Spent the day at Universal Studios Japan and had an absolute blast going on the rides and checking out the attractions. That said, it was bloody busy—even for a weekday in December. I’ve heard it’s even worse in summer, which honestly makes me wonder what that must look like, because the park already felt wall-to-wall with people.

Of course, food was a must, so I decided to try a few different things to see whether the park food lived up to expectations.

First stop was Harry Potter World, where I tried the hot Butterbeer. This is definitely a young person’s drink. The best way to describe it is a very sweet, spiced beverage—think cinnamon and other spices—topped with cream. Having it hot really amplified the sweetness, and by about halfway, it became quite sickly. I did manage to finish it, and the warmth was pleasant on a cold day, but it’s not something I’d ever want to recreate at home.

Next up was a chocolate churro. It was long, similar to the ones you get at Disneyland, and overall pretty decent. Every so often, you’d get a bit of melted chocolate inside, which was nice. I do wish it had been served much warmer, though, and for the price, it didn’t quite feel worth it.

After that, I tried the smoked chicken thigh in Jurassic World. This felt like Universal’s version of the Disneyland turkey leg—and honestly, it was excellent. It was served piping hot, super tender, and full of flavour. It was a generous portion, too: a large piece of chicken, with the thigh completely boneless and only the drumstick with a bone. The smokiness came through beautifully, and this was easily one of the highlights of the food.

The last stop was Louie’s N.Y. Pizza Parlour, where I ordered a slice with shrimp and crustacean sauce, which came as a combo with a drink and fries. Ironically, the drink was probably the best part of the combo. The fries had clearly been sitting around for a while, though I did like their cut and thickness—fresh, they would have been much better. The pizza itself was okay. I liked the base, but the toppings were a bit odd. The cauliflower felt out of place, and there weren’t as many shrimp as I expected, though the cherry tomatoes were a nice touch.

Overall, the food at Universal Studios Japan was a bit hit-or-miss. I’m sure there are better options around the park, and it’s quite possible I just chose the wrong things. That said, aside from the food, Universal Studios is a lot of fun. I really enjoyed Super Nintendo World and, in particular, Harry Potter World. It was a shame the Flying Dinosaur roller coaster was out of action that day, as that was the ride I was most looking forward to. Worth getting the fast pass if you can afford it. It seems a lot when you pay for it but when you are there so really get to enjoy it.

Website: Universal Studios Japan

Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031