Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2024 is here at Universal Studios Florida from February 3 – April 7, 2024, and brings unique food offerings from around the globe. We tried every new item this year and compiled the reviews below.
Mardi Gras 2024 Food Booth Reviews
Please note that the new souvenir cups were not available at the start of the festival, so we were given old designs.
Belgium
Food:
Sweet & Savory Gouda & Onion Waffle – $8.99- Cookie Butter Liege Waffle – $7.99
*NEW* Sweet & Savory Gouda & Onion Waffle – $8.99
Warm crystalized waffle, smoked gouda, beer braised onions, black forest ham
Rating out of 7: 6
This combination is fantastic. The waffle brings some sweetness with the crystallized sugar, and it balances well with the savory notes. The waffles themselves are so good we would probably eat them no matter the toppings, but this is a hit.
*NEW* Cookie Butter Liege Waffle – $7.99
Warm crystalized waffle topped with cookie butter, whipped topping, Biscoff cookies.
Rating out of 7: 7
This is very sweet but still an excellent option. If you’re a fan of cookie butter, you’re going to love this. It’s one of the best sweet items at the festival.
Location
Belgium is located at Studio Snacks across from The TODAY Cafe. You can find it at A on the map below.
Bloody Mary Bar
Beverages:
- Bloody Mary Wild – $19.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $15.50 for souvenir refill, or $15 for 12 oz.
Bloody Mary Wild – $19.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $15.50 for souvenir refill, or $15 for 12 oz.
New Amsterdam vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, simply syrup, horseradish, Worcestershire, celery salt, black pepper, sriracha, Louisiana hot sauces
Rating out of 7: 7
This is a great Bloody Mary, not too watery and not too thick. But the topping is what you really want! The original burn-your-mouth-and-make-you-cry Nashville hot chicken is back in a sandwich form on top of this drink. We’ll be back just for that.
Location
The Bloody Mary Bar is located in San Francisco across from the entrance to Fast & Furious: Supercharged. You can find it at B on the map below.
Brazil
Food:
- Pao de Queijo – $6.99
*NEW* Pao de Queijo – $6.99
Brazilian cheese bread
Rating out of 7: 1
Universal has had pao de queijo as a side with other dishes at past Mardi Gras events, but this is the first time you could get an order of them separately. Unfortunately, the quality has not held up, and these were very doughy and undercooked.
Location
Brazil is located at Avenue Eats in Gramercy Park. You can find it at C on the map below.
Canada
Food:
- Candied Bacon & Onion Poutine – $10.49
- Vegan Wild Mushroom Poutine – $9.99
*NEW* Candied Bacon & Onion Poutine – $10.49
Candied bacon spiced curly fries with caramelized onion gravy, cheese curds, spiced maple bacon and parsley
Rating out of 7: 2
Both poutine dishes were bad, but the candied bacon and onion one was slightly better. That’s not saying much, though. The cheese curds had no flavor, and the bacon, although plentiful, didn’t add much to the overall flavor of the dish. The gravy was the only thing that added flavor, but unfortunately, that flavor was mostly salt.
*NEW* Vegan Wild Mushroom Poutine – $9.99
Seasoned curly fries with vegan cheddar, mushroom gravy, truffle oil
Rating out of 7: 2
The vegan one was even saltier, though the mushroom flavor was more prominent and welcome. The vegan cheese, as you might expect, was not melted, but it didn’t add anything to the dish anyway.
Location
Canada is located at Expo Circle near the Animal Actors amphitheater. You can find it at D on the map below.
China
Food:
- Szechuan Noodle Salad (Vegan) – $5.99
- Spicy Smashed Cucumber (Vegan) – $5.99
- Potstickers – $5.49
Beverages:
- Hong Kong Boba Tea (Vegan) – $9
*NEW* Szechuan Noodle Salad (Vegan) – $5.99
Spicy cold noodle salad with cucumbers, peanuts, cilantro, scallions
Rating out of 7: 2
These were oily and cold. The spice was good, but otherwise, these were unpalatable.
