If you are visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, you must plan a trip to the Toadstool Cafe. Chef Toad has prepared a menu full of Super Mario inspired food that will make any Nintendo fan happy. The cafe itself is shaped like a giant, cute mushroom. Once inside, you can look out into the Mushroom Kingdom through digital windows. The whole experience feels like a “one-up.” We tried almost everything on the menu to help you decide what to order during your visit. Get ready to experience the tasty side of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Dining Inside the Toadstool Cafe
The atmosphere inside the Toadstool Cafe is just as exciting as the food. The restaurant really comes to life with everything Super Mario. You will see bright green Warp Pipes and colorful power-ups. A big Super Mushroom power-up is the centerpiece of the room. The space is fun and colorful with a hand-carved appearance. It makes you feel warm and right at home inside the Mushroom Kingdom.
When you arrive, team members will grab your tray and walk you to your table. If you are lucky, you might get a great view of the Mushroom Kingdom right next to you. They give you a small packet that helps them know where to deliver your food. This use of technology is really helpful.
Must-Try Beverages
While waiting for the main course, you can enjoy a refreshing themed drink.
Super Star Lemon Squash
The Super Star Lemon Squash is a beautiful and very refreshing drink. It is a honey lemon soda mixed with mango stars and assorted tropical Boba. The Boba pearls are delicious and pop in your mouth, full of flavor. You also get little pieces of mango floating on top. This drink is definitely a must-have. It is also very carbonated and colorful. It is perfect for walking around the park on a hot day.
Themed Main Dishes and Entrees
Chef Toad has created several unique and flavorful entrees inspired by your favorite characters and power-ups. The food presentation here is phenomenal. Everything looks very pretty and is highly inspired by Super Nintendo Mario.
Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs
The Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs is a mouthful to say, and it looks impressive. This dish features spaghetti with mushrooms, marinara sauce, and three meatballs. It is topped with a Fire Flower Parmesan crisp, shaved Parmesan, and chopped parsley.
The reason it is called the “fiery” spaghetti and meatballs is because it definitely has a kick. The sauce is slightly spicy. While the tomato sauce is a little watery, the tomato flavor is robust. The meatballs are a little bland on their own, but the spicy sauce adds the necessary flavor. You get a little Fire Flower, which looks like Mario when he shoots fireballs. Just be aware that this dish is a little hot. Do not order it if you do not like spicy food.
The Luigi Burger
The Luigi Burger is a pesto grilled chicken sandwich. It comes on a soft brioche bun with Swiss cheese. It also features basil pesto and a huge bell pepper slice for extra crunch. This sandwich is served with truffle fries. Chef Toad is getting fancy with truffle fries.
The burger is decorated with a small toothpick hat. It also has a little mustache shape pressed into the bun. The chicken can be a little dry, but the good thing is that they give you an extra side of pesto. The pesto helps moisten the sandwich. The extra bell pepper is a welcome addition. This chicken sandwich is a must-try at the Toadstool Cafe.
The Mario Burger
The Mario Burger is an all-beef patty served on a brioche bun. It includes bacon, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and American cheese. Like the Luigi Burger, it is served with delicious truffle fries.
This burger is quite large and also features a little mustache on top of the bun, along with Mario’s hat on a toothpick. The patty has a great char-broiled taste and is not bland. The lettuce is fresh, making this a delicious and satisfying burger. You will likely want to get this burger again.
Delicious Sides and Appetizers
You must not skip the appetizers here. They are heavily themed and packed with flavor.
Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots
The Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots are a fantastic appetizer. They come with garlic butter, Parmesan cheese, and parsley, served with a side of marinara dipping sauce. They smell incredible, like a mix of Parmesan and garlic when they arrive at the table.
These knots are a must-order, right along with the spaghetti. The combination of garlic and Parmesan is amazing. The knots are soft, warm, and comforting. Be warned, you might get a little messy from all the Parmesan cheese.
Piranha Plant Caprese
The Piranha Plant Caprese is a refreshing take on a classic salad. It features tomatoes, asparagus, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, mixed greens, shaded radish, and Apple Vinaigrette. The presentation is very nice, shaped like a Piranha Plant.
