Universal Orlando Mardi Gras 2024 Best Bites & Menus
This past weekend the TouringPlans Foodie Squad visited Universal Studios Florida to sip and snack their around Universal’s Mardi Gras 2024. This article covers the Mardi Gras food offerings with food and menu photos, our suggested Best Bites, and our touring advice to save money and time.
Mardi Gras Overview
Mardi Gras is Universal’s premier food festival featuring over 50 dishes and dozens of cocktails inspired by carnivals all over the world – From Beignets and King Cakes to Chilaquiles Verdes and Godiva and Biscoff Liege Waffles. Universal Studios Florida is home to all the international destinations while New Orleans’ classic food and drinks are found in all the theme parks, resorts, and CityWalk.
Booths open at 11:00 am and close approximately half an hour before the park closes. Food items range in price from $5 to over $15 with most dishes between $8-12. Alcohol is served at all locations and full-sized drinks range from $10-$15 per drink. We advise skipping the batched cocktails and ordering fresh at Finnegan’s Bar in New York or CityWalk.
Pack your patience at the Universal food booths as waits after you order can be 10-15 minutes long. Our Foodies note:
Most booths took 11 – 18 minutes which is an eternity longer than EPCOT festivals but they also don’t appear to use heat lamps with the same frequency as Disney. You’re waiting because they’re frying the [dishes fresh].
For more information on parades, concerts, the Tribute Store, and more read our 2024 Mardi Gras Guide.
Saving Money with the Universal Food & Beverage Card
Save $10 by purchasing a pre-loaded Universal Orlando Food & Beverage Card for all your snacking and sipping. Cards start at $65 and include $75 worth of dining credit valid at Mardi Gras food booths and other dining venues located around the parks. The cards have no expiration date and prior years’ card balances are still valid at this year’s Mardi Gras food booths. Even if you never eat at a food booth purchasing dining cards can still save you 14% on food around the resort – that’s a good deal.
Mardi Gras 2024 Food Menus
Mardi Gras food options are separated across a dozen food booths throughout Universal Studios Florida. Each booth’s menu has two or three small dishes, regional alcohol, soft drinks, and water. The latest food booth menus, with drink options, are found on Universal’s website or the Universal Orlando mobile app.
The TouringPlans Foodie Squad enjoyed this year’s Mardi Gras agreeing the food was a noticeable step up from last year. The TPFS spent hours debating the best dishes under $50 in total, our Best Bites, plus a bonus alcohol pick. Also, whenever you see a blue quote box those are notes from our foodie team.
Belgium
Sweet & Savory Gouda & Onion Waffle – $8.99
Warm crystalized waffle, smoked gouda, beer braised onions, black forest ham
Cookie Butter Liege Waffle – $7.99 (Vegetarian)
Brazil
Shrimp Moqueca – $7.99
Shrimp and coconut cream stew, micro cilantro, white rice.
Pão de Queijo – $6.99 (Vegitarian)
Brigadeiros – $64.9
Canada
Candied Bacon & Onion Poutine – $10.49
Candied bacon spiced curly fries with caramelized onion gravy, cheese curds, spiced maple bacon, and parsley.
Vegan Wild Mushroom Poutine – $9.99 (Vegan)
China
Szechuan Noodle Salad – $5.99 (Vegan)
Spicy cold noodle salad with cucumbers, peanuts, cilantro, and scallions.
Spicy Smashed Cucumber – $5.99 (Vegan)
Spicy marinated cucumbers with peanuts, cilantro, and scallions.
Potstickers – $5.49
Colombia
BEST BITE Colombian Burger – $9.99
Grilled burger with Monterey Jack cheese, pineapple cabbage slaw, cilantro garlic sauce, and potato sticks.
Don’t be put off by the longer lines here! This burger is 100% worth the wait!
Arepa de Choclo – $8.49 (Vegetarian)
Oblea – $6.99 (Vegetarian)
Coca-Cola Market Square
Cherry Cola BBQ Pork Sliders – $9.99
Slow-cooked carnitas with cherry cola BBQ sauce on a Hawaiian pretzel bun served with lemon-lime soda-infused coleslaw.