*NEW* Spicy Smashed Cucumber (Vegan) – $5.99
Spicy marinated cucumbers with peanuts, cilantro, scallions
Rating out of 7: 4
It’s a nice option, but there’s nothing memorable about it. The sauce is very spicy. It’s also a very messy dish, and the cardboard tray was soggy.
*NEW* Potstickers – $5.49
Pork potstickers served with black vinegar and chili oil dipping sauce
Rating out of 7: 5
The potstickers aren’t spicy, but the sauce very much is. This is the spiciest booth overall (after the chicken on the Bloody Mary) It’s a solid dish for a grab and go street food vibe, but forgettable. The portion is also quite small.
*NEW* Hong Kong Boba Tea (Vegan) – $9
Hong Kong-style oolong milk tea over ice with coffee boba and salted cheese foam
Rating out of 7: 5
The tea was pretty good, but because they ran out of boba, it’s hard to judge this one accurately. The oolong milk tea flavor isn’t too strong. It’s very creamy. The cheese foam added a bit of saltiness to the drink to give it a nice balance.
Location
China is located at the cable car-themed stand in San Francisco, across from Lombard’s Seafood Grille. You can find it at E on the map below.
Coca-Cola Market Square
Food:
- Cherry Cola BBQ Pork Slider – $9.99
- Orange Whoopie Pie – $6.99
Beverages:
- Parade Punch – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
- Blackberry Krewe – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
*NEW* Cherry Cola BBQ Pork Slider – $9.99
Slow cooked carnitas with cherry cola BBQ sauce on a Hawaiian pretzel bun served with lemon-lime soda infused coleslaw
Rating out of 7: 3
This was the biggest letdown of the day. It was good, but the wow factor wasn’t there, especially for the price. It’s very small. Unfortunately, the slaw made the pretzel bun soggy. The bun itself was good, as was the carnitas, but not enough to justify ordering this again.
*NEW* Orange Whoopie Pie – $6.99
Orange soda whoopie pie filled with whipped topping and orange marmalade
Rating out of 7: 4
The cake had a hint of citrus, and the filling was high quality whipped cream. The marmalade was present but didn’t add much to the flavor profile.
*NEW* Parade Punch – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
el Jimador tequila, pineapple-chipotle syrup, basil syrup, topped with Fanta Orange
Rating out of 7: 6
The chipotle syrup gives it just a hint of heat, like a jalapeño margarita. It’s neither too strong nor too syrupy for an enjoyable, unique cocktail.
*NEW* Blackberry Krewe – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
New Amsterdam gin, blackberry syrup, topped with Sprite
Rating out of 7: 4
Our group was split on the Blackberry Krewe cocktail. Some said it tasted like cough syrup, while some enjoyed it.
Location
The Coca-Cola Market Square is located at Expo Circle near the Animal Actors amphitheater. You can find it at F on the map below.
Colombia
Food:
- Colombian Burger – $9.99
- Arepa de Choclo (Vegan) – $8.49
- Oblea – $6.99
Beverages:
- Aguardiente Punch – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
*NEW* Colombian Burger – $9.99
Grilled burger with Monterey Jack cheese, pineapple cabbage slaw, cilantro garlic sauce, potato sticks
Rating out of 7: 2
This is not worth the wait in line and certainly isn’t worth $9.99. It’s small and dry. Almost any theme park burger would be juicier—and bigger, too. We couldn’t taste any of the pineapple slaw or the sauce. For the size and the price, on top of the lack of flavor, it just disappoints.
*NEW* Arepa de Choclo (Vegan) – $8.49
Traditional sweet corn cake filled with cheese and griddled with honey butter
Rating out of 7: 4
The corn cake is great, and the sweetness of the honey butter comes through. However, there was not enough cheese, and that threw things out of balance. Go to any street festival in Florida, and you can find better arepas at half the price.
*NEW* Oblea – $6.99
Crispy wafer filled with dulce de leche, strawberries
Rating out of 7: 3
The strawberries and dulce de leche are great, but the wafer tastes just like communion, which is to say it has no taste at all. We’ve had so many dulce de leche-based desserts over the years, and this one has got to be one of the worst just for the wafer.