At first, the Caprese might seem a bit underwhelming, but you have to mix it all together and use the dressing. The Apple Vinaigrette is amazing. The sweet dressing pairs perfectly with the mozzarella, tomato, radish, and asparagus. Do not skip the Apple Vinaigrette, or the salad will fall flat.
Super Star Chicken Salad
The Super Star Chicken Salad has romaine and cabbage mixed greens, grape tomatoes, and mushrooms. It is tossed in a creamy mushroom truffle dressing. It is topped with Parmesan Superstar croutons and grilled chicken. Unlike the Caprese, the dressing is already mixed into this salad.
The croutons are shaped like little stars, which is very cute. If a child were given this salad, they would probably eat it because it is so cool and features superstars. The creamy mushroom dressing tastes almost like a Caesar salad dressing. The chicken is tasty, and the whole dish is pretty good. This is a salad you would want to order again.
Chef Toad’s Sweet Creations
The desserts at Toadstool Cafe are almost too pretty to eat, but they are worth ruining the presentation for.
Princess Peach Cupcake
The Princess Peach Cupcake is very bright pink. It is a raspberry-filled Funfetti cupcake with glittery buttercream and a Princess Peach chocolate cream. Cutting into it reveals the raspberry filling, making it look like a little birthday cake.
This cupcake might remind you of the cake Princess Peach baked for Mario at the end of Mario 64. It is a very sugary dessert. Most of the sweetness comes from the icing. If you love icing, this is for you. Be prepared to jump around like you got a super mushroom power-up after eating all that sugar.
Mt. Beanpole Cake
The Mt. Beanpole Cake is a beautiful multi-layered Italian cookie cake featuring matcha mousse. It is designed to look like the iconic flagpole at the end of a Mario level.
This cake is very tasty. The layered cake itself is sweet and similar to Neapolitan flavor. The matcha mousse is subtle, sweet, and has a nice matcha flavor, almost like matcha-flavored frosting. It is dense but falls apart easily in your mouth. This is one of the best desserts on the menu and a must-try.
? Block Tiramisu
The ? Block Tiramisu is a cubed favorite Tiramisu block cake. It is incredibly cute and comes decorated with an edible Power-Up on top. Some blocks may have the Fire Flower, while others might have a Star or a Super Mushroom.
As a Tiramisu lover, this is one of the best versions of the dessert we have had in a long time. The cake soaks up the coffee espresso flavors perfectly. It has cinnamon on top. This is the perfect size and incredibly yummy. If you are looking for a dessert that is not overwhelmingly sweet like the Princess Peach Cupcake, the ? Block Tiramisu is just right.
Kids Meals: Fun Food for Little Fans
Toadstool Cafe also offers delicious and fun meals for kids. The atmosphere and decorations make these meals feel special. The kids’ meals come with a little toy surprise, which is a great touch.
Power Up Spaghetti Marinara
The Power Up Spaghetti Marinara is spaghetti served with marinara sauce. It comes with little Parmesan crisps that look like buttons. The meal includes a garlic knot and a cute little toy surprise.
The marinara sauce is full of flavor, tasting robust and fresh. The long noodles seem never-ending, which is fun for kids. This meal is fun to eat and something that children will surely love.
Mario Mini Burger
The Mario Mini Burger comes with a little Mario hat decoration on top. It includes fries, corn on the cob, and broccoli. The meal also features a coin cookie surprise.
The burger itself is a regular cheeseburger with lettuce, a patty, and American cheese. It tastes char-broiled, like a burger straight off the grill at a barbecue. The accompanying crinkle fries have a slight garlic taste. The coin cookie is made of white chocolate with an Oreo inside. These meals are themed well and are second-level compared to standard kids’ meals.
Yoshi’s Favorite Fruit and Veggie Salad
The Yoshi’s Favorite Fruit and Veggie Salad is packed with mixed greens, star fruit, strawberries, blueberries, mushrooms, tomato, and Yoshi egg croutons. It is served with a raspberry vinaigrette.
The salad is very colorful and vibrant. The croutons are shaped like cute little Yoshi eggs. Out of all the salads on the menu, this might be the best one. The fruit is incredibly fresh, and the vinaigrette is sweet, not too tart or “vinegary.” This healthy option is a sweet and fun way to sneak in some fruits and vegetables.