Welcome!
Welcome to our comprehensive guide to gluten free at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park.
This article is the fourth (4th) in a series that covers the gluten free and celiac safe options at every food venue across Universal Orlando Resort. These articles cover each theme park, each on site hotel, and CityWalk Orlando.
RELATED: We have many gluten free guides other than this series. Click here to find them.
Gluten Free at Universal Orlando Resort
At the end of the day Universal Orlando is a mixed bag when it comes to allergy friendly, and specifically gluten free, food. The budget hotels are 95% safe and awesome, but there are a couple bad eggs. And the same can be said for the premier hotels.
CityWalk has incredible options but also has Voodoo Doughnut and unsafe fast food that you should avoid at all costs.
The theme parks themselves are extremely hit and miss, but the hits are good. Some places can make everything safe, and some say lol here’s a side salad. And some places the side salad isn’t even safe.
EPIC Universe is by far the best park for food allergies. You can tell the older parks at some point decided they needed to become allergen free friendly but clearly did not start out that way. It’s a “let’s see what we can retroactively make allergen free friendly” vibe. However, because it’s so new, EPIC Universe was built with food allergies in mind, and you can tell.
But no matter what area of the resort you’re in, there will be too many safe options to choose from. Be pumped for that.
Our Comprehensive Gluten Free Series
Most gluten free guides out there will steer you to several gluten free options to hit up on your trip. We have those too (link above), and they’re all good and helpful! However, this series expands coverage of gluten free availability at Universal Orlando so that you are fully aware of the allergy friendly situation when entering literally any dining establishment at the resort. (We will eventually try to include the Volcano Bay water park, but the water park leans less into dining.)
UNRELATED: If you’re new to gluten free or struggling with celiac life at home/away from the parks, I wrote down some products and recipes to help. Find them here!
These encyclopedias of gluten free options at Universal Orlando are now 100% complete. Whatever venue you are curious about across the entirety of Universal Orlando Resort, you can find the answer here. And then of course I will be regularly updating them with current safety practices or deficiencies.
Jump to the following comprehensive gluten free guides in this series:
- Gluten Free at the new EPIC Universe: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at Universal Studios Florida: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at CityWalk Orlando: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at EPIC Universe Hotels: Complete Guide (2026) (Helios Grand, Terra Luna, and Stella Nova)
- Gluten Free at Universal Budget Hotels: Complete Guide (2026) (Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Aventura Hotel, Endless Summer Resorts)
- Gluten Free at Universal Luxury Hotels: Complete Guide (2026) (Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, Sapphire Falls Resort)
- Gluten Free at Wizarding World: Complete Guide (2026)
About Universal Unlocked
My name is Laney, and I was diagnosed with celiac disease in early 2019. I have been strictly gluten free ever since.
I get a celiac panel blood test once per month, and my numbers have always been completely normal when I’ve returned from trips to Orlando where I have eaten everything I talk about in these guides. Everything I have eaten at the resort has always been safe.
Always remember, however, that these articles are just guides to enhance your theme park visit and do not guarantee a safe dining experience. It is essential that you effectively communicate your specific needs with restaurant staff each time you go.
Please click here if you’re interested in my gluten free story and credentials. Use the table of contents below to check out the restaurants you’re interested in. Or, if you have time, read the whole thing!
RELATED: Click here to explore our review of 10 great gluten free dining options at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk Orlando.
If you want a quick run down of what is and isn’t safe, open the table of contents directly below ⬇️. Emojis by each venue will tell you:
- ❤️❤️: love it the most
- ❤️: love it regularly
- 👍🏼: not over the moon about it, but it is safe
- ⛔: may have a couple gluten free options, but also has a lot of gluten, so be careful
- 🚫: not safe, skip it (except gluten free bottled drinks)
What You Should Know about the Parks, Generally
I will cover every single gluten free option at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in this guide. But I have eaten gluten free at Islands of Adventure dozens of times and can also give you general tips about the park.
