Get a Taste of The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant at Universal Epic Universe

We love getting a look at what’s new in cooking in the theme park world—and Universal’s Epic Universe just dropped a flavorful preview! The all-new Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant promises to bring bold tastes and stunning atmosphere to the heart of Epic Universe’s Celestial Park. Blending Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese influences, this full-service dining experience is shaping up to be a must-visit for food lovers. Check out the official article from Discover Universal below for menu highlights, design details, and everything we know so far about this exciting culinary addition!

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A creative twist on Asian cuisine can be hard to come by in a bustling theme park environment; luckily for us, the one thing Universal Epic Universe is going to do is bring on the epic — especially in the food department. One of the many things coming to Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park is an exceptionally tasty restaurant: The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant.

Get ready to experience an overflow of flavors inspired from countries like China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and more at this ethereal eatery. I hope you’re hungry, because you’re in for a world of tastes at this restaurant.

What is The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant?

Universal Orlando Resort is well-known for its stellar dining establishments, many of which offer a traditional table-service dining experience. The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, however, brings a totally new experience to the world of theme park dining.

I got a chance to chat with Aaron Tang, the general manager at The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, who gave me the inside scoop on what this restaurant is all about. Aaron says the team wanted to go for a unique style of dining, which they’re calling “explorer style.”

“The vibe is you order a bunch of stuff to share, and all the dishes come out individually when they are ready,” Aaron says. “It’s not a traditional appetizer, entrée, and dessert type of restaurant; it’s order a bunch of stuff, share, and experience as much of the menu as you possibly can.”

The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant’s team aimed to cover as much traditional Pan-Asian cuisine as they could, and the menu certainly delivers. Let’s dive into the variety of tastes it has to offer!

What’s on the Menu?

I don’t think you’re even remotely prepared for the explosion of flavors you’re going to experience dining at The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant. With dishes this unique, who would be? Think of your favorite classics across Pan-Asian cuisine, and reimagine them with an Epic twist. It’s a lot to think about, so why don’t I just show you?

Chicken Khao Soi

Starting off strong with what Aaron anticipates will be “the most slept-on dish on the menu” is the Chicken Khao Soi, a sensational Thai dish with a savory coconut curry broth, marinated grilled chicken thigh, a mix of fried and regular noodles, and a green papaya salad on the side. Standing as the restaurant’s only Thai dish, the Chicken Khao Soi is one of Aaron’s favorite dishes on the menu.

When people think of Asian cuisine, their minds tend to gravitate toward rice, noodles, dumplings, and the like. Because The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restuarant offers a variety of that and more, Aaron sees the Chicken Khao Soi as a potentially underrated delicacy. “It will probably not be everybody’s go-to right away, but once you have it, I think it’ll be a favorite for sure,” Aaron says.

Double Fried Korean Wings

I love a good wing, and when it comes to the Double Fried Korean Wings, they are definitely more than just “good.” These crispy delights are tossed in a sweet-but-spicy gochujang sauce and topped with sesame seeds. You definitely won’t want to miss out on trying these.

Dragon Fried Rice

We can’t make nods to Pan-Asian classics without having at least one fried rice dish on the menu. Befitting the restaurant’s namesake comes the Dragon Fried Rice, a premium take on traditional Chinese fried rice. This dish is packed with jumbo shrimp, jumbo lump crab, and Chinese sausage mixed into fried jasmine rice cooked in chicken broth. Remember those aforementioned explosions of flavors? They’re right here — all in one bowl. “It’s not your average pork fried rice that you’d get at a Chinese takeout — it’s a labor of love,” Aaron says.

Banana Napoleon

There are way too many ways a banana can be made into a dessert — and I’m not complaining. The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant is putting this fruit to good use with the Banana Napoleon. While a traditional Napoleon is typically made with a pastry crust, this one is made with wonton sheets that are fried and dusted in sugar. Topped with delicious vanilla ice cream and sliced bananas, this treat is drizzled in a sweet miso caramel and features a little Chinese five-spice for some flare.

Passion Fruit Mooncake

Arguably the crown jewel of this eatery’s dessert selection is the Passion Fruit Mooncake, a decadent delight made with a passion fruit cheesecake dusted in gold and pressed with the restaurant’s signature dragon symbol. Garnished with small flowers and diced passion fruit, this dessert is an absolute delicacy.

Chengdu Dream

You know what would make all these incredible dishes taste even better? An alluring drink to go with them — and luckily for you, The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant has plenty of those. One worthy of note is the Chengdu Dream. Aaron describes this drink as their take on a Chinese tiki drink. This refreshing beverage consists of a baijiu liquor, blue curaçao, grapefruit and pineapple juices and is sweetened with falernum (an herbs and spices liqueur with almond) while garnished with a desert flower, and decorated with a festive purple dragon swizzle stick.

This drink doesn’t just come with a good taste — it comes with a backstory. At least, that’s what Katelyn Haber on the Universal Orlando beverage team says. According to the lore, it all leads back to Kai Ming, a backpacker from Chengdu, China, who found herself wandering into Celestial Park. When she takes a sip of her favorite drink, the Chengdu Dream, she feels as if she’s instantly transported back home. You’re sure to feel a similar sensation when you try one for yourself!

Consider this just a sample of what The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant has to offer. While this may not be everything, you’re certainly in for a variety of tasty surprises during your dining ventures here.

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