If you’ve found that exploring the worlds of Universal Epic Universe works up a Viking-sized appetite, then this is just the guide you need. How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk isn’t just about soaring with dragons and thrilling adventure, it’s also home to three dining locations that are sure to satisfy any craving.
From hearty platters in Mead Hall to flame-seared bowls at Spit Fyre Grill and quick bites at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, Isle of Berk offers bold flavors for all Vikings to feast on. Let’s get into some of the delicious food and drink options you can choose from during your visit to Berk.
Mead Hall
Mead Hall is located at the heart of Berk and serves as the main gathering hall for the village. This is the place to feast like a Viking and enjoy a hearty menu of meat, fish, sandwiches, desserts and, of course, some mead.
Chef Christopher Colón, executive sous chef of research & development at Universal Orlando Resort, says he and his team pulled inspiration directly from the “How to Train Your Dragon” movies. Here are some of the highlights:
Hiccup’s Grilled Salmon was one of the first dishes created for this world. “It was the very first moment Hiccup and Toothless have this connection,” says Chef Christopher. “It’s when Hiccup delivers the fish to Toothless and that’s kind of the beginning of their friendship.”
This is one of my personal go-to dishes when dining here, so I highly recommend it. It’s a pastrami-seasoned salmon topped with a dill fennel sauce and served with herb garlic potatoes, roasted carrots and Cipollini onions.
Gobber the Belch’s Turkey Wings are another highlight: roasted turkey wings tossed in wild berry BBQ sauce and served with herb garlic potatoes, roasted carrots and Cipollini onions. “The best part about these turkey wings is they’re a sous vide turkey wing, so they’re naturally tender,” says Chef Christopher. “They’re slow cooked at a low temperature and then we flash fry it right before serving so it’s got that crispiness to it.”
The Thawfest Platter can make you feel like you’re having a feast made for a Viking. This platter is perfect to share with the family and allows you to try a little bit of everything, with wild berry BBQ glazed chicken drumsticks, grilled salmon, sausage links, roasted carrots, Cipollini onions and Nordic fries. “Mead Hall is where the Vikings meet and gather,” says Chef Christopher. “This is meant to be a celebration platter that they’re coming together and eating as one big group.”
The little Vikings in the family can enjoy Barf & Belch’s Duo Plate, which includes mac & cheese bites, grilled sausage, carrots, Nordic fries and grapes or the Nightlight’s Chicken Tenders, chicken tenders with Nordic fries and grapes on the vine. And one super fun thing about the kids’ meals is that they are served in a Viking ship.
We can’t have all this food without some drinks, and the Toothless Plasma Blast is a refreshing one made with Mountain Berry Blast sport drink and stone fruit syrup. The adults can choose to go with Gobber’s Mead, which is boysenberry-blackcurrant vanilla with Grains of Paradise infusion.
To top it all off, it’s time for some dessert. Yaknog is the perfect sweet beverage: a malted chocolate and cinnamon drink with a whipped topping. “This one was from Astrid,” says Chef Christopher. “She made it for Snoggletog… we made it into a delicious, malted kind of creamy beverage.”
You can also choose to enjoy Gronckle’s Bread Pudding, a malted cinnamon bread pudding with a Yaknog anglaise, chocolate pop rocks and vanilla ice cream, or Stormfly’s Catch of the Day, a chocolate mousse fish served over cereal crumble. Chef Christopher says, “We wanted to be very playful in the creation of it…Stormfly is Astrid’s dragon and she’s bringing this fish to our guests every day.”
There’s plenty more mouthwatering food at Mead Hall, like a Nordic Harvest Salad, Berserker’s Meatballs, Hooligan’s Sausage Links, Valka’s Vegan Burger and more, so make sure to check out the full menu before making your choice.
PRO TIP: Make sure you have the Universal Orlando Resort App downloaded. You will place your Mobile Food and Drink order on the app, scan the QR code at your table once you’re seated, and your food will be brought right to you.
Spit Fyre Grill
Spit Fyre Grill is a quick-service location featuring delicious bowls with a variety of meats flame-seared by an unseen dragon fry cook. The sitting area across from Spit Fyre Grill overlooks Fyre Drill, making the restaurant a perfect spot to people-watch while enjoying a yummy meal.
“In the creation of Spit Fyre Grill, we wanted something that, as the Vikings get off their ships, they could get something that’s full of protein but is fresh and healthy, and substantial enough on the go,” Chef Christopher says.
Stoick’s Steak Bowl pays tribute to Stoick the Vast, Hiccup’s father and chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe. This bowl features sticky rice, tenderloin steak, roasted balsamic mushrooms, sweet potato hash and is topped with manchego cheese and horseradish sauce.
“When we get introduced to Valka in the second movie, she was the one that, before anybody else, realized that dragons could be friends and weren’t our enemies,” says Chef Christopher, “so then we really wanted to make a vegan bowl inspired by her.” Valka’s Vegan Bowl is a kale spring mix blend with bean salad, pineapple salsa, candy beets, topped with vegan feta and a mango & mint vinaigrette.
Meatlug’s Chicken Bowl is another great option with harissa spice chicken, ancient grains, and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts topped with walnuts, bell pepper harissa, smoked cheddar and paprika dressing.
There’s also Hiccup’s Salmon Bowl, with ancient grains, grilled citrus salmon, jicama slaw, blistered cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and avocado crema. Honestly, you really can’t go wrong with whichever bowl you choose!
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel offers the best snacks for when you’re on the go from one adventure to the next, or watching your little Viking play at the Viking Training Camp right next door. You can find some creamy, delicious mac and cheese cones (that’s mac and cheese served in a cone of bread, yum!) here that you absolutely have to try during your visit.
“What makes these even more delicious is that we bake fresh Cuban bread here on property every single day,” says Chef Christopher, “and (the chefs are) lathering it up with garlic butter and everything bagel seasoning.”
Is your mouth watering yet? Let’s get into the options you have to choose from here.
You can go for the Classic Mac and Cheese, which is creamy mac and cheese topped with fish shaped crackers and served in that yummy bread cone. If you’re looking for some extra protein, you can go for the PB and J – Pork, Bacon and Jam, which has BBQ harissa pulled pork, peanut bacon jam and parsley. And if you’re craving more than just dragon heat, you can go for the Dragon’s Garden Pyre, which has lemon herb chicken, fire roasted corn, avocado spread, and hot chips crumbled on top.
“The best part about the mac and cheese cones with the protein is that we do layers,” explains Chef Christopher. “So there’s a layer of the mac and cheese, then a layer of the pork, and another layer of mac and cheese and another of pork.”
PRO TIP: These mac and cheese cones are also available at Spit Fyre Grill, where you can place a mobile order and walk up right to the counter to pick it up and be on to your next adventure even faster.
After feasting like a true Viking, you’ll be ready to continue on in your adventures and explore the rest of the Isle of Berk. Make sure to catch a ride on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and get your photo with Toothless before leaving.
Let us know in the comments below what you’re most excited to try!
Must be 21 years and older with valid identification to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages.