Epic Universe is packed with jaw-dropping lands and amazing rides but if you’re anything like me, the real adventure lives on the menus. This article features hot chocolate mornings, culinary highs, a few misses but mainly hits, and a whole lot of themed snacking.

Drinks

Universal Helios Grand Hotel has a cart ready for guests on cold mornings filled with hot chocolate and pastries. The hot chocolate is creamy, smooth, and instantly comforting. An excellent way to wake up. If they sold this in vats, I’d buy one.

The Bubbly Barrel DK Crush Float is all over the internet for good reason. It’s a tropical, banana-forward treat that hits all the right notes for a Donkey Kong–themed snack. Featuring banana-pineapple soft serve in a float, it’s refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. This kind of treat that is perfect on a hot day, and I would happily eat/drink it again and again!

If you need a quiet break inside, the Atlantic is a great option in the afternoon. I recommend the Paloma which was bright, citrusy, and well-balanced for a mid-day cocktail.

Café L’Air de la Sirène feels like stepping into Europe, and the Lavender Lemonade is floral without being overpowering, refreshing and unique.

Snacks

How to Treat Your Dragon is a super cute stop for sweet treats. The Cookies & Cream Egg is dense, sitting somewhere between a giant truffle and a candy bar. It was easier to eat, once split in half. I thought the flavors were good but I preferred the more subtle Toothless Sugar Cookie.

If you are craving a savory treat, Burning Blade Tavern One has Burning Cheddar Bites which I consider a must-try. They’re fried jalapeño pimento cheddar bites served with sriracha ranch that strike the perfect balance of heat and creaminess. The ambiance of the tavern was also 10/10. I can imagine this being a great place to escape the heat in the summer or the rain, well anytime of year!

Yoshi’s Snack Island was fine. The Red Shell Calzone is bready, cheesy, and familiar, but ultimately just okay. Filled with Italian meat sauce and melted mozzarella, it’s essentially a hot pocket in calzone form. The green shell version offers a slightly better flavor profile but theme was better than the reality.

It’s best to share the Butterbeer Crepe from Café L’Air de la Sirène. It is sweet, creamy, and delightfully indulgent, like a Wizarding World crossover tucked inside a French café.

Meals

Despite the name, the PB&J Mac & Cheese Cone isn’t your childhood sandwich in disguise. At Hooligan'sGrog & Gruel, it stands for bbq harissa pulled pork, peanut bacon jam and parsley, all piled into a handheld cone. It sounds chaotic, and honestly, it is, but in the best possible medieval-tavern way. Once you make your way through the Mac & cheese, you’re left with delicious garlic bread. This is on my list to get again.

Star Sui Bao Starfall District is a foodie haven, not wed to any theme. The Kimchi Bao is a flavor bomb, tender fried chicken tossed in a kimchi honey glaze, topped with scallion yuzu aioli and kimchi slaw. It’s quite possibly my favorite bite I took the entire two days.

The Pork Soup Dumplings feature seasoned ground pork paired with a black vinegar dipping sauce. They’re rich and satisfying, though a bit tricky to eat on the move, so I recommend finding a spot to sit and savor them fully. I’m spoiled with a soup dumpling restaurant five minutes from my house, so I’m not sure if this is a must buy for me for when I return.

Blue Dragon Blue Dragon Epic is fun and visually striking, with playful theming that sets the mood, from colorful light-up street signs inside to whimsical upside-down umbrellas outside. The Double-Fried “Korean” Wings are the undeniable star, huge, ultra-crunchy, and coated in a gochujang-style sauce that is sticky, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The Vegetable Spring Rolls are a lighter option, crisp and crunchy without feeling greasy, while the Snowflake Potstickers, pork-filled with a lacy crust and served with dragon sauce, are visually stunning and tasty, though more standard in flavor compared to the wings. The Smashed Cucumbers, tossed with dragon sauce, cilantro, peanuts, and a touch of Sichuan spice, are cool, refreshing, and provide the perfect counterpoint to the richer, heavier dishes. Together, the menu at Blue Dragon Epic hits a satisfying range of textures and flavors.

While the Atlantic sit-down restaurant, I only tried the Ahi Tuna Tartare. It’s fresh, clean, and lightly acidic.

Epic Universe’s food scene is whimsical, varied, and impressively themed. Some dishes shine (Star Sui Bao entire menu, Burning Blade Tavern’s burning cheddar bites), while others lean more novelty than flavor (looking at you, Calzone Shell). But that’s part of the fun, because eating here feels like exploring a culinary amusement park inside a regular amusement park. Cheers!