REVIEW: All the NEW Food & Beverage Items at 2025 Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval

Katie Francis

Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval is back for its 30th anniversary, and we reviewed every new item on the menus.

Canada

Canada is located at Gramercy Park facing Transformers, and can be found at A on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Hot Maple Lacquered Salmon – $14.99
  • 🆕 Margherita Poutine – $10.49

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Ginger Snap – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • 🆕 Ginger Snap Mocktail – $9
  • 🆕 Collective Arts Brewing Life in the Clouds IPA – $16 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $12.75 for refill, $13 for single serving
    • 6.1% ABV | Ontario, Canada

*NEW* Hot Maple Lacquered Salmon – $14.99

griddled salmon fillet with a maple lacquer and an ancient grain mixed salad

The salmon is not the best quality in this dish, and even the delicious maple lacquer can’t make up for it. The mixed side salad is great, but not worth the hefty price tag.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Margherita Poutine – $10.49

Fresh mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, basil cream and pub fries

The fries were sitting for a while before we actually tried them, and they were still somehow a perfect texture. The tomatoes are fresh, the cheese is tasty, and the portion size is pretty large.

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Ginger Snap – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, lime juice, ginger purée and maple syrup 

The ginger immediately hits you in the face with the first sip. We didn’t think the flavor was bad at all — it is just more ginger than we expected in the beginning. The cinnamon flavor isn’t too artificial, and the whiskey adds a pleasant bite.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Ginger Snap Mocktail – $9

Lime juice, ginger purée, cinnamon syrup and maple syrup

The non-alcoholic version basically tastes like ginger tea. It is pleasant, but nothing remarkable.

Rating out of 7: 3

Colombia

Colombia is located at Gramercy Park facing Transformers, and can be found at B on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Pandebono – $7.99

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Aguapanela – $9

*NEW* Pandebono – $7.99

warm Colombian cassava bread

These were flaky and soft, but they reminded us of a Pillsbury dinner roll. They have no real flavor other than generic bread. They would rate higher if they weren’t crazy expensive.

Rating out of 7: 1

*NEW* Aguapanela – $9

Panela sugar, water and fresh cut lemon

We did not get any of the fresh lemon, so we basically paid $9 for sugar water. It was not even good sugar water. The drink reminded us of a failed ice tea in all the wrong ways. In a first for Universal, this gets a 0.

Rating out of 7: 0

Taste of the Quarter

Taste of the Quarter is located on Park Avenue facing Gramercy Park, and can be found at C on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Red Beans & Rice – $7.49

*NEW* Red Beans & Rice – $7.49

Vegan sausage with stewed beans, white rice and garnished with scallions

The vegan sausage has a very strong spice kick. The beans felt a little overcooked, but this is still the best vegan option out of all the new Mardi Gras items.

Rating out of 7: 6

Bites of the Bayou

Bites of the Bayou is located on Park Avenue facing Gramercy Park, and can be found at D on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese – $10.99
  • 🆕 Chicken & Sausage Gumbo – $8.99
  • 🆕 Cajun Spiced Twisted Tater – $9.99

*NEW* Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese – $10.99

creamy spicy cavatappi pasta with andouille sausage, holy trinity and a cajun cream sauce, garnished with scallions

This mac & cheese is easily one of the best food items of Mardi Gras 2025, if not the best. The pasta has a kick from the spice, is cooked perfectly, and has plenty of gooey cheese.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Chicken & Sausage Gumbo – $8.99

Stew of trinity, chicken, andouille, bacon over white rice

While nothing overly unique, this gumbo is the flavor you would want coming into Mardi Gras. If you crave a classic New Orleans staple, this hits all the right notes.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Cajun Spiced Twisted Tater – $9.99

Cajun seasoned potato, Creole remoulade sauce, herbs

This is one of the better twisted taters we’ve eaten at Universal. Ours actually had a semi-soft texture toward the middle, but the quality is too inconsistent for us to rate it higher.

Rating out of 7: 4

French Quarter Sips

French Quarter Sips is located at Gramercy Park near Revenge of the Mummy, and can be found at E on the map below.

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Pimm’s Cup – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

*NEW* Pimm’s Cup – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Pimm’s No 1 Cup and Seagram’s ginger ale garnished with fresh cut orange, strawberry, lemon and cucumbers

This came in the souvenir cup, which we had some difficulty locating because several booths were already sold out of them. This is a refreshing drink with notes of the lemon and cucumber, though the alcohol was barely present. A very smooth drink if you need something light.

Rating out of 7: 5

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is located at Gramercy Park near Revenge of the Mummy, and can be found at F on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Pinchos de Lechon – $10.99
  • 🆕 Pastelon Fritters – $8.99
  • 🆕 Cheese Dog – $9.99
  • 🆕 Limber – $9

*NEW* Pinchos de Lechon – $10.99

Char-grilled pork shoulder skewer with guava bbq sauce and pan sobao

The meat is smoky, tender, and juicy. The toasted bread works well with a bite of the pork.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Pastelon Fritters – $8.99

Crispy sweet plantain and picadillo beef fritters served with mayo ketchup

One reporter said they would destroy fifty of the fritters, and the other likened the meat to a plantain-flavored sloppy joe. The value is low, as you only get three fritters for almost $9.

