Restaurants that give you the best bang for your buck!

[Twinsmom2009]

Hi, we are staying at Cabana Bay May 13-19 2019. We do not plan to rent a car... So we will likely stay within Universal (may uber to other places a time or two) for almost all of our meals. It will be be me DH and twin 10 year old girls.

I have been reading up the dining options and many sound lovely! I am wondering if you have suggestions on places that provide good food relatively cheap in the parks, @ citywalk or any of the resorts? It would be nice to have a list of several locations that we can try that won't always break the bank . They can be sit down meals, grab and go or any that are just must tries! Maybe you know of some less popular places that provide good value? While it's great to look at menus and read reviews I love to hear from those who have been there done that lol!

Thank you so much for any suggestions!!

 

[schumigirl]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...do-including-menus-updated-regularly.2681315/

Have a read through this if you haven’t already.

It is fantastic and is a fully comprehensive list of menu’s with prices from parks, hotels and Citywalk. You can find places that will suit your family........


One hidden gem that doesn’t get mentioned a lot is Confisco Grill in IOA. We’ve been going there since 2007 and it has never let us down. It’s table service, but prices are excellent and portions are good.

Thunder Falls Terrace is another place that’s cheap and portions are large.....the chicken and rib platter is easily shareable.....

Louie’s in the Studios has terrific pizza and a full pie will work for a family.

Margaritaville has excellent options......if you like nachos that’s the place to go. Also Bula Bar at RP has good nachos too........

So many places!!!

 

[Twinsmom2009]

Have a read through this if you haven’t already.

It is fantastic and is a fully comprehensive list of menu’s with prices from parks, hotels and Citywalk. You can find places that will suit your family........


One hidden gem that doesn’t get mentioned a lot is Confisco Grill in IOA. We’ve been going there since 2007 and it has never let us down. It’s table service, but prices are excellent and portions are good.

Thunder Falls Terrace is another place that’s cheap and portions are large.....the chicken and rib platter is easily shareable.....

Louie’s in the Studios has terrific pizza and a full pie will work for a family.

Margaritaville has excellent options......if you like nachos that’s the place to go. Also Bula Bar at RP has good nachos too........

So many places!!!

I am working my way through that thread! There are a lot of pages

Thank you so much for the reply, going to check those out. The hidden gems and the ones that get overlooked are always my favourite suggestions! My kids don't always want to stick to the kids menu so it's great to be able to have some sharable options and nachos are a family favourite for sure!

 

[schumigirl]

I am working my way through that thread! There are a lot of pages

Thank you so much for the reply, going to check those out. The hidden gems and the ones that get overlooked are always my favourite suggestions! My kids don't always want to stick to the kids menu so it's great to be able to have some sharable options and nachos are a family favourite for sure!

Lol.....yes, there are a lot of pages......same with the food thread with pictures........if you look at that for ideas, maybe work from the last page for the most recent food offerings available.

NBC also do good nachos, not huge but a good sharing app......

We haven’t been but one of my friends is just back from almost 3 weeks at Universal and she said they ate 3 times in Bread box in Citywalk and their kids said it was their favourite place ever!! Praise indeed from kids so young.....it’s lovely your kids don’t always want kids meals.....opens up a lot of choices for them.

I’ve never eaten in CBay, but the food places seem to get good reviews.

Haven’t been for a few years, but Blondies was always good too....in IOA, small and very few mention it, but we loved the Dagwood Sandwich.......

Sals at PB has the best onsite pizza there is anywhere in Universal.......the largest size is very large and again, could be shared.......

This is my opinion only......places to maybe not go.....would be Mels Diner, Monsters cafe, Cafe 4 in the parks.....in Citywalk we dislike Bubba Gumps and although it’s enjoyed by a lot of folks, we won’t eat at Toothsome again.....very over rated for us.

Margaritaville has massively improved last few years and is fabulous for kids too.......NBC is another good place.....and of course Voodoo Donuts!!!

Just noticed your dates.....we’ll be there then too......we arrive May 8th till the 22nd.......

Sorry, I’ve babbled a bit........

