These restaurants have worked many times with my allergies without any issues, but just like any restaurant, I can not guarantee that they will always work that way. Please take all your usual allergy precautions when eating at these restaurants.
I love Universal. My family goes all the time, and we are proud owners of annual passes. As a huge Harry Potter fan, it is one of my happy places. I have gone to almost every restaurant in the Universal Studios area: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, the wonderful hotels, and the amazing shopping, dining, and all-around fun and free area, Citywalk. This list does not include restaurants in the Volcano Bay park, as I have not been there enough yet to properly judge them.
Dining in Universal Studios with allergies is really next level. I have never had any issue with eating their food, and it is always delicious. Even when the restaurants are really busy, which they usually are, you still feel like you are being taken care of and the chefs have a true interest in ensuring your safety.
Whenever we go to a restaurant in Universal, we either try to eat really early or really late so that it is not quite as crowded and we can be as safe as possible. It can still be crowded, but it will not be too full to not feel safe.
Although there are many, many amazing restaurants in the area, I do have a few favorites. Here are my favorite restaurants to eat lunch and dinner in the area for folks with allergies. (In order)
1. Amatista Cookhouse
View the website here
Location: Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando
Amatista Cookhouse is by far my favorite restaurant in the area. They are absolutely amazing with allergies, have lots and lots of substitutes, delicious food, and low levels of cross-contamination issues. They serve mostly Caribbean inspired cuisine, but they really have something for everyone.
My personal favorite is their plantains and rotisserie chicken. They also have some really delicious and creative virgin drinks.
It is located in the Sapphire Falls Resort, which is also by far my favorite hotel. Amatista is near the pool, and it has an amazing view of the man-made lagoon and the Islands of Adventure park. The best part? You can take the boat from City Walk right to the walkway to the restaurant. It is usually not that crowded, which is really rare and amazing.
The last time we stayed at Sapphire Falls resort, my family ate here almost every day. They really do have so many options for people with allergies that you can go multiple times and never have the same thing.
2. VIVO Italian Kitchen
View the website here
Location: Citywalk
For a little more pricey and fancy option, VIVO is amazing! Their food may be a little more expensive, but it is worth every penny. This is by far my parents’ favorite restaurant. My dad sometimes takes a break from the parks, but he always insists on meeting up with us afterward so we can go to VIVO. They have amazing pasta and are able to make lots of vegan-friendly dishes. For gluten-free needs, they have amazing steak and seafood dishes as well.
VIVO serves, you guessed it, all Italian food. They have pasta, pizzas, meats, seafood, and basically any other Italian dish you can dream of. Whenever we go here, because I am allergic to the normal bread, the chefs make special breadsticks out of the pizza dough, which is delicious!
VIVO is located right in the middle of Citywalk. It has a really nice atmosphere, with indoor, outdoor, and kitchen view seating. I really love the kitchen view, as it allows you to view what’s going on and watch them make your dish. This can come in handy with allergies! The one downside to VIVO is that it gets really crowded. You still feel like the chefs are taking really good care of you, but you better get a reservation!
3. BigFire
View the website here
Location: CityWalk
BigFire is absolutely amazing! It is a little pricier, but their food is incredibly delicious. I have only been there once since it is a relatively new restaurant, but they did amazing with my allergies. They serve mostly American food, but if it’s cooked over a huge, hot flame, then they probably have it!
When I came to BigFire, they made me the most delicious salmon ever over their flame with AMAZING smashed potatoes. They even made me my own sauce for the salmon because I could not have the regular one.
BigFire has a super convenient location. It is located on the edge of Citywalk, near the walkway to the hotels. When you view it from the outside, you really have no idea how huge it is until you walk around inside. You can also walk by the window to the room with the flame.
When I ate here, it was definitely one of the best meals I have ever had at Universal. The chefs and managers were all so nice as well that there was really no downside at all to BigFire.
4. Islands Dining Room
View the website here
Location: Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Islands Dining Room is absolutely wonderful! They serve mostly Pan-American food, but they have lots of different types of foods. Their kid’s menus are very long, and they have lots and lots of food that kids (including 14 year olds like me) will love.
I have not been here as much as the other restaurants on my list, but from what I have experienced, it is absolutely delicious and allergy-friendly. My favorite thing I have gotten from here is the pizza. They were able to make a safe, dairy, and egg-free pizza for me. For dessert, I was able to get non-dairy cookies and cream whipped cream trifle. This is my mom’s favorite restaurant because she loves sushi and Thai food. The best thing about this restaurant is that they really have something for everyone.
