Here’s a look at a fun level of immersion from Universal’s Epic Universe that you’ll be able to taste when the park opens May 22: cuisine created to bring you into the worlds of Nintendo, Universal Monsters’ Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Berk, and more. We’re ready for all the weird fandom flavors represented in this intriguing grub.
Universal Monsters Dark Universe
The Universal Monsters themed land will have its own Burning Blade Tavern—yes, named for the bar featured in Frankenstein. So, of course the most properly weird food will be at Dark Universe: it all looks like straight-up Dr. Frankenstein lab creations. A black bun is just asking for a bathroom fright in a few days (food coloring can have certain fun side effects), but we’ll chance it for the blood orange chicken sandwich from Das Stakehaus. There’s even a vegan option, delightfully named “Our Favorite Vegan Familiar’s Stuffed Cabbage,” that features “impossible meat wrapped in tender cabbage leaves nestled in a rich bell pepper tomato sauce and accompanied by a vibrant beet bucatini.” But it’s the meat on a stake that really tickled us; there’s a few options for protein and veggies on a stake in case you encounter a vampire while nomming.
How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk
Less spooky but more cute is the dining for the Isle of Berk, the Viking kingdom from How to Train Your Dragon. Thankfully there’s no dragon meat on the menu—phew! There is a fun Viking family platter with all the meats of land and sea. For tiny dragon riders there’s a chocolate mousse dessert shaped like a fish inspired by Stormfly’s favorite pastime, fishing.
Super Nintendo World
Food levels up at Super Nintendo World. The popular Bowser’s Fireball Challenge will finally make its way to the East Coast; it’s already a staple at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Toadstool Cafe. New will be more Instagram-worthy treats such as Yoshi’s Apple Melon Smoothie, which will be bright green like the character and feature popping boba and whipped cream. And there’s the Mario Bros. specialty burger and chicken sandwich (pesto for Luigi of course!).
Celestial Park and Wizarding World: Ministry of Magic
With Epic Universe’s theme being out of this world, the main hub’s Celestial Park will have dining that evokes the adventures among the moon and stars. There’s a Pizza Moon pie shop with a Méliès Trip to the Moon touch, which makes sense to homage one of the first genre films at a new park that’s the current evolution of Universal Studios bringing movie lovers into cinematic worlds. And let’s not forget fantasy with another Wizarding World land that gives fans a new Butterbeer incarnation in the form of sweet crepes, among other Harry Potter world treats.
Universal Epic Universe opens in Orlando, Florida May 22.
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