- The Cutest Food at Universal Studios Japan - 19 September 2025
- 9 Things Not To Bring to Japan - 16 September 2025
- How to Use the Trams in Hiroshima - 15 September 2025
Yes, yes, the rides are cool and all – but, what gave me the most fun at USJ, especially during Halloween, was all the themed food on sale around the park. So, what should you look out for? Here’s my pick of the top 10 cutest dishes.
Minion Burgers
How adorable are these? You’ll find them at the aptly named Happiness Cafe in the San Francisco area close to Minion Park.
The exact name is Stuart’s Bacon Cheeseburger Meal, which gives you a clue as to what’s inside – I mean bacon and cheese, not actual Stuart!
Now, unlike at Tokyo Disney Resort, where my overwhelming memory of the cute Baymax Burger was that it looked good but tasted bad, these are pretty good – and the portion size is enough to keep the hunger pangs at bay, without restricting your ability to go on rides in the near future!
If you don’t feel like a burger, you can also order a Minon-themed keema curry and a Miniony chicken and waffle meal from the same restaurant.
At the time of writing, the meals start at 2100 yen. The burger is the most expensive at 2500 yen. You can also get kids’ meals with a Minion theme and Minion ice creams at the Happiness Cafe.
The Happiness Cafe is open from 10 am to 8 pm.
The Shark Cake
It took me three visits to have enough spare stomach to order the shark-shaped Cream Soda Swiss Roll, and Shark Meat Nuggets and Fries at Amity Landing, but, they actually made the perfect mid-afternoon refuel for two.
At the time of writing, the cake costs 600 yen, and the Shark Meat Nuggets are 650 yen. They also offer other fish and chicken-based dishes in the restaurant.
Now, are they actually shark meat? I don’t know, as there is no detailed ingredient listing – although, when you look in the allergy information for the dish, chicken is listed, but that might just be because the nuggets are all fried together.
Shark is eaten in Japan, so it might well be the case. However, unlike with shark fin soup, there is no extra level of cruelty involved with the production of general shark meat (I mean, other than the obvious).
Amity Landing is located close to the JAWS ride in the Amity Village area and is open from 9 am to 7 pm.
Don’t Forget to Buy Your Studio Pass
Everyone who visits USJ needs to buy a Studio Pass. You can buy a simple one that lets you into the park, or, if you buy them early, you might find the Klook special that also includes Super Nintendo World. Tickets are now released 93 days before the date you want to enter the park, so, check if they’re available now for your dates.
Minion Ice Cream Sandwiches
Of the three dishes so far, this is the one I absolutely need to have again – it’s so nice. It’s a banana (of course) flavour ice cream inside two cookies in bright Minion yellow.
Perfect for a mid-afternoon pick up – or in our case, I think it was consumed about 11 am! We had a lot of sugar to get through that day.
You’ll find the cookie sandwiches at Delicious Me! The Cookie Kitchen in Minion Park, there is usually a queue, but it does move fast. They cost 700 yen. You can also buy Minion drinks and adorable Minion-shaped drink bottles here.
Delicious Me! is open from 9.30 am to 6 pm.
Villain Con Donut Burger
This was added to the park menu after my last visit to coincide with the opening of the new Minion ride and the expansion of the Minion Park area, but, even though I haven’t tried it, it gets a spot because of its sheer ridiculousness – in a good way.
The Villain Con Donut Burger consists of two actual donuts in the place of buns, pulled pork, bacon and cheese. At the time of writing it costs 1200 yen, reflux medication is not included!
You’ll find it at the aptly named Evil Eats in Minion Park. You can also buy other Minion-themed donuts – without the added savoury toppings here too. Evil Eats is open from 10 am to 6 pm.
Save Money with Klook & Japlanease
If you plan on buying tickets or tours from Klook for when you’re in Japan, you could save up to 10 per cent by using the code JAPLANEASEKLOOK at the checkout. Click here to see what’s on offer.
T&Cs apply. Some items, including Tokyo Disney and USJ tickets, are not available for discounts.
Yoshi Buns
What’s in this green turtle-shaped shell, I hear you ask? Well, carb phobes should look away now as the bun is stuffed with delicious yaki soba noodles – with extra cheese!
This was one of my park must-tries on my first visit to Super Nintendo World, as I love yaki soba. It’s not bad, but a bit heavy for a snack. The other downside is that there was nowhere nearby to sit and eat it – and SNW is very busy so, it wasn’t something I’d rush back to grab.
