The Ultimate Food Guide to Universal Studios Japan’s Super Nintendo World
Based upon the beloved video game franchise Super Mario Bros and its various sub-series, Super Nintendo World is a fully immersive theme park that opened at Universal Studios Japan last March. The attractions allow guests to experience games they love in real life, like Mario Kart-style racing and Yoshi’s Adventure, which lets you traverse the titular character’s quirky landscape.
In addition to amazing attractions, one of the best parts is that guests get to experience the cuisine of Super Nintendo World, which is just as fun and unique as the video games.
As we look forward to the first Super Nintendo World opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in early 2023, we wanted to whet your appetite with Universal Studios Japan’s current list of food offerings you might expect to experience next year.
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Mario Café & Store
Located on Universal Studio Japan’s Hollywood Boulevard, the Mario Café & Store sells merchandise and has a small restaurant. While not inside Super Nintendo World theme park, it’s a necessary precursor to the immersive experience that awaits. Here you’ll be able to get your hands on an assortment of Mario-themed desserts, sweets, soda and coffee.
Mario's Cap Strawberry Shortcake Pancake Sandwich
This buttercream-filled treat is a strawberry shortcake-flavored pancake shaped like Mario’s Cap. Glazed strawberries with star sprinkles color the presentation while a wafer sticks out with the words, “Whose Cap?”
Luigi's Cap Grape No-Bake Cheesecake Pancake Sandwich
Luigi’s take on the pancake sandwich includes a luscious cheesecake stuffed with buttercream along with star-sprinkled grapes. It also comes with a wafer, except it reads, “Okey-dokey.”
Mario's Fruity Italian Strawberry Cream Soda
Drink this burst of Italian soda sweetness from a neat mustache straw. It’s topped with fruit and whipped cream for a burst of sweet and tart.
Luigi's Fruity Italian Green Apple Cream Soda
Those who favor green apple can sip this Italian soda from a Luigi-style mustache straw. It’s also served with a delicious topping of fruit and whipped cream.
Princess Peach's Fruity Italian Peach Cream Soda
Rounding out the Italian cream soda options is Princess Peach’s peach cream. The straw features a cute crown while the soda is topped with a cherry and whipped cream.
Pit Stop Popcorn
For a quick and tasty boost, a lite snack always comes in handy. Available in two unique flavor combinations, caramel peach & mushroom cream, Super Nintendo World’s special popcorn is a must-try. Aside from fun flavor options, guests also have the opportunity to own one of the park’s best souvenirs, the Super Star Popcorn Bucket and the Mario Kart Popcorn bucket which both light-up. Popcorn can also be enjoyed in brand-centric cardboard containers as well.
Yoshi’s Snack Island
This spot specializes in “treats for the road.” While the menu is small, the options are fun with great snacks to munch on while you enjoy the theme park’s attractions. The exterior looks like a hut built into the side of a dirt-layered mound. For a fun visual, above the service area floats a large yellow “?”
1-Up Mushroom Drink Cups
Available in two sizes, these mushroom-shaped sippers can be filled by any of the assorted soft drinks on site and can be taken home as a souvenir after.
Green Shell Calzone
Filled with yakisoba (Japanese stir-fry noodles) and cheese, this Koopa Troopa shell-looking calzone flips an Italian staple on its back. As a holiday special, they’re now offering a Red Shell calzone with cheese & ketchup spaghetti filling.
Yoshi’s Lassi
This traditional, refreshing Indian drink comes in two flavor options, cantaloupe melon or mango. If you’re into yogurt-y sweet beverages that are chilled and tasty, these are right up your alley.
Yoshi’s Hot Apple Tea
A Yoshi-inspired coffee sleeve protects your hands from this hot apple-flavored tea beverage. Sweet and fruity additions like dried strawberry and apple pieces, sit in a whipped-cream cloud along with marshmallows.
Kinopio’s Cafe
The theme park’s main eatery can be found inside what resembles a Toad’s house. Playing off of the obvious aesthetic, the restaurant infuses mushroom flavoring into nearly all of its menu offerings. Throughout the interior, LCD screens are used to highlight the mushroom world as well as food items, while some act as “windows” that allow you to view the bustling Mushroom Kingdom “outdoors.” Some even gives customers an “inside look” into the kitchen where Chef Toad prepares dishes and waves cheerfully to patrons.
King Bowser’s Hamburger Steak
Resembling Bowser, this dish features a hamburger patty drenched in a demi-glace sauce. The patty is encased in a cage-like cracker, with spinach on top. Carrots are positioned to look like a tail while a Bowser flag protrudes from mashed potatoes.
Fish Bone Meunière
While boneless, this seafood option has a fish skeleton outline charred on top. A pool of white cream sauce surrounds it while spinach, carrots, mashed potatoes and a side of rolls accompany it.
Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger
Held together with a fun Mario hat-themed toothpick (also a neat souvenir), this burger features a juicy patty stacked with Japanese-style bacon and sautéed mushrooms that rests nicely on melted cheese and a bed of lettuce. It also comes with a side of tomatoes and French fries.
Luigi’s Green Curry Chicken Sandwich
Also held together by a themed toothpick, this savory sandwich comes with juicy chicken dressed by green curry sauce and hefty lettuce. The fun burger is consistent with the restaurant theme and also includes mushrooms. On the side you’ll find olives and French fries.
Fire Flower Spaghetti & Meatballs
True to the Bros’ heritage, this classic Italian offering features a chunky chopped onion marinara sauce and two large meatballs. A fried cheese crisp with a fire flower printed on adds a decorative yet edible accent.
Yoshi’s Spinach Carbonara
Another Italian cuisine offering catches the eye with its Yoshi-inspired yolky egg centerpiece. The carbonara sauce is rich and loaded with crispy bacon, which is mixed with earthy spinach pieces.
Teriyaki Chicken & Super Star Rice
Continuing the cute aesthetic, the rice comes in the shape of a super star with two black eyes made of sauce. Carrots, zucchini and yellow squash sit atop the baked chicken while teriyaki sauce flavors the rest.
Omelette Rice with Shrimp & Mushroom Stew
Featuring a Chef Toad print on top of the omelet, this eggy dish houses steamed rice. Covering the plate is a creamy mushroom sauce which lathers the accompanying shrimp.
Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl with Mushroom Tomato Sauce
This fun fungi-shaped bread bowl is filled with cheese, meat, mushrooms and marinara sauce. Its crisp exterior is cooked just enough to keep the ingredients steamy while soft enough to pierce with a fork and enjoy.
Portobello Mushroom Pizza Topped with Bacon and Vegetables
Mushroom lovers will clamor for this restaurant-appropriate take on the Italian classic. Melted cheese, crispy bacon, tomatoes and spinach cover the surface of the cap. This hand-held menu option can be easily enjoyed on the go.
Mushroom Soup
Served in a Mario Bros mushroom-style bowl, once the “cap” is removed, a creamy and rich mushroom soup is revealed.
Piranha Plant Caprese
The restaurant cleverly plates this dish to resemble the game’s iconic piranha plants. The piranha head is made of ripe tomato slices covered in mozzarella “spots” while the asparagus acts as the stem. To complete the aesthetic, large slices of mozzarella, a strawberry and basil leaves fill the plate.
Yoshi’s Favorite Fruit & Veggie Salad
This ranch-topped salad medley includes crisp cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and peas, along with sweet and juicy honeydew, kiwi, pineapple and strawberries, and of course mushrooms. It’s one of the more healthy and lite menu options.
Kid's Hamburger Meal with Mario Figurine Pick
No theme park food experience is complete without a kids’ meal. The teriyaki burger plate comes with an omelet, fried shrimp, star-shaped croquette, cherry tomato and orange drink. The meal also comes with dessert, a “?” Block figure and a Mario figurine collectible pick.
Kid's Curry & Rice Meal
The other option for kids is a creamy curry rice that’s neatly topped with a meatball, eggs and broccoli. It also comes with dessert, an orange drink and a “?” block figure.
Super Star Hot Yuzu Lemonade
Warm and sweet, Super Nintendo World’s special lemonade comes with a whipped cream finish topped by a star cookie and star-shaped jelly surrounded by a cluster of tiny star bites.
Super Star Lemon Squash Soda
This other lemon-flavored beverage option is bubbly, tangy and refreshing. It’s a chill alternative to the Hot Yuzu Lemonade, with a jelly surprise at the bottom.
Goal Pole Cake
Like the aforementioned burgers, this dessert item features a nifty plastic Mario Bros flagpole. The neapolitan cake comes with double layers of fluffy chocolate, vanilla and strawberry with a complimentary accent of raspberry, plum and a chocolate star.
Block Tiramisu
Flanked on all sides by “?” Block butter cookies, this chocolatey Italian dessert classic has a hint of coffee flavor. Tucked between the cookie exterior and cake interior is a slight sweetness of mascarpone. To finish it off, orders come topped with either a chocolate Fire Flower, Star or a Super Mushroom.
Double Cherry Chocolate Cupcake
This cupcake marries dark and milk chocolates in sweet matrimony. On top sits seedless maraschino cherries while a small cloud of vanilla-infused whipped cream awaits your bite on the side.
Princess Peach’s Cake
This is the infamous cake Peach tells Mario she baked for him in Super Mario 64. It’s sized to feed up to 4 people and is made with raspberry sauce and loads of whipped cream. Featuring several toppings like raspberries, apricots, chocolate stars and a star cookie, a final touch is an edible note that reads, “Dear Friends, I poured my heart into this cake I baked for you. I hope you enjoy it! Yours truly, Peach.”