Orange Whoopie Pie – $6.99
Orange soda whoopie pie filled with whipped topping and orange marmalade.
Twisted Tater – $9.49
Fried spiralized potato topped with choice of seasoning: seasoned salt, ghost pepper, garlic parmesan, or sour cream and chives.
France
Bananas Foster Crème Brûlée Crepe – $11.99
Banana caramel, vanilla cream, fresh bananas, whipped topping, and brûléed sugar.
Germany
Chicken Schnitzel – $8.99
Currywurst – $7.99
Crispy skin German bratwurst sliced and topped with spicy curry ketchup.
Käsespätzle – $4.99 (Vegetarian)
Cheese spätzle topped with crispy onions.
Bavarian Pretzel with Obatzda – $11.49 (Vegetarian)
BEST BITE Mutzen – $6.99 (Vegetarian)
Floofy, sweet, tart. [Food at] the Germany booth is heavy and fried so the lemon in the fritters was a nice way to cut that feeling. It was tart but not too puckery.
Italy
Roman Suppli – $7.99
Zabaglione with Berries – $5.99 (Vegetarian)
Frangelico anglaise with mixed berries topped with toasted hazelnuts. Contains alcohol.
Mexico
New Orleans
Crawfish Étouffée – $7.49
Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya – $7.49
Fried Green Tomato Po’Boy – $12.49 (Vegan)
Shrimp Gumbo – $7.49
Shrimp & Crawfish Boil – $14.49
BEST BITE Chicory Coffee – $7.99
We never add drinks to our “Best $50” but this one deserves an exception!
Philipines
Pancit Bihon – $8.49
BEST BITE Crispy Lumpia – $7.49
Pork-filled crispy rice paper roll with dipping sauce. Like the ones at Pandora, just savory.
The perfect dish- enough for everyone to get a hearty serving. Have patience as they fry them when you order. Well worth the wait!
Pandan Cheesecake – $6.99
Puerto Rico
Pastelón – $8.99
A layered casserole of sweet plantain, and picadillo beef topped with Edam cheese.
Bacalaitos – $7.99
Pastelitos de Guayaba – $5.99 (Vegetarian)
Spain
Ensalada de Pulpo – $8.99
Traditional Spanish salad with octopus, fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, paprika, and sherry vinegar.
BEST BITE Papitas Bravas – $5.99 (Vegan)
Very mild, so flavorful & filling!
Crèma Catalana – $6.49 (Vegetarian)
BEST BITE Sangria Flight – $16.99
Fruity & sweet – a great sharing option
Thailand
Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp – $8.49
Sautéed shrimp on a salad of shredded green papaya, and carrots, with Thai basil, and peanuts, tossed in a spicy Thai dressing.
Green Curry with Chicken – $ 6.99
Chicken Satay – $8.99
Marinated grilled chicken skewer with Thai cucumber and topped with a peanut sauce.
Universal Marid Gras 2024 Menu Photos
TouringPlans Touring Tips
- Save Money and purchase a Food & Beverage card starting at $65 and receive $75 in dining credit. These cards are valid at most Universal Theme Park dining locations and kiosks, including full service restaurants.
- Some booth menus feature a Food and Drink pair that saves $1 over purchasing them separately.
- Free water is available at all restaurants, kiosks, Coke Freestyle machines, and food booths that have fountain drinks.
- Save Time and visit booths with high guest capacity like Mexico.
- Current food booth location maps are online and in the Universal Orlando app.
- From waiting in line to eating, expect every booth to take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to experience when factoring them into your touring plans.
- Food Allergies are listed on the menu boards located outside the booths. Discuss food allergy concerns with the cashier at the time of placing your order.
- Our Best Bites are
- Colombia Burger – $9.99
- Mutzen – $6.99
- Quesabirra – $8.99
- Chicory Coffee – $7.99
- Crispy Lumpia – $7.49
- Papitas Bravas – $5.99
- Sangria Flight – $16.99
Have you visited Universal Mardi Gras 2024 and have a favorite dish? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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