Where to Eat at Universal CityWalk

CityWalk's flagship restaurant is Food Network celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's Orlando outpost. The James Beard Foundation award winner is renowned for his brand of contemporary New Orleans cuisine that puts a sophisticated twist on traditional Creole dishes from the bayous of Louisiana. If you're celebrating a big event or just want a "wow" dining experience, this is definitely the place.

Do your kids have adventurous palates? Like the name implies, Cowfish takes East-meets-West fusion to a new level. The signature dish is called the burgushi—sushi rolls created using burger components—but if you're not brave enough to go there, the menu also features traditional sushi and awesome beef burgers, wraps, and salads. Don't miss the parmesan bacon truffle fries and the kid's menu bento boxes.

Lovers of authentic Mexican food will be muy contenido here. Along with the roaming mariachi band, tasty tapas-style appetizers, and killer guacamole made for you at your tableside, you'll find tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, empanadas, and other South-of-the-border favorites.  

Mamma Mia! If you're hungry for exceptional Italian food, this place will win over your family with freshly baked breads, homemade pastas, sizzling meats, and oven-fired pizza. 

With 1,000 seats, the world's largest Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to gobble up a side order of rock 'n' roll history. The menu includes sandwiches, BBQ, chicken wings, nachos, steaks, salads and 10 different burgers, plus a full bar. Music videos play non-stop throughout the restaurant and an impressive collection of rock memorabilia adorns the walls. 

This good-time joint with the infectious island vibe has us searching for our last shaker of salt. The menu is casual and definitely uptempo: Think cheeseburgers, fried coconut shrimp, chimichurri steak, fish tacos, fried chicken, surf-n-turf, and Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalaya. Mom and Dad should not miss the delectable boat drinks.

As you might expect at this shrine to "Forrest Gump," shrimp is huge here. Along with menu items like Shrimper's Net Catch, Cajun Shrimp, Shrimp New Orleans, Shrimpers Heaven and Shrimp Po' Boy, you'll also find other Southern classics like baby back ribs, fried chicken and jambalaya. Best photo op: Try on the plaster casts of Forrest’s sneakers at the bus bench in front of the restaurant.

Pizza lovers will make a beeline for the Red Oven for authentic, artisan, Old World pizza made fresh while you wait. Each pizza is hand-assembled and baked in a 900-degree oven in 90 seconds or less, and delivered immediately to your table. 

It's dogs-just-dogs at this quick-service joint. Choose a frank or bratwurst from one of America's iconic hot dog locations (Chicago, Boston, New York, L.A., Colorado, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Arizona, or Detroit) or create your own perfect dog with the toppings of your choice and a gourmet mustard bar. 

Need a place to watch the big game? Coming Fall of 2015, this sports bar and restaurant offers nearly 100 HD screens to make sure you get your sports fix in a big way. There's a wall of foosball tables to keep the kids happy, and an extensive menu of more than 75 different items, including burgers, chicken, and steaks. The open kitchen lets you watch the chefs in action as they prepare your meal on open fire grills. And, for Mom and Dad, there are over 100 different beers on offer.

Inside a 19^th-century-inspired, Steampunk-era chocolate factory, this restaurant's menu features all-day-brunch crepes and quiches, steak, seafood and pasta entrees, gourmet burgers, sandwiches, scrumptious salads and more. For sweet tooths, there's an artisan milkshake collection and a variety of sundaes. Guests can watch chocolate creations being prepared and purchase them from the restaurant’s retail shop.