The Menus are Not Gospel
While the menus occasionally have marked gluten free options, these are typically menu items that are naturally gluten free or don’t require adjustments to make them gluten free. But do not by any means limit yourself to these items. Most venues are well versed in preparing allergen friendly alternatives to many existing menu items.
Well Trained Staff
About 90% of venues at the parks have a staff that is extremely well trained in allergy safe protocols. Whether there are just a few or many items on the menu, chances are they can be made safely with the right conversation with the kitchen.
Mobile Ordering
Mobile ordering at Universal Orlando was introduced a number of years ago, but it (logically) really took off during the pandemic. These days whether a venue is mobile order or counter service is hit or miss. We have watched some of them go from counter to mobile and back, and we’ve watched some stay stalwartly mobile (or counter).
UNLOCKED TIP: You need to download the official Universal Orlando app for mobile ordering. Read more about the app and dietary accommodations in our 2026 Ultimate Planning Guide.
If you have severe food allergies and you’re like me, mobile ordering will freak you out at first. How can I possibly have the necessary conversations with the kitchen staff if I’m ordering, essentially, online?
The answer is they are actually incredibly prepared for it. Take a look at the screen shots above to get a general idea of how it works. (In this case we tried to order the tots that were not safe and had to get a refund.)
You can add an allergy note as a menu item, and you can also check a box to denote an allergy on every menu item. Once you submit that, a member of the kitchen staff will come out to your table to discuss safe procedures before preparing your meal.
We have never had trouble with it, but shoot me an email if something comes up.
Skip the Kiosks
The 10% of park venues that cannot be guaranteed to be safe are the kiosks. My advice is to always skip them. Even the ones that have labeled gluten free food on the menus. The team members will tell you every single time that the food is brought in from a kitchen somewhere else and they know nothing about cross contact.
UNLOCKED TIP: There are new pop up bars and food kiosks right now due to extended closures around the parks. Trust the bars as you would any other, but do not trust the food. There are also permanent kiosks that are not on the map and thus not listed here. Do not trust them either.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure Gluten Free Overview
Universal’s Islands of Adventure is the second Universal Orlando Resort theme park. It opened in 1999, and its original focus was bold and innovative theme park experiences. The park has introduced the global theme park community to groundbreaking ride technology again and again.
RELATED: Click here to read more about the history of Universal Orlando Resort.
I have eaten at (or asked about and skipped) each of the 30 (thirty) restaurants, and below I share everything I know. We’re going clockwise through the islands (Port of Entry, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, the Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing). You will find ❤️ next to my favorites. If you spot ❤️❤️, we consider it a can’t miss.
Port of Entry
Croissant Moon Bakery ⛔
- What: Mobile ordering and counter service
- Where: Port of Entry
- Our Review:
This is a bakery where you shouldn’t trust anything except maybe the drinks, such as hot chocolate. But I would ask to see packaging and preparation for that.
Click here to explore the Croissant Moon menu.
Island Market and Export Candy Shoppe 🚫
- What: Retail with a candy and fudge counter
- Where: Port of Entry
- Our Review:
All baked goods at Universal Orlando are unfortunately prepared in a facility with wheat. Skip it.
Cinnabon 🚫
- What: Kiosk
- Where: Port of Entry
- Our Review:
Trust it the same as you would any other Cinnabon (so don’t, at all).
Click here to explore the Cinnabon menu.
Confisco Grille ❤️
- What: Full service tables
- Where: Port of Entry
- Our Review:
Confisco is such a solid stop if you’re hungry in the parks. It’s a fusion menu with great nachos, salads, fries, and more. The fries are made in a separate fryer.
This is one of the true in park gems. The server will get the chef immediately and the kitchen staff is very well versed in adapting most things on the menu and separate preparation protocols. They also have a great drink menu.
Click here to explore the Confisco Grille menu.
