Universal Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort 2023 Foodie Guide

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Universal Orlando Resort guests can let the good times roll and party beyond the bayou starting this Saturday, February 4 during Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval. The fan-favorite event returns to Universal Studios Florida with a dazzling parade, mouthwatering cuisine inspired by global Carnaval celebrations, and star-studded live concerts on select nights.

Let’s dive into the food booths that are available at this year’s event:

Belgium Menu

Food
Liège Waffle Berries and Cream

pearled sugar waffle, topped with strawberries, whipped topping, and strawberry and cream crumbs

Liège Waffle S’mores

pearled sugar chocolate chip waffle, topped with marshmallow cream, chocolate sauce, and graham cracker crumbs

Brussels Frites

crispy seasoned fries served with Andalouse and Joppiesaus sauces

Beverages
Orval Trappist  

complex malt flavor combined with prominent fruitiness and an earthy herbal, peppery bitterness

Rochefort Trappist 

full-bodied with strong notes of plum, raisin, and black currant

Bloody Mary Bar Menu

Beverages
Bloody Mary Wild 

a spicy (Louisiana hot sauce and Sriracha hot chili sauce) version of a traditional bloody Mary spiked with New Amsterdam vodka, garnished with a variety of Cajun toppings

Bloody Mary Mild 

a mild version of a traditional bloody Mary spiked with New Amsterdam vodka, garnished with a variety of Cajun toppings

Brazil Menu

Food
Picanha Skewers 

beef sirloin cap, with chimichurri, smoked salt, and pão de queijo

Linguiça Skewers 

grilled Brazilian sausage with pão de queijo

Chicken Coxinha 

teardrop chicken fritters

Brigadeiros Trio 

Brazilian classic with condensed milk, cocoa powder, chocolate sprinkles, and hazelnuts

Beverages
Mango Caipirinha 

Pirassununga Cachaça, Bols orange curaçao with lime juice, mango nectar, syrup, and simple syrup

Guava Caipirinha 

Pirassununga Cachaça combined with guava nectar, lime juice, simple syrup, mint extract, and a pinch of salt

Canada Menu

Food
Canadian Snowshoe Maple 

fried sweetened dough, cinnamon sugar, and maple syrup

Poutine with Short Rib Gravy 

crispy fries with short rib, cheese curds, and brown gravy

Candied Maple Bacon 

chewy Maple taffy-covered pork belly with chopped peanuts and chocolate

Canadian Snowshoe Nutella® 

fried sweetened dough, Nutella®, sugar, and chopped toasted hazelnuts

Beverages
Slocum Maple Smash 

a sweet and refreshing combination of New Amsterdam vodka, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cardamom bitters

Collective Arts

New England-style IPA, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops

Maple Lemonade

a simple yet refreshing mix of maple syrup and lemon juice

Central City Menu

Food
Crawfish & Shrimp Boil

a mixed bag of crawfish, shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob

Crawfish Boil 

a mixed bag of crawfish, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob

Shrimp Boil 

a mixed bag of shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob

Beignets

sweet fried pastry dusted with powdered sugar

Beverages
Category 5 Punch 

Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passionfruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange, and lime juice

Abita Purple Haze

a lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops

Oh Baby 

this custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt

Colombia Menu

Food
Colombian Empanadas

crispy corn masa beef and chicken empanadas served with aji picante

Arepas de Queso

white corn masa cake with queso blanco

Beverages
Refajo 

a refreshing and authentic mix of light beer and Colombiana soda

Coco Loco 

Limonada de Coco spiked with rum and tequila

Limonada de Coco

Limeade sweetened with coconut cream

Choladas

shaved ice with sweetened condensed milk, mango, strawberry sauce, wafers, and Lulo syrup

Denmark Menu

Food
Rød Pølse

Danish red hot dog, with curry remoulade, pickled cucumber, and crispy onions

Frikadeller Meatballs with Danish Gravy

beef and pork meatballs in a creamy gravy, topped with apple butter and dill

Beverages
Mead Flight

Viking Blod, Odin’s Skull, and GI. Dansk Mjod

Odin’s Skull

composed of honey, sour apple juice, hops, and cinnamon

GI. Dansk Mjod

sweet and semi-dry notes of ginger and the sweetness of honey

Viking Blod

sweet honey flavors evolving into cinnamon, clove, and citrus

Carlsberg

full-bodied Danish pilsner with a hoppy aroma and flavor

France Menu

Food
Muffaletta Crepe

savory crepe filled with olive relish, mortadella, salami, ham, mozzarella, Cajun mayo, arugula, and sesame seeds