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Cheese Dog – $9.99

All-beef hot dog with cheddar cheese wrapped in an empanada disc, served with mayo ketchup

No one should pay $10 for what is a basic hot dog wrapped in an empanada. It makes for a great park snack, but it is far too small and expensive for something we could make at home.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Limber – $9

A Puerto Rican frozen iced treat with choice of coconut or guanabana

We were not asked if we wanted coconut or guanabana, and the drink we received was definitely coconut. It was a hard texture, more like ice cream than a slush, but so good that we didn’t care.

Rating out of 7: 7

Italy

Italy is located at Guido’s Gelato, the service window at Louie’s Italian Restaurant, and can be found at G on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Trapizzini – $10.99

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Peachello Spritz – $17

*NEW* Trapizzini – $10.99

Warm ciabatta, meatball, marinara and spiced parmesan

This originally came just wrapped in the white paper, and a server later asked us if we wanted a plate. One of our reporters called this “the lowest quality meatball and red sauce I’ve had in my life.” The bread also is too hard and greasy.

Rating out of 7: 1

*NEW* Peachello Spritz – $17

Pallini Peachello, Cavicchioli 1928 Prosecco, club soda with peach bursting boba

We cannot recommend this drink because of the price. It would be good if you like drinks that are very syrupy and sweet, though the boba didn’t add anything new.

Rating out of 7: 3

China

China is located at Street Car Snacks in San Francisco, and can be found at H on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Spicy Szechuan Chicken Bites – $11.99
  • 🆕 Duck Xian Bing – $10.99

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Luck and Prosperity – $9

*NEW* Spicy Szechuan Chicken Bites – $11.99

crispy pieces of chicken with white rice, sesame seeds, Szechuan chili crunch

Take the warning from the name — this dish is super spicy. The rice is properly cooked and the chicken was moist. It makes for a good street food option while you are walking.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Duck Xian Bing – $10.99

shredded duck dumpling with Hoisin scallion ginger butter

Two of our reporters thought this dish tasted way better than it looked, while the third didn’t like the taste of the duck. The seasoning made the duck fit the Chinese booth, but it could bit unusual if you are not someone who eats duck often.

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Luck and Prosperity – $9

Hokkaido Milk Tea powder, ginger puree, blood orange syrup, vanilla cream syrup and mango popping boba

Our general reaction to this drink was confusion. There are too many components mixed in this drink that are all competing for attention, plus the syrup makes it too tart. We aren’t even sure this should classify as milk tea.

Rating out of 7: 2

India

India is located outside Richter’s Burger Co. in San Francisco, and can be found at I on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Potato Dosa – $7.99
  • 🆕 Butter Chicken – $10.99

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Jaljeera Soda – $9
  • 🆕 Iced Chai Latte – $9

*NEW* Potato Dosa – $7.99

Griddled dosa filled with curried potatoes, onions, black mustard seeds, served with a coconut chutney

The texture of the filling is very grainy, similar to a chickpea. The chutney has a ton of spice, but you need it to make the pastry moist.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Butter Chicken – $10.99

Tender chicken in a spiced tomato butter sauce with Naan bread and cilantro

This dish was not our favorite. We can get higher quality chicken at any quick Indian restaurant in Orlando, and the standard flavors of butter chicken were largely absent. The Naan bread is very dense and felt stale.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Jaljeera Soda – $9

Jaljeera Spice mix, lemon juice and Sprite

The jaljeera spice mix includes a mix of peppermint, cumin seeds, black pepper, ginger, rock salt, and more. This drink tastes like a carbonated lemon soda, but with a hint of all those spices coming through. It’s something unique that somehow works well.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Iced Chai Latte – $9

Chai, milk and house-made masala cold foam

The cream at the top is pleasantly thick. We tasted all of the seasoning you would expect from this type of mixed latte, in a good way. The chai flavor doesn’t taste fake.

Rating out of 7: 6

Germany

Germany is located outside Lombard’s Seafood Grille, and can be found at J on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Leberkäse – $10.99
  • 🆕 Currywurst & Pommes – $9.99
  • 🆕 Apple Strudel – $4.99

*NEW* Leberkäse – $10.99

German-style meatloaf served on a pretzel bun with mustard and sauerkraut

The meat reminded us of SPAM because it was pretty salty. The mustard helps to cut some of the salt, and the pretzel bun is perfect. The sandwich was solid, but not worth going out of your way.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Currywurst & Pommes – $9.99

crispy bratwurst topped with spicy curry ketchup, served with fries and mayo

The sausage was still warm after sitting for a few minutes and had a great curry flavor. The fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We literally had nothing negative to say about this dish.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Apple Strudel – $4.99

flaky pastry layers wrapped around spiced apple filling

The pastry is flaky, buttery, and dusted with a hint of powdered sugar. The filling is sweet, the apples are fresh, and the flavor is balanced with just enough cinnamon.

