Halloween Horror Night is just around the corner, and that means a season of new horror-themed culinary delights. This year, Vice President – Culinary and Executive Chef Julia Thrash and her team have created a lineup that continues her vision by pushing the creativity and taste of the theme park’s food offerings. Universal was gracious enough to invite us to the annual preview event to taste this year’s offerings and see new merchandise available for purchase.
With a line-up of Stranger Things, Hellraiser, Ozzy, Sinners, Fortnite, to name a few, there was a consistent theme with this year’s food offerings, and that is “flavor”. Whether it’s houses or food, there’s a wide range of options for everyone.
In a first for Halloween Horror Nights anywhere in the world, Springfield is getting into the Halloween spirit. On October 25th, 1990, the very first Treehouse of Horrors debuted, and now, thirty-one years later, Springfield will showcase a new lineup of food options. While we couldn’t sample these items during the preview, we cannot wait to dive in once the event begins.
TREEHOUSE OF HORROR (located on the Upper Lot, in select Springfield restaurants)
- Sloppy D’oh – ground beef in a tangy tomato chili sauce, topped with Fritos®
- Brat. Ever! – bratwurst in a pretzel roll topped with Duff cheese sauce and sauerkraut
- Road Scrapin’s – French fries topped with white country gravy, cheese, fried chicken, and crispy onions
- Pumpkin Spice Cold Boo – cold brew topped with pumpkin spice pink vanilla cold foam and a donut hole
- Mmm…Forbidden Pumpkin Donut – vanilla donut with a pumpkin spice icing topped with sprinkles and a printed candy note
Last Year, Five Nights at Freddy’s took over Studio Café, and with themed pizza boxes, it became one of the more popular food locations, with guests waiting in long lines to score one of those pizzas. This year, Stranger Things is taking over the location, and the themed pizza boxes are back with Surfer Boy Pizza. We tried the Hellfire Club Spicy Italian Sandwich and Steve’s Smuggled Peanut Butter Bites. The Hellfire Club Spicy Italian Sandwich was filling, but there were different, more imaginative options available at different locations. If you love Peanut Butter Cups, you’ll love Steve’s Smuggled Peanut Butter Bites. Peanut butter covered in bits of chopped up peanuts and chocolate makes for a perfect dessert to share with your group.
SURFER BOY PIZZA (Studio Café)
- Surfer Boy Pizza – Pepperoni – personal pepperoni pizza
- Surfer Boy Pizza – Cheese – personal cheese pizza
- Hellfire Club Spicy Italian Sandwich – spicy Italian sandwich with turkey, salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, banana peppers, red onion, lettuce, and a Calabrian chili aioli
- Steve’s Smuggled Peanut Butter Bites – chocolate-coated, creamy peanut butter filling bites, with chopped peanuts and chocolate chips
One of the highlights of the food options was the Sinners-themed items. We tried Remmick’s Burnt Ends and the Pecan and Whiskey Bread Pudding. The black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce of the Remmick’s Burnt Ends provided the perfect amount of flavor without overpowering the taste buds. In our opinion, the standout of the event was the Pecan and Whiskey Bread Pudding. The whiskey butterscotch and flaky salt provided the perfect complement to the warm bread pudding. In a first for Halloween Horror Nights, Mulligan’s Bar is receiving an overlay and will become Sinners’ Club Juke.
SINNERS (City Snacks)
- Remmick’s Burnt Ends – pork burnt ends in a black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce, served with jalapeño cornbread
- “Pick Poor Robin Clean” – chicken wings in a black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce, topped with crispy garlic chips, served with jalapeño cornbread.