 

[bchbetha]

Thunder Falls Terrace has good, shareable stuff. Family feast at Three Broomsticks too. Nachos at Jakes (Royal Pacific) are huge. The food court at Cabana Bay has a lot of good options. If you have a suite, you can store leftovers for a future meal- always handy!

 

[sandam1]

Since you are staying at Cabana Bay, you have easy access to their Bayliner Diner, which has great food choices and very reasonable prices. The first couple of times we thought it was "food court food" and only ate there for breakfast. Then we tried it for dinner and realized what we were missing out on. It has four (I think) different bays with different types of food and each with a special of the day. Plus there is a salad bar as well as a make-your-own sundae area. The portions are fairly substantial and tasty.

Are you staying in a suite? If so, you will have a microwave, frig, and plastic plates and bowls. We regularly have left-overs in our room from our sit down meal of the day and just pair it with a salad or side from the diner.

I've found most of the meals at Universal to be quite affordable (even at the table service restaurants) and not too much pricier than what I would expect to see at home.

 

[damo]

We often eat at the Bula Bar at RPR. The meals there are all plenty big enough for two people. The salad and nachos are massive.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/dining/bula-bar-and-grille/menu.html

 

[Twinsmom2009]

Lol.....yes, there are a lot of pages......same with the food thread with pictures........if you look at that for ideas, maybe work from the last page for the most recent food offerings available.

NBC also do good nachos, not huge but a good sharing app......

We haven’t been but one of my friends is just back from almost 3 weeks at Universal and she said they ate 3 times in Bread box in Citywalk and their kids said it was their favourite place ever!! Praise indeed from kids so young.....it’s lovely your kids don’t always want kids meals.....opens up a lot of choices for them.

I’ve never eaten in CBay, but the food places seem to get good reviews.

Haven’t been for a few years, but Blondies was always good too....in IOA, small and very few mention it, but we loved the Dagwood Sandwich.......

Sals at PB has the best onsite pizza there is anywhere in Universal.......the largest size is very large and again, could be shared.......

This is my opinion only......places to maybe not go.....would be Mels Diner, Monsters cafe, Cafe 4 in the parks.....in Citywalk we dislike Bubba Gumps and although it’s enjoyed by a lot of folks, we won’t eat at Toothsome again.....very over rated for us.

Margaritaville has massively improved last few years and is fabulous for kids too.......NBC is another good place.....and of course Voodoo Donuts!!!

Just noticed your dates.....we’ll be there then too......we arrive May 8th till the 22nd.......

Sorry, I’ve babbled a bit........

Thank you for the detailed report! I am very fortunate that my kids will eat pretty much anything . We will have to eat in one of the Harry Potter restaurants for sure given that we all love it so much!

That’s lovely that you will be there the same time! Given that I have been binge reading all of your trip reports I’m sure I will recognize you! I’ll be the crazy person smiling at you and you will no doubt think I’ve gone mad lol

Thanks again!

 

[Twinsmom2009]

Since you are staying at Cabana Bay, you have easy access to their Bayliner Diner, which has great food choices and very reasonable prices. The first couple of times we thought it was "food court food" and only ate there for breakfast. Then we tried it for dinner and realized what we were missing out on. It has four (I think) different bays with different types of food and each with a special of the day. Plus there is a salad bar as well as a make-your-own sundae area. The portions are fairly substantial and tasty.

Are you staying in a suite? If so, you will have a microwave, frig, and plastic plates and bowls. We regularly have left-overs in our room from our sit down meal of the day and just pair it with a salad or side from the diner.

I've found most of the meals at Universal to be quite affordable (even at the table service restaurants) and not too much pricier than what I would expect to see at home.

We are staying in a suite! That’s a great idea for sure. Glad that the Bayliner has good food...

We are from Canada and with the $$ being so low these days saving where we can is important!

Thank you so much for the reply!

 

[Twinsmom2009]

We often eat at the Bula Bar at RPR. The meals there are all plenty big enough for two people. The salad and nachos are massive.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/dining/bula-bar-and-grille/menu.html

Thank you for the suggestions! I will check it out for sure!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I concur with Breadbox for fast, tasty, and cost effective. Also the pizza place in City Walk.