Beverages
Domaine Paul Buisse Chinon

highly aromatic robust, and intense with silky tannins that produce a lovely finish

Dopff & Irion Crustaces Blanc

crisp medium-bodied, with notes of peach, wet stone, and minerality

Bertrand Cote Des Roses Rosé

dry rosé with notes of grapefruit, stone fruit, and crisp apple

Wine Flight

Domaine Paul Buisse Chinon, Dopff & Irion Crustaces Blanc, and Bertrand Cote Des Roses Rosé

French Quarter Bar Menu

Beverages
Oh Baby 

this custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt

Category 5 Punch

Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passion fruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange, and lime juice

Abita Purple Haze

a lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops

Goombay Smash 

Cruzan Aged Dark rum, Don Q Coconut rum, Grand Marnier, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, mixed with pineapple, orange, and lime juices

French Quarter Menu #1

Food
King Cake

traditional cake with cinnamon swirl icing and colored sanding sugar

Beignets

sweet fried pastry dusted with powdered sugar

Beverages
Abita Purple Haze

a lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops

Oh Baby

this custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt

French Quarter Menu #2

Food

Twisted Frank with Cheddar Sauce

stuffed twisted tater, foot-long hot dog, spicy white cheddar sauce, and your choice of seasoning:

  • seasoned salt (VG)
  • garlic parmesan (V)
  • sour cream & chives (V)
  • ghost pepper (VG)

Twisted Frank

stuffed twisted tater with a foot-long hot dog and your choice of seasoning:

  • seasoned salt (VG)
  • garlic parmesan (V)
  • sour cream & chives (V)
  • ghost pepper (VG)

Twisted Tater

fried spiralized potato topped with your choice of seasoning:

  • seasoned salt (VG)
  • garlic parmesan (V)
  • sour cream & chives (V)
  • ghost pepper (VG)

Germany Menu

Food
Chicken Schnitzel with Käsespätzle

fried chicken thigh cutlet served with baked spätzle and beer cheese sauce

Potato Pancakes 

crispy potato and parsnip pancake with apple butter and sour cream

Beverages
Reissdorf 

light brew with minty, hop aromas; sweet vanilla malt flavors, and a crisp, dry, cedary finish

Warsteiner Pilsener 

pale golden pilsner with a clean refreshing taste balanced with hints of barley malt, yeast tones, and mild hoppy bitterness

Weihenstephaner Helles

easy drinking with full flavor, light body, and clean crisp finish

Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen 
Gaffel Kolsch
Ayinger Celebrator

India Menu

Food
Pav Bhaji

spiced vegetable stew served with a toasted King’s Hawaiian roll

Onion Bhaji

curry spiced crispy onion fritter with green chutney dipping sauce

Gulab Jamun with Rose Water Syrup

fried dough balls soaked in saffron and rose water syrup, with chopped pistachios

Beverages
Nimbu Pani

lime juice, mint extract, a pinch of salt and pepper, and our house-made garam masala syrup

Aam Panna

lemon juice, mint extract, a pinch of salt and pepper, and our house-made amchur syrup

Indonesia Menu

Food
Indonesian Style Chili Crab with Fried Mantou

fried soft shell crab tossed in a sweet & spicy crab stew served with fried sweet buns

Nasi Goreng

Indonesian-style fried rice with egg, Thai fried shallots, cucumber, and a prawn cracker

Bubur Ketan Hitam

Indonesian purple sticky rice pudding with coconut condensed milk, mango, and shaved toasted coconut

Beverages
Bali Punch 

Batavia Arrack Van Oosten Indonesian rum, guava and lime juices, simple syrup, mint extract, and Peychauds bitters

Java Cooler 

Batavia Arrack Van OostenIndonesianrum, grapefruit and lime juices, and simple syrup

Japan Menu

Food
Ube Ice Cream Sesame Bubble Waffle Cone

ube soft serve ice cream served in a toasted black sesame bubble waffle with cookie crumbs, pocky, and a Meiji panda cookie

