Best Universal CityWalk Dining: Quick Service, Snacks, and More

Universal CityWalk in Orlando offers many dining options. Which ones are the best Universal CityWalk dining options for your group?

In the late 1990s, the Universal theme park operation in Orlando opened an entertainment and dining complex known as CityWalk. The official name is Universal CityWalk Orlando. Universal Destination and Experiences also has a CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood in California. Sometimes, guests get confused when researching their Universal vacation based on the two locations. Thus, the entertainment and dining complex at Universal Orlando Resort is known as Universal CityWalk Orlando to alleviate the confusion.

At Universal CityWalk Orlando, guests have several table service options, some notable quick service, and snack-level dining options. As you might expect, the restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando offer a varied level of quality and price points.

In addition, Universal CityWalk Orlando sits just outside the entrance to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Most guests walk through the CityWalk area after security screening to get to the two current Universal theme parks.

This resource intends to guide readers toward better dining options for their vacation group. Special consideration will be given to each restaurant’s value and unique aspects. Even with the brand-new Universal Orlando Resort theme park, Universal Epic Universe, opening in 2025, the CityWalk complex will still serve as the primary dining area outside the theme parks on the property.

Best Quick Service Restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando

Unlike within the Universal Orlando theme parks, quick service dining options are limited at Universal Orlando CityWalk. However, some excellent quick service options exist at Universal CityWalk Orlando.

Voodoo Doughnut

The Oregon-based doughnut chain has grown significantly in the last few years. Despite that, the only Voodoo Doughnut location east of the Mississippi River is at Universal CityWalk Orlando. Unlike most Voodoo Doughnut locations, the menu selections reflect a cleaner version of the unique baked sweets sold there.

Voodoo Doughnut opens each morning at 8:00 a.m. and closes most evenings at midnight. Mobile ordering is available, which can be helpful during the busier evening hours when a sizeable queue will develop.

The doughnuts vary in price from under two dollars to around ten for the larger ones. Voodoo Doughnut sells cake and raised yeast doughnuts. Many of these come with frosting or crème filling. Depending on the time of year, Voodoo Doughnuts creates special limited-time doughnuts. Some examples include Halloween Horror Nights, Mardi Gras, “Wicked,” and winter holiday doughnuts.

For guests looking for a highly themed doughnut, Voodoo Doughnut offers plenty to choose from. If you have not visited a Voodoo Doughnut before, this makes a nice snack or a good option to pick up when you leave the theme park to enjoy for breakfast the next day.

Red Oven Pizza Bakery

Almost all Universal Orlando guests pass this pizza dining option as they march towards the theme parks from the parking garage. This dining option operates similarly to fast-casual pizza places like Blaze Pizza or Mod Pizza.

Red Oven Pizza Bakery features a covered outdoor seating area. A modern pizza preparation area surrounds a small ordering space. Guests place their orders at the counter, receive a buzzer, and choose their seats outside. Universal Orlando team members deliver the food and beverages to the tables.

The reasonable-sized pizzas that can be shared cost an average of $16 before annual pass discounts. Two people could add a salad for about $13, making it a complete meal to share. This place serves a variety of beverages, including alcoholic ones.

Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches

For our third and final choice in this category, we have selected Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches over Hot Dog Hall of Fame. This decision is based on better service, indoor seating, and higher-quality quick-serving food. However, Hot Dog Hall of Fame, located near Universal’s Great Movie Escape, will cost less than Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches.

Despite that, most guests who make the trip to the second floor of Universal CityWalk Orlando enjoy dining at Bread Box. The menu features sandwiches, tater tots, salads, and desserts. We suggest enjoying one of the sandwiches. Vegan diners can also enjoy the Hot Vegan Sandwich.

Best Table Service Restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando

While Universal CityWalk Orlando may be low in quick service dining, it offers many excellent table service options. For clarification, as you plan your Universal Orlando Resort vacation, Universal refers to table service as full service dining. So, when guests see the term “full service dining,” they should think in terms of table service dining that involves a potential advanced dining reservation and wait staff taking your order.

None of the table service dining options at Universal Orlando Resort would qualify as signature dining. Guests will not find Michelin-starred restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando. However, they will find a far better value than at the table service options at Walt Disney World. This is one of the significant differences between the dining at the two major Orlando area theme park resorts.

However, Universal CityWalk Orlando does not offer the variety and celebrity chef dining options that Walt Disney World does at Disney Springs. Still, guests enjoy having so many table service restaurants near the two current Universal Orlando theme parks.

The table service restaurant options at Universal CityWalk Orlando are:

Hard Rock Café
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen
NBC Sports Grill & Brew
Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co.
Pat O’Brien’s
Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
Bigfire
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
Jimmy Buffett’s® Margaritaville
VIVO Italian Kitchen
Bob Marley–A Tribute to Freedom

Guests should know that Pat O’Brien’s and Bob Marley–A Tribute to Freedom are not currently accepting advance dining reservations. Both full-service dining options only serve dinner and take walk-ups for tables.

Third- Party and Honorable Mention Table Service Restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando

Overall, the dining experience at Universal CityWalk Orlando exceeds the options within the two current Universal Orlando theme parks. None of the table service options in the CityWalk area lack merit. Sure, two third-party operations, Bubba Gump and Margaritaville, would not be on most people’s best list. However, both places have entrees worth your time and other reasons to visit. For example, guests wishing to feed a hungry crowd should highly consider the Volcano Nachos at Margaritaville.

