When Epic Universe opens May 22nd, 2025, guests will have the chance to step into the world of How to Train Your Dragon on the Isle of Berk – the small island in the Barbaric Archipelago that the Hooligan tribe of vikings call home. This island is unlike any you’ve ever been to, as vikings live in harmony with giant, fire-breathing dragons! The vikings are fierce warriors, and every fierce warrior needs a hearty meal to fuel them up!
Universal Orlando Resort has recently given guests a sneak peek at what’s coming to restaurants at the Isle of Berk, and the food and beverage offerings fit for a viking! With hearty meals that can easily feed a group to healthy salads that can satisfy even the pickiest of barbarians, the main attraction for all things Hooligan cuisine can be found at the center of the viking village: The Mead Hall.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
“Here’s the place to eat and drink like a Viking! The massive Mead Hall is Berk’s main gathering place, a grand chamber hewn from mountain rock where Vikings feast on a hearty menu including meat, fish, sandwiches and desserts. Beverages include assorted meads, ciders and ales.”
A gathering place for vikings on Berk, the Mead Hall sports a massive entrance door that towers over the town square at sixteen feet and seven inches of pure viking craftsmanship. It’s the perfect place to gather for a good time, or to hash out your next battle plan. And hey – while you’re deciding what Hooligan trouble to get into next, you can kick back and relax with some famous Nordic cuisine, like the Thawfest Platter.
This variety plate is a staple item at the Mead Hall, offering a full feast featuring grilled sausage, salmon with dill sauce, chicken drumsticks glazed with a wild berry barbecue sauce, and a side of French fries and house-made pickles! Also included in the Thawfest Platter is a heaping helping of roasted carrots, cipollini onions, and a variety of side sauces to devour this epic feast however you want!
But not all vikings are meatheads (except for the Meathead tribe, of course) and the Mead Hall has plenty of dishes to cater to all kinds of barbaric tastes! Check out the Sullen Sea Sandwich, featuring salmon topped witch pickled cucumbers and horseradish dill crème for a real kick, all on a pumpernickel Kaiser roll. This seafaring sandwich comes with a side of ancient grains (just like viking grannies used to make!) and sun-dried berries.
For even lighter fare, check out the Nordic Harvest Salad – mixed kale and arugula greens, crispy red cabbage, radishes, and ancient grains make this a healthy alternative for those vikings out there watching their figure! Served with a sprinkling of blueberries and crisp apple chunks to add a sweet tang to the salad, as well as a crunchy trail mix topping and a raspberry vinaigrette to tie it all together, the Nordic Harvest Salad is honestly more greens than most vikings eat in a year, so tuck in!
Of course, not even vikings are immune to a sweet treat, and Astrid’s dragon Stormfly has the perfect solution – Stormfly’s Catch of the Day is a dessert that definitely tastes better than it sounds. Instead of being served up raw fish (or, half a raw fish, if you’re as unlucky as Hiccup!), Stormfly’s Catch of the Day is a fun fish-shaped chocolate mousse dessert that sits atop a bed of colorful crispy rice cereal, all coming together in every perfect bite to create a decadent balance of crunchy and creamy sweetness!
And of course, it would be silly to have a Mead Hall that doesn’t serve mead! Mead, estimated to be at least 20,000 years old, is a drink typically made by fermenting honey with water and yeast. Also called ‘honey wine,’ mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world and is still being actively made today! Alcoholic beverages, including mead, ale, and other specialty drinks, are available to guests 21 and older with valid ID!
If the Mead Hall isn’t your style, fear not! Vikings are big on their foods, of course, and additional options can be found at the Spit Fyre Grill – where guests can sample fare from all across the archipelago. Set in a bustling trader’s market, this quick-service location features hearty helpings of greens, grains, or rice topped with a variety of proteins all flame-seared by (allegedly!) a dragon fry cook! Options on the Spit Fyre Menu include Stoick’s Steak Bowl, Hiccup’s Salmon Bowl, Meatlug’s Chicken Bowl, Astrid’s Shrimp Bowl, or Valka’s Vegan Bowl.
And if none of that sounds like it fill your viking-sized appetite, head over to the concession stands for some of Berk’s famous dragon races and find Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, a quick-service kiosk at the Isle of Berk where guests can find a variety of Mac and Cheese Cones. These treats are halved loaves of bread that have had their insides carved out and filled with Mac and Cheese. And really, who doesn’t love Mac and Cheese? It’s an instant win.
All in all, the vikings know what’s up when it comes to hearty meals that are sure to fill you after a long day of training dragons (or saving the princess, or facing monsters, or doing incredible feats of magic!) and the restaurants at the Isle of Berk seem to have a little something for everyone with a nice variety of themed dishes and the Nordic flair of the Barbaric Archipelago.
Universal’s Epic Universe officially opens May 22nd, 2025, and will feature five distinct lands including the Isle of Berk. As we get closer to the opening date, Theme Park Shark will continue to break down all the tantalizing teasers that Universal has released on its food and beverage offerings in the park, so check back for more!
