The Best Restaurants At Universal Studios Hollywood

Let us get this out of the way. In order to proceed, you must free your mind of any preconceived notions that you may have in regard to what you think theme park food is. We will be honest. It is very easy to have a bad meal at a park, but just as equally easy to have a great one. It does require a bit of work, but that is where we come in — you are welcome.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles. While smaller than its sister park in Orlando, it makes up for it with a rich history. It is also an actual working television and film studio to this day — one of the oldest and most famous in the world. Our sheer fascination with Hollywood is celebrated at the park in not only the attractions, but in dining.

Have you ever wished you could belly up to the bar with a frosty one at Moe's Tavern like they do in "The Simpsons"? How about some fish and chips in the fantastical world of Harry Potter? You can do all that — and then some — here. With impeccable theming, Universal Studios Hollywood's restaurant scene is inspired in both its décor and in its food.

You aren't required to resist the banana — or the Nutella banana pudding for that matter — because, at the Minions Café, you can eat to your heart desires at this amped-up quick-service spot. Let's just hope your stomach hasn't been shrunk down to the size of a Minion because here you can fulfill your mischievous appetite at the entrance to Super Silly Fun Land. The name of the game is comfort food done well, with a few twists. We are partial to their grilled cheese lineup which includes the classic childhood version you know and love, served alongside creamy tomato soup. The staple is reinvented with a meatball parmesan version as well as a pulled pork grilled cheese that's full of tender meat and served alongside none other than a banana flavored BBQ sauce.

Other eclectic bites include chicken tinga nachos, a chicken ranch mac and cheese topped with house-made crispy bacon ranch breadcrumbs, and a pork ramen bowl with black garlic oil and a marinated egg. The preferred way to end a meal here? By eating a Minion -– sort of. It is the adorable Minion face sugar cookie. On the way out, head just around the corner where you may spot an actual minion outside Miss Hattie's home for girls.

When walking through Springfield, it could be easy to bypass Suds McDuff's Hot Dogs and head right for some libations at Moe's Tavern or Duff's brewery beer garden. The unassuming counter-service spot sells your basics, but with playful Simpsons-inspired names, like the Krusty's Non-Kosher Hot Dog, Marge Hair Cotton Candy, and Ralph Wiggum's Choo-Choo Churro. But it is the seasonal items that have had our heads turning more than once. The hooray for everything pretzel takes their standard soft pretzel (which is actually quite good) and sees it dunked into a buttery bath before being generously coated with everything but the bagel seasoning.

But much like the Simpson's family dog, Suds McDuff, races to get a treat, so did we for their Dufftoberfest offering. The German-inspired delight featured a freshly baked pretzel bun that was filled to the brim with beer cheese. Sounds delicious, right? Well, even better, they used the park's own exclusively brewed Duff beer to create this cheesy masterpiece. The pillowy, pull-apart pieces of pretzel proved to be the perfect purveyor for the silky cheese dip. Petition for year-round Dufftoberfest?

We are back in Springfield, U.S.A. for this next one inspired by lovable, albeit slightly tragic character of Cletus Spuckler, from the Simpsons. Cletus' Chicken Shack is inspired by the hillbilly lifestyle that Spuckler leads — although his food of choice, raccoon, is most certainly not sold here. The menu here is all about chicken — from chicken thumbs, a fancy name for fried chicken fingers, to Cletus' peep-fried chicken platter that comes with all the fixings including corn on the cob, a biscuit, mashed potatoes, and gravy. The star dish here is the chicken and waffle sandwich. A tender fried chicken breast is sandwiched between a soft, yet study-enough waffle that is topped with a decadent maple mayo sauce tying all the flavors together.

You are going to want to wash it down with a Buzz Cola. Unlike the series that promises "twice the sugar, twice the caffeine" this is actually calorie-free and uses Coke Zero and a flavored, calorie-free cherry syrup. We love grabbing our food and heading next door to Moe's Tavern for some good ole fashioned people watching along with our meal — and a frosty glass of real-life Duff beer made exclusively for the parks.

