To my complete surprise, Springfield at Universal Studios Hollywood was a pleasant culinary surprise. As a huge fan of the Simpsons, I knew that I would have a blast seeing the Simpsons world come alive and relive all my favorite show references. But the newly opened downtown Springfield area would be a fun destination for even less enthusiastic fans of the Simpsons family. If any of them exist out there, that is.
Sure, riding on Krusty’s for a fun 4 D thrill is a must, playing a carnival game to win a mini sized Simpsons character is always fun and a photo opp with the family or Krusty himself warrants a “cowabunga” BUT the food was a highlight for me.
To begin, my advice is go hungry and thirsty. Seeing the popular TV series come to life is really cool so I began my visit with a walk into Moe’s tavern. Adults can order their favorite Duff Beer at the tavern, head over to Duff’s brewery or chill in the beer garden. The Duff beer is locally brewed exclusively for Universal Studios. My tips would be to try to The Flaming Moe Drink (non-alcoholic) and test out the Love Tester Machine.
Next I headed over to Krusty Burgers. Here I ordered the original Krusty with secret sauce (similar to thousand island). The line was LONG, but it was worth it. Rumor among the crowd was that they were waiting for some more patties. The sandwiches were made to order. Food included an order of cole slaw and fries. They even offer waddle fries! Can’t find a table? Head over to the second level of Krusty’s there are tables and stools. Plus you can watch some fun Simpsons moments featured on the flat screened TVs.
Full yet? Never! On to the next stop – Cletus’ Chicken Shack. Chicken and waffles?? Yes please. Ok my eyes were definitely playing tricks on me. It didn’t look that big, but man was I stuffed. I couldn’t eat the entire sandwich. I suggest sharing for those with a smaller appetites. The fried-chicken breast was juicy, and it was topped with a sweet sauce. The waffles did crumble after a couple of bites, but this was my favorite item from the menu!!
For the brave and hungry? Try the Taco truck?! That’s so LA! The Bumblebee Man’s Tacos is hard to miss!
Hot dogs are another choice. Enjoy a hot dog combo with chips or get a smoothie and cotton candy. The kids thought it was the best hot dog ever. Who am I to argue? Pretzels and churro were also on the menu here.
Seeking Italian food? Look no further then Luigi’s Pizza. Stop by for a hot, fresh slice. Menu offerings included Cheese Pizza, the Meat Hater’s Pizza, and the Meat Liker’s Pizza. This restaurant also offers gluten-free and vegetarian dining options. Pizza and pasta are good, and the slices were massive!
Ice cream. We all scream for ice scream! Phineas Q. Butterfat’s Ice Cream is located across from Lard Lad. Ice Cream Swirl ‘n’ Hurl, Ice Cream Conans, Brain Freezin’ D’oh-Nut Sundaes, and lots more.
Donuts. Oh my! Lard Lad Donuts greets you at the entrance and it looks like the Officer really needed his donut. Try The Big pink, a massive PINK donut with sprinkles for $4.99 (the four of us of shared it) along with a specialists coffee. Beware, you might suffer from a sugar coma. You’ve been warned!
I like that each restaurant has its own building and it’s not a “food court.” Stick around after dark when the neon lights stand out! Perfect for pictures. The restaurants close between 8-9, so make sure you hit up one of these restaurants before you leave for the day.
There are so many great photo opps, food choices and fun in Springfield. This is a must-see for Simpsons’ fans! Make sure to stop by the Quick e mart to choose from a slew of Simpsons’ merchandise to bring to your Simpsons fan friends that couldn’t join you for this trip.
Learn more about Springfield Universal Studios in Hollywood http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/
* We attended a media event for editorial purposes. All opinions are own. Photos copyright Tee Burgess.
