REVIEW: Every Food & Beverage Item 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’ve compiled our reviews of every food and beverage item at the festival.

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

Unlike its appearance, the salmon in this dish is not fresh. The maple glaze is delicious, but it does not add enough flavor to the otherwise dry fish. We did really like the grain salad, and we would order that again if they made it a side by itself.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Margherita Poutine – $10.49

Fresh mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, basil cream and pub fries

We were pleasantly surprised by the poutine, because the fries sat for a while and we worried they would be soggy. The fries were still crunchy, the toppings were fresh, and the portion size is decent for the price.

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 

We expected the ginger in this drink would have sunk to the bottom of the liquid, but we were immediately hit with ginger in the first sip. The taste is good and the cinnamon adds a warm, seasoned flavor. Just come expecting a lot of ginger.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Ginger Snap Mocktail – $9

Lime juice, ginger purée, cinnamon syrup and maple syrup

The non-alcoholic version had a thinner consistency than the previous version. This one tastes more like a generic ginger tea. The drink is not unpleasant, but it’s nothing special.

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:

  • Colombian Burger – $10.99
  • Chicken Empanadas – $8.99
  • 🆕 Pandebono – $7.99

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Aguapanela – $9

Colombian Burger – $10.99

grilled burger with Monterey Jack cheese, pineapple cabbage slaw, cilantro garlic sauce and potato sticks

This burger is lackluster. We could barely taste the sauce or the pineapple slaw. The meat is also extremely dry. Considering it is also smaller than a standard burger size, we would not recommend this for either the flavor or the price.

Rating out of 7: 2

Chicken Empanadas – $8.99

crispy corn masa chicken empanadas with aji picante

In 2024, this dish was served with one beef empanada and one chicken empanada. For Mardi Gras this year, the beef has been removed and guests receive two chicken empanadas. These are the smallest empanadas we have ever seen, and we could finish the whole plate in four bites. The chicken was flavorful and the sauce was good, but you don’t get enough of either for the price.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Pandebono – $7.99

warm Colombian cassava bread

For a generic bread roll, these are very flaky and soft. However, they taste exactly like a restaurant dinner roll, and we expected more for the $8 price. We can’t rate these higher due to the price.

Rating out of 7: 1

*NEW* Aguapanela – $9

Panela sugar, water and fresh cut lemon

The slice of fresh lemon was missing from our drink, so we basically paid $9 for some very gross sugar water. We don’t do it often, but this drink gets less than a 1 on the scale.

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
  • Beignets – $7.49
  • King Cake – $7.49

*NEW* Red Beans & Rice – $7.49

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

The red beans & rice is one of the few vegan options available, and thankfully it is still really good. The vegan sausage is a little spicy, in a good way. We thought the beans were a tiny bit overcooked, but the dish is still excellent.

Rating out of 7: 6

Beignets – $7.49

Sweet fried pastry with powdered sugar

Beignets are a classic staple of Mardi Gras, and these do not disappoint. They were soft and not too greasy. They are definitely some of the better theme park beignets we’ve had over the years.

Rating out of 7: 7

King Cake – $7.49

Traditional cake with cinnamon swirl icing, Mardi Gras sprinkles and a Mardi Gras baby

This mini King Cake is shaped more like a donut, with white frosting on the top. The cake was a little drier than the beignets, but still flavorful. The King Cake is very sweet with the added frosting.

Rating out of 7: 5

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

Beverages:

  • Miller Lite – $10.50
  • Nütrl – $12.50
  • Modelo – $11.50

*NEW* Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese – $10.99

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

The mac & cheese is easily in our five best food items from Mardi Gras this year. There is plenty of gooey cheese, and the pasta was cooked perfectly.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Chicken & Sausage Gumbo – $8.99

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

There is nothing special to make this a unique gumbo, but it is still a very good gumbo. If you want a classic New Orleans staple for Mardi Gras without trying anything too crazy, this would be perfect.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Cajun Spiced Twisted Tater – $9.99

Cajun seasoned potato, Creole remoulade sauce, herbs

We usually dislike the texture of the twisted taters, so we liked that this skewer had a softer potato in the middle and wasn’t cooked as hard. However, the consistency with the twisted taters is still spotty, so we can’t guarantee it would be the same again.

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:

  • Category 5 Punch – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • Espresso Martini – $18
  • 🆕 Pimm’s Cup – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • Bud Light – $14.25 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $11 for refill, $11.25 for single serving
  • Modelo – $11.50
  • Corona – $11.50
  • Nütrl – $12.50

Category 5 Punch – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Cruzan Aged Dark Rum, Myers’s dark rum, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup, passion fruit puree and grenadine

The first year this drink debuted, we rated it quite high. For the past few years, however, the quality has suffered. The drink is now far too syrup-heavy, and it leaves a sour taste in the back of your mouth.

