Are Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Volcano Nachos worth $25.95 at Universal CityWalk Orlando? Our review covers the 3,270 calories, taste, sharing tips, and visit info.

Every theme park fan has that one dish they swear they will skip next time, and then order again anyway. For us, it is the Margaritaville Volcano Nachos at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Universal CityWalk Orlando. We sit down intending to be adventurous. Then somebody says “we should just get the nachos,” and the whole table nods like we have been given a weather advisory.

These nachos have been a classic choice for experienced Universal Orlando Resort visitors for a long time. The restaurant is part of a chain that you can find in several other tourist areas, but the CityWalk location is where many of us first met this mountain of chips. Here is why we keep coming back, how big this thing really is, and everything you need to know before you visit.

Margaritaville Volcano Nachos at a Glance

Dish	Volcano Nachos
Where	Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Universal CityWalk Orlando
Price	$25.95
Calories	3,270 (as listed by Universal for the full plate)
What’s on it	House made tortilla chips, chili, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream and jalapeños
Best for	Sharing with a group of three or four
Operating Hours	10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (according to the Universal Orlando Resort website)

How Huge Are These Nachos? Evacuate the Table

Calling the Margaritaville Volcano Nachos an appetizer is like calling Mount Vesuvius a hill. The name is not a metaphor. This is a geological event that happens to be served on a plate.

Start with the numbers. Universal Orlando Resort’s menu page lists the dish at 3,270 calories. For perspective, a side of the restaurant’s own fries is listed at 520 calories, so this plate contains more than six orders of fries before anyone has even glanced at an entrée. Split four ways, that is roughly 818 calories per person, which sounds perfectly reasonable until someone says, “I’ll just have one more chip.”

The pile arrives with the confidence of a dish that has never once been told no. The chips are stacked so high that we briefly considered asking the server for a trail map. There is no summit, only ridge lines. Our table spent the first minute silently deciding where to begin, like climbers staring up at the mountain and wondering if base camp has napkins. Oh, you will need napkins! With the cheese, chili, guacamole, and sour cream, messy hands are inevitable.

If the nachos begin to rumble, please evacuate toward the margaritas. This is a safe place to be. Hot cheese does not respect seismograph readings, and neither does our group when the chips are still crunchy, which they stayed during our entire meal.

Margaritaville Volcano Nachos: Taste

In fairness, no single ingredient of the Margaritaville Volcano Nachos are going to win an award. Chili, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños. You have met every one of them before. Still, stacked together, they work, and that is really the whole point of nachos. Every bite has a little crunch, a little heat, and a little cool.

The cheese. During our recent visit, the cheese tasted better than standard table service nachos. That is a bar that can be surprisingly low at some restaurants, so it was a nice surprise to find cheese that actually tasted like a deliberate choice.

The chips. The tortilla chips were saltier than most guests would expect. Normally that might be a complaint, but here it was not a bad thing. With jalapeños, guacamole and a cold drink in front of you, the extra salt fits the mood. Just know it is there.

The chili. This is where we have one small note. Our group thought these nachos had less chili than during previous visits. Chili is one of the toppings that makes the dish feel like a real meal, so we noticed. If chili is your favorite part, you may want to ask your server whether extra is an option.

Is the Price Worth It?

At $25.95, the Margaritaville Volcano Nachos cost about the same as the Fish Tacos ($24.95) or the Jimmy’s Jammin Jambalaya ($25.95), but they can feed an entire table. Divided among four people, the cost works out to about $6.49 each. Divided among three, it is closer to $8.65. For a Universal CityWalk Orlando table-service restaurant, that is a pretty friendly way to start a meal, and it is easy to turn the nachos into the meal itself if your group is not especially hungry. Did we mention up to 15% discount for Universal Orlando annual passholders?

Nothing here is gourmet, and we would not pretend otherwise. Still, the value comes from the size, the shareability and the fact that it is a dish that reliably gets a happy reaction from the table.

Tips for Ordering the Volcano Nachos

• Bring backup. These are easily shareable, and they work best with three or four people.
• Pace your entrées. If you plan to order burgers, tacos or jambalaya too, consider letting the nachos be the star and sharing a couple of entrées across the table.
• Eat while the cheese is hot. The chips on the lower layers soften quickly, so dig in as soon as the plate lands.
• Ask for extra plates. Trying to share a plate this big without a few small plates is how forks end up in sour cream.
• Check the nutrition details. Universal posts a nutrition information PDF for the restaurant.

Dietary needs. Universal asks guests to inform a manager or chef before ordering if anyone in the party needs a special dietary accommodation. You can also review Universal’s dietary accommodations page

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

• Location: Inside Universal CityWalk at 6000 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819.
• Dining type: Full service (table service).
• Hours: Universal lists 10 am to 10 pm daily, subject to change.
• Reservations: Call (407) 224-3663 or make a reservation online.
• Entertainment: Live music on the Main Stage indoors, plus a live guitarist on the Porch of Indecision outdoors.
• Menus: Universal posts the Everyday, Dessert, Kids and Drink menus online.
• Alcohol: Available to guests 21 and older with a valid photo ID.
• Gratuity: An 18% gratuity is added for parties of six or more.
• Next door: The Lone Palm Airport offers drinks and quick eats beneath Jimmy Buffett’s seaplane, the Hemisphere Dancer.
• Parking and admission: The parking garage at Universal CityWalk Orlando is nearby. However, parking fees will apply. Except during Halloween Horror Nights season, parking is free after 6:00 p.m. on most evenings.

For the latest details, always check the official Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville page on Universal Orlando’s website.

Not in a Nacho Mood? Other Menu Items Worth a Look

If the group votes against the volcano, there is plenty more on the everyday Menu. A few options, with prices as listed by Universal:

• Lava Lava Shrimp: $18.95
• Asiago Crab & Artichoke Dip: $18.95
• Coconut Shrimp: $20.95
• Cheeseburger in Paradise: $19.95

Make It a Full CityWalk Day

Once you have conquered the nachos, CityWalk has plenty of places to keep the snacking going. If you want something quick and casual, check out our Fat One’s Hot Dogs review. For a sweet follow up, we have a look at the Butterfinger Doughnut at Voodoo Doughnut and a full Toothsome Chocolate Emporium review. Also, if you are planning a sandwich stop, read our Bread Box CityWalk review before you go.

We Still Keep Ordering the Margaritaville Volcano Nachos

The Margaritaville Volcano Nachos aren’t fancy, and they aren’t trying to be. They are big, salty, cheesy, and made for sharing, and during our recent visit, the cheese was a step above typical table-service nachos. We did miss some of the chili from earlier visits, but the plate still delivered what we wanted. That is why we keep ordering it.

Bring a group, order a round of drinks and let the nachos do the talking. Just keep an eye on the lava.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are the Volcano Nachos at Margaritaville in CityWalk Orlando? Universal lists them at $25.95, subject to change.

How many calories are in the Volcano Nachos? Universal lists the dish at 3,270 calories.

Are the Volcano Nachos big enough to share? Yes. They are easily shareable, and we recommend three or four people.

Can I make a reservation at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville? Yes. Universal lists reservations by phone at (407) 224-3663 and online.

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Additionally, we sometimes post bonus theme park dining reviews. As always, eat like you mean it!

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