The food–energy–water (FEW) nexus provides a critical framework for analyzing complex interdependencies within urban resource system, while the inherent complexity of urban system presents significant challenges for effective management and policy formulation. System dynamics (SD) modeling is widely applied to capture the complex interactions among urban systems. However, its application in urban FEW nexus research remains limited, with notable gaps such as the lack of post-modeling optimization analyses and insufficient integration of spatial dimensions. Therefore, this study reviews existing SD models applied to the urban FEW nexus, synthesizing their structures and applications and discussing future directions for model development. The systematic review of 179 journal articles reveals that although urban FEW management is the most frequently addressed theme, research in this field remains fragmented. Keywords clusters analysis highlights dominant research clusters focused on water management and energy–carbon modeling, while also exposing underexplored areas such as spatial modeling, household-scale analysis, and cross-sector integration. Scenario analysis emerges as the most widely adopted post-modeling approach, followed by sensitivity analysis. These findings inform the discussion on an ideal system dynamics modeling framework for the urban FEW nexus, emphasizing spatial–temporal perspectives, regional interdependencies, and post-modeling optimization. This study contributes to advancing FEW nexus understanding and supports the development of more effective tools for managing its complexities.