Nikuman Bun Sampler

trio of soft fluffy steamed buns filled with char sui park, teriyaki chicken, and a sweet coconut matcha custard

Okonomiyaki

savory cabbage and bacon pancake topped with Kewpie mayonnaise, hoisin, cilantro, sesame, and katsuobushi

Beverages
Japanese Highball

Nikka Days Japanese Whisky and Perrier sparkling mineral water

Hakutsuru Chika

light-bodied and slightly dry with light aromas of honey and sugarcane

Hakutsuru Draft 

fruity yet dry in a classic Japanese style. Aromas of sweet rice, nuts, pear, green melon, coconut, and light cream

Joto One Cup

combining tradition and innovation in one delicious sake, light and fresh, with notes of juicy green grape and watermelon

Choya Sparkling Umeshu

tart Japanese Ume with back notes of citrus and white peach

Kirin Ichiban

light bodied with aromas of sweet malt and crisp flavors of citrus

Sapporo Silver

a refreshing lager with crisp and refined flavor and a clean finish

Calpico Mini Bottles

sweet and tangy with a smooth texture

Italy Menu

Food

Tour of Italy Arancini Flight

tomato basil with marinara, mushroom with garlic cream sauce, and seafood served with basil pesto

Gelato Stuffed Pressed Brioche

Ice cream sandwich pressed to order:

  • OREO® & mint (V, TNS)
  • Nutella® & vanilla (V, TNS)
  • strawberry (V)

Beverages

Bollini Pinot Grigio

intense varietal aromas with a fragrant bouquet and elegant, fruity, and floral flavors

Bertani Valpolicella

notes of red fruit, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry

Fantinel Extra Dry Prosecco

exotic stone fruits and nutty elements combine with bright minerality and the scent of wet slate

Tondo Soave Monte

bright and clean, with delicate yellow apple and floral notes

Mardi Gras Hits Menu
Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Food
Jambalaya

mixed rice, andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, peppers and tomatoes topped with a crawfish

Shrimp Gumbo

stew of shrimp, andouille sausage, bacon, and trinity over white rice

Beverages
Category 5 Punch 

Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passion fruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange, and lime juice

Oh Baby 

this custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt

Mexico Menu

Food
Tacos Al Pastor

pork al pastor off the spit with pineapple, pickled red onion, and habanero mango sauce

Baja Shrimp Ceviche Tostada

marinated shrimp with avocado crema and a crispy blue corn tortilla

Vegan Churros

crispy cinnamon sugar vegan churros with coconut nectar and chocolate sauce

Elotes

char-grilled corn, jalapeño mayo, ancho chili powder, cotija cheese, cilantro

Beverages
Grapefruit Paloma

El Jimador tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and a pinch of smoked sea salt, finished with Fresca soda

Modelo Especial

pilsner style lager, characterized by an orange blossom honey aroma with a hint of herb

Modelo Chelada Lime

Modelo’s authentic Mexican beer with the flavors of lime and salt for a crisp and refreshing taste

Modelo Chelada Pineapple

Modelo’s authentic Mexican beer with the sweetness of pineapple and a dash of spice

Modelo Chelada

a classic michelada-style beer with authentic flavors of tomato, salt, and lime

New Orleans Desserts Menu
Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Food
Beignets(V)

sweet fried pastry dusted with powdered sugar

King Cake(V)

traditional cake with cinnamon swirl icing and colored sanding sugar

Beverages
Category 5 Punch

Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passion fruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange, and lime juice

Abita Purple Haze

a lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops

New Orleans Menu #1
Universal CityWalk

Food
Shrimp and Smoked Cheddar Cheese Rice Grits

Sauteed shrimp, Tasso ham, and trinity, in a pan sauce, over smoked cheddar cheese rice grits

Yakamein

Braised beef, poached shrimp, and a seven-minute egg, over noodles with a spicy beef broth

Beverages
Category 5 Punch 

Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passion fruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange and lime juice

Oh Baby 

this custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt

New Orleans Menu #2
Universal CityWalk

Food
Cauliflower Dirty Rice

Riced cauliflower, Gardein® crumbles, black-eyed peas, and Cajun spices

Crawfish Etouffee

Creamy crawfish and vegetable stew, over white rice

Beverages
Category 5 Punch 

Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passion fruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange, and lime juice

