Everything you need to know about eating gluten free at Universal Orlando, all in one place.
Explore dining at Universal Orlando’s official website.
Universal Unlocked Gluten Free Guides
Laney’s Gluten Free Story
Hi, Laney here. Most Universal Unlocked guides result from a group narrative that spans many adults and kids alike that we have traveled to Universal Orlando with over the years. However, I (me, Laney) am the only one who has to travel as a celiac. So this area of Universal Unlocked will be told strictly from my point of view.
I’m going to get a little personal in this area of the guide. I want you to be perfectly clear on my celiac journey so you can choose for yourself how much you should trust me on gluten free dining. Information is power, etc etc.
Laney’s Diagnosis
I was diagnosed in 2019 with what multiple doctors have called “the worst undiagnosed celiac I have ever seen.” My symptoms were very abnormal, which led to my condition going undetected for likely 10–15 years. Since 2019 I have been fully gluten free.
I had no idea what to do or where to start. I grew up with such an emotional attachment to food that I thought my life was over. No more thanksgiving meals, Christmas meals, Halloween candy, etc. But I am a researcher by trade, so I dug in.
The first thing I realized was I am actually very lucky. Thanks to the fad gluten free diet, there was a run in the 2010s on gluten free offerings. (If you’re gluten free by choice, welcome! We love you just the same as our celiac/NCGS friends.)
Though, if you know you know, this was a double-edged sword. Many times gluten free meant solely “no gluten ingredients” and did not mean tested or prepared safely. To this day I have people ask, “why can’t you just take the [gluten item] off?” Again, IYKYK.
Over time and with the support of the amazing global celiac community, I found my way. I knew what to ask at restaurants and what to look for in grocery stores.
Even six years later, however, my primary abode has not proved to be fertile ground for safe celiac dining. There are places to eat safely, but they are few and far between. Hopdoddy and Mendocino Farms are two national chains that I love for their safety.
Laney’s Gluten Free / Celiac Credentials
DISCLAIMER: If you have a serious allergy, dietary restriction, or autoimmune disease, you likely already know this, but no restaurant will ever guarantee a completely safe dining experience. Nor should they. Cross-contact is always a possibility, however remote. You have to measure your own risk so that you feel safe. And Universal Unlocked is not suggesting—and will never suggest—otherwise.
Like so many people, I started on my celiac journey completely clueless. I had to do tons of research to figure out if I was ever going to be able to eat in a restaurant again.
Still today I have major trust issues. But I feel safe at Universal Orlando. Before we dive into all the guides, I think it’s important to explain what I think makes something safe so that everyone is clear about the standards I’m using to measure Universal Orlando.
What I am looking for in a safe gluten free dining experience:
- A knowledgeable server and/or bartender. I can tell instantly from the initial server interaction if a dining establishment should be trusted. Servers trained in celiac safe protocol will be responsive and engaging. A blank stare or glazed eyes—or worse, an arrogant attitude that I dared suggest allergy protocol is hard (the most bizarre take, for sure)—will get me up and out of that restaurant in minutes.
- A responsive chef. I will feel safe if the server has no problem getting the kitchen manager to come speak with me if the kitchen manager is very knowledgeable themselves (again, it’s a vibe). But there is no experience that feels as safe as the actual chef coming out to explain exactly how they will make your order safe.
- An existing and defined allergy protocol. I need to know that my trip isn’t the first time a restaurant has attempted to make a celiac safe gluten free meal. I want clear and defined steps they can walk me through. And that they know like the back of their respective hands.
- A separate preparation area. Basically part of the defined protocol, but I always confirm a completely separate cooking area and cooking utensils. A separate fryer is encouraging (safe fries!), but it’s not strictly necessary.
What I am NOT looking for in a safe gluten free dining experience:
- A gluten free menu. No, that isn’t a typo. If a restaurant has a gluten free menu, that’s great. But I have often found that restaurants without a gluten free menu have some of the strictest allergy protocols and best trained restaurant staff. On the flip side, there are also times when a gluten free menu has a ton of options, but after talking with staff you find it’s just a gimmick. They actually have zero idea what a celiac diet is.
The last bullet point is particularly true at Universal Orlando. There are plenty of venues that feature specific allergen menus or charts. But when the menu doesn’t denote allergens, there are chefs who will work with you to create a dish that is safe for you.
Jake’s American Bar at Loews Royal Pacific Resort has some of the best food at the resort and behaves this way. When I ate there, we had just driven nineteen (19) hours to get to Orlando, and out of sheer exhaustion I just stumbled to the closest restaurant I could find.
Fries were basically the only thing even close to something I could have on the menu, but I was allergic even to the typical oil they used for the fryer. So the chef made a separate batch of fries that was safe for me. In that moment, they were the best fries I had ever tasted.
IMPORTANT: While the chefs at Universal Orlando are generally excellent across the board, restaurants change chefs all the time. Never assume that one experience (or my experience) will be like the rest. Always cycle through your safe steps, just to be sure.
Please keep all this in mind as you read the guides about restaurants I both love and find safe.
Gluten Free Dining at Universal Orlando Resort
I had traveled to Universal Orlando as a full gluten consuming wild woman for years. My first trip as a celiac came after about three months on the gluten free diet. I was terrified this major life change would totally ruin my favorite place.
To my shock and extreme delight, it turned out to be the complete opposite. Not only did being gluten free not ruin my trip, but Universal Orlando became a haven for safe celiac dining for me.
To show you a brief comparison:
Typical restaurant at home with a gluten free (or friendly 🫣) menu:
- Laney: Maybe I should talk to the chef it might just be easier for everyone.
- Server: We can handle it. I’ll talk to them. … Wait what is gluten?
Any Universal Orlando restaurant:
- Me: I have several aller—
- Server: I should probably just get the chef I mean it’s just easier what if I miss something?
Just in a nutshell.
Universal Orlando Resort is my absolute favorite place to travel, in the main because—unlike anywhere else (especially restaurants back home)—when I tell the server I have allergies their eyes don’t gloss over, or worse, roll. Instead, almost every restaurant venue at the resort has a very specific and detailed system in place for handling dietary needs.
This also means that you don’t have to eat just a few things or at just a few places. Universal Orlando is a gluten free paradise.
As soon as you mention the words “dietary restriction” to your server, they will immediately whip out a specific allergy worksheet designed to keep you safe during your dining experience, or they will explain that a manager or chef will be over to take your order personally. The grab and go places, both in the hotels and in the parks, also have packaged gluten free food.
This goes for any dietary restriction. Not just celiac or NCGS.
I had loved Universal Orlando for the amazing theme parks and themed on-site hotels for years. After my diagnosis, though, it truly became my home away from home.
🥞🍔🌮