For the experience, a meal at one of the Harry Potter restaurants is an excellent deal - good food, great atmosphere, filling portions, and reasonable prices. You order at the counter, and they bring it to ypur table.

 

[shh]

Thunder Falls Terrace is another place that’s cheap and portions are large.....the chicken and rib platter is easily shareable.....Louie’s in the Studios has terrific pizza and a full pie will work for a family.

I'll vouch for those as well. Louie's pizza is yummy - close to the genuine New York style we both love - and made even better with a glass of Chianti

Thunder Falls is an excellent value for quick service. We always do lunch there and get the roasted chicken salad - it's HUGE - with a ton of goodies in it. Very satisfying and a nice healthy break from indulgent vacation food - plus a pretty outside area to dine if the weather's nice.

Re: Breadbox in CitiWalk - sandwiches there are really good...definitely recommend that one as well.

One of these days, I have to try Confisco's Grill.

 

[macraven]

I enjoy 97% of the food places in the parks

One place that gets different opinions that I enjoy is the Simpson food court

It has different stations depending on the food type available
Chicken and chicken waffle sandwiches
More separate stations are pizza, burgers, hot dogs

Portions are large

Staff there will help secure a table for you when they are busy

Restrooms are located in the outside of the building

A few places I avoid is Mel’s and Monster Cafe for food

 

[smiths02]

I enjoyed watching these from DISUnplugged

 

[schumigirl]

I'll vouch for those as well. Louie's pizza is yummy - close to the genuine New York style we both love - and made even better with a glass of Chianti

Thunder Falls is an excellent value for quick service. We always do lunch there and get the roasted chicken salad - it's HUGE - with a ton of goodies in it. Very satisfying and a nice healthy break from indulgent vacation food - plus a pretty outside area to dine if the weather's nice.

Re: Breadbox in CitiWalk - sandwiches there are really good...definitely recommend that one as well.

One of these days, I have to try Confisco's Grill.

Confisco Grill is a must do!!! You have to try it......and if you don't like it I`ll delete this post and say it wasn't me who told you to go....…. But I`m sure you will.

We find Mythos over rated and enjoy it here so much more.....

Tom would like to try Breadbox I`m sure as he is such a sandwich fan...….

 

[prairiesarah]

I'll add to those recommending both Bread Box and Sal's Pizza. They were two of our favourites on our trip. Sal's Pizzas could definitely be shared as they are a decent size and they were fantastic. We had a Big Pink (donut) from the Simpsons the last day there and I thought it was a great value and is a fun snack for a few people. We really enjoyed the food at Margaritaville but I cringed when I did the USD to CDN conversion after we ate there - our bill was $85ish USD which put us over $110 CDN for dinner (the exchange rate was about $1.32 when I was buying USD). I try not to worry too much about the conversion but that one got me. We shared an appetizer and had three entrees (and maybe three soda's - can't remember). I thought the food was really good, but I'm not sure it was $110 good.

 

[PantherPete]

I concur with Breadbox for fast, tasty, and cost effective. Also the pizza place in City Walk.

For the experience, a meal at one of the Harry Potter restaurants is an excellent deal - good food, great atmosphere, filling portions, and reasonable prices. You order at the counter, and they bring it to ypur table.

Ditto on the Bread Box and Red Oven Pizza at the City Walk. Both are really good and have reasonable prices.

 

[DPCummerbund]

Aside from Bread Box (which I also liked), there are some other cheap options at the "Top of the Walk" food court at CityWalk. They have a Burger King Whopper Bar and a Panda Express, which are basic food court stuff but cheap, and I did like Moe's Southwest Grill, which isn't anywhere near where I live. I also liked Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck in the Springfield area.

 

[skylock]

I had one of the best whoppers I have ever had at the whopper bar. I think the reason was, they were so busy everything was tip top fresh and hot.

 

[Owlpost23]

Jake's is a favorite of ours!Orchid Sushi Bar is terrific-we also love Bob Marley's for happy hour.Red Oven pizza is tasty,too.