There is a very specific kind of theme park hunger. It does not arrive politely. It does not check the time. One minute, everyone is fine. The next, someone under four feet tall has decided they need food immediately, with the emotional stakes of a third-act superhero sacrifice.
Luckily, Universal Kids Resort understands this kind of hunger.
The all-new theme park in Frisco, Texas, has been created especially for families with young children. That means every detail has been looked at from a kid’s-eye view: the colors, the characters, the way families move through the theme park. And, very importantly, the snacks.
- The chefs at Universal Kids Resort developed kid-friendly food options for the latest Universal theme park in Frisco, Texas.
- There are ten restaurants throughout Universal Kids Resort themed to fan favorite stories like SpongeBob SquarePants, Shrek, and Trolls.
At Universal Kids Resort, food is not treated like a pause button on the fun. It is part of the fun.
Read on to learn what you can eat at Universal Kids Resort and the details behind the culinary creations.
When the Snack Break Becomes Part of the Story
Kid-first thinking at Universal Kids Resort has shaped everything about its food and beverage program, from flavors to portions to where dining locations are placed throughout the theme park. Families with young kids do not exactly move in straight lines. They zig. They zag. They stop to look at a character. They suddenly need a restroom. The food has to fit into that rhythm.
“Universal Kids Resort is built for the kids,” says Jens Dahlmann, vice president, executive chef, Universal Destinations & Experiences. “When we embarked on developing the menus for the many and unique restaurants, we challenged ourselves to think through the eyes of our kids, taking their unique wants and needs into consideration.”
Universal has a long history of using food as part of the storytelling. It is not just about putting something tasty on a plate (although yes, please do that, too). It is about making the food feel like it belongs in the world around you.
For Robert Martinez, director of culinary and executive chef, Universal Destinations & Experiences, that storytelling starts with flavor. “We’re in our own zone where freshness and flavor come first,” Chef Robert says. “Then we make it cute, or make it fit into a different feel, and dive deep into the story to make sure it belongs. At the end of the day, it has to taste really, really good.”
At Universal Kids Resort, that idea gets especially playful. When you are walking through places inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants, Shrek, and Trolls, the food has to look fun enough for a kid to point at it from across the walkway. It also has to taste good and fuel a busy theme park day.
“We want our guests to slow down a little from their day-to-day stresses and immerse themselves into the world of being a kid again,” he says. “Sometimes, the best way to do that is to share food and take in the sights, sounds and aromas.”
Familiar Favorites, With a Few Tiny Plot Twists
Creating menus for kids and grown-ups at the same time is tricky business. Kids know what they like and they are not shy about it. Adults, meanwhile, want something they’ll love, too. For Universal Kids Resort, the team flipped the usual process. The idea is simple: Start with what kids love, then build in enough surprise, flavor, and craft to make the whole family want in.
The culinary team also looked closely at the Frisco area itself. That means the menus are not only pulling inspiration from Universal’s characters and stories, but also from the cultural and regional flavors around North Texas.
“At Universal Kids Resort, the team has really done a great job not only balancing the familiar and new, but also digging into the unique cultural and ethnic makeup of the Frisco area,” Chef Jens says, pointing to influences like Texas BBQ, Indian flavors, and Latin American and Mexican traditions.
That gives the food a sense of place, which is easy to overlook and very satisfying when done well. A theme park can transport you to Bikini Bottom or Jurassic World Adventure Camp, but it still lives in a real community. Frisco gets to be part of the flavor story, too.
That same family-first mindset carries through to guests with dietary needs and allergies. “We want people to have options they feel good about,” Chef Jens says. “It’s something we’re thinking about as we put these menus together.”
Parents, you may now exhale.
The Ones Families Are Going to Spot Immediately
Every theme park has them: the can’t-walk-pasts. You know them before you taste them. Someone walks by holding one, and suddenly your entire group has a new mission.
Universal Kids Resort already has a few strong contenders.
At Goofy Goober’s in Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Chef Jens points to the Triple Gooberberry Sunrise as a must-try. It comes in a unique Goofy Goober souvenir cup, layered with ice cream and goodies in true Goofy Goober fashion.
This feels exactly right for Bikini Bottom. Big. Bright. A little ridiculous. Fully committed to the bit.
Over at Jurassic World Canteen, the Dinosaur Bites are already stomping around my brain. They are giant chicken bites served on a potato volcano with lava BBQ sauce and broccoli florets that look like trees. Or, if you’re up for some InGen level food-science, try the Explorer’s Empanada Dog that is a splice between a beef empanada and hot dog.
Plus, for all herbivores and carnivores, there are new favorites to discover lik the Campfire Chicken Bowl and the Herbivore Cauliflower Bowl. Both pack a stampede of flavors in curry sauce and cilantro-lime rice.
In the Isle of Curiosity, Cakey’s Cupcakes will bring Gabby’s Dollhouse sweetness into the park with cupcakes tailor-made for little fans. On the menu are chocolate, vanilla, and rainbow cupcakes — the classics, dressed for the occasion.
Then there is DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar, where Comidas y Leche will serve food inspired by the fearless feline himself. Chef Jens calls out Jack Horner’s Wrap as one of his favorites: it’s a flour tortilla filled with meat, cheese, and crunchy tortilla.
And because Puss in Boots loves his milk, guests can look forward to treats like Dulce de Leche Fría and Tres Leches Cake. For the culinary team, that detail becomes a starting point: a way to turn character into flavor and give guests a taste of Puss’s world.
Snack carts are also getting in on the action. SpongeBob’s Cheesy Press is a soft pretzel grilled cheese in the shape of SpongeBob. Please pause for the architecture of that sentence. Soft pretzel. Grilled cheese. SpongeBob-shaped.
Some foods arrive with their own applause track.
At Bello Bay Bites, find a meal fit for a Minion as the popular Mac & Cheese cone brings big taste to comfort food.
One Big First Bite
As families are experiencing Universal Kids Resort for the first time, Chef Jens says he hopes the food sends a clear message from the very first bite.
“We hope that our guests will enjoy the park and the food as much as we did when we developed it,” he says, “and that we continue to exceed our guests’ expectations when it comes to the quality and creativity of the food at Universal Destinations & Experiences.”
That is the goal here. Not just that families will find something to eat, but that the food will feel worthy of the day, the characters, and the stories kids are stepping into.
That is what the best theme park food does. It sneaks into the memory right alongside the rides, the characters, the music, the photos, and the tiny shoes that somehow walked 20,000 steps.
Dining Locations at Universal Kids Resort
Quick Service – Outdoor
Quick Service – Indoor
Grab & Go
So, what’s the first thing you’re going to eat at Universal Kids Resort? Let us know in the comments below.
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