Islands is located in the Loews Pacific Resort. It is a really pretty hotel and restaurant.
5. TODAY Cafe
View the website here
Location: Universal Studios
The TODAY cafe is great! They have much healthier options than most other restaurants in the theme parks, but they also have a full bakery case. They did really great with my allergies! I am usually not a fan of typical “healthy” food, but I have to admit, TODAY cafe was absolutely delicious, and healthy!
When I came to the TODAY cafe, I got a panini with ham and tomato. For those of you who do not know, being able to order a panini with allergies to dairy can be impossible. Well, TODAY cafe achieved the impossible! It was absolutely delicious, and I look forward to going there again.
TODAY cafe is right near the entrance to Universal Studios. Inspired by the Today Show, it has a very modern and Hollywood feel. It has indoor and outdoor dining options, and it is surprisingly quick and not as crowded as most other restaurants in the parks.
The TODAY Cafe was just wonderful. I have only gone here once since it was a relatively new restaurant, but I look forward to going again!
6. Mel’s Drive In
View the website here
Location: Universal Studios
I love the food at Mel’s! The most amazing thing that happened at Mel’s was that I was able to eat food that every other kid I looked at was eating as well, a burger, and fries. Similar to most other restaurants in the Universal area, they are really good at handling allergies and preventing cross-contamination.
As I said before, at Mel’s I was able to eat a burger and fries safely. They serve mostly classic American food.
Mel’s is also close to the middle of the Universal Studios park. They did an amazing job of decorating. Whenever you walk into Mel’s, it really does feel like you are walking into the 1950s (from what I have heard, I am only 14). They have really cool classic cars outside and every little detail is crafted to make you feel like you took a time machine to the ’50s. Because of the feel, this is my grandma’s favorite restaurant.
The only downside of Mel’s is that it is really crowded, all the time. Mel’s has worked for me and others I have heard about, but you do not get quite the same level of confidence at Mel’s compared to the restaurants above. That is not saying that it is not still absolutely amazing, and they handle allergies better than your average restaurant anywhere else.
7. The Three Broomsticks
View the website here
Location: Islands Of Adventure
I am a huge huge fan of Harry Potter, so of course one of the restaurants in the wizarding world was going to make it onto the list. I have dined here too many times to count, and it has worked out very well every time. You get that great confidant feeling when you order here, which is always really important with food allergies.
Whenever I eat here, I always get the rotisserie chicken, potatoes, and fruit and it is always delicious. The chicken has amazing seasoning and is cooked just perfectly so that it falls off the bone. The potatoes are amazing as well.
The three broomsticks is right in the middle of Hogsmeade (the Harry Potter part of Islands of Adventure). It has indoor and outdoor dining. The indoor dining feels like you are in Diagon Alley world, which for Potterheads like me is really a dream come true. The outdoor seating is a great break from all the mental stress and loud noises of the park.
I love the three broomsticks, but the only downside is that for someone with similar allergies to mine (dairy, eggs, and peanuts), is that there are not as many options as the other restaurants on the list. Definitely worth eating a meal at though!
Those are all of my favorite restaurants for lunch at dinner in the Universal area. Breakfast and dessert with allergies can be a struggle, but there are a few options available.
For breakfast, my family usually just gets oatmeal at Starbucks in Islands of Adventure, or if we want something that takes a little longer, the restaurants in the Wizarding Worlds have delicious food that can usually be suited to people with allergies.
For dessert, a great option can be Menchies in CityWalk. It is a very impressive frozen yogurt place with about every flavor and topping you can think of. They also have dairy-free and gluten-free flavors available, and they usually have fresh toppings offline to prevent cross-contamination.
Lastly, for a quick snack, a great option is Auntie Annes. They have multiple locations all over the area. They serve delicious soft pretzels, including more creative inventions such as pizza pretzels and pig in a blanket, pretzel style. The pretzels are usually dipped in butter, but you can ask them to make you one that does not come in contact with butter. Sadly, none of their products are gluten-free at the moment. If you are gluten-free, there are also ice cream stands all over the place that sell ice cream, fruit, drinks, and more.
Phew, I think that is it! These are all of my favorite options, but keep in mind that every restaurant owned by Universal has food allergy precautions in place. These restaurants have always worked well for my allergies, but they may not work as well for others.
Happy Dining!