Volcano Nachos

Another third-party table service restaurant we enjoy, Hard Rock Café, would not make most people’s best CityWalk restaurant list. However, we appreciate the “safe” burger option at that location during a busy theme park day. With Hard Rock Café being a short walk from the exit of Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, guests can sneak away for a burger here easily.

We narrowed our list of the best table service restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando to three. Most guests will be satisfied with any of the top three.

Before listing those, we had some dining options close to making the top list, but they fell short for some reason. Those will be designated as honorable mentions for our purposes. Based on your group’s desires for a table service meal, this group of restaurants might work well for you.

Bigfire

This table service restaurant offers many advantages for guests. Those looking for a mid-level steakhouse will find this place fits that bill nicely. It provides a variety of smoked wood to enhance the entree options. Getting a steak or similar entrée at Bigfire will not cost as much as similar restaurants in the Orlando area. Also, its location in the heart of CityWalk makes it easy to get to.

However, we suggest that guests venture the short walk or boat ride to the Hard Rock Hotel (not to be confused with the Hard Rock Café —they are two different places) if they are looking for a good steak. At the Hard Rock Hotel, guests can dine at The Palm, which offers excellent steaks. In fairness, the steak will cost more and be worth it.

Pat O’Brien’s and Bob Marley–A Tribute to Freedom

Both of these restaurants are on the second floor of Universal CityWalk Orlando. They offer quality food and live musical entertainment at reasonable prices. One of our favorite gluten-free and vegan dishes comes from the Bob Marley restaurant for well under $20 before discounts.

Still, based on their location and limited hours (often opening at 5:00 p.m.), these table service restaurants do not fit many Universal Orlando visitors’ plans. Also, some guests find the food at both restaurants to be outside their preferred dining choices. Still, those who want a taste of New Orleans or Jamacia should consider these two dining opportunities.

Top Three Best Table Service Restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando

The top three will be listed in no particular order. At this point, it comes down to your group’s preferences for atmosphere and cuisine style for best Universal CityWalk Orlando dining.

VIVO Italian Kitchen

Squid Ink Pasta at Vivo Italian Kitchen

Vivo Italian Kitchen serves pasta dishes mainly, as guests would expect. Most guests walk right past this table service restaurant on their way to the theme parks and back to the parking garages.

Even though Vivo would not be classified as authentic Italian cuisine, very little Italian food in the Orlando area would be. This restaurant exceeds the quality of the Italian food over at Walt Disney World. The pasta here, on most days, tastes like it was made with care.

The menu features Squid Ink Seafood, Lasagna, Sausage Ragu, and Black Truffle Burrata. Though we wish this dining location opened for lunch, it does open most days around 2:00 p.m. We also wish this place was less noisy. Those looking for a romantic Italian meal should consider visiting the Portofino Bay Resort, a short boat ride from CityWalk. Despite our concerns, the food makes up for the weaknesses.

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

This small chain of table service restaurants has a location at Universal CityWalk Orlando. Despite the occasional complaint of slow service at Cowfish Orlando, guests love the fusion restaurant.

As the entire restaurant name indicates, this place serves sushi and burgers. Yes, you can have both together in what is called a “Burgushi.” These rolls combine elements of burger and make sushi rolls out of that. The most obvious example is The All-American Bacon Double Cheeseburgooshi. It contains “ seasoned premium black angus beef, yellow cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, and applewood smoked bacon wrapped in soy paper and potato strings then flash fried. Topped with dill pickle, red onion, and Roma tomato, served over our house made Cowfish sauce, topped with ketchup and mustard.”

However, most entrees and appetizers at Cowfish do not combine those elements. You can get decent sushi here, but expect a twist of some type from traditional sushi. The burgers serve as a quality meal with options displaying the Cowfish style. For example, guests can order Elvis-inspired The Cowfish Has Officially Left The Building Burger. It contains a “full-pound beef burger, creamy peanut butter, fried bananas, applewood smoked bacon, brioche bun.” If that sounds like too much, guests can order the Single Hunka Love, a half-pound version.

Overall, Cowfish has something for everyone. It is open for lunch and dinner. Advance dining reservations are recommended.

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

Located near Hard Rock Café and Universal Islands of Adventure, guests can dine at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. This steam-punk style restaurant provides reasonable value for theme park table service dining.

Guests can order items like Totchos, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, salads, burgers, Chicken Bourguignon, and Brisket & Wild Mushroom Meatloaf. In addition, Toothsome serves a brunch menu all day. The brunch menu features waffles, quiches, crepes, and French toast. The French toast options include savory and sweet varieties.

Bayou Pecan Shake for Mardi Gras 2025

Nevertheless, the star of the show at Toothsome is the milkshakes. These milkshakes look photo-worthy and usually feature a dessert on top. Guests can enjoy milkshakes, sundaes, and other desserts at Toothsome. This table service dining option also has a Foundry where guests can walk up to order desserts.

Groups on a Universal Orlando Resort vacation have a great time at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. Advance dining reservations are encouraged here. This can be one of the hardest dining reservations to get at Universal Orlando Resort and makes for some of the best Universal CityWalk Orlando dining.

Are You Hungry for a Trip to Universal Orlando Resort?

The talented experts at Universal Family Vacation can help solve that hunger. At no charge to you, they can help you book your next Universal Orlando Resort vacation today. Feel free to visit the Universal Family Vacations website for more information.

Also, if you are looking for more information about theme park dining in the Orlando area, our sister site Pixie Vacations has several blogs about dining at Walt Disney World, such as:

We hope your planning for your next vacation goes well. As always, eat like you mean it!