What are the Best Universal City Walk Restaurants?

What are the Best Universal City Walk Restaurants?

What are the Best Universal City Walk Restaurants?

This article is your complete guide to the Best Universal CityWalk Orlando restaurants! We think that Cowfish Sushi and Burger Bar is one of the best restaurants in CityWalk, but there are plenty more! That’s why we are going to cover all of the best restaurants at CityWalk Orlando, so if you want to learn more, keep reading!

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

So if you’re ready to learn all about the best restaurants in Citywalk Orlando read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Universal Orlando check out our Universal Crowd calendar! 

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Universal CityWalk Orlando Restaurants

Food is a vital part of any vacation, and Universal Orlando offers excellent restaurants for visitors to enjoy during their theme park trip.  With the central location of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, accessing the best CityWalk restaurants is convenient throughout your trip. You can even consider dining at CityWalk for lunch if your group is comfortable with leaving and re-entering the theme parks.

What are the best restaurants at CityWalk?

1. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar: A unique fusion of sushi and burgers, known for its “Burgushi” – a creative blend of both cuisines. Great for adventurous eaters seeking something quirky and fun.
2. Vivo Italian Kitchen: A modern Italian eatery serving fresh pasta and classic Italian dishes in a sleek and cozy atmosphere, perfect for families or a casual date night.
3. Hard Rock Cafe: Iconic chain featuring American classics like burgers, sandwiches, and steaks, paired with rock memorabilia and live music performances for a lively dining experience.
4. Bigfire: Specializes in wood-grilled dishes with a rustic, campfire-inspired theme, offering everything from steaks to seafood, with a cozy yet upscale vibe.
5. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: A seafood restaurant inspired by Forrest Gump, serving Southern-style seafood dishes, including shrimp in multiple variations. It’s fun, family-friendly, and themed with movie references.
6. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen: Steampunk-themed restaurant offering inventive dishes and a massive selection of decadent desserts and milkshakes. Great for chocolate lovers and anyone looking for a whimsical dining experience.
7. Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food: A lively spot for authentic Mexican cuisine with a fun, colorful atmosphere. Expect fresh guacamole, tacos, and margaritas alongside live Mariachi music.
8. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville: Relaxed, beachy atmosphere with Caribbean-inspired dishes and a focus on tropical drinks. Ideal for those wanting a laid-back vibe with live music and Jimmy Buffett-themed fun.

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What are the Best CityWalk Restaurants in Orlando? – Ranked

#8 – Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

What to Expect: A laid-back, tropical-themed restaurant with incredible theming and a large menu. This CityWalk restaurant has the perfect relaxing vibe with live music and food that gives a nod to the music legend Jimmy Buffett.

Type of Food: American – tropical inspired

Must-Try Menu Items: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Jimmy’s Meatloaf Survival Sandwich, Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Tips and Tricks: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville is one of the best restaurants at City Walk to go if you’re wanting to celebrate with specialty drinks. There is a Volcano Bar, which is an actual Volcano, and two other themed bars that have a vast selection of margaritas, cocktails, and beer.

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#7 – Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food

What to Expect: A vibrant and lively restaurant that celebrates Mexican culture with authentic and exciting cuisine. This is one of the restaurants CityWalk Orlando has that occasionally has live music and activities for the family.

Type of Food: Mexican

Must-Try Menu Items: Tableside guacamole, Mar y Tierra (Mole braised short rib and shrimp), La Tostada

Tips and Tricks: If you’re looking for a CityWalk restaurant with a tasty variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes, look no further! Antojitos has not only several vegan entrees but also most of the sides are also vegan and gluten-free. Make sure to check out the cocktail menu, as the bartenders are specially trained for tequila creations.

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#6 – Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen

What to Expect: A truly unique experience in a restaurant with a fun and immersive Steampunk backstory perfect for families. This CityWalk Orlando restaurant not only has a delicious dessert menu but also an incredibly vast food menu, as well! We love coming to this CityWalk restaurant and stopping by for a shake every time we visit the parks!

Type of Food: American

Must-Try Menu Items: Southern Fried Chicken BLT, Cocoa Pork Tenderloin, Vegan Pineapple Right Ride Up Shake, Espresso Buzz Shake

Tips and Tricks: This is one of the City Walk restaurants in Orlando that is perfect for the whole family. Because of the elaborate backstory, some characters walk around and interact with guests. While dining you can potentially run into Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and Jacques her robot companion.

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#5 – Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

What to Expect: An iconic restaurant themed after the classic film “Forest Gump” with memorabilia, script pages, and even costumes from the film. This is one of the CityWalk restaurants in Orlando

Type of Food: American, Seafood

Must-Try Menu Items: 

Tips and Tricks: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is one of the perfect restaurants at the CityWalk in Universal if you’re looking for a movie and dinner date. Bubba Gump is the first restaurant when entering CityWalk, and it is directly across from the Cinemark. This makes it an easy option if you do not want to get too far into the crowds and take fewer steps.

