Feast your eyes on the full menu from Toadstool Cafe at Super Nintendo World in L.A. – with recommendations from the lead chef.
While the driving appeal of Super Nintendo World is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and bumping question blocks in a real-life Mushroom Kingdom, a trip to the cafe shouldn’t be underestimated. Tucked away in the top-right corner of the park is Toadstool Cafe, run by Chef Toad, which houses a vast selection of Nintendo-themed meals.
In fact, Toadstool Cafe is perhaps the best place to visit first. To have a meal at the restaurant you have to queue for a reservation time. Once you have a time slot, you then have to queue to make an order at a till (which can also take a while), before then waiting for the food to arrive at the table. It’s a lengthy process which will hopefully be streamlined after the hectic launch.
Compared to your typical theme park cuisine, the menu at Toadstool Cafe goes well beyond the fast food you’d usually expect (although there are options for burgers and fries). Between soups, salads, pasta, ribs, tiramisu, and others, there’s a surprising amount of variety to indulge in.
‘You’re truly transported into everything,’ executive chef Julia Thrash told GameCentral. ‘When you’re looking at every single one of the dishes, it’s overly themed. You eat with your eyes first, right? If you can have that emotional connection to the food first, then as long as it tastes good, it’s going to take you somewhere. It’s supposed to evoke a memory.’
For Thrash, her favourite dish on the menu is also the most complex. ‘The thing that takes the most technique for the cooks in the back is the Chef Toad Short Rib Special, because they’re actually braising the meat in-house, simmering it, cooking it for a couple of hours. They’re making the production from scratch, including the polenta everyday throughout the day. That’s the one that takes the most time and skill.’
As for the desserts, Mt. Beanpole Cake, complete with a Mario victory flagpole and chocolate star, is just as tasty as it is visually satisfying. ‘It’s the layers of flavour for me,’ Thrash says. ‘It’s got the chocolate, the strawberry, the vanilla, you get all of those. And then that top flavour is actually a matcha mousse – it’s just a hint of matcha that balances out the entire cake.’
For young kids (i.e. ages 9 and under) there’s two meal options: a Mario Mini Burger Adventure Set, complete with a cheeseburger, fries, broccoli, corn on the cob, a small Mario figurine, and a coin cookie inside a question block. Alternatively, there’s the Power-Up Spaghetti, with parmesan crisps, Toadstool cheesy garlic knot, and a coin cookie.
A dish set to arrive on the menu from March onwards is Bowser’s Fireball Challenge, a one pound meatball with melted mozzarella cheese. The ‘challenge’ is the spicy red sauce in a black cup on the side, so you can control the volume of spice you dare to attempt. As Super Nintendo World has only just opened in Universal Studios Hollywood, you can perhaps expect more dishes to arrive on the menu in the coming months and years.
Check out the full Toadstool Cafe menu and prices below:
Starters & Salads
Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots (vegetarian) – $5.99/£4.96
- Mini mushroom shaped knots with garlic butter, parmesan cheese, parsley, and a side of marinara sauce.
Tomato Soup in a Super Mushroom Bowl (Gluten free, vegan) – $9.99/£8.27
- Vegan tomato basil soup topped with micro basil, sliced mushroom, and truffle oil.
Yoshi’s Favourite Fruit and Veggie Salad (vegetarian) – $13.99/£11.58
- Mixed greens, strawberries, star fruit, blueberries, pineapple, Yoshi egg croutons, and raspberry vinaigrette.
Super Mushroom Soup (vegetarian) – $9.99/£8.27
- Creamy mushroom soup with Super Mushroom crackers
Piranha Plant Caprese (gluten free, vegetarian) – $12.99/£10.75
- Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, asparagus, and basil pesto served with mixed greens, shaved radish, and apple vinaigrette.
Super Star Chicken Salad – $14.99/£12.41
- Romaine and cabbage mix, grape tomatoes and mushrooms tossed in creamy mushroom truffle dressing topped with parmesan Super Star, star croutons, and grilled chicken.
Mains
Mario Burger – $16.99/£14.07
- All beef patty, bacon, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and American cheese served on a brioche bun with a side of truffle French fries.
Luigi Burger – $16.99/£14.07
- Grilled chicken, basil pesto, Swiss cheese, green pepper, and spinach served on a brioche bun with a side of truffle French fries.
Fire Flower Spaghetti & Meatballs – $16.99/£14.07
- Spaghetti with mushroom marinara sauce, meatballs, Fire Flower parmesan crisp, shaved parmesan, and chopped parsley.
Chef Toad Short Rib Special – $24.99/£20.69
- Braised short rib, creamy goat cheese polenta, and red wine reduction.
Kids menu
Mario Mini Burger Adventure Set – $14.99/£12.41
- Cheeseburger, truffle French fries, corn on cob, broccoli, and a coin cookie.
Power-Up Spaghetti Marinara (vegetarian) – $12.99/£10.75
- Spaghetti with marinara sauce, Power-Up parmesan crisps, Toadstool cheesy garlic knot, and a coin cookie
Desserts
? Block Tiramisu – $9.99/£8.27
- Tiramisu layered with coffee-soaked lady fingers topped with cocoa powder and chocolate power-up.
Princess Peach Cupcake (vegetarian) – $9.99/£8.27
- Raspberry filled Funfetti cake, buttercream frosting and Princess Peach chocolate crown.
Mt. Beanpole Cake (vegetarian) – $9.99/£8.27
- Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry layered cake topped with a matcha mousse.
Beverages
Super Star Lemon Squash – $8.00/£6.62
- Honey lemon soda with mango stars and assorted tropical bobas.
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