You’ll find it a Yoshi’s Snack Island in the main Super Nintendo World area. At the time of writing, it costs 900 yen. You can also buy Yoshi-themed drinks and some very cute SNW-themed drink bottles at this location.
Yoshi’s Snack Island is open from 9 am to 9 pm – you do have to have a timed entry to Super Nintendo World to visit. If you don’t know what that means, check out our guide to getting into Super Nintendo World at USJ.
Kinopio’s Restaurant
This is home to some of the most adorable meals in the park however, I do not have pictures of them, as I have not attempted to get inside!
Kinopio’s, located in Super Nintendo World, is probably the most popular restaurant at Universal Studios Japan, and it doesn’t take Priority Seating – so there is always a wait.
If the park is busy, the system works like this. You go to the restaurant, and scan the QR code to book the next available slot – and that might be an hour or two away. So, if this is your must-do, head here as soon as you enter SNW and time your rides around it.
The menu is pretty broad and everything is themed in some way, but, to me, the most adorable is the Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl with Bacon and Mushroom. This Toad-hatted pie costs 1700 yen at the time of writing.
Kinopio’s is open from 9 am to 9 pm. You need to have a timed entry to SNW to eat here, and you need to be in SNW to make a booking, which means either getting two SNW entries (feasible on less busy days) or a lot of hanging around. As SNW is my least favourite part of USJ, this is why I have not eaten at Kinopio’s.
Butterbeer
Not technically a food, but still a must-consume in my book, have you even been in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter if you haven’t tried a butter beer?
Depending on the weather, you will find the traditional one, or, if you’re there when it’s a bit warmer (not just Summer, this was taken in October), you can also try the frozen Butterbeer.
Note though – do not do as I did and happily gulp down your Butterbeer in order to make your timed entry for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Because the Express Line moves fast, this will still be happily sloshing around in your stomach as you get thrown in all manner of directions on the ride – combine that with mild motion sickness and, well let’s just say it was a dicey few minutes until we stopped!
There are two Butterbeer carts in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Often, the second one has the smaller queue. It’s also available at the Three Broomsticks if you prefer to sit down and enjoy a glass with a meal. It costs 800 yen a glass – you can also buy versions with souvenir cups and glasses to take home.
Butterbeer is also normally available at the Hogs Head bar next to the Three Broomsticks but that is currently closed.
Harry Potter Pie
The first time I visited USJ, I attempted to snack my way around – between this and the Yoshi bun, both being quite filling, I failed miserably. Also, while it photographs terribly, it was probably my favourite snack.
The pies are available from the Magic Neep Cart in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is open from 10 am to 6 pm. There is usually a line, but it moves quickly. There are some benches in the covered area nearby where you can sit down and eat.
The Magic Neep Cart is also where to buy the park’s themed Hogwart’s House churros. It’s open from 10 am to 6 pm.
Note – on the day I write this, there is no pricing for the pies, so, they may have been discontinued but I”ve kept it in as they are very good if you do see them.
Donkey Kong Sundaes
Donkey Kong area of Super Nintendo World opened after my last visit to USJ – but, next time I go, these are definitely on my must-eat list.
Pick from the normal Tropical Crush Sundae, 1200 yen, or upgrade to the one with a special Donkey Kong Barrel Glass to keep for 2000 yen.
Jungle Beat Shakes is open from 9 am to 9 pm. It’s in the Donkey Kong area of Super Nintendo World – which means you do need a timed entry to go in and try the shakes.
Mario Hat Pancakes
Not every Super Mario-themed item requires an entry to Super Nintendo World to try it – so, if you want to eat all of the goodies, at least you can save this one for a bit later in the day.
You’ll find these cream-stuffed versions of Mario and Luigi’s hats in the Mario Cafe and Store in the Hollywood area of the park. There are two flavours Strawberry Shortcake or Grape, No-Bake Cheesecake, they both cost 900 yen. Mario Cafe and Store is open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Somehow, I have managed to miss these on every visit. Although, the answer as to why that is might lie with our next entry!
Seasonal Items
All of the above items are on the menu year-round, but USJ also offer seasonal items to go with whatever special events are on in the park.
While these are often anime themed, last time I was there, it was Halloween – and everything was adorable. Thankfully there were two of us so we managed to make a decent dent in the offerings.
We ate black Hello Kitty churros, we drank good and evil drinks based on Hami Kuma, I even had a butter chicken curry with a gravestone in it. By the time I left the park, I think I’d eaten more sugar in one day than the whole 12 months before it! Still no regrets!
So the moral of this part of the story is always take a look at the seasonal themed food offering page on the USJ website before you visit to see what else might be there when you arrive.