With a name like International Flavors of Carnaval, there were sure to be some amazing culinary creations at this year's Mardi Gras festival at Universal Orlando Resort. And boy, did we find some! Universal unveiled some brand new booths this year at the festive event — inspired by Carnaval celebrations from countries around the world. (You better believe we were drooling just thinking about most of these items.) When Mardi Gras season finally arrived at the resort, our feet didn't fail us as we hopped around Universal Studios Florida ... and neither did the food. Without further ado, here's our list of the top 10 food and beverage items you can get at Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval in 2026.
The Top 10 Food and Beverage Items at Universal Mardi Gras 2026
Ireland: Fish & Chips
If you're missing the good ol' fashioned Irish fare at Finnegan's Bar & Grill while the restaurant is temporarily closed for renovation, the Ireland Booth in Battery Park has you covered. The Fish & Chips here — beer battered and fried cod, served with chips and tartar sauce — are savory, salty and would make the Emerald Isle proud.
Brazil: Pão de Queijo
I'm a firm believer that you can never go wrong with bread and cheese. The Pão de Queijo — freshly baked warm Brazilian cheese bread bites — at the Brazil booth near Animal Actors On Location! are a shining example of that. Chewy, airy and top-ranking on the all-important cheese pull scale, these bite-sized snacks are perfect for when you're looking for something light on-the-go!
Brazil: Maracuja Mousse
Tart, creamy and delightfully refreshing this Maracuja Mousse at the Brazil booth is made with passion fruit mousse and a passion fruit gelée. Now, I may be biased because passion fruit is one of my two all-time favorite fruits and I'll literally eat anything that includes it, but this is such a unique, fun and refreshing dessert to top off any meal when the cakes start looking a little too hefty. Plus, the seeds give an added texture that can't be beat!
Italy: Sfogliatella "Lobster Tail"
If you're going to grab something at the Italy booth — located at the Louie's Italian Restaurant window — I can't recommend the Sfogliatella "Lobster Tail" enough. Remember what I said about bread and cheese? Well, this sweet treat takes that combination to a whole other level with its layers of sweet flaky pastry filled with a rich vanilla ricotta cream. Fresh, flaky and slightly lemony, you'll finish this one off before you even realize it's gone!
Mexico: Tres Leches
One of my all-time favorite Halloween Horror Nights treats was the Chocolate Tres Leches from 2024, so you can only imagine how excited I was to see another version of it come back for a different event. Located at the Mexico booth at Cafe La Bamba, this traditional dessert is a soaked three milk chocolate cake with toasted almonds and meringue ... and it absolutely lives up to the hype!
Bites of the Bayou: Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese
You can't visit Universal Mardi Gras without partaking in some classic New Orleans flavors. For that, we highly recommend the Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese — cavatappi pasta with andouille sausage and holy trinity, tossed in a spicy Cajun cream sauce with scallions — located at Bites of the Bayou in Gramercy Park. Rich, creamy and flavorful with a bit of a kick, this is the perfect item to share with your whole Mardi party!
Taste of the Quarter: Beignets
There's one thing you can't go to Crescent City without ordering. For the uninitiated, Beignets are sweet fried pastries with powdered sugar and a staple of any worthy Mardi Gras celebration. Doughy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, these pillows of powdered sugar are vegetarian and come in a paper bag (not pictured) so you can easily indulge in them on-the-go. Be sure to grab some napkins!
Taste of the Quarter: King Cake
The king of all Mardi Gras treats is back this year in all its spiced, moist, creamy, sprinkly glory. The one item a Mardi party is truly incomplete without, King Cake is a traditional cinnamon cake with cinnamon swirl icing, Mardi Gras sprinkles and a Mardi Gras baby. A nod to Epiphany — the celebration that kicks off Mardi Gras — the baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it. (That automatically means you since it sits right on top!)
Puerto Rico: Coconut Flancocho
"If you like pina coladas," be sure to stop by the Puerto Rico booth in Gramercy Park. One of our favorite desserts of the entire festival, the Coconut Flancocho is coconut flan with pineapple cake and a rum whipped topping. We love when our tasty treats lean on the fruity and refreshing and this offering knocks that concept out of the park — perfectly balancing its sweet and tart flavors with its moist and creamy texture.
Austria: Vienna-Style Pork Schnitzel
This list has been packed with both sweet and savory items, but the best is when those two taste profiles come together in a mouthwatering marriage. The Vienna-Style Pork Schnitzel located at the Austria booth in San Francisco is a crispy pork cutlet with potato salad, lingonberry jam and lemon. Topping the savory and crunchy cutlet with the sweet and fruity jam was a delightful experience that had us debating ordering seconds.
What do you think is the best food or drink item at Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnival? What can you not wait to try? Let me know in the comments below!
Related: Our Jubilant Guide to Universal Orlando Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval
Hoppy planning!
