Jurassic World Canteen is the main quick service restaurant inside Jurassic World Adventure Camp at Universal Kids Resort. It serves lunch and dinner, with a menu that includes grilled bowls, hot dogs, pizza, kids’ meals, desserts, and specialty drinks.
And yes, we tried everything on the menu.
Jurassic World Canteen has become one of our favorite restaurants at Universal Kids Resort. The food is fresh, the portions are generous, and the menu offers far more variety than the typical theme park lineup of burgers, fries, and chicken tenders.
For adults, the bowls are the stars. For kids, the Dinosaur Bites will probably be the biggest hit. For dessert, the Excavation Brookie is one of the strongest non ice cream options in the park.
Jurassic World Canteen Quick Look
Location: Jurassic World Adventure Camp
Dining type: Quick service
Meals served: Lunch and dinner
Indoor seating: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Mobile ordering: Not currently available
Vegetarian options: Yes
Vegan options: Yes
How Ordering Works at Jurassic World Canteen
Jurassic World Canteen uses a table delivery system. Guests order at the counter, receive a number, choose a table, and wait for the food to be delivered.
The food came out fairly quickly during our visits, and we liked being able to sit down instead of waiting around a crowded pickup counter.
The biggest issue is the ordering line itself. The layout can be confusing, and it is not always obvious where the line begins or where guests are supposed to stand. During busy periods, the area feels more chaotic than it needs to be.
Once the order is placed, however, the dining experience improves considerably.
Campfire Chicken Bowl, $13.99
The Campfire Chicken Bowl includes a grilled chicken skewer, garlic yogurt sauce, cilantro lime rice, tomato cucumber salad, and pita.
The chicken was fresh, juicy, and cooked well. The cilantro lime rice tasted bright and fresh, while the tomato cucumber salad added a crisp, cool contrast to the warm chicken.
The garlic yogurt sauce was one of the best parts of the bowl. It was served on the side and added plenty of flavor without tasting too strong or heavy.
The pita was fairly standard, but it worked well with the chicken and sauce.
It is difficult to choose a favorite among the three bowls, but if we had to recommend only one, we would start with the Campfire Chicken Bowl. It is flavorful, filling, and probably the most broadly appealing option on the menu.
Carnivore Beef Bowl, $13.99
The Carnivore Beef Bowl includes a grilled beef skewer, cilantro lime rice, black beans, chimichurri sauce, and tomato cucumber salad.
We were told this is one of the restaurant’s most popular menu items, and it is easy to understand why.
The beef was well seasoned and cooked through. It was not the most tender cut of beef we have ever had, but for a theme park quick service restaurant, it was excellent.
The chimichurri sauce was light, fresh, and flavorful. Guests who already enjoy chimichurri will probably love this bowl.
The black beans make it slightly heavier than the chicken bowl, but the tomato cucumber salad and chimichurri keep the meal from feeling too rich.
Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl, $13.99
The Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl is listed as vegan and includes cauliflower, red curry sauce, rice, fresh vegetables, and pita.
This may be one of the strongest vegan or vegetarian meals currently available at Universal Kids Resort.
The cauliflower was cooked well, and the red curry sauce had a bold Indian curry flavor. It also had real heat. This is not one of those dishes that claims to be spicy and then politely whispers at you.
Guests who avoid spicy food should probably choose something else.
The vegetables tasted genuinely fresh and were cooked properly instead of becoming soft or soggy. The rice was also cooked well and helped balance the heat from the curry.
The pita was fine, although ours could have been a little softer.
This is an excellent choice for vegan and vegetarian guests, but spice tolerance matters.
Explorer’s Empanada Dog, $12.99
The Explorer’s Empanada Dog combines a Nathan’s all beef hot dog with a crispy beef empanada, tomatoes, red onions, herb aioli, cilantro lime rice, and tomato cucumber salad.
This is one of the most substantial meals on the Jurassic World Canteen menu.
