I Ate Everything at Super Nintendo World. Here's What's Actually Worth Your Money.
From the Mario Burger to the Koopa Troopa Calzone, we provide an unfiltered, brutally honest review of every single food and drink item at Super Nintendo World in Epic Universe. Discover what's a must
ORLANDO, FL – The promise of Super Nintendo World is one of total immersion, a chance to step through the green pipe and into the Mushroom Kingdom. But does that immersion extend to your taste buds? To find out, I embarked on a culinary quest with a simple, if ambitious, goal: to eat and drink every single thing on the menu at the Toadstool Cafe and the surrounding snack stands. After a day filled with mushrooms, stars, and a significant amount of sugar, I can report back with the unfiltered, brutally honest truth about what's worth your gold coins and what's best left in another castle.
The journey begins with the appetizers, or "Super Starters," at Toadstool Cafe. The Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots are a solid, if predictable, start. Shaped like charming little mushrooms and served with a marinara dipping sauce, they are warm, fluffy, and perfectly shareable. They won't change your life, but they are a crowd-pleasing and thematically appropriate way to kick off the meal. The Piranha Plant Caprese, however, is a true work of art. The presentation is stunning, a perfect recreation of the iconic enemy with fresh mozzarella, vibrant tomatoes, and a lovely pesto. It’s light, refreshing, and one of the few genuinely healthy-feeling options on the menu.
Moving on to the main courses, or "Player 1 Entrees," is where the real decisions are made. The headliner is undoubtedly the Mario Burger. Served with a bacon-mushroom cheeseburger patty, the real star is the brioche bun, which is branded with Mario’s signature "M" and topped with a plastic replica of his hat on a toothpick. The burger itself is a step above standard theme park fare—juicy and flavorful. It’s a classic for a reason and a safe bet for picky eaters. The Luigi Burger, by contrast, offers a more adventurous flavor profile, with a grilled chicken patty topped with basil pesto and Swiss cheese. It’s surprisingly delicious and a worthy alternative if you’re looking for something other than a traditional beef burger.
For those seeking a non-burger option, the Fire Flower Spaghetti & Meatballs presents another visually impressive dish. The Fire Flower-shaped parmesan crisp that garnishes the pasta is a delightful touch. The spaghetti is hearty and the meatball is enormous, but the flavor is a fairly standard, if well-executed, take on the classic. The final entree, Chef Toad's Short Rib Special, is perhaps the most "adult" dish on the menu. The meat is tender and falls off the bone, served over a creamy polenta with a rich, savory mushroom gravy. It’s a genuinely satisfying and high-quality meal that feels like a bargain in a theme park setting.
The culinary adventure reaches its peak with the desserts, where the theming is turned up to eleven. The ? Block Tiramisu is the most iconic, and for good reason. The presentation is flawless, a perfect cube of white chocolate surrounding a surprisingly light and tasty tiramisu, with a small cookie "power-up" hidden inside. It is, without a doubt, a must-try. The Mt. Beanpole Cake, a multi-layered matcha-and-strawberry creation, is visually spectacular but may be a bit divisive for those not fond of the distinct matcha flavor. Finally, the Princess Peach Cupcake is a more traditional offering—a funfetti cupcake with raspberry filling—that is sweet, enjoyable, and a guaranteed hit with kids.
No meal is complete without a signature beverage. The Super Star Lemon Squash is the most famous, a sweet and tart lemonade concoction filled with colorful popping boba that look like tiny, floating jewels. It's refreshing, fun to drink, and the perfect accessory for a photo. Other options, like the fruit-flavored cream sodas, are enjoyable but less essential.
Beyond the main cafe, the land offers several snack stands for quicker, on-the-go options. The Power-Up Cafe offers themed calzones like the Super Mushroom Calzone (pepperoni) and the 1-Up Mushroom Calzone (spinach and artichoke), both of which are delicious and portable options if you can't get a reservation for the main cafe.
Just outside the Yoshi's Adventure ride, you'll find Yoshi's Snack Island, a walk-up counter dedicated to treats inspired by everyone's favorite green dinosaur. The star of the show here is the Green-Shelled Koopa Troopa Calzone. Unlike the calzones at the Power-Up Cafe, this one is filled with a rich spinach, cheese, and basil pesto mixture. It's warm, savory, and surprisingly filling for a snack, with the green shell adding a fun visual flair. It's an excellent vegetarian option and a must-try for pesto lovers.
To drink, the stand offers two specialty beverages. The Yoshi's Lassi is a delightful surprise, a creamy mango and pineapple yogurt drink that is both refreshing and satisfying. It’s not overly sweet and provides a nice contrast to the more sugary drinks found elsewhere in the land. There is also the Mt. Beanpole Cake available here in a convenient grab-and-go form, perfect for those who want to try the unique dessert without a full-service meal.
In conclusion, the culinary offerings at Super Nintendo World are a resounding success. While not every dish is a gourmet masterpiece, the commitment to theming, presentation, and quality is a significant step above the theme park norm. The experience of dining inside the whimsical, animated world of the Toadstool Cafe, or grabbing a perfectly themed snack from one of the stands, is an attraction in itself. While your gold coins may be limited, a meal here is a power-up that is absolutely worth grabbing.