At Universal Studios, people come for the rides and themed attractions. But what really matters is the incredibly fun and delicious park food. After just visiting both Epic Universe and Isle of Adventure, I have curated a list of snacks 100% worth the try. Whether you’re into a fun dessert or refreshing drink, there is something at the park for everyone. Some of the most tasty treats are overlooked because of price or long wait times, but don’t miss out on some of these foods next time you’re in Florida.
Dragon Fire Chicken Spire
Despite reviews in TikTok comment sections, this mac and cheese cone was easily my favorite meal in the park. Sold in two locations on the Isle of Berk, the chicken spire was a quick and fulfilling meal to get me going for the day. I landed on the chicken cone, although they have a plain mac and cheese option and a PB&J one that comes with BBQ pulled pork and peanut bacon jam. The Dragon Fire cone came with BBQ pulled chicken, mac and cheese, hot honey, peppers, and a chimichurri stuffed inside a garlic bread cone. The creamy mac and cheese and chimichurri on top sold this for me and it was hard to resist going back for another one.
Butter Beer Waffles & Pancake Breakfast
Growing up watching Harry Potter, I have always dreamed of eating breakfast in the Three Broomsticks. The food and atmosphere during this meal was perfect for anyone wishing they could be teleported to Hogwarts. I got both the pancake breakfast and Butterbeer waffle meal. For me, the best part of the pancake meal was the giant flaky croissant that comes with it, although the pancakes were pretty delicious. For my waffles, I was hoping to get a little more butterscotch flavor. The waffle itself was crusty on the outside and soft in the middle but the syrup was the only thing making it Butterbeer flavored. It was definitely a delicious breakfast and something I can’t wait to go back for.
Red Shell Calzone
This little themed snack was a perfect afternoon energy boost. Not only was it themed so well, but the inside was layered with Italian meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Although it was way smaller than expected, the sauce and cheese carried a lot of flavor. For anyone vegan, they also offered a green shell calzone that comes with vegan Italian sausage and mozzarella.
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots
With a perfect view over the water, these buffalo chicken tater tots were perfect for sharing. Crispy tater tots, chicken coated in buffalo sauce, layered with cheese, drizzled in ranch, and topped with green onions made for a quick meal in a relaxing spot in the park. Even though it was hot out, I wished this dish was warmed up a little more so that the cheese was melted and stretchy. But, it was ideal for sharing with another person if you’re looking for something smaller.
Mushroom Breadsticks & Block Tiramisu
As a tiramisu connoisseur and avid Super Mario player, I could not stop myself from getting a Question Block tiramisu dessert as a sweet treat. Located in Toadstool Cafe, all of the food options were creatively crafted and on-theme. The tiramisu was bordered in a shortbread cookie that was surprisingly sweet and smooth. Inside the block were creamy layers of tiramisu that tasted of both chocolate and espresso. While this wasn’t a perfect representation of traditional tiramisu, the flavors and textures were still delicious. To pair with this, I grabbed mushroom shaped garlic knots. These were fun to snack on and packed with garlic. Next time I go, I may skip over the garlic knots, but will definitely be snagging another tiramisu.
Green Eggs & Ham Cheesecake
I had to grab this themed dessert from Green Eggs and Ham Cafe in Suess Land. Inside all the layers of dyed white chocolate was a super creamy and thick chocolate cheesecake with a hidden mini brownie on top. The best part of this treat was the mini fork it came with. While the cheesecake itself was not that big, the mini fork it was paired with was both comical and cute. The inside was on the thicker side for a cheesecake but the chocolate flavor was super yummy.
Yoshi Smoothie
These fruity sweet smoothies were the perfect mid-day pick-me-up to combat the hot Florida weather. Coming in two flavors — apple melon and mango — I couldn’t stop myself from trying both. If you’re into super sweet and flavor packed beverages, the apple melon smoothie is definitely for you. The flavor was an even mix between sweet melon and sour apple, but was definitely sugar-overload at first. The mango was more on the refreshing side, having a subtle mango flavor and fresh mango chunk toppings. No matter what you’re into, both of these drinks were a perfect way to cool off and feel a part of the Super Mario world.
Butterbeer
After about 13 Butterbeers in two days, I can safely say this is a magical go-to. From the world of Harry Potter, Butterbeer is a non-alcoholic butterscotch, caramel, and vanilla-flavored beverage. While it comes either hot, cold, or frozen, I lean more towards the frozen slushie-like option; although, the hot option is an amazing substitute for coffee in the early morning. Butterbeer comes topped with a buttery thick cold foam that when mixed into the drink creates the most creamy treat. I can’t visit Universal without grabbing a cold Butterbeer in Hogsmeade.