Summary
After a long day of racing on the Mario Kart ride and competing in a real-life video game (you have a lot of blocks to punch!) in the theme park, you are going to work up an appetite. You’d better "power up" with Super Nintendo World food! Do just that by hopping into Toadstool Café, where Chef Toad has perfected the menu and will greet you upon entry! Let’s go over the themed Super Nintendo World food — including flavorful drinks, special desserts and treats or accessories, such as sippers or star popcorn buckets — you can find in Super Nintendo World, the Lower Lot and now the Upper Lot! You're sure to find vegetarian choices and Italian options that are Luigi and Mario-approved.
Super Nintendo World Hollywood Food
Are you hungrier than a Piranha Plant? There's plenty of food in Super Nintendo World! Let's start with the one and only quick-service restaurant, Toadstool Café, and how to join the waitlist to get in each day. Yes, this location remains very popular. It requires a same-day reservation. The reservation is also called the "waitlist" or the "queue." Not to be confusing, but they are all different names for the exact same thing: The time you can arrive at Toadstool Café to get in line to order. We'll go over how to join the waitlist, when to join and all the other details about Super Nintendo World food!
Toadstool Café
This Lower Lot land's signature restaurant serves a gourmet menu full of fresh food prepared daily. You can make a same-day reservation before the park event opens. Here's the link for the menu and reservation system. But since this spot is hoppin', sign up early in the morning, even if you want to dine later. Reservations may fill up pretty quickly. More time slots may become available throughout the day, so keep checking. We usually see more afternoon and evening slots open around 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. You can scan QR codes outside the restaurant and at the Super Nintendo World entrance, but you'll have an advantage if you use this link before you (and other park guests) get there.
Getting a reservation should be the first step in your day. You can even do it before you arrive on the property using the link above! We have seen the reservations open up between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. each day, but the time seems to vary daily. It can also vary based on park opening and Early Access times that day. Just set an alarm for 7 a.m. to check, and periodically refresh the site if you don't see it open. It often opens when Early Entry opens, but we've seen it open later.
If you can't get a reservation early in the day, keep checking. The waitlist for Toadstool Café sometimes opens up more times throughout the day, especially after lunchtime. This same link can be found via a QR code on the top of the menu screen outside the restaurant.
Chef Toad perfected the menu with items inspired by Super Nintendo video games. The digital chef will greet you before you order! (Plus, you can meet the real Toad in Super Nintendo World!)
The interior of the restaurant will immerse you in the Mushroom Kingdom, as you can see its inhabitant mushrooms frolicking around through the windows. If you keep watching, the kingdom gets invaded by Bowser and his minions every so often, causing Bullet Bills to start flying.
Once you order, you'll take your drinks and get seated by a team member. Your food will be brought out to you, which is definitely more relaxing than hunting for a table with a heavy tray and tadpoles hopping around you. The dining room is toadally cool and there is always lots to see there.
Warp pipes come out of the ceiling. Watch the chefs prepare food in the kitchen or enjoy the"scenery" in the "windows." Uh, oh! Why is the weather changing? Are the lights getting dimmer? Bowser is definitely up to no good. It's so entertaining! When you are done, the team members will collect your plates and trash from your tables.
Budget and Time
Let's talk about budgeting time and money. You can find the menu and pricing in the Universal Studios Hollywood app. Some items come with bowls (such as soup), and you cannot order those food items without the souvenir bowl. That can make items more expensive than they would otherwise be. But let's switch gears and talk about managing time.
Plan for dining to take up to an hour and a half from arrival to exit at peak meal times. (Although, we have gotten our food much faster in the morning.) Once you arrive at the restaurant, there will likely be a line to order. Then once you are seated, it may take some time for the food to arrive. After all, Bowser keeps sending Bullet Bills through the kitchen and disrupting food prep. Plan to arrive an hour before you'll be really hungry. Do not arrive famished. A good time to schedule your dining experience is a time when you'll want to rest your legs and sit in some air conditioning.
Ask for additional cups of water when you order. Once, when it took 50 minutes to receive our food, we had all finished our beverages before the food arrived. Also, order everything you want, including dessert, when you place your order. You will not want to spend time getting back in line to order and wait for food again.
Starters and Salads
These are all toadally cute starter options (with designs or croutons):
- Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots (vegetarian)
- Yoshi's Favorite Fruit and Veggie Salad (vegetarian)
- Super Star Chicken Salad
- Piranha Plant Caprese (vegetarian and gluten-friendly)
- Super Mushroom Soup (vegetarian)
- Tomato Soup in Super Mushroom Bowl (vegan and gluten-friendly)
We really enjoyed the mushroom soup (with toadstool crackers) much more than the tomato soup. And we love tomato soup, usually. The tomato soup is the only fully vegan food item at this location. The soups are brought out with toadstool lids! You now must purchase the souvenir mushroom bowl with your soup. And while the set is toadally cute, $19.99 might be more than you are willing to spend on a small bowl of soup, so keep that in mind.
Entrees
- Mario Bacon Cheeseburger with truffle fries (Note the caps and mustaches! We recommend asking for a side of pesto for the fries or burger — so yummy!)
- Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger (grilled chicken with Swiss cheese, green pepper, spinach and pesto sauce) with truffle fries (also yummy!)
- Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs (This pasty is actually pretty spicy.)
- (New!) Chef Toad Short Rib Special with creamy goat cheese polenta and red wine reduction
- (New!) Bowser's Fireball Challenge (1-pound meatball topped with mozzarella cheese and served with marinara sauce, Bowser puff pastry, parsley and hot sauce on the side) — The souvenir Bowser Bowl now comes with it, which is why this dish costs $29.99. This is a spicy dish.
- Collectible Plateware Set ($20 and shown above)
You can order a vegetarian version of the burger for $2 more. It is a Beyond Burger patty.
There are not a lot of items marked as gluten-free on the menu. However, you can modify additional items to meet your needs. For example, you can order the burger patties lettuce wrapped or ask for salads without the croutons.
If you love the pesto sauce, you can ask your server to bring you some. We love dipping our fries in it even if we order something other than the Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger.
We were frogcited to try the new entrées. How fun is that Bowser puff pastry? The meatball is huge. If you like spicy food, this dish is for you. It's fireball hot! It even comes with a side of hot sauce! The tender short rib was a win for us.
Kids Meals
- Mario Mini Burger Adventure Set: Cheeseburger, truffle fries, corn on the cob, broccoli and a gold coin cookie in a box (how cute is that souvenir Mario figure?!)
- Power-Up Spaghetti Marinara: Spaghetti with marinara sauce, Power-Up parmesan crisps, Toadstool cheesy garlic knot and a gold coin cookie in a box (vegetarian)
Even the plates are themed! The full menu, with descriptions and prices, is in the Universal Studios Hollywood app.
You can see how the kid-sized burger compares to the adult portion in front. The kid meal is a solid choice to fill the bellies of hungry kids or even adults who want a smaller burger and some veggies.
Desserts
The Toadstool Café desserts include:
- ? Block Tiramisu (a Frog-Family favorite and it's vegetarian)
- Mt. Beanpole cake with matcha mousse (tastes like Neopolitan and is vegetarian)
- Princess Peach Cupcake (there is a hidden jam inside and it's vegetarian)
Super Nintendo World Hollywood Beverages
Fun beverage items and collectible sippers include:
- Super Star Lemon Squash: Honey lemon soda with mango stars and assorted tropical boba (vegetarian and so yummy)
- Super Mushroom Collectible Drink Sipper ($20 and comes with $1.50 refills on the day of purchase, around the park, so keep that receipt. $3.50 on future visits.)
- 1-Up Mushroom Collectible Drink Sipper ($20 and comes with $1.50 refills on the day of purchase, around the park, so keep that receipt. $3.50 on future visits.)
You can also get fountain soda, milk (regular or chocolate), bottled juice (apple or orange), hot tea, hot cocoa or coffee.
You can find more drinks at the stand in the Lower Lot.
Lower Lot Super Nintendo Drinks, Snacks and Popcorn Bucket
Just outside Super Nintendo World, in the Lower Lot, is another spot where you can acquire Nintendo-themed drinks, sippers ($20) and the Mario Kart and light-up Super Star popcorn buckets ($39.99). Here are the drinks at that stand:
- Princess Peach's Peach Soda
- Mario's Strawberry Soda
- Luigi's Green Apple Soda
They each come in a matching character cup and straw decoration. They cost $12 each.
The popcorn buckets and sippers are also sold in stores.
Power Up Café in the Upper Lot (Now Open)
Wahoo! There is a new spot to score Super Nintendo Food in the park. Power Up Café officially opened Feb. 15, 2024! You can find it on New York Street in the Upper Lot. It's great if you want a quick, on-the-go snack that does not require joining a queue.
Power Up Café sells toadally adorable themed snacks and fizzy beverages!
Here are the snacks:
- Super Mushroom Calzone: Mushroom-shaped calzone filled with pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. (This was the most flavorful item and new Frog Family favorite!)
- 1-Up Mushroom Calzone: Mushroom-shaped calzone filled with spinach, green pepper, mushroom, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto. (A good meatless choice.)
- Fire Flower Pretzel: Fire Flower-shaped pretzel served with chipotle cheese, mustard and white queso dipping sauces (It's toadally cute, but we would opt for a less expensive, and much tastier, salted pretzel elsewhere in the park.)
- Super Star Popcorn: Butter popcorn topped with edible glitter
Here are the beverages. You can drop in the cute Power Up sugar shapes to change the color and flavor of these drinks:
- Super Mushroom Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with strawberry popping pearls and a strawberry Super Mushroom Power Up
- 1-Up Mushroom Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with green apple popping pearls and a lime 1-Up Mushroom Power Up
- Fire Flower Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with orange popping pearls and a mango habanero Fire Flower Power Up
- Super Star Fizz: Lemon-lime soda with lemon popping pearls and a mango pineapple Super Star Power Up
Which Super Nintendo World Hollywood food are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments section below. If you are looking for Universal Studios Hollywood tickets, you can save a lot of gold coins by purchasing discount tickets through Undercover Tourist.
Related: Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood
Hoppy planning!