*NEW* Aguardiente Punch – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
Cumbe Aguardiente, lime juice, simple syrup, blackberry concentrate, berry gummies
Rating out of 7: 6
It is a very light, refreshing drink — not a sweet, sticky, syrupy mess like we’re accustomed to getting at a theme park. Perfect for a warm day, fruity without being overbearing, and followed by the aguardiente notes on the end (especially the anise). It’s the best thing at this booth.
Location
Colombia is located in Gramercy Park across from the Macy’s facade. You can find it at G on the map below.
France
Food:
- Bananas Foster Crème Brûlée Crepe – $11.99
*NEW* Bananas Foster Crème Brûlée Crepe – $11.99
Banana caramel, vanilla cream, fresh bananas, whipped topping, brûléed sugar
Rating out of 7: 5
The crêpes at Central Park Crêpes are fantastic. The top layer is a crispy, sugary crème brûlée, which was our favorite part. It needed more caramel, but the whipped topping is very good. The pudding was off-putting to some of us, but others enjoyed it paired with the freshly-sliced bananas.
Location
France is located at Central Park Crepes. You can find it at H on the map below.
Germany
Food:
- Currywurst – $7.99
- Kasespatzle – $4.99
- Bavarian Pretzel with Obatzda – $11.49
- Mutzen – $6.99
*NEW* Currywurst – $7.99
Crispy skin German bratwurst sliced and topped with spicy curry ketchup
Rating out of 7: 7
This was so good. There’s a hefty amount of spice in the sauce, and the wurst itself had a nice crunch, as advertised. This is one of our favorite savory dishes this year.
*NEW* Kasespatzle – $4.99
Cheese spätzle topped with crispy onions
Rating out of 7: 6
The noodles are perfectly al dente, and the cheese was delicious, but the star of the show is the fried onions on top. Not only do they add the required crunch, but a pop of flavor, too. It’s better than the Spätzle from the Germany pavilion at EPCOT.
*NEW* Bavarian Pretzel with Obatzda – $11.49
Warm pretzel with Bavarian beer cheese dip
Rating out of 7: 1
The pretzel was an abomination. Germans would be ashamed. As a typical theme park pretzel, it was hard, but the cheese was the real disappointment. It had very little flavor and was cold, and chunky. Spray cheese would have been better. It’s also a terrible value at $12.
*NEW* Mutzen – $6.99
Fried lemon-vanilla fritters dusted with powdered sugar
Rating out of 7: 5
These are surprisingly good; very well cooked, with a nice hint of lemon. They were a tad greasy for our liking, but we wouldn’t hesitate to get them again.
Location
Germany is located at Battery Park across from Mel’s Drive-In. You can find it at J on the map below.
Italy
Food:
- Roman Suppli – $7.99
- Zabaglione with Berries – $5.99
Beverages:
- Aperol Spritz Sorbet – $14
*NEW* Roman Suppli – $7.99
Mozzarella and provolone filled risotto with vodka sauce, roasted red pepper aioli
Rating out of 7: 3
This isn’t great. The risotto has nice flavors and consistency, but the sauce is excessive. If it had been on the side, it would have been fine, but it’s overwhelming as is. It’s very rich and actually tastes good, but there’s just too much.
*NEW* Zabaglione with Berries – $5.99
Frangelico anglaise with mixed berries topped with toasted hazelnuts
Rating out of 7: 7
This is one of the best things here. The berries are plump, fresh, and sweet, and the cream is absolutely heavenly.
*NEW* Aperol Spritz Sorbet – $14
Aperol aperitivo with blood orange sorbet
Rating out of 7: 6
This was light, refreshing, and strong on the alcohol. We’d get it again.
Location
Italy is located at Louie’s Italian Restaurant/the Guido’s Gelato service window. You can find it at K on the map below.
