Universal Restaurant Faces Backlash Over Refusing Menu Customizations—What’s Going On?
When visiting theme parks like Universal Studios, food is often more than just sustenance—it’s an experience. From unique snacks and theme-inspired meals to one-of-a-kind treats, the dining experience can make or break a guest’s day. With the 2023 opening of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood, many fans expected a whole new level of culinary innovation to match the exciting rides and immersive worlds.
However, for some guests, the dining experience at one of the park’s most popular spots, the Toadstool Café, has become a source of frustration.
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At first glance, Toadstool Café, with its whimsical atmosphere and Nintendo-themed menu items, seems like the perfect place to fuel up after enjoying attractions like Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge or shopping at the 1-Up Factory. The menu offers Italian-inspired dishes like Fire Flower Spaghetti & Meatballs, Yoshi’s Fettuccine Alfredo, and Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots.
But for one particular guest, the café’s refusal to accommodate a simple customization request has sparked an online conversation about the limits of Universal’s dining policies.
This guest, an X user named Universally Speaking, shared their experience at the café, detailing a disappointing encounter where they were told by a team member that they could not customize their burger.
Am I being unreasonable here?! 😂🍔🍄#UniversallySpeaking 🌎🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5ZfhLI0e81
— Universally Speaking 🌎🗣️ (@Uni_Speaking) June 28, 2025
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While some may think this is a minor issue, the refusal to make a simple change, like removing Thousand Island Sauce from the burger, has led to an outpouring of frustration from other visitors.
The fact that Universal Studios would not cater to a guest’s preferences, especially in a restaurant that prides itself on catering to a broad audience, raised eyebrows among many.
According to the guest, the team member at Toadstool Café explained that the restaurant’s menu was “very specific” about what could be added or removed. Guests were informed that if they wanted any alterations, they would have to do it themselves. This rigid approach to menu customization left many puzzled and even a little upset.
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It’s not just one disgruntled guest either. Over the months since the opening of the café, other visitors have echoed similar sentiments.
One Reddit user, crome66, shared their frustration about not being able to make simple modifications like adding bacon to an Impossible burger or removing mushrooms from another burger, despite the fact that these requests seemed quite reasonable.
Others mentioned difficulties with dietary restrictions, such as being lactose intolerant or requiring gluten-free options, which were reportedly not easily accommodated either.
Toadstool Cafe is weirdly unaccommodating.
byu/crome66 inUniversalHollywood
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So, why is Universal so strict about its menu policies? It appears that the restaurant’s vision, much like the entire SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, is focused on maintaining a very specific look and feel. After all, Toadstool Café is designed to mimic the vibrant, fantasy world of Mario, and perhaps there’s a fear that altering the dishes would disrupt that carefully curated aesthetic.
However, this stance has led to growing concern among guests who believe the café’s rigid policy goes too far. When it comes to real people, not avatars or video game characters, a little flexibility in dining choices can go a long way.
This situation has also sparked a broader conversation about the balance between maintaining a consistent, themed experience and providing excellent customer service. Restaurants across the theme park industry often face the challenge of catering to a wide variety of tastes and dietary restrictions while keeping their brand experience intact.
In Universal’s case, it seems the policy at Toadstool Café leans more toward the idea of a “one-size-fits-all” menu, with little room for deviation. While this approach might be intended to preserve the fantasy experience, it risks alienating those who just want a simple change or accommodation.
Guests have continued to voice their opinions on social media, with many expressing surprise that Universal Studios, known for its exceptional guest service, would adopt such a rigid stance.
In response to these complaints, some have suggested that Universal could find a middle ground by offering a more adaptable menu, perhaps by allowing guests to choose from a list of optional add-ons or substitutions. Such an approach could still preserve the thematic integrity of the café while making it more accessible to a wider range of guests. After all, the goal of a theme park should be to create magical experiences for everyone, and dining is an essential part of that magic.
As of now, Universal Studios has not officially commented on these concerns, but it will be interesting to see if the growing number of dissatisfied guests prompts any changes at the Toadstool Café.
What do you think? Should Universal Studios relax its strict menu policies, or is the current setup just part of the themed experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