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#4 – Bigfire

What to Expect: A modern, upscale cozy restaurant with a nostalgic feel and a smoke-infused menu you won’t want to miss. This is one of the restaurants in CityWalk Orlando with its unique backstory created specially by Universal to immerse you while you’re dining.

Type of Food: American

Must-Try Menu Items: Colorado Lamb Mixed Grill, Dutch Oven Beef Burgundy, Cowboy Ribeye

Tips and Tricks: This restaurant is all about the experience, with special woods used to flavor different dishes like cherrywood to enhance the experience. All of the food at this restaurant in CityWalk Orlando is cooked right in front of the guests, to fill the restaurant with a nostalgic aroma. We highly recommend roasting s’mores right at your table to get the whole campfire feel.

Related post: Guide to Spending One Day at Universal Islands of Adventure

#3- Hard Rock Cafe

What to Expect: The largest Hard Rock Cafe in the world which is filled with an enormous collection of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. As one of the best Universal Orlando CityWalk restaurants, the food is on par with how impressive the decor and theming are.

Type of Food: American

Must-Try Menu Items: Baby Back Ribs, Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese, One Night in Bangkok Spicy Shrimp

Tips and Tricks: If you are any kind of pop culture, we highly recommend stopping by the Hard Rock Cafe. They have the largest collection of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, with items like Buddy Holly’s famous glasses, Elvis’s suit from Viva Las Vegas and so much more! Also one of the restaurants at the CityWalk entertains with a 3000-person live music venue.

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#2 – Vivo Italian Kitchen

What to Expect: An authentic Italian restaurant with handmade pasta and an open kitchen to watch the magic happen. As one of the best restaurants at CityWalk Orlando, the food here is fresh and exciting in the modern setting.

Type of Food: Italian

Must-Try Menu Items: Squid Ink Seafood, Torchio Pasta, Lobster Ravioli

Tips and Tricks: Since Vivo is truly one of the most high-demand CityWalk Orlando restaurants, we highly recommend making a reservation in advance. Since it is more of an upscale restaurant, you might want to book an onsite hotel to change out of park clothes. If not, park clothes are always welcome inside the CityWalk restaurants!

#1 – The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

What to Expect: A quirky restaurant with Western and Japanese influence and the home of the burgushi, which is a burger made from sushi. The Cowfish has to be the most fun and vibrant CityWalk Orlando restaurant in 2024 with virtual aquariums and colorful wall art.

Type of Food: American, Asian

Must-Try Menu Items: The Cowfish Bento Box, Bison Burgushi, Chef’s Deluxe Sashimi

Tips and Tricks: The Cowfish is enormous, with multilevel seating, you so will not have to worry about fitting the whole family while dining at City Walk. We love that there is a rooftop dining area for a date night or a colorful inside dining area to take the kids to have a fun night. There is so much to love about Cowfish, but we always recommend trying something new like their burgushi, which is a burger and sushi in one.

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Best CityWalk Orlando Restaurants FAQ

Q: What is the best restaurant at Universal CityWalk?

A: The best sit-down restaurant in Universal CityWalk is The Cowfish, which is a fusion restaurant that offers an eclectic menu. The best quick-service restaurant in Universal CityWalk is the BreadBox, which is a fresh and fun spot that offers top-notch sandwiches, soups, and desserts.

Q: Can you go to Universal Orlando CityWalk restaurants?

A: Yes, CityWalk Orlando is open to all guests and you do not need a parking ticket to visit CityWalk. Parking is even free after 6 PM, so make sure if you aren’t heading into the parks that you wait until you do not have to pay to park. Guests are welcome to shop, dine, and explore Universal Orlando CityWalk and enjoy all there is to offer!

Q: Do you need a reservation for Toothsome Chocolate Emporium?

A: Reservations for Toothsome Chocolate Emporium are not required however they are highly recommended especially if you are visiting during some of the busier times of year at Universal.

Q: Can you go to Toothsome for just dessert?

A: Guests can enjoy Toothsome Chocolate Emporium just for dessert any time of the day! We find it to be one of the best dessert spots in all of Universal Orlando outside of Voodoo Doughnuts. Some of our favorite sweets to try include any of their delicious milkshakes, strawberry cheesecake, or ice-cream sundaes.

Q: Do you need a ticket to eat at CityWalk?

A: Another very popular question that we feel is important to understand is, do you need a ticket to eat at CityWalk? Guests do not need a Universal Orlando ticket to make a dining reservation and eat at one of the best Universal Citywalk restaurants on this list. Universal Orlando might even offer free parking after 6:00 PM for guests who are only looking to take advantage of dinner.  We also would make reservations for a majority of these restaurants if you know you would like to take advantage of eating there.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you’re ready to plan your trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out Universal Orlando Tickets! Not only will you save money vs buying direct, but all of our Universal Orlando tickets come with some amazing benefits that can help save you up to three hours in the parks!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!