Backwater Bar ❤️
- What: Full bar
- Where: Port of Entry
- Our Review:
We love this bar that is attached to the Confisco Grille. Make sure to let the bartender know how to make your drinks safely.
Click here to explore the Backwater Bar menu.
Chillin’ Charlie’s Lemon Slush 🚫
- What: Kiosk
- Where: Port of Entry
- Our Review:
Kiosk. We skip it the food, but the bottled drinks are safe.
Marvel Super Hero Island
Cafe 4 👍🏼
- What: Cafeteria style counter service
- Where: Marvel Super Hero Island
- Our Review:
This restaurant and its offerings are identical to Louie’s at Universal Studios Florida. The literal only thing you can have on this menu is gluten free pasta with marinara and chicken. See pictured above.
Click here to explore the Cafe 4 menu.
Super Hero Cotton Candy ⛔
- What: Quick counter service
- Where: Marvel Super Hero Island
- Our Review:
This place is a trust level thing, but they make the cotton candy in a separate room and it doesn’t contain gluten (we looked at the box). We don’t eat it but that’s mainly because of the dyes and sugar content. (To each their own, we don’t judge.)
Auntie Anne’s 🚫
- What: Quick counter service
- Where: Marvel Super Hero Island
- Our Review:
Soft pretzels. Unfortunately we have to skip. (But MAN could I put away the Auntie Anne’s before my diagnosis.)
Captain America Diner 👍🏼
- What: Mobile ordering tables
- Where: Marvel Super Hero Island
- Our Review:
This is a burger place that can make you a safe burger in a separate area and has a separate fryer for safe fries. We have only tried the fries. I usually eat my weight in potatoes at Universal, but it’s a choice, I swear. 😁
Click here to explore the Captain America’s Diner menu.
Toon Lagoon
Comic Strip Cafe ⛔
- What: Walk up counter service
- Where: Toon Lagoon
- Our Review:
Everywhere in the Toon Lagoon is a walk up counter, inside or out. I did not trust this place at all, but it could be a “depends on the staff that day” thing. Our chef had to read from the allergen chart and did not seem to know what he was talking about. Supposedly the burgers and fries can be made safely, and there is a separate fryer. Beware the bowls, the stir fry contains flour.
Click here to explore the Comic Strip Cafe menu.
Cathy’s Ice Cream 🚫
- What: Quick counter service
- Where: Toon Lagoon
- Our Review:
We’ve tried to get straight answers out of team members here many times, but they are never knowledgable. And the menu items do not lend themselves to gluten free. We skip.
Blondie’s Home of the Dagwood 👍🏼
- What: Walk up counter service
- Where: Toon Lagoon
- Our Review:
They will make you the titular menu item here on a gluten free bun. They do not have fries on the menu, but you can have packaged gluten free chips.
Click here to explore the Blondie’s menu.
Wimpy’s 👍🏼
- What: Counter service
- Where: Toon Lagoon
- Our Review:
The headline for Wimpy’s is that the fries are not safe. They do not have a separate fryer. They can make you a safe burger with a gluten free bun.
Click here to explore the Wimpy’s menu.
Ale to the Chief 🚫
- What: Kiosk
- Where: Toon Lagoon
- Our Review:
Kiosk. We skip the food but rely on the gluten free bottled drinks.
Jurassic Park
Thunder Falls Terrace 🚫
UPDATE: Thunder Falls Terrace is now permanently closed. It will be replaced by a new “signature dining experience” for Islands of Adventure. Keep up to date on our News & Updates page.
Bone Chillin’ Beverages 🚫
- What: Kiosk
- Where: Jurassic Park
- Our Review:
It’s a kiosk. We skip the food, but you can trust the sealed drinks.
Pizza Predattoria 🚫
- What: Counter service
- Where: Jurassic Park
- Our Review:
Skip the food entirely. The nice team member pulled out her allergy sheet and everything and assured me that I should not be eating at this place.