Abita Purple Haze

a lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops

Puerto Rico Menu

Food

Mofongo Trio

a mix of smashed plantains, bacon, chicharrónes with shrimp criolla, crispy chicken thigh, and mayo ketchup

Alcapurrias

crispy green banana and yautia masa, filled with picadillo beef, served with mayo ketchup

Vegan Alcapurrias

crispy green banana and yautia masa served with mayo ketchup

Beverages

Classic Piña Colada

Cruzan light rum, Coco Real cream of coconut, with lime and pineapple juice

Piragua

shaved ice with your choice of flavorings:

  • crema
  • coco (TNS)
  • frambuesa
  • tamarindo

Spain

Food
Paella Mixto

saffron yellow rice, chorizo, squid, mussels, and shrimp

Spanish Bocadillo

serrano ham and drunken goat cheese with parsley sauce, on a gently pressed baguette

Leche Frita

crispy fried condensed milk, vanilla, and cinnamon

Beverages
Sangria Flight

sangria tinto, sangria blanco, and sangria rosado

Sangria Tinto 

our red sangria with Flaco Tempranillo, Torres 10 brandy, Ferrand dry curacao, lemon juice, orange juice, blackberry extract, and simple syrup

Sangria Rosado

our rosé sangria with Marq Caceres Rioja Rosé, New Amsterdam gin, strawberry mix, and a pinch of smoked sea salt

Sangria Blanco

our white sangria with Honoro Vera Rueda, Bacardi light, pineapple and lemon juices, simple syrup, pineapple extract, lemon bitters and a pinch of salt

Trinidad and Tobago Menu

Food
Crab & Dumplings

curried chickpeas, spicy bara flatbread, micro cilantro, and mango chutney

Chickpea Doubles

curried chickpeas, spicy bara flatbread, micro cilantro, and mango chutney

Pholourie

deep fried spicy split pea dough with turmeric, curry powder, and a side of tamarind chutney

Beverages
Carib

a full-bodied golden brew with a rich combination of malt and hops

Shandy Ginger

Carib-brewed beer combined with a zing of ginger

Shandy Lime 

Carib-brewed beer combined with a kick of lime

Shandy Sorrel

Carib brewed beer combined with the spicy sweetness sorrel with a kick of lime

Taste of the Mediterranean Menu
Universal CityWalk

Food
Crepe Suzette

topped with a Grand Marnier orange sauce

Grilled Octopus with Potatoes

marinated grilled octopus with tomato, oregano, and lemon herb rice

Beverages
Francois Montand Brut Sparkling

aromas of white flowers and citrus fruit give way to a creamy and smooth palate with flavors of freshly baked bread, golden delicious apples, and Meyer lemons

Bertrand Corbieres Heresie 

a velvety texture with a balanced finish, notes of fresh fruit, morello cherry, wild raspberry, and spices

Mas La Chevaliere Cabernet Sauvignon

intense fruit concentration laced with developed tannic structure, good intensity, and a nice, juicy mouthfeel

French Wine Flight 

Francois Montand Brut Sparkling, Bertrand Corbieres Heresie, Mas La Chevaliere Cabernet Sauv

Monograph Agiorgitiko

Nemea grapes present a smooth body and complex aroma of prickly pear, pomegranate, and butterscotch

Monograph Assyrtiko

youthful with refreshing acidity with notes of citrus fruits, honeysuckle, lemongrass, and stone fruit with a touch of salinity

Taste the mouthwatering flavors of global Carnaval celebrations from New Orleans to Brazil to Belgium and beyond with an expansive menu featuring more than 50 tasting-sized items. Plus, guests can enjoy more for less with the purchase of the Universal Orlando Resort Food and Beverage Card by paying $65 for a $75 card, and Universal Orlando Passholders have exclusive access to a $150 card for only $120.

Access to Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida or with an Annual or Seasonal Pass (blockout dates apply). Florida Residents can take advantage of a new offer to partake in the festivities that gives them two days of free admission to Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure with the purchase of a 2-Park, 2-Day ticket (valid for use through June 29, 2023; blockout dates apply) – and for just $25 more, they can add one day of admission to Universal’s Volcano Bay.

As always, be sure to FOLLOW ThrillGeek on Twitter and Facebook for the latest update from Universal Orlando Resort.