Rating out of 7: 1

Espresso Martini – $18

Julius Meinl breakfast blend, JF Haden’s Espresso Liqueur, New Amsterdam vodka and simple syrup

This is like an energy drink of pure coffee. If you need a caffeine boost to get through the day, this tasty drink will serve just fine.

Rating out of 7: 6

*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

We purchased this drink in the specialty Pimm’s Cup. The drink is light and smooth, with hints of the lemon and cucumber coming through. It would be perfect as the temperatures in Orlando get warmer.

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

Beverages:

  • Piña Colada – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving
  • Ponche – $9

*NEW* Pinchos de Lechon – $10.99

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

We had a little trouble getting the meat off the skewer, but it was worth the effort. The meat is smoky and tender, while the bread makes for a nice palette cleanser.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Pastelon Fritters – $8.99

Crispy sweet platain and picadillo beef fritters served with mayo ketchup

One of our reporters likened the meat in the center to sloppy joe filling inside a hush puppy. The fritters were very good, but the price is too steep for only three of them.

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

Flavor-wise, we had no major complaints about what is basically a hot dog with a hint of cheese wrapped in an empanada. But for $10 and a pretty small portion, we would rather make one of these at home.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Limber – $9

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

The menu says guests have a choice of two flavors, but we were handed the coconut version. It would be wrong to call this a drink or slush, as the texture of the ice cream is much harder. Ignoring the name, this frozen coconut ice cream was perfect.

Rating out of 7: 7

Piña Colada – $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $13.50 for refill, $13.50 for single serving

Ron del Barrilito Three Star rum, lime juice, coconut cream, pineapple juice and smoked sea salt

No major changes have been made to this classic piña colada. The strongest flavor comes from the pineapple, and the texture is silky smooth.

Rating out of 7: 6

Ponche – $9

Welch’s grape juice, sweetened condensed milk and blackberry essence

This was our favorite of the two beverages at the Puerto Rico booth. It tastes like a grape version of a creamsicle. The drink is on the heavier side, and it may be more accurate to simply call it a smoothie.

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

To summarize this dish in the words of one of our reporters, “the lowest quality meatball and red sauce I’ve ever had in my life.” The bread doesn’t help; it is very greasy and hard.

Rating out of 7: 1

*NEW* Peachello Spritz – $17

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

This drink will be perfect for anyone who likes alcohol on the sweeter and more syrupy side. The boba don’t add any new flavors, and your experience varies widely depending on what you get in each sip.

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
  • Heineken – $15.25 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $11.25 for refill, $12.25 for single serving
  • Bud Light – $10.50
  • Nütrl – $12.50
  • Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler – $13.50

*NEW* Spicy Szechuan Chicken Bites – $11.99

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

This is likely the most spicy item we tried for Mardi Gras this year. While the chicken’s texture may remind us a little of chicken nuggets, they are very moist. We would willingly eat this again while walking the park.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Duck Xian Bing – $10.99

shredded duck dumpling with Hoisin scallion ginger butter

Our reporters were a little torn on this dish. The duck has a seasoning applied to it that is unique to Chinese restaurants and can be a bit of an acquired taste. Your enjoyment of this dish would depend entirely on whether you like duck with more basic seasoning or an Asian flair.

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

Too many components are all fighting for your taste buds in this drink. The flavor and texture did not remind us of milk tea at all. The drink is also on the tart side from the orange syrup.

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

While not listed in the description, we felt sure the filling had chickpeas based on the somewhat granular texture. Adding the chutney to each bite is required to add some moisture.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Butter Chicken – $10.99

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

The bread at the base of this dish was not fresh, and it had a strange density that is not like regular Naan bread. We have also found better butter chicken at any quick Indian restaurant in Orlando.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Jaljeera Soda – $9

Jaljeera Spice mix, lemon juice and Sprite

Jaljeera is a mix of spices including peppermint, black pepper, ginger, rock salt, and a few more. The drink tricks you into thinking it is a basic lemonade, but then you get the spices coming through on the aftertaste. Not only is it good, but it is definitely unique.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Iced Chai Latte – $9

Chai, milk and house-made masala cold foam

The cream topping didn’t have an overly strong flavor, but its texture was thick and creamy. The drink isn’t unique for a chai latte, but it will easily satisfy a coffee craving.