Click here to explore the Pizza Predattoria menu.
The Burger Digs 👍🏼
- What: Mobile order and counter service
- Where: Jurassic Park
- Our Review:
This seems very suspect on first site. It’s hard to know exactly where to go. But once you figure it out, it’s okay. Go through the main Burger Digs doors. This is connected to the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, but don’t go through those doors. They have mobile ordering, but I don’t recommend it. There are no numbered tables and the whole thing is disorganized. Walk up to the register and the chef will come out and talk to you about safe options.
All told, I felt very safe here. As soon as I mentioned food restrictions the cashier popped out his allergy pad and knew everything to do. Very well informed. I got the Chicken Avocado BLT. It was okay, not great. The fries were good.
However, I’m not sure how highly I recommend this place. It’s very crowded and hectic, and I wiped everything down like five (5) times. Safe, decent taste, but kind of a headache.
UNLOCKED TIP: Go sit outside on the patio upstairs at the discovery center and get a great view of VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and the lagoon.
Click here to explore the Burger Digs menu.
The Watering Hole ❤️
- What: Counter service
- Where: Jurassic Park
- Our Review:
Just a regular full service bar. Order as you would.
Click here to explore the Watering Hole menu.
Raptor Bites 🚫
- What: Kiosk
- Where: Jurassic Park
- Our Review:
It’s a kiosk. We skip it the food but trust the sealed drinks. Wipe them down, though.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™
Three Broomsticks™ ❤️❤️
- What: Mobile ordering tables
- Where: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™
- Our Review:
The Three Broomsticks™ is the main restaurant venue in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™ at Islands of Adventure. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you will find it wonderfully immersive. Like you stepped into the books. It’s also one of the most allergen friendly restaurants at the parks. The Three Broomsticks used to be a counter order venue, but like many other Universal Orlando restaurants has moved to mobile order only.
I usually get fries, which are prepared in a separate fryer. They also have a yummy baked potato and awesome roasted potatoes. And they are delicious. But they do have more than just potatoes. 😄
The most popular gluten free offering at the Three Broomsticks is the Great Feast, which is a giant platter of meat, potatoes, and veggies that serves four (4). You have to forego the barbeque sauce to make it gluten free. We have brought our own before.
Nothing on the breakfast menu is specifically designated gluten free, but just ask them when you’re there. They have off menu pancakes that are really good. Even if that’s not your thing, they will make you something for breakfast. They also have fruit bowls and salads if that’s what you’re looking for.
Butterbeer
Very important, always remember that every type of butterbeer (except the fudge) is gluten free, including the original, frozen, hot, ice cream, iced lolly, and potted cream varieties. (Also, recently the Wizarding World has started taking the cream off the top of butterbeer as a dairy free option.) Most drink options in the Wizarding World are offered everywhere drinks are sold. And many of them are gluten free, including gillywater, pumpkin juice, and apple cider.
This is a very safe place to order and eat, even if there aren’t a ton of options. I usually just get fries. But we always go because you can sit on the back patio and watch VelociCoaster. We sometimes sit here for hours resting our feet, drinking butterbeer, and eating fries.
Also, don’t sleep on the gluten free butterbeer potted cream.
Click here to explore the Three Broomsticks menu.
The Hog’s Head™ ❤️❤️
- What: Quick counter service bar
- Where: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™
- Our Review:
The Hog’s Head is not an independent venue. Instead, it’s part of the same dining room as the Three Broomsticks, and you can access this bar through the Three Broomsticks entrance.
UNLOCKED TIP: You can also walk right in the door to the right (if you’re facing the facade) of the Three Broomsticks entrance. People often miss this because there is no sign and it looks like a wall. Sometimes this can save you half an hour in the Three Broomsticks queue.
