Cheap meals near Universal hotels??

[MelindaKiah]

Can anyone recommend some restaurants off-site that are fairly reasonably priced? With six of us, I'd like to try to save as much as possible.

Thanks.

 

[BarryHom]

There's a ton of restaurants on I-Drive. You can find a lot of buffet places. There's a bunch of places with $3.99 buffets. Otherwise, you can find a fast food place on I-Drive, like Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, etc. If you do go on I-Drive, try to avoid the world's biggest McDonald's at the corner of San Lake and I-Drive. It's quite gawdy and pricey!

 

[MelindaKiah]

Thanks Barry!

I'll have to find those buffets for $3.99!!! Here, a buffet is at least $11.99 per person. That would be very cost effective to fill my two teenage sons, who are bottomless pits!

 

[rhysd2]

Like barry said avoid the worlds biggest at all costs. however if you are after fast food at the same intersection there theres a wide variety of junk food places. Popeyes chicken, burger king, hardys. etc. also just opposite the wyndham on that intersection there is the TGI sports bar and grill which is ok for a quick meall. and 1 mile(i think) in either direction from that intersection are ponderosa's all you can eat buffets.

maybe a half mile south down i-drive from that intersection is the meccado(sp?) which has a variety of fairly decent restaurants also. plenty to choose from. hope that helps

**edit** just also remembered on that intersection is a dennys and perkins. both great for cheap good food.

 

[Cindy B]

I don't think the worlds biggest is pricy, but the Mc D;s near me is the same price. WE got a wrap, and two full size 14 inch pizzas for about $16!

I have some coupons for that McD's and the one on Kirkman. It was a buy one get one pizza for free! I think the website was www.mcfun.com There is also a buy one meal, get a kids meal for free.

If you want to eat someplace fun, I have a clear channel cert leftover. Its for an Indian place called Shalimar Tandoor. ITs on I Drive near Carrier drive. Its a $50 cert. I bought it for $15.

 

[MelindaKiah]

That certificate would be great. how much are you asking?

I'll definitely look at the coupons on the McD's site...thanks!!!!

We won our trip, but still need to be careful with money. There are 8 of us going, so food will be a big expense. Anything we can save will help immensely.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

You can aso order pizza and have it delivered to your hotel. People talk about Flippers being decent.

 

[BarryHom]

$3.99 is only for breakfast. I think dinner is like $6.99 or something like that.

If you like pizza and don't mind a bit of a travel, there's a CiCi's Pizza on East Colonial Drive (there may be one on Kirkman). Their buffets are $3.99 a person. It may not be the best pizza, but at least it is good and their restaurants tend to be very clean.

Well, here's the locations in Orlando from CiCi's Pizza's website:

3 E
Cici's Pizza
407-228-0900 4632 E. Colonial Drive
Ste 17-1
Orlando, FL 32803

5 SE
Cici's Pizza
407-249-3939 4538 South Semoran Blvd
Ste 19
Orlando, FL 32822

6 W
Cici's Pizza
407-298-1919 7262 W. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32818

7 SW
Cici's Pizza
407-352-4244 8261 John Young Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32819

10 NE
Cici's Pizza
407-695-3555 5864 Red Bug Lake Rd
Winter Springs, FL 32708

11 N
Cici's Pizza
407-339-2424 1155 West State Road 434
Ste 101-103
Longwood, FL 32750

11 NW
Cici's Pizza
407-886-1113 2358 East Semoran Blvd
Apopka, FL 32703

13 SW
Cici's Pizza
407-238-7711 8586 Palm Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32836

16 NE
Cici's Pizza
407-330-7676 3695 S. Orlando Ave
Sanford, FL 32773

16 S
Cici's Pizza
407-870-7711 1400 E Vine Street
Ste F
Kissimmee, FL 34744

The closest one to Universal is on John Young Parkway. The one on Palm Parkway is closest to WDW.