Rating out of 7: 7

France

France is located at Central Park Crepes, and can be found at K on the map below.

Food:

  • 🆕 Duck a l’orange Crepe – $15.99

*NEW* Duck a l’orange Crepe – $15.99

freshly made crepes filled with shredded duck, onions, Boursin cheese, orange segments and an orange slice

While this dish is on the more expensive side, the portion size is massive. The crepe is easily the best value of the event, especially with the amount of duck we found inside. The sauce drizzle has a hint of heat, and the duck is tender.

Rating out of 7: 7

Mexico

Mexico is located at the Cafe La Bamba service window, and can be found at L on the map below.

Beverages:

  • 🆕 La Tormenta – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • 🆕 Elote Old Fashioned – $19

*NEW* La Tormenta – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Cuervo Tradicional blanco tequila, lime juice, orange juice, dragon fruit puree, passion fruit puree and smoked sea salt

We didn’t love this drink, but we didn’t actively hate it. The main notes are the smokiness from the sea salt and the grapefruit.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Elote Old Fashioned – $19

Desert Door sotol, Nixta Licor de Elote, Del Maguey Vida mezcal and agave syrup

It is difficult to completely ruin an Old Fashioned, but this drink somehow manages it. The main flavor is just pure smokiness with a chemical aftertaste. The value is especially bad for the price.

Rating out of 7: 1

Coca-Cola Market Square

Coca-Cola Market Square is located in Battery Park, and can be found at M on the map below.

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Frozen Brandy Milk Punch – $13.50
  • 🆕 Frozen Irish Coffee – $13.50
  • 🆕 Banana’s Fosters Fizz – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • 🆕 Doberge Cake Cocktail – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • 🆕 Peach Cobbler Smash – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • 🆕 Peach Cobbler Smash Mocktail – $9
  • 🆕 Orange Coconut Snowball Mocktail – $9
  • 🆕 BLTC Bloody Mary – $19 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $15.50 for refill, $15 for single serving

*NEW* Frozen Brandy Milk Punch – $13.50

Torres 10 year brandy, Old Forester bourbon, milk, cream, simple syrup and vanilla bean

The milk punch feels like a very good brandy milk shake. The texture is smooth and creamy. We would definitely order this drink again.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Frozen Irish Coffee – $13.50

Jameson Irish whiskey, JF Haden’s Espresso Liqueur, cold brew concentrate and vanilla ice cream

The coffee flavor of this drink is very strong, but it blends smoothly with the vanilla ice cream. We had no real complaints other than the fact that it was nothing special or unique to the event.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Banana’s Fosters Fizz – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Cruzan Aged Dark Rum, Planteray O.F.T.D. rum, Bols crème de banana and Barq’s Creme Soda

The banana is slightly on the fake side. It needs some cream or another mixed ingredient to cut the processed flavor, and then this would rate higher.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Doberge Cake Cocktail – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

360 Sorrento Lemon vodka, 360 Double Chocolate vodka, vanilla cream syrup, cupcake cold foam and Sprite

Thanks to the cupcake foam, this drink tastes like King Cake mixed with Sprite. It’s a weird combination that somehow tastes amazing. It fits the Mardi Gras theme and is something you couldn’t find anywhere else. This cocktail is probably our favorite drink of the day.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Peach Cobbler Smash – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Old Forester bourbon, peach puree, lime wedge and Coca Cola

This drink is exactly what we expected based on the description. The lime wedge was missing because the booth was out of limes. The peach was sweet without overpowering the bourbon.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Peach Cobbler Smash Mocktail – $9

peach purée, lime wedges and Coca-Cola

We feel the alcoholic version of this drink has something that this mocktail version lacks. The mocktail feels like a basic Coke with fruit flavoring, which we can get at one of the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines in the park for much cheaper.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Orange Coconut Snowball Mocktail – $9

Pineapple juice, coconut milk, cream of coconut and Fanta orange

We didn’t taste the coconut in this drink at all. The texture of the liquid was also a bit chunky, and we had to wonder if the acid of the pineapple made the milk curdle slightly. The whole experience ends with an inexplicable chemical aftertaste.

Rating out of 7: 1

*NEW* BLTC Bloody Mary – $19 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $15.50 for refill, $15 for single serving

New Amsterdam vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and black pepper

For a Mardi Gras-themed Bloody Mary, this is nothing new or unique. However, the drink is very good, and a solid Bloody Mary is sometimes hard to find in a theme park.

Rating out of 7: 5

Video Review

Map of Locations

Illustrated map showing a theme park layout with a purple highlighted parade route. Key locations and paths are marked, surrounded by attractions and water features. Experience International Flavors at the Food & Beverage stations scattered throughout Universal Mardi Gras festivities.

The locations are marked on the map with a corresponding letter. See the key below.

A: Canada

B: Colombia

C: Taste of the Quarter

D: Bites of the Bayou

E: French Quarter Sips

F: Puerto Rico

G: Italy

H: China

I: India

J: Germany

K: France

L: Mexico

M: Coca-Cola Market Square

The 2025 Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval festival runs from February 1 through March 30.

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