Mexico
Food:
- Chilaquiles Verdes – $7.49
- Quesabirria – $8.99
- Churro Loops & Chocolate – $7.99
*NEW* Chilaquiles Verdes – $7.49
Tortillas topped with chile braised shredded chicken, salsa verde, cilantro onion mixed with lime crema and cotija cheese
Rating out of 7: 5
This is a generous and delicious dish. The chicken is plentiful, the toppings are fresh, and the Verde sauce is appropriately spicy.
*NEW* Quesabirria – $8.99
Birria beef in a corn tortilla with Monterey Jack and Oaxaca cheese, served with birria broth
Rating out of 7: 7
Another hit with tender meat and plentiful, melty cheese. The Birria sauce is on the thicker side, which makes it work perfectly for dipping.
*NEW* Churro Loops & Chocolate – $7.99
Cinnamon sugar churro loops with Mexican chocolate dipping sauce
Rating out of 7: 2
These are not good churros. If you’re used to Disney churros, pass on these. They were hard and not very flavorful, making the chocolate sauce a must.
Location
Mexico is located at Cafe La Bamba. You can find it at L on the map below.
New Orleans Desserts
Food:
- King Cake Mini – $6.49
Beverages:
- Espresso Martini – $14
- Chicory Coffee – $8
King Cake Mini – $6.49
Traditional cake with cinnamon swirl icing, Mardi Gras sprinkles, and a Mardi Gras baby
Rating out of 7: 5
It may be “mini,” but it’s still the King Cake we know and love. Watch out for the little plastic Mardi Gras baby! The cake itself is moist. The frosting is pretty innocuous, which is good because it lets the cinnamon flavor of the cake come through without overpowering it.
*NEW* Espresso Martini – $14
Brewed coffee, JF Haden Espresso liqueur, New Amsterdam vodka, black sugar syrup
Rating out of 7: 6
You might be dancing through the parade after one of these. It’s very strong. This is awesome if you need a little caffeine boost.
*NEW* Chicory Coffee 16-ounce – $8
Chicory coffee, toasted marshmallow syrup, with toasted marshmallow cold foam
Rating out of 7: 7
This is a top contender for best drink of the year. The coffee is intense, but the sweet marshmallow balances it well and makes it sweet. We’ll be back for this over and over.
Location
New Orleans Desserts is located in Gramercy Park, facing the French Quarter Bar in the Transformers extended queue. You can find it at N on the map below.
Philippines
Food:
- Pancit Bihon – $8.49
- Crispy Lumpia – $7.49
- Pandan Cheesecake – 6.99
Beverages:
- Buko Juice – $12
*NEW* Pancit Bihon – $8.49
Rice noodles, sautéed vegetables, pulled chicken, garlic, soy sauce
Rating out of 7: 3
This was mediocre and mostly flavorless throughout, even with the vegetables and soy sauce.
*NEW* Crispy Lumpia – $7.49
Pork-filled crispy rice paper roll with dipping sauce
Rating out of 7: 4
These aren’t bad, but they were boring. If you’re looking for something with a more exciting flavor profile, there are many other options at the festival we’d recommend before these (like the Currywurst from Germany or the Quesabirria from Mexico).
*NEW* Pandan Cheesecake – 6.99
Pandan cheesecake with whipped topping, and shaved toasted coconut
Rating out of 7: 4
This wasn’t terrible, but it was bland. It lacked the shaved coconut, which might have gone a long way in adding flavor and texture to this cheesecake.
*NEW* Buko Juice – $12
Coconut water, coconut milk, coconut cream, pandan extract, smoked sea salt. Served in a souvenir coconut cup
Rating out of 7: 5
We love that it comes in a coconut souvenir cup. It’s not super easy to drink out of because it’s more like a bowl. It really tastes just like coconut, but the color is slightly off-putting.
Location
The Philippines is located at the Food Truck near Richter’s Burger Co. in San Francisco. You can find it at O on the map below.
Puerto Rico
Food:
- Pastelón – $8.99
- Bacalaitos – $7.99
- Pastelitos de Guayaba – $5.99
Beverages:
- Piña Colada – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
*NEW* Pastelón – $8.99
A layered casserole of sweet plantain, and picadillo beef topped with Edam cheese
Rating out of 7: 7
This is another contender for best of the year. This dish was highly anticipated and did not disappoint! The sweet plantains and the savory, sweet beef picadillo were absolutely perfect. The portion size was nice, and it was just all-around delicious.