 

[Cindy B]

if you also go to www.restaurant.com you can get a certificate for Le Peep. (restaurant 5 minutes away from Universal). --this place is near Conroy and Kirkman.

I paid $6 for my certificate, and I got a $25 certificate. I bought two breakfasts (adults), 2 kids breakfasts, one specialty coffee, one regular coffee (small thermos filled about 4 cups), two milks for $27.11

All I had to do was pay the difference, and the tip.

This place is a breakfast/lunch place only, so you will have to plan accordingly. They close at 2:30 so be aware of that.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

The cheapest offsite restaurant I've found is the Ponderosa on I-drive. Dinner buffet comes with a steak and it is 8.99. Under 5 eats free. It's a really good deal in my opinion.

 

[robvia]

And of coarse, there's the Publix grocery store located about a mile north of the park at the NW corner of Kirkman and Conroy Rd.
4606 S. Kirkman Road
Orlando Fl 32811
The deli can make you subs, and you can grab a styrophome cooler in the beer isle and stock up on doughnuts, milk, juice, and snacks. Not only will that save you money, but time getting ready in the morning.
Type that address into maps.yahoo.com and then you'll know how to find it.

 

[Cindy B]

The Le Peep is in the same plaza as this Publix. I went to the PUblix after our meal, and it had decent prices.

 

[Figment22]

Sweet Tomatoes at the corner of I-Drive and Kirkman. Outstanding salad buffet with pastas, soups, baked goods. Just delicious and quite reasonably priced. Check them out here:

Sweet Tomatoes

Lots of people on the boards love them!

 

[MelindaKiah]

Wow!!! thanks guys. This is very helpful!!

restaurant.com looks great but i live in canada and it won't let me purchase from the site

 

[antmaril]

Tony Roma's on I-Drive. We've had great meals there for $6.00 per person. Good barbeque sandwich, fries and cole slaw for six bucks - you can't beat it.

 

[gfolchick]

There is a Boston Market across from where LePeep is.

 

[Mrs.viv07]

wow this was very helpful we have 2 days at universal and are paying out of pocket so this was great tips!
\thanks

 

[Snowy-girls]

Hello All,
A bit further down I-Drive is the Golden Corral which do a superb buffet breakfast,about $1-$2 dollars extra than the Ponderosa but i think its well worth it,much more choice than the Ponderosa,omeletts cooked to your liking filled with whatever you want.Eggs done just the way you want them.Constant re-fills of pure orange or apple juice or coffee brought to your table.They also do a buffet dinner,which includes steak(cooked how you want),chicken,pizza,veggies,different potatoes,hot-pot,rolls,dessert counter-the list is endless.
Also outside the store there are always coupon booklets,for so many dollars off other restaurants including there own.If i remember rightly they had coupons for TGI Fridays,Ponderosa,Wild Jacks etc..
If its pancakes you want(they do breakfasts and dinner as well)try I-Hop these do THE best buttermilk pancakes i have ever had,with your choice of strawberry sauce,blueberry sauce,whipped cream. Also when we were there they had a kids eat free night,from about 4pm i think it was on tuesdays.
Also Denny's do THE best burgers and thick shakes,kids eat free on a tuesday from 4pm.
Hope this helps.x.
Please someone correct me if the kids eat free doesnt happen anymore.x.

 

[Metro West]

The Le Peep is in the same plaza as this Publix. I went to the PUblix after our meal, and it had decent prices.

Right across the street from the Publix and Le Peep is Bubbalou's which has TERRIFIC BBQ and sides. You get a lot of food for the money and shouldn't be missed...especially if you like BBQ!

 

[friendnc]

When we have Universal/Sea World passes, we always stay on Major Blvd. across from Universal. There's a good pizza place nearby called Pizza Extreme we really like. Their special is an extra large for $8.99. It feeds my wife, me, and 14/11 sons. They're really good. It's on Kirkman Rd. going away from Universal. It'll be in a little strip center just past Howard Johnson's on the right. The number is (407) 226-3333. You can pick it up or have it delivered.