Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval has begun, and there are plenty of dishes and drinks to try this year. The returning arepas are joined by empanadas and sweet shaved ice cholados at the Colombia booth.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 1 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-2.jpg)
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 2 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia 4](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-4.jpg)
Menu for Colombia at Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 3 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia 3](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-3.jpg)
Food:
- 🆕 Colombian Empanadas – $8.49
- Arepas de Queso – $8.49
Beverages:
- 🆕 Refajo – $12 for 12 oz. single serve, $13.50 for 12 oz. souvenir cup, or $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup
- Coco Loco – $12 for 12 oz. single serve, $13.50 for 12 oz. souvenir cup, or $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup
- Limonada de Coco – $7.50
- 🆕 Cholados – $6.49
Photos of Menu Items for Colombia at Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 4 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia 7](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-7.jpg)
*NEW* Colombian Empanadas – $8.49
Crispy corn masa beef and chicken empanadas, served with aji picante
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 5 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 3](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-3.jpg)
This dish includes a beef empanada and a chicken empanada, and they’re the tiniest empanadas ever. Each one is basically two bites.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 6 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 4](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-4.jpg)
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 7 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 5](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-5.jpg)
They were hard and dried out, so generally disappointing.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 8 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 6](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-6.jpg)
The flavor of the chicken empanada was good.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 9 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 7](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-7.jpg)
The aji picante sauce is a little sweet and spicy but doesn’t redeem the dish.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 10 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 8](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-8.jpg)
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 11 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Empanadas 11](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Empanadas-11.jpg)
Arepas de Queso – $8.49
White corn masa cake with queso blanco
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 12 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Arepa de Queso 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Arepa-de-Queso-2.jpg)
This was a weird presentation for an arepa, which is usually folded with cheese in the middle. Instead, this was just flat on the plate and looked like a school cafeteria pizza.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 13 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Arepa de Queso 3](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Arepa-de-Queso-3.jpg)
This didn’t taste like the arepas they have had in the past either. It was white corn instead of yellow corn and had queso blanco on top.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 14 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Arepa de Queso 4](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Arepa-de-Queso-4.jpg)
It was a little dry and bland, but the cheese had a nice strong flavor. The aji picante sauce on the side covered the taste of the cheese, which we didn’t appreciate, but it also felt dry without sauce.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 15 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Arepa de Queso 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Arepa-de-Queso-1.jpg)
We liked the previous arepas better, but these were still good, especially considering the presentation.
*NEW* Refajo – $12 for 12 oz. single serve, $13.50 for 12 oz. souvenir cup, or $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup
refreshing and authentic mix of light beer and Colombiana soda
Coco Loco – $12 for 12 oz. single serve, $13.50 for 12 oz. souvenir cup, or $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup
Limonada de Coco spiked with rum and tequila
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 16 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Coco Loco](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Coco-Loco.jpg)
This alcoholic drink has rum and tequila and comes with a slice of lime. We could detect the coconut cream flavor as well as a hint of alcohol with each sip which helped to cut that tart lime flavor. It’s very smooth and easy to drink.
Limonada de Coco – $7.50
Limeade sweetened with coconut cream
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 17 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Limonada de Coco 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Limonada-de-Coco-1.jpg)
The non-alcoholic version of this drink is very sweet and tart. The coconut cream flavor doesn’t come through at all for us, though.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 18 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Limonada de Coco 4](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Limonada-de-Coco-4.jpg)
It’s drinkable but nothing we would need to get again. We prefer the alcoholic version.
*NEW* Cholados – $6.49
Shaved ice with sweetened condensed milk, mango, strawberry sauce, wafers, and Lulo syrup
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 19 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Cholados 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Cholados-2.jpg)
This tasted awful, although we would be willing to give it another shot because we did wait to start eating it, which may have made it worse than it should be.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 20 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Cholados 4](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Cholados-4.jpg)
The wafers placed on top were soaked and slimy by the time we pulled them out. They also disintegrated into the melting shaved ice so the whole drink tasted like cereal.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 21 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Cholados 5](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Cholados-5.jpg)
It was a syrupy and sweet mess by the time we started eating/drinking it.
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 22 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Cholados 6](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Cholados-6.jpg)
![REVIEW: Colombia Disappoints at Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 23 UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Colombia Cholados 7](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/02/UOR-USF-2023-Mardi-Gras-Colombia-Cholados-7.jpg)
Overall, this disappointed us and we recommend going back to Puerto Rico for shaved ice.
Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs from February 4 through April 16. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Colombian arepas are not typically folded like they are in other countries. This was an accurate representation of how they are typically eaten there.