Pink's Hot Dogs is a Los Angeles institution that opened in the 1930s known for their no-frills roadside shack serving up creatively topped hot dogs. Unfortunately, the Hollywood landmark is also a hot spot known for its downright impossible parking situation and a long line of hot dog hopefuls. Luckily, you can get that same taste right at Universal Studios Hollywood. Located at City Walk — the entertainment and dining district just outside the theme park's gate— you will find Pink's Famous Hot Dogs amongst of sea of many drool-worthy options. You also can't miss it thanks to its massive neon hot dog sign.

This outpost won't land you with a Los Angeles parking ticket and has the bonus of a much more manageable line to boot. The menu is much the same with Pink's favorites, including the chili dog with sauerkraut and the "El Cucuy" Jalapeno dog with a 12-inch jalapeno sauce. There is also a selection of burgers, specialty loaded fries, and even a vegan dog. We promise that you won't be sacrificing on taste as these are just as good as the original and feature that same snappy dog we love from the brand that has become iconic.

Our preferred way to end a long day in the parks is just outside the gates at City Walk. NBC Sports Grill & Brew is the newest full-service restaurant at the property, themed (as you guessed) to the NBC Sports network. You can bet on a number of high-definition television screens broadcasting every game under the sun ensuring you won't miss a single play. The setting is casual but don't let that fool you — they truly step up to the plate with an impressive selection of draft beers and specialty cocktails in addition to a full menu. Entrée highlights here are the Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich and the toasted gruyere burger with crispy onions and sherry caramelized onion.

Our touchdown of a way to hang here? Throw back a few beers and design our own feast out of their standout appetizer selections. The guac bowl is delicious with charred corn and cotija, and you could never go wrong with crispy wings — especially their unique take on the sports bar favorite coated in a pad Thai sauce. The absolute must is the colossal artisan pretzel that's crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside — it is also so big a plate just didn't suffice. It is served with addictive beer-cheddar queso made in-house and creamy Bertman's mustard.

When a theme park break calls, nothing sounds more relaxing than escaping to a cozy café for a glass of wine or a freshly prepared latte. The park's French Street Bistro answers that call with a completely unexpected little slice of heaven in the parks. This vastly underrated spot may be just steps from bustling streetscapes and attractions, but it embodies the feel of your local coffee shop. With plenty of seating to rest your weary legs, the menu is simple but their variety of sweet and savory hits all the right notes.

Your morning begins with a fresh-pressed turkey and swiss croissant or ham and brie along with their freshly roasted coffee options, including on tap nitro cold brew. As the day progresses, the menu is even more intriguing with a selection of house-made quiches, including the classic Lorraine, and a solid line-up of desserts, from miniature macarons to house-made beignets. Our must grabs here are the ooey, gooey, s'mores bar, Nutella babka, and their strawberry and chocolate dessert crepe. Pair these with a glass of wine on tap for an ideal mid-afternoon break.

Krusty the Klown is synonymous with "The Simpsons" as the loud-mouth, chain-smoking star of Bart and Lisa's favorite show. Once you've escaped his shenanigans on the nearby Simpsons ride, head to Krusty Burger, also in the park's Springfield area. While the fictional television version has been riddled with complications, it is all smiles at the theme park's version. The impeccably themed venue beckons you to indulge in burgers and more in what best could be described as an absolute bucket list experience at the park.

The Krusty Burger, Ribwich, and Sideshow Bob Footlong are all mainstays, but the true show stopper is their Clogger Burger (with a name like that you know you are about to be in for it). This massive burger takes two 1/3 pound patties and loads them with American cheese, tomato, pickles, applewood smoked bacon, and Krusty's infamous secret sauce. We may not know what exactly is in the sauce but we can tell you that it is absolutely delicious. We can also guarantee that Krusty will not spit into every 50th burger.