Culinary Highlights at Universal Orlando Resort 

Culinary Highlights at Universal Orlando Resort 

Culinary Highlights at Universal Orlando Resort 

Universal Orlando has launched an exciting new vacation package promotion, offering families the chance to receive up to $1,000 in Universal Orlando dining credits, based on their choice of hotel and length of stay. We heard from Chef Jens Dahlmann, Vice President of Culinary Operations at Universal Orlando Resort, who shared insights into the diverse and delicious dining options available to guests. If you want to learn more about this special vacation package promotion and Universal Orlando food offerings then keep reading!

Universal Orlando Dining Promotion 

Guests looking to stay at an official Universal Orlando hotel for at least four nights on their next vacation can receive up to $1,000 on a Universal food and beverage card.  Families would receive one dining card per room, which can be used throughout the parks, CityWalk, and all Universal Orlando hotels. The current promotion is valid for stays between November 8th, 2024, to December 19th, 2024, and then January 5th, 2025, through April 10th, 2025. One of the things that we love about this new dining plan compared to the one at Disney World is that the food and beverage card does not expire, which means you can always use any unused money on future visits. To learn more about the dining promotion and specific details, check out this article.

Here at The Park Prodigy, we love dining at various locations around Universal Orlando as they have something for everyone to enjoy. You may be wondering just exactly what kind of food you will be eating when you visit Universal Orlando Resort, especially when benefiting from this free Universal dining promotion. Keep reading to hear what the Vice President of Culinary Operations at Universal Orlando Resort has to say about their diverse offerings.

Related Post: Pros and Cons of All Universal Orlando Resorts

Universal Orlando Dining Q&A with Chef Jens Dahlmann

Q: How is the culinary team at Universal Orlando Resort elevating the destination’s offerings beyond traditional theme park fare?

A: It comes down to creating delicious food that exceeds our guests’ expectations. We are lucky to have amazing attractions and entertainment experiences here at Universal Orlando Resort that allow us to develop elevated dining experiences that would be hard to recreate in other settings outside of our parks. Of course, we have classic items like hot dogs and hamburgers for guests that want them, and we make sure that those are the best hot dogs and hamburgers possible, freshly cooked and served with a smile.

Q: What kinds of dining options can guests enjoy at Universal Orlando Resort’s theme parks?

A: Here at Universal Orlando Resort, we’re proud to offer our guests a variety of food and beverage options ranging from quick service to full-service signature dining across the destination. Having a broad portfolio of experiences allows our guests to truly immerse themselves in the storylines of some of the beloved characters and stories from the iconic films and books they see represented throughout the parks. Food has become a large part of the overall theme park experience at Universal Orlando and our chefs work hard to continually create world-class food and beverage options for our guests to enjoy every day.

Q: What can guests expect from Universal Orlando Resort’s food & beverage offerings outside of the theme parks?

A: Beyond the parks, there are so many original dining concepts. Our teams have worked closely with Universal Creative to develop experiences at Universal CityWalk with options ranging from woodfired American fare at Big Fire, where all the food has been kissed by a flame during preparation, to handcrafted pasta at Vivo Italian Kitchen, and NBC Sports Grill and Brew, which takes sports bars to the next level with its two-story open kitchen concept that serves 1/2 pound signature burgers and more. Our Universal Orlando hotels also provide guests with amazing dining options like the award-winning Strong Water Tavern at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and the Bar 17 Bistro rooftop at Universal Aventura Hotel where you can take in stunning views while enjoying a cocktail and light bites.

Q: What sets the food & beverage offerings at Universal Orlando Resort apart from other theme park destinations?  

A: With our highly themed restaurants that tell the stories of popular characters from pop culture and our marquee events like the destination-wide Holidays celebration or Mardi Gras – which allows us to represent food from different cultures authentically – we get the opportunity to immerse our guests in unique culinary experiences that make dining at Universal Orlando an experience in and of itself. Our chefs continue to change the game regarding what it means to dine at a theme park with their relentless effort and commitment to quality as our destination grows. For example, we recently moved into a state-of-the-art production kitchen and bakery located near the site of Universal Epic Universe that allows us to produce and prepare a variety of items for restaurants across the destination in one place where we can control the quality of our product.

Q: What are some of the can’t-miss food and beverage options at Universal Orlando Resort that guests should try?

A: Guests won’t want to miss several food and beverage options, like immersive dishes inspired by the Minions franchise at Illumination’s Minion Cafe in Universal Studios Florida and the Mediterranean, Asian and American cuisine at Mythos Restaurant in Universal Islands of Adventure. A visit to the parks wouldn’t be complete without a stop in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade to indulge in high quality, authentic dishes like hand-cut Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, Beef Pasties and, of course, multiple variations of Butterbeer including hot, chilled, vegan, frozen and ice cream. And at Universal CityWalk, be sure to stop by The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen for a delicious, photo-worthy milkshake.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you maximize 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, check out Universal Orlando Tickets! Not only will you save money vs buying direct, but all of our Universal Orlando tickets come with some fantastic 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!