- Pecan and Whiskey Bread Pudding – warm brown sugar pecan bread pudding topped with a whiskey butterscotch sauce and flaky salt
- I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry (non-alcoholic) – ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice, and blue curaçao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge
SINNERS’ Club Juke (Mulligan’s Bar)
- Prohibition Punch – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey, lemonade, honey and orange bitters with a blackberry hibiscus float and dehydrated lemon wheel
- I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry – blueberry vodka, ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice and blue curaçao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge
- I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry (non-alcoholic) – ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice and blue curaçao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge
- Juke Juice – blackberry moonshine, lemonade, blackberry puree, maple syrup, bitters and a black sugar rim with a dehydrated blood orange and fresh blackberries
- Pale, Pale Moon Ale Shandy – Blue Moon, lemonade and simple syrup garnished with a dehydrated orange
After a 13-year hiatus, Ozzy is back at Halloween Horror Nights this year as a tribute to the legendary singer. This year, Ozzy’s Bar takes over what has become the music legend’s location about Jurassic Outfitters. We were able to try the Crazy Train Chickpea Curry Burrito. For those who are looking for a healthier option, the burrito will fill the need. It’s a refreshing and lite option which will go great on nights where it’s warm and humid.
OZZY’S BAR (Above Jurassic Outfitters)
- Bark at the Naan – naan taco filled with chicken tikka masala, red cabbage, diced pineapple, lime crema and cilantro
- Crazy Train Chickpea Curry Burrito – coconut chickpea curry burrito with diced tomato, pineapple chutney, red cabbage and lime crema
- The Prince of Darkness Cake – carrot cake with cream cheese mousse, coated in a black ganache, topped with chocolate mousse and a chocolate bat
- I Just Want You… & Tacos – Fritos®, black garlic BBQ brisket, red onion, coleslaw and cilantro
- Crowley’s Curse – zero-proof whiskey, lemonade, blackberry syrup and blue curaçao syrup
- Bark at the Moon Mule – grape vodka mule with a grape Pop Rocks rim and fresh blackberries
- Ultimate Sin-amon – cinnamon fire whiskey, apple juice, spiced brown sugar, lemon juice and beet powder with a cinnamon sugar rim and chocolate bat
- Blizzard of Ozz-arita – tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, simple syrup and Sprite with a black sugar rim and black rock candy
Art is back, and this year he’s back with his own food venue. The Clown Café is coming in hot and bloody. This year, Hollywood is bringing over one of the standouts from last year’s Orlando event with the Death by Cheese Stick. We tried the Gut Wound, which was similar to monkey bread with a raspberry glaze and melted chocolate chips. We have a feeling this booth will be one of the more popular venues because the items are easy-to-travel foods as you make your way to the next house.
CLOWN CAFE (located on the Lower Lot)
- Death by Cheese Stick – giant fried mozzarella stick coated in crushed Ruffles® and served with spicy marinara
- Bloodbath Brisket Fries – French fries topped with brisket, BBQ sauce, jalapeño ranch, crispy onion and green onions
- Clown Cafe Cauliflower Bites – spicy fried cauliflower topped with a Flamin Hot® Cheeto sauce and Fritos® chips
- Gut Wound – chocolate raspberry croissant pull-apart
- Root in Evil – vodka, root beer schnapps, cherry syrup, and Sprite topped with a black licorice straw and maraschino cherries
- Art’s Killer Cold Brew – bourbon, amaro, cold brew coffee, vanilla syrup, and sweet cream cold foam with a chocolate Art the Clown hat
- Christmas Tree Glasses Sandwich Cookie – green sugar cookie sandwich filled with raspberry jam, pistachio buttercream, and chopped pistachios
Art The Clown is also taking over Chucky’s place in the Laemmle Courtyard. Themed around the Christmas version, Art is here to slay.
ART THE CLOWN’S TINSEL BAR (located near Animation Studio Store)
- Silent Night Slasher – vodka, lime juice, green apple syrup and ginger beer with a strawberry puree float and gummy Christmas trees
- Art’s Killer Cold Brew – bourbon, amaro, cold brew coffee, vanilla syrup, and sweet cream cold foam with a chocolate Art the Clown hat
- Mistletoe Massacre – tequila, Aperol, blackberry syrup, lime juice, and agave with a black sugar rim & strawberry-drizzled sweet cream cold foam
- Frosty Fright – rum, blue curaçao, lime juice, simple syrup, and Sprite with a Christmas sprinkle marshmallow rim and a cherry
Another standout was the Severed & Smoked Chicken from the Evil Dead Burn. As someone who’s not a huge fan of spicy, this was perfect for us. Just a slight kick, but with an incredibly moist piece of chicken, this is something that can fill you up quickly. Over at Killer Snacks, the Open the Box comes with several donut holes filled with a sour blue raspberry filling that will make you pucker.