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

Beverages:

  • Beer Flight – $13
  • Bitburger Premium Pils -$16 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $12.75 for refill, $13 for single serving
  • Franzikaner Hefe Weissbier – $16 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $12.75 for refill, $13 for single serving
  • ERDINGER Weiβbier Dunkel – $16 for 20 oz. souvenir cup, $12.75 for refill, $13 for single serving

*NEW* Leberkäse – $10.99

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

This delicious pretzel bun deserved a better filling. The meat reminded us a little too much of SPAM because of the salt content. The mustard helps to cut a little of the salt. We would eat it again, but we would not seek it out.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Currywurst & Pommes – $9.99

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

We literally had no negative comments about this dish. The sausage was warm and paired perfectly with the curry. The fries had just the right amount of salt and were still soft in the middle.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Apple Strudel – $4.99

flaky pastry layers wrapped around spiced apple filling

While the dough is nice and flaky, our favorite part of this dessert was the apple filling. The apples were still warm and seasoned with some cinnamon to cut through the sweetness.

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

The crepe is expensive at first glance, but it is actually a great value for the size of the dish and the amount of duck meat wrapped inside. The duck is tender and the orange sauce has a tiny spice kick. We would definitely order this again, and it is perfect for sharing.

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.

Food:

  • Quesabirria – $10.99
  • Chilaquiles Verdes – $7.99
  • Churro Loops – $8.49

Beverages:

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

Quesabirria – $10.99

Birria beef in a corn tortilla with Monterey Jack and Oaxaca cheese served with a birria broth

The birria broth is thicker than you might expect, but it helps the meat stay nice and moist. The tortillas are held together with plenty of melted cheese, so you could easily eat this while walking.

Rating out of 7: 7

Chilaquiles Verdes – $7.99

Tortillas topped with chile braised shredded chicken, salsa verde, cilantro onion mix with lime crema and Cotija cheese

The tortillas are topped with a heavy load of chicken for the price. We liked the salsa Verde for the added bit of spice, but the onion mix is something to avoid if you aren’t a cilantro fan.

Rating out of 7: 5

Churro Loops – $8.49

Crispy cinnamon sugar loops with dulce de leche and chocolate sauce

Our churros were a little doughy, and they probably needed a little bit longer to cook. The chocolate sauce tastes like raw Hershey syrup, but it becomes a lot better when you mix it with the dulce de leche. We were willing to give these extra value points as one of the only dessert options for Mardi Grad this year.

Rating out of 7: 5

*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

Our opinions on this drink were exactly neutral. We thought the smokiness of the sea salt was nice and the passion fruit is the strongest fruit flavor. However, no one flavor stood out enough for us to remember it for long.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Elote Old Fashioned – $19

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

While not an Old Fashioned in the literal sense, this has to be one of, if not the worst, Old Fashioned drinks we have ever tasted. The whole drink tastes like nothing but smoke, and it leaves a really unpleasant chemical aftertaste. The price only makes it worse.

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
  • Premium Cocktail – $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

This drink is basically a delicious bourbon milkshake. The texture is just soft and creamy enough to go through a straw while still being cold and refreshing.

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

This drink is a perfectly acceptable alcoholic cold brew. We tasted the coffee much more than any of the liquor. We didn’t give it a perfect score simply because the competition at this booth is stiff.

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

This drink is nearly great, but it needs another ingredient mixed inside to cut through the semi-processed flavor of the banana.

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

This drink is probably the most unique and on-brand for Mardi Gras out of all the new beverages. The cupcake foam makes the drink taste like liquid King Cake mixed into a Sprite. If you want something memorable and photogenic, this drink is wonderful.

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 tastes exactly like a mixture of bourbon and peach puree. The peach is sweet without overpowering the other flavors. Again, this could have been a 7 if the other drinks at this booth weren’t just as good.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Peach Cobbler Smash Mocktail – $9

peach purée, lime wedges and Coca-Cola

Unlike the alcoholic version, this tastes just like a fruit-flavored Coke from one of the park’s Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. We could get this exact same drink somewhere else for much cheaper.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Orange Coconut Snowball Mocktail – $9

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

Pineapple, as it turns out, is not meant to be mixed with milk. The acid from the fruit caused the coconut milk in this drink to curdle slightly, giving the whole thing a weird chunky texture.

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

This Bloody Mary does nothing particularly new other than add a stick of candied bacon, but it is still very good. Finding a good Bloody Mary in a theme park can be difficult, so we were impressed.

Rating out of 7: 5

Video Review

Watch our review of all the new food at this year’s Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval.

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.

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

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