5 Great Orlando Theme Park Restaurant We Tried This Year
From Epic Universe to Hollywood Studios, here are the dishes we tried recently that really wowed us.
Blue Dragon Bar Interior. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez.
THIS YEAR, I’VE EATEN LIKE A QUEEN, DRANK LIKE A PIRATE AND SLURPED MY WAY THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST INSPIRED DISHES CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER. From swanky seafood towers to spicy dumpling dives, my recent restaurant circuit has been a whirlwind of flavor and flair. Here’s what’s been lighting up my taste buds lately.
I made my own reservations—now make yours!
The dramatic Bar Helios. Photo by Omga Staff.
Bar Helios
Bar Helios was my first stop—and it set the bar high. This tribute to the gods can be found on the top floor of the Helios Grand Hotel at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe. It sports a black-and-gold color scheme and Greek mythology design, and we recommend dressing up and playing into the theme.
The centerpiece is the bar itself. You can sit inside at the bar or at a table, and there are larger seating areas for bigger parties. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows make it easy to enjoy the stunning, sweeping park views from the comfort of the air-conditioned dome. But they also offer outdoor seating, with incredible views of the nighttime water and light show and the park itself. Bring something to put your hair up; it can get windy outside.
The menu is tapas style, with lots of Greek influences; we tried a bit of everything. The dozen Bluepoint oysters arrived like tiny oceanic treasures, resting on a bed of ice with a harissa cocktail sauce that slapped in the best way. Not to be outdone, the snow crab claws came with a pink peppercorn mignonette that balanced tang with a floral pop.
Then came the beef skewer, smoky and juicy, dripping in chimichurri and garlic sauce—bold, herbaceous and dangerously snackable. But what really stole the show? The drinks. Nectar of the Gods lives up to its name—a creamy, tart, peachy dream laced with Cruzan rum and Grand Marnier. And Atlas? A figgy, citrusy sip that tasted like an old map smelled—mysterious, complex and totally intoxicating.
Tonkotsu Ramen at The Blue Dragon. ©Universal Orlando Resort
The Blue Dragon
If Bar Helios was a quiet storm, The Blue Dragon was an all-out flavor typhoon. This vibrant spot leans into its Pan-Asian fusion roots with zero apologies—and I loved it. Tucked inside Epic Universe, but right outside the Helios, The Blue Dragon is one of two full-service restaurants in the park. The theme is a night in Tokyo, with star-filled night skies and flowing lanterns setting the mood. Food is served family style, and comes out as it’s ready, so be prepared to share.
We started with the Korean wings, double-fried and dangerously crunchy, tossed in gochujang glaze that had me licking my fingers and my pride. The dim sum course was like attending a very chic dumpling cotillion: snowflake potstickers with lacy edges that shattered like sugar glass, garlicky shrimp siu mai and delicate chicken wontons lounging in chili oil. Even my dreams have been a little spicy ever since.
The ramen—a velvety tonkotsu broth studded with chashu pork and a perfectly jammy egg—was comfort food-turned-couture. And the cocktails? Total drama queens. Chengdu Dream looked like a vacation in a glass—pineapple fronds, edible orchids, golden sugar rim—and tasted like a tropical fever dream. Golden Dragon came with jalapeño essence and turmeric syrup but still went down as smooth as coconut cream. Publisher’s Note: This was my favorite mocktail in the park.
Atlantic restaurant interior. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez.
Atlantic
A Coastal Love Letter to Fine Dining
And then there’s Atlantic—an elegant, underwater fantasy come to life, delicious in a way that whispers instead of shouts. This is the kind of place where even the salad deserves a round of applause. (Shout-out to the baby beets and goat cheese with peach oat crumble.)
The second of Epic’s full-service restaurants, Atlantic boasts several levels, the top being the bar, and several levels below of dining seating. We opted for a reservation just before sunset for some added drama. Look up to admire the glass-like carousel of fish sculptures gracefully moving overhead.
We eased in with a beautiful tuna tartare—diced to perfection, balanced by sweet watermelon and earthy truffle yuzu. The sweet corn chowder was Florida sunshine in a bowl, flecked with bright red sweety drop peppers and baby basil. But the stars of the show were clearly the mains: seared scallops on creamy Arborio rice (a risotto by any other name) and the Atlantic filet mignon with crispy potato mille-feuille. It was rich, precise and decadent—like a culinary tuxedo.
To drink? The Aranciata Mule—a refreshing, fizzy citrus bomb spiked with Gosling’s ginger beer and black cherry syrup.
Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned at ‘50 Prime Time Café. ©2025 Disney, all rights reserved.
‘50s Prime Time Café
Comfort Food & Sass on the Side
Next, we dropped by Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a little fun and food. After riding Rise of the Resistance, we made our way to the ‘50s Prime Time Café. Here, it’s not just about the food—it’s about the rules. No elbows on the table, eat your veggies and don’t even think about texting at dinner. And yet somehow, it’s still one of the most fun meals you’ll have at Disney. They fed us our veggies by airplane not once, but twice. We may have been the worst table of the day. Sorry about that!
We ordered A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes—golden-fried chicken, fork-tender pot roast and traditional meatloaf with all the fixin’s. The pot roast was a hug on a plate, braised until it practically spooned itself onto the mashed potatoes. Cousin Megan’s meatloaf? Classic and comforting, with just the right amount of tomato glaze.
The Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake was nostalgia in a glass—thick, creamy and surprisingly balanced. For the grown-ups, the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned was a smoky-sweet slow sipper that reminded me that maybe I do like bourbon… when it tastes like summer camp.
Nine Dragons’ Chicken Pot Stickers. ©2025 Disney, all rights reserved.
Nine Dragons
Our final stop was the elegant yet approachable Nine Dragons, nestled inside EPCOT’s China Pavilion. Guests are greeted by a stunning glass etching of two dragons chasing a glowing pearl. The walls are covered in ornate wood carvings and exquisite glass artwork. Request a table by a window for a sweeping view of the World Showcase Lagoon promenade.
We started with chicken pot stickers—golden, pan-fried and perfectly crimped—and followed up with spicy, soul-warming wontons in chili oil. Stuffed with shrimp, crab and chicken, those little parcels had me planning a return trip before we finished the bowl.
Then came the Kowloon Spare Ribs—lacquered in a spicy-sweet glaze, smoky and sticky in all the right ways. I dare you not to lick your fingers.
The Passion Old Fashioned was a playful take on the classic: Jack Daniel’s with a hit of passion fruit puree and orange bitters.
So that’s the roundup. Five full-service theme park restaurants, endless bites and a whole lot of reasons to be grateful for stretchy waistbands brimming with flavor—and I’m just getting started.