EVIL DEAD BURN (Mummy Eats)
- Severed & Smoked Chicken – smoked chicken quarter with a Sichuan chili crisp
KILLER SNACKS (located near Hellraiser and Evil Dead Burn)
- Skin & Chips Nachos – spicy pork rinds topped with Tostitos® nacho cheese sauce and Jack Links beef jerky
- Open the Box – sinisterly sour donut bites filled with a blue raspberry filling
Fortnite, one of the most popular video games, is coming to life, with food that pops and is visually bold and imaginative. We tried both The Final Peel and the Battle Bus Dog. The Final Peel was the sweetest item. If you’re a banana fan, this is for you. Banana is already an overpowering flavor, and for this dessert, it overtakes the salted toffee sauce and the salted caramel crisp pearls. If you’re with a group of friends, we’d recommend sharing the Battle Bus Dog. This 22” hot dog brings the heat; be ready to beat the attack of the spiciness of the sriracha aioli, banana peppers, and Hot Cheetos.
TOWER SNACKS FEATURING FORTNITEMARES (located near Universal Plaza)
- Slurp Juice – Mountain Berry Powerade, Sprite, pineapple juice, blue curaçao syrup, and edible glitter
- Zero-Point Pretzel – soft pretzel dipped in dark chocolate and topped with purple sugar
- The Final Peel – green vanilla whoopie pie filled with banana caramel buttercream, salted toffee sauce and salted caramel crisp pearls
- Battle Bus Dog – giant 22″ all-beef hot dog with Tostitos® nacho cheese sauce, coleslaw, Sriracha aioli, banana peppers and crushed Hot Cheetos
Returning favorites are available at the Día de los Muertos and Studio Scoops locations.
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS (Universal Plaza)
- Beef Birria Tacos – beef birria tacos with cilantro and onion
- Salsa Verde Walking Taco – salsa verde Tostitos® chips topped with birria, white queso, and red onion
- Esquites – corn sliced off the cob topped with grated cotija cheese, cilantro, and Tajin
- Pineapple Spears – fresh pineapple spears with Tajin and chamoy
- The Drowned Bride – citrus vodka, blue curaçao, lemonade, and vanilla with lemon popping boba pearls
- La Siguanaba Spicy Margarita – spicy watermelon habanero margarita with a chamoy, Tajin rim and a tamarind straw
- El Cadejo Mangorita – tequila, triple sec, mango nectar, lime juice, and agave topped with a chili-covered mango
- Muerte Michelada – Modelo Especial or Modelo Negra, michelada mix with a chamoy and Tajín rim
- Frozen Margarita – choice of lime, strawberry, or mango
- Pepino Margarita – tequila, triple sec, lime juice, agave, and sparkling cucumber soda with a chamoy and Tajín rim and fresh cucumbers
- Piña Margarita – tequila, mezcal, lime juice, agave, and pineapple juice topped with a chamoy-drizzled pineapple wedge
STUDIO SCOOPS FEATURING HELLO KITTY CHUCKY (located on the Lower Lot)
- Hello Kitty Chucky Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae – strawberry-swirled vanilla soft-serve, strawberry topping, and cheesecake pieces with a chocolate bow
Available at Various Locations
- Chocolate Raspberry Bloody Cookie – soft chocolate cookie filled with raspberry jam, topped with chocolate “blood” splatter
Halloween Horror Nights wouldn’t be complete without a wide variety of merchandise options, including the second year of the unofficial mascot of the Halloween season, Hamikuma. From popcorn buckets, handbags, and spirit jerseys to scrunchies, fans will have no trouble finding something to make their fit perfect for a night at HHN.
You’ll be able to find all the food and merchandise showcased in the article at Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights beginning September 3rd – November 1st. Thank you again to Universal Studios Hollywood for inviting us out.
Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest news on Universal Parks & Resorts. Want to join the conversation? Head over to our Forums where fans are discussing the latest Universal news, rumors, and park updates. Join the Discussion!
Planning a Universal trip? Get a free, no-obligation quote from our trusted travel partner, MEI Travel. Their team can help with hotels, tickets, and planning at no extra cost to you.