The Nathan’s hot dog was juicy and cooked well, while the empanada exterior was crispy. The portion is extremely generous for $12.99, especially since it includes a full hot dog, an empanada, rice, and salad.
Overall, though, it was flavorful, filling, and a strong contender for guests who want something heavier than one of the bowls.
Jurassic World Cheese Pizza, $12.99
The Jurassic World Pizza is available with cheese or pepperoni, and both versions cost $12.99.
The cheese pizza was better than most standard theme park pizza. The portion was also larger than we expected.
Two younger kids could easily share one pizza. A hungry adult could probably finish the entire thing.
It is not the best pizza you will ever eat, but it is a perfectly respectable theme park pizza.
Our official verdict is mid, but respectable theme park mid.
Jurassic World Pepperoni Pizza, $12.99
The pepperoni pizza is the same size and price as the cheese version.
It is a dependable option for families with children who want something familiar, especially if they are not interested in the bowls or the Explorer’s Empanada Dog.
Dinosaur Bites, $10.99
The Dinosaur Bites are one of the most recognizable kids’ meals at Jurassic World Canteen.
The meal includes three dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets served on an active mashed potato volcano with lava barbecue sauce and broccoli.
The dinosaur nuggets are fairly standard, but the kids enjoyed them. The mashed potatoes were very plain and did not appear to have much butter or seasoning.
The barbecue sauce helped considerably. It was tangy, sweet, and added much needed flavor to the mashed potatoes.
The broccoli was cooked especially well. It was tender without becoming mushy and still had a pleasant crispness.
Children who do not want mashed potatoes or broccoli can request carrot sticks, apple slices, applesauce, or yogurt instead. Those substitutions are also available with the other meals.
This will probably be the most popular children’s meal at the restaurant because the presentation is fun and the food is familiar.
Adults who want to eat dinosaur nuggets on top of a mashed potato volcano are also welcome. Theme parks are no place for dignity.
Camp Mac and Cheese, $7.99
The Camp Mac and Cheese comes with creamy macaroni and cheese and crinkle cut french fries.
It appears to be the same Kraft style macaroni and cheese served at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel, along with the same fries.
There is nothing especially unique about it, but that is probably the point. It is familiar, simple, and likely to satisfy younger guests or picky eaters.
It will not be the meal anyone talks about on the drive home, but the kids will probably eat it without requiring a negotiation summit.
Adventure Camp Hot Dog, $7.99
The Adventure Camp Hot Dog is the simplest hot dog option on the menu.
This is a good choice for younger guests who want something familiar but do not need the larger or more complicated Explorer’s Empanada Dog.
Berry Refresher, $7.99
The Berry Refresher is made with Fanta Pineapple, Powerade Mountain Berry Blast, dinosaur gummies, and a sugar rim.
The menu describes the rim as yellow, although ours was definitely white.
The dinosaur gummies looked cute floating at the top when the drink first arrived, but they quickly sank to the bottom. A little sad, but probably historically accurate for Jurassic World.
Our group was extremely divided on the taste.
One adult enjoyed it because it was light, fruity, and not overly sweet. It was not syrupy and actually tasted refreshing.
The sweet drink fans in our group strongly disagreed and called it disgusting.
This will probably appeal more to guests who want a fruity drink without the heavy sweetness found in many theme park specialty beverages. Guests who prefer very sweet drinks may want to order something else.
Excavation Brookie, $12.99
The Excavation Brookie is a warm brownie baked around a dinosaur shaped sugar cookie. It comes with a small shovel so guests can dig into the dessert.
This is one of the most fun desserts at Universal Kids Resort.
It is also huge, rich, and extremely sweet. Several people can easily share one, and we strongly recommend doing so.
We love brownies, but even we thought it could benefit from a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cold ice cream would help balance the richness and make the dessert a little easier to finish.
Still, the excavation theme is clever, the portion is generous, and it is one of the strongest desserts in the park for guests who want something other than ice cream.
What Should You Order at Jurassic World Canteen?
