mid-range for price when dining with a family of five. They also offer great value for the price and taste good!
Red Oven Pizza Bakery
We tried Red Oven Pizza Bakery on our most recent visit to Universal and really enjoyed it. Reservations are not required and this is a mix between full-service and quick-service.
Mobile Ordering is offered making this a great option as you exit the parks. Red Oven has specialty pizzas made to order. One pizza will feed 2-3 people depending on your party.
I wish I had photos to share but we were so exhausted and hungry after our day at the parks, the food was gone before I even had a chance to take any. Overall we liked the value and the food making this a great choice for families.
NBC Sports Grill & Brew
If you are looking for a restaurant at Universal’s CityWalk that has a wide variety of options NBC Sports Grill is a great choice. From burgers to tacos and more we were able to find something everyone in the family liked.
The one downside to NBC Sports Grill is it is a bit pricey. Not outlandish prices, especially for theme park standards, but this was one of our most expensive meals.
Be sure to check the menu before your visit to make sure it is a good fit for your Universal vacation budget.
Pat O’Brien’s
Pat O’Brien’s is a New Orleans themed restaurant. It is a sit-down restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Some nights offer live music with dueling piano entertainment. Requests can be made!
Expect Cajun inspired meals, that can be on the spicy side. They also offer a kids menu. Be sure to pick up beignets after your meal for dessert.
Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
On our first visit to Antojitos I had the best burrito ever. On our next visit it wasn’t my favorite. That being said I would visit again for the chips and salsa they bring you as you wait for your meal.
Overall the food is good and the price is comparable to what you would expect. I would give this another try and see if it was a one off experience. Everyone else in the family enjoyed their meals.
Hot Dog Hall of Fame
Hot Dog Hall of Fame is a no frills counter service dining spot at CityWalk. It has outdoor seating only and you order from the counter.
The menu is extensive though, offering over 8 different specialty Hot Dogs. It also has a classic foot long or Two Foot long. I recommend sharing the Two Foot long!
Toothsome’s Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen
Toothsome’s has unique dining options inspired by chocolate flavors. When visiting it is more of an experience than a quick dining option.
The Steampunk decor and story includes two characters that walk around and interact with guests. There is an entire story created for this restaurant and feature Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her robot companion Jacques.
If you are planning on dining at Toothsome I highly suggest making a reservation and allotting 1.5-2 hours for your visit. I do appreciate the ambiance of the restaurant but do not suggest it if you are in a hurry.
We go into details of our visit in our Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Review. If you can’t stop in for dinner guests can visit the lobby for sweet treats and to order the famous milkshakes.
Bob Marley-A Tribute to Freedom
Bob Marley is a restaurant that I hesitated on for a few visits because I wasn’t sure if would be kid friendly. This Caribbean cuisine themed dining option offers spicy options, but you can always ask the chef to go easy on the spices.
We all found something we liked on the menu and the outdoor seating was a nice quiet atmosphere. Some evenings they have live music playing too.
Voodoo Doughnut
When visiting Universal CityWalk and looking for a sweet treat you need to visit Voodoo Doughnut. Guests can mobile order ahead of time and pick up your treats to take back to the resort. Just keep in mind the Florida heat. I had doughnuts melt a little by the time I reached the hotel.
My favorite doughnut is the bacon maple bar. They feature one-of-a-kind doughnuts and specialty ones seasonally through the year.
Universal CityWalk restaurants offer something for everyone’s taste, even picky eaters. It is a great place to include in your dining plans during your Universal Orlando trip.
