Is themed food, or, more specifically, video game-themed food a tacky over-priced con? I used to think that, until the food also became my highlight at Super Nintendo World during my visit to Japan.
I mean, you are basically forking out for fast food with a licence slapped on. Even so, there was a particular magic to eating at Kinopio’s Cafe (or the Toadstool Cafe as it’s called in the Hollywood version), which was every bit as themed with decorations and displays as the park’s rides. And the waiting times were just as long, if, like me, you decided to go during the lunchtime rush.
Hilariously, I’d have to say my chosen main dish was pretty plain, a hamburger steak topped with an egg gratin, and a green mashed potato in the shape of a tree with a Super Star-shaped cookie on top. That was the winter special at the time. But it was the extras that made it for me, in particular having mushroom soup served from a Super Mushroom-shaped bowl!
Shared pics of Kinopio’s cafe before but let’s look at the food again: had a hamburger steak from their winter menu special, a delicious cake designed like a goal post, and best of all mushroom soup served from a Super Mushroom bowl pic.twitter.com/I3wgJBl6aw
— Alan Wen (@DaMisanthrope) November 21, 2022
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Then of course there’s dessert, and while I could have gone for Princess Peach’s Cake based on the one she famously bakes for Mario in his N64 outing (sadly Super Nintendo World Hollywood is only getting a cupcake), I opted for the Goal Pole Cake, almost resembling the park’s own Mt. Beanpole, except the different layers of the hill’s stratified soil are different layers of flavours, including vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.