Definitely a speakeasy vibe. Often not crowded. It’s just a simple counter service bar that you queue for. Liquor, beer, wine, and all the non-alcoholic Wizarding World favorites.
Butterbeer™ Cart ❤️
- What: Butterbeer cart
- Where: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™
- Our Review:
The one safe kiosk!
Similar to the butterbeer carts in Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic, this kiosk carries only frozen and cold butterbeer, and butterbeer is always gluten free.
Honeydukes 🚫
- What: Sweets shop
- Where: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™
- Our Review:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but everything at Honeydukes (and all other places Wizarding World sweets are sold) is either made with wheat, or made on shared equipment with wheat. Skip it all. 😔
The Lost Continent
IMPORTANT: The Mythos review is below. However, we are holding off reviewing the remaining Lost Continent venues until Universal clarifies the future of the Lost Continent area of Islands of Adventure. Click here to read more about the overhaul.
Fire Eater’s Grill ⛔
- What: Counter service
- Where: The Lost Continent
- Our Review:
On hold. See above.
Click here to explore the Fire Eater’s Grill menu.
Mythos ❤️
UPDATE: Mythos will likely also be part of the Lost Continent overhaul (see above). Get your visits in while you can.
- What: Full table service
- Where: The Lost Continent
- Our Review:
UNLOCKED TIP: The line for this venue can get extremely long. Make a reservation.
Mythos is well known for its allergy protocols, and you will be safe here. (Though gluten free is not necessarily the focus.)
The inside décor is unbelievably detailed and immersive, and the view of the lagoon from the patio is spectacular.
I had the Balsamic Grilled Chicken Sandwich with potato puree. It was really good for park food. You can get burgers, salads, steaks, fish, and soups.
It has a full bar, including a great espresso martini and fun mocktails.
Click here to explore the Mythos menu.
Seuss Landing
Moose Juice, Goose Juice ⛔
- What: Quick counter service
- Where: Seuss Landing
- Our Review:
The food here is gluten filled. We have not tried the Moose Juice. Or the Goose Juice. Assume the sealed gluten free drinks are safe, but I would wipe them down.
Click here to explore the Moose Juice menu.
Hop on Pop™ Ice Cream Shop 🚫
- What: Quick counter service
- Where: Seuss Landing
- Our Review:
This ice cream shop is very unprepared to adapt to allergy needs of any kind.
Click here to explore the Hop on Pop menu.
Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous™ ❤️❤️
- What: Mobile ordering tables
- Where: Seuss Landing
- Our Review:
You can get exactly one (1) thing here, a safe burger and safe fries from a separate fryer. But it was a really good burger and really good fries, plus the venue is so fun.
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride goes through the dining room and the theming is just excellent. We love it.
Click here to explore the Circus McGurkus menu.
Green Eggs & Ham™ Cafe ❤️❤️
- What: Counter service
- Where: Seuss Landing
- Our Review:
Green Eggs and Ham™ Cafe is the cutest of all eateries. The whole place is shaped like a giant green ham with a fork sticking out of it. If you’re into Seussian things, this will totally be your vibe.
This is one of our favorite places to eat at the resort. They have multiple kinds of smothered tater tots, and all but one (1) are gluten free. The staff is excellent at prep. The only slight drawback is that they take a while to make sure everything is gluten free. But that always makes me feel safer. Try the pizza tots.
Click here to explore the Green Eggs & Ham menu.
Conclusion: Gluten Free at Islands of Adventure
Thanks for reading! I’ll be updating this guide regularly as we check the ongoing safety of the restaurants inside Universal’s Islands of Adventure. So make sure to bookmark this page!
Click here to reach out if you have any questions or comments. I usually respond quickly!
When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I mourned my Universal vacation dining and brought an entire suitcase of gluten free snacks on my first trip back. Little did I know, I was about to discover an absolute gluten free paradise. You will, too. It’s impossible to feel less than or other at Universal Orlando. I hope you enjoy it!
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