Choosing a favorite at Jurassic World Canteen is harder than we expected.
All three bowls are excellent choices, and we would happily order any of them again.
If we had to choose only one, we would recommend the Campfire Chicken Bowl. The chicken is juicy, the garlic yogurt sauce is flavorful without being overwhelming, and the fresh salad and rice make it feel like a complete meal.
The Carnivore Beef Bowl is a close contender, especially for guests who enjoy chimichurri.
The Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl is one of the best vegan and vegetarian meals we have tried at Universal Kids Resort, but it is genuinely spicy.
Outside of the bowls, the Explorer’s Empanada Dog is another strong choice. It is filling, flavorful, and a good value for the portion size.
For kids, the Dinosaur Bites are the most fun and will probably be the biggest crowd pleaser.
For dessert, the Excavation Brookie is one of the strongest choices in the park, especially for anyone who wants something other than ice cream.
Seating and Atmosphere
Jurassic World Canteen has a large indoor dining room with air conditioning, Coca Cola Freestyle machines, and plenty of tables.
The restaurant is not as heavily themed as Goofy Goobers, but there is dinosaur artwork throughout the dining area and enough Jurassic World Adventure Camp detail to connect it to the land.
The food is really the star here more than the theming.
There is also a large outdoor patio with oversized industrial fans.
Even during the Texas summer, the patio was more comfortable than expected. Guests who cannot find a table inside should not immediately panic when they see the outdoor seating. The fans make a significant difference.
Is Jurassic World Canteen Better for Lunch or Dinner?
Jurassic World Canteen is located toward the back of Universal Kids Resort, so it may not be the most convenient lunch stop for families who begin their day near the front of the park.
It works especially well for an early dinner or for lunch if you start your day inside Jurassic World Adventure Camp.
The bowls are substantial enough to serve as a full meal, while the kids’ menu offers enough familiar choices for younger guests.
Is Jurassic World Canteen Worth It?
Jurassic World Canteen currently ranks second among the restaurants we have tried at Universal Kids Resort, just behind Comidas y Leche.
The ordering line needs improvement, and the pizza and standard kids’ meals are not especially memorable. The bowls, however, are some of the strongest adult meals in the park.
Fresh ingredients, generous portions, air conditioned seating, and several genuinely interesting menu options make this one of the best places to stop for lunch or dinner at Universal Kids Resort.
The Campfire Chicken Bowl is our top recommendation, but the Carnivore Beef Bowl and Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl are close behind. The Explorer’s Empanada Dog is a filling alternative, and the Excavation Brookie is one of the park’s best desserts.
We will continue visiting Jurassic World Canteen and updating this review if menu items, prices, recipes, or ordering procedures change. Theme park menus have a habit of evolving, and we want this guide to remain as current and useful as possible.
Jurassic World Canteen FAQ
Is Jurassic World Canteen worth it?
Yes. Jurassic World Canteen is one of our favorite restaurants at Universal Kids Resort. The fresh bowls, generous portions, comfortable seating, and family-friendly menu make it one of the best quick-service dining locations in the park.
What is the best food at Jurassic World Canteen?
Our favorite is the Campfire Chicken Bowl, followed closely by the Carnivore Beef Bowl and the Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the three.
What is the best kids' meal at Jurassic World Canteen?
The Dinosaur Bites are the standout kids’ meal. The dinosaur-shaped nuggets served on a mashed potato volcano with lava barbecue sauce are fun, filling, and likely to be a favorite with younger visitors.
Does Jurassic World Canteen have vegetarian or vegan food?
Yes. The Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl is listed as vegan and is one of the best plant-based meals we’ve found at Universal Kids Resort. Just keep in mind that the red curry sauce has a noticeable amount of spice.
Is Jurassic World Canteen better for lunch or dinner?
Either works, but we especially like it for an early dinner. Since it’s located at the back of the park, it also makes a convenient lunch stop if you begin your day in Jurassic World Adventure Camp.
