What are your favorite (offsite) casual restaurants close to Universal?

[JoyW]

This will be our second Universal trip. Last time we pretty much stayed on property the whole time. This time I'd like to branch out a little for dinners, and maybe weekend brunch. Does anyone have restaurant recommendations for things that are delicious, as close to Cabana Bay as possible, and not terribly expensive? We have three boys who all eat a LOT (as does my husband). They aren't picky eaters and can find something they will enjoy anywhere. Thanks!

 

[keishashadow]

Schumigirl (who is @ U now) would be a good brain to pick

Will u have a car or use Uber? Not much is walkable.

Reasonably priced & casual places we have enjoyed in nearby area:

any of the miller’s are always a go-to for a meal. U location isn’t my favorite of the lot, still is good.

Lots of different priced places in sand lake road area, a few minutes drive from CB.

Especially like TooJays, a deli with a large menu

Bit further (& pricier) for brunch (chicken & waffles yum) is hash house a go go. Huge portions. We enjoyed the one in Las Vegas. This location seems popular too, drastically reduced hours since pandemic tho

In the general area is a Flippers location along with both a taco & gyro place I’ve heard recommended

Have fun planning!

 

[schumigirl]

Ale House on Kirkman we have always been lucky with, always good food and excellent portions.

Bubbalous is only a 10 minute drive away, excellent barbecue food and huge portions!

We like Hooters, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but food is always good and it’s full of families.

Teak Neighborhood Grill is a 10 minute drive…..massive burgers and good prices for portion size too.

TooJays as Keisha mentioned is wonderful. Good family restaurant.

Nagoya Sushi is fabulous, same area as Toojays.

Maybe a bit more than you want to pay but Kobe on Kirkman is also very good, huge portions! So many more but may be more expensive.

Sapphire and Islands do a very good breakfast buffet.

 

[JoyW]

Thanks for the suggestions- I will definitely look them all up. @keishashadow - We will have a car. I just don't want to drive very far Also- do you remember the taco & gyro place names? Those would go over well with my crowd!

 

[keishashadow]

We will have a car. I just don't want to drive very far

From U to sand lake & beyond its all about the traffic flow

Try to avoid peak rush hour & utilize the surface roads vs I4

 

[kbelle8995]

Wondering about the Teak place myself. We've been to Seasons 52 and Rocco's both very good. Also First Watch for Breakfast. Excellent.

 

[keishashadow]

Wondering about the Teak place myself

Excellent, a bit longer drive, north

OP - i don’t eat much Mexican food. My fammily liked: Bartaco & Roccos, TS sort. Seemed a bit pricey to me for tacos. There used to be a chain place we don’t have in our area, along the line of taco bell, I believe on Kirkman, Del Taco I think?

Not sure if simply gyros survived the pandemic. Friends enjoy a TS place, tavern opa. It has a belly dancer at night but, they swear it’s family friendly lol. They rave about the gyros, family platters if they are feeling fancy & like their baklava.

forgot to mention, NYFD Pizza has a couple locations within driving distance of U. good pizza & hoagies, which we’ve found rather difficult to find in Orlando. One we like is in a shopping plaza on Universal Blvd with another good place that schumi/carole recommend to us in the area, Beth’s Burger bar. a better version of 5 guys IMO

it’s really fun to to explore the food outside the parks on repeat trips.

 

[Lynne G]

There’s also smash burgers not far away. And last time we at that burger place, there I think the bbq place Schumi mentioned had closed and is gone. Teak is a great burger place that is locals’ place. We like going there. Second the hash place Keisha mentioned, very very large portions. We only did breakfast there. And I think Hard Rock brunch is nice.

Just google food you are interested in, and do a search in a 10 mile area around Universal. There are tons of restaurants from quick service ones to expensive sit-down ones all around the resort.

And Jake’s in Royal Pacific is a nice, not too expensive place. My adult daughter likes their burgers, and the pizza there is very good too. I also thought Amatista in Sapphire Falls has reasonably priced means, and good size portions. Pizza there is also very good.

 

[schumigirl]

I think the bbq place Schumi mentioned had closed and is gone.

Since when?? Kirkman was still open last time we looked??




Yes, NYPD pizza is good…….Beth’s burgers are also lovely…….

Wondering about the Teak place myself. We've been to Seasons 52 and Rocco's both very good. Also First Watch for Breakfast. Excellent.

We’ve been going to Teak since before it was Teak and it has always been an amazing place for food and service……..you wouldn’t be disappointed going there.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Teak, Hash House, Ichiban Buffet on I-Drive and Miller's Ale House have never disappointed. Junior Colombian Burgers on Kirkman is pretty good too, especially their veggie burger, (www.juniorcb.com) but carryout only.

 

[WhoDat09]

I've only been once, but we had a very good meal at Yard House in Icon Park. Great drinks and beer menu in addition to very good food.

 

[SkyGuy]

Since when?? Kirkman was still open last time we looked??




Yes, NYPD pizza is good…….Beth’s burgers are also lovely…….






We’ve been going to Teak since before it was Teak and it has always been an amazing place for food and service……..you wouldn’t be disappointed going there.

Bubbalous Bodacious BBQ is def still open. It’s been around since the 90s, when I used to live on Kirkman (and watched Hulk being built). It’s still just as good now as it was then.

 

[schumigirl]

Bubbalous Bodacious BBQ is def still open. It’s been around since the 90s, when I used to live on Kirkman (and watched Hulk being built). It’s still just as good now as it was then.

Thank you …….It certainly is still open, we checked while we were here.

Think Lynne G shared the wrong info.

 

[OppR2nist]

There's a BJ's Brewhouse near Icon Park that's really good. The drinks are affordable, and the food is really good. We're biased because there's one near us in MA that we go to all the time, but it makes for a safe bet if we're not feeling too adventurous on a given night.

 

[Jrb1979]

I've only been once, but we had a very good meal at Yard House in Icon Park. Great drinks and beer menu in addition to very good food.

I love yardhouse. Whenever I'm in Orlando I make sure to visit. It's great for beer lovers.