*NEW* Bacalaitos – $7.99
Crispy salt cod fritters with bell peppers, cilantro, and onions served with mayo ketchup
Rating out of 7: 2
This was extremely greasy and overly fishy. The crunchiness was nice, but the fishiness of the cod was just way too overpowering.
*NEW* Pastelitos de Guayaba – $5.99
Guava-filled puff pastry with powdered sugar
Rating out of 7: 7
The guava pastry would be a great way to start the day. It’s a dessert, but it also makes a great mid-morning snack when the booths open for the day. The pastry is doughy but soft, and there’s a perfect amount of guava inside to allow you to taste the delicious pastry outside. It’s very balanced.
*NEW* Piña Colada – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
Ron del Barrilito Santa Ana Overproof rum, lime juice, coco cream, pineapple juice, smoked sea salt
Rating out of 7: 6
The piña colada was very pineapple-forward, with a slight creaminess to it. If you’re looking for a classic, we highly recommend this.
Location
Puerto Rico is located in Gramercy Park. You can find it at P on the map below.
Spain
Food:
- Ensalada de Pulpo – $8.99
- Papitas Bravas – $5.99
- Crema Catalana – $6.49
*NEW* Ensalada de Pulpo – $8.99
Traditional Spanish salad with octopus, fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, paprika, sherry vinegar
Rating out of 7: 5
Octopus is a food that turns a lot of people off, but if you’re not one of those people, then you’re in for a treat. The octopus is tender and not chewy at all, while the vegetables are all freshly prepared. The cup looks deceptively on the small side since everything is chopped, but we found it to be an ample serving for the price.
*NEW* Papitas Bravas – $5.99
Seasoned crispy potatoes, paprika aioli
Rating out of 7: 6
The potatoes are fresh, hot, and crispy. The sauce is creamy and flavorful; it reminds us of Thousand Island dressing, which seems to be popular at this festival.
*NEW* Crema Catalana – $6.49
Bruleed citrus milk custard with candied orange peels
Rating out of 7: 4
This is very gritty but has a very strong, vibrant orange taste. The flavor is great, but the texture is off-putting. The candied orange peel was the best part.
Location
Spain is located at 57 Eats in Gramercy Park. You can find it at Q on the map below.
Thailand
[booth photo]
Food:
- Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp – $8.49
- Green Curry with Chicken – $6.99
- Chicken Satay – $8.99
Beverages:
- Butterfly Pea Blossom Tea – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
*NEW* 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
Rating out of 7: 2
This was another forgettable dish. There were three small shrimp on top of a giant pile of soggy, shredded papaya. None of the spice came through.
*NEW* Green Curry with Chicken – $6.99
Spicy green curry chicken with shiitake mushrooms, eggplant, snap peas, red bell pepper, jasmine rice
Rating out of 7: 2
The chicken in the curry was the same as the satay skewer below. The jasmine rice was overcooked, dry, and flavorless. Another mediocre dish.
*NEW* Chicken Satay – $8.99
Marinated grilled chicken skewer with Thai cucumber, topped with peanut sauce
Rating out of 7: 1
The portion is small, the chicken is bland, and the peanut dipping sauce is very watery. Skip this.
*NEW* Butterfly Pea Blossom Tea – $17 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13 for souvenir refill, or $13 for 12 oz.
New Amsterdam gin, butterfly tea matcha, passion fruit syrup, mint syrup, simple syrup, lime juice in pipette
Rating out of 7: 4
The butterfly pea blossom tea is available alcoholic or non-alcoholic. We got the alcoholic, and it was on the floral side. Some of us thought it was too floral, while some thought it was enough. It’s not too sweet, and it’s nice to have a mocktail version available, too.
Location
Thailand is located in San Francisco near Lombard’s Seafood Grille. You can find it at R on the map below.
2024 Mardi Gras Map
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