Planning a trip often revolves around culinary experiences, and Universal Studios Hollywood is no exception. While the park is known for its thrilling rides and character encounters, it also offers a diverse range of dining options, including healthier choices. This article serves as a guide to navigating the healthy and vegetarian options available, ensuring a satisfying culinary experience.
Dining Inside the Theme Park
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This area is a favorite among visitors, with its intricate details and immersive atmosphere, even for those who aren't die-hard fans.
- Three Broomsticks: This restaurant offers vegetarian and vegan options, including a meat-free take on a British classic, served with a fresh salad and sliced potatoes instead of mashed. Another option is a platter featuring grilled asparagus, minted peas, sautéed cabbage, roasted Roma tomatoes with mashed potatoes.
- Hog’s Head: Don't forget the Butterbeer! The beloved wizarding drink is always vegetarian, and you can order a vegan version.
Springfield, U.S.A. (The Simpsons Area)
- Krusty Burger: For vegetarians like Lisa Simpson, there's the Meat Hater’s Pizza, a personal-size pizza slice topped with mushrooms, green bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, and green onions.
Lower Lot
- Jurassic Cafe: Dishes here are inspired by Costa Rican cuisine. The pork was tasty, and the plantains on the side were good. For vegetarians, a cheeseburger made with a Beyond Meat patty can be requested. If you’re in the Jurassic World area early in the day, you’re in for a treat! A light breakfast option, the Berries & Cream Waffle from Jurassic Cafe is a simple way to elevate your theme park day right from the start. If you’re more of a savory breakfast person, Jurassic Cafe has you covered, too.
Upper Lot
- Mel’s Diner: You can order the Beyond BBQ Cheeseburger, a completely animal product-free dish made with a Beyond Meat patty, vegan American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, veganaise on a whole wheat bun, served with crinkle-cut fries.
- Minion Cafe: Request the "El Macho" Nachos without the chicken for a tortilla bowl topped with white queso, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cilantro.
- Cocina Mexicana: Many of the Mexican classics can be made with Beyond Meat al pastor. The vegetarian version of the taco platter is served with Beyond Meat al pastor, diced onion, cilantro, queso fresco. The veggie nachos are made with Beyond Meat al pastor, pico de gallo, white queso, salsa roja, diced onion, sliced jalapeño, and tortilla chips.
- City Snack Shop: Don’t miss out on City Snack Shop, located right on Universal Plaza. You read that right: Giant. Everything. Pretzel. It’s a large, warm and toasty authentic Bavarian style pretzel topped with Everything Bagel seasoning.
- French Street Bistro and the Palace Deli & Market: You can find a delicious, meat-free sandwich that you can take on-the-go.
- Toadstool Cafe: First up: the Super Mushroom Soup. (We are in the Mushroom Kingdom, after all.) This creamy mushroom soup is served with adorable Super Mushroom crackers. And, good news: the mushroom bowl is included with your meal! This dish is a vegan tomato basil soup topped with micro basil, sliced mushroom, and truffle oil. Like the Super Mushroom Soup, this dish is also served in a Super Mushroom Bowl, which you can take home with you. This cleverly designed dish is one of the most Instagrammable dishes at Toadstool Cafe. This is a delicious and filling option for any vegetarians ages 9 and under, as it’s only on the kids menu.
Universal CityWalk
To get to and from our car to Universal Studios Hollywood, we had to walk along the CityWalk. Brace yourselves. It is full of eye-catching neon signs, smells, and familiar brands. It’s pretty hard to walk through it without feeling hungry. So we stopped at Ben and Jerry’s and bought some ice cream.
Tips for Healthy Eating and Saving Money
- Bring a Refillable Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is essential, and Universal Studios Hollywood provides refill stations.
- Check the Dietary Food Guide: Universal Studios Hollywood has a dietary food guide that’s super helpful.
- Split Meals: Consider splitting meals, especially snacks, to sample a variety of foods without overeating.
- Allowable Food: You can bring snacks into the park.
Healthy Options at Universal Orlando Resort (Inspiration)
Universal Orlando Resort has made efforts to offer healthier meal options across the entire resort, including all theme park, hotel, and CityWalk restaurants. While this blog isn’t here to determine what “healthy” is or to tell you what’s “healthy” for your body but rather serve as suggestions and tips for alternative foods that fit within common eating restrictions.
- Freshly Grilled Brook Trout: Paired with fire-roasted vegetables and a fresh house salad. Brook trout is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 and is also high in protein.
- Salad of Spinach, Arugula, Avocado, Quinoa, Asparagus, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Red Onion, Pine Nuts, Feta Cheese: Topped with a citrus vinaigrette.
- Plant-Based Beyond Burger: Topped with pulled, smoked jackfruit. Jackfruit is a fruit but it tastes and has the texture of pulled meat!
- Plant-Based Sushi Roll: A combination of fresh avocado, cucumber, and asparagus rolled into the perfect bite.
- TODAY Cafe: Is easily the best one-stop shop for a variety of healthy options in Universal Studios. Everyone loves avocado toast! You can’t go wrong with a morning Acai bowl!
- Roasted Portobello Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, Peppers, Zucchini, Carrots: And yes… vegan jalapeno cheese!
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon Salad: Is packed with roasted root vegetables and dill… not to mention that both salmon and pistachios are powerful ingredients! Pistachios are not only heart-healthy but also high in unsaturated fatty acids and fiber, which helps maintain blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
- Lemon-Garlic Roasted Cauliflower: Romesco sauce, and stewed beluga lentils, topped with toasted almonds.
- Amphorae Shrub: Vinegar is a wonderful health tonic as it aids digestion.
- Beef, Chicken, or Vegetarian Kebabs: With a pita and tzatziki (yogurt-based) sauce. The main ingredient of falafel (chickpeas) brings vitamins, minerals, and fiber to the body while also improving digestion.
- Caesar Salad at Bambu: Has a special twist to include hearts of palm.
- Grilled Carne Asada or Chicken Tacos: Ask to have your tacos on lettuce for a grain-free, gluten-free taco bowl.
- Freshly Roasted Chicken: Served with roasted tri-color potatoes and grilled asparagus.
- Amatista’s Beyond Burger: Is not one to miss!
- Turkey Burger: The turkey burger is a lean protein option compared to a hamburger and is low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
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