REVIEW: Shaved Ice, Creamy Grape Juice, Alcapurrias, and More Debut at the Puerto Rico Booth for Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023

Katie Francis

REVIEW: Shaved Ice, Creamy Grape Juice, Alcapurrias, and More Debut at the Puerto Rico Booth for Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023

Just outside the French Quarter at Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 is the Puerto Rico booth.

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Menu for Puerto Rico at Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023

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Food:

  • 🆕 Mofongo Trio – $9.99
  • 🆕 Alcapurrias – $9.99
  • 🆕 Vegan Alcapurrias – $9.99

Beverages:

  • Classic Piña Colada – $12 for 12 oz. single serve, $13.50 for 12 oz. souvenir cup, or $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup
  • 🆕 Piragua de Crema – $4.99
  • 🆕 Piragua de Coco – $4.99
  • 🆕 Piragua de Frambuesa – $4.99
  • 🆕 Piragua de Tamarindo – $4.99
  • 🆕 Ponche – $7.50

Photos of Menu Items for Puerto Rico at Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023

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*NEW* Mofongo Trio – $9.99

a mix of smashed plantains, bacon, chicharrónes with shrimp criolla, crispy chicken thigh, and mayo ketchup

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The Mofongo trio has a smashed plantain base with bacon and chicharrones. There are three varieties.

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The Mofongo in the center is standard with no additions and, as such, has to stand on its own. The plantains were dry and chalky, like leftover mashed potatoes. They had a good flavor, but the texture was hard to get past.

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Unfortunately, the other two aren’t any better. The shrimp is fishy, and the chicken is bad.

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We do not recommend this dish.

*NEW* Alcapurrias – $9.99

crispy green banana and yautia masa, filled with picadillo beef, served with mayo ketchup

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Instead, opt for the alcapurrias. These were nice and doughy, with just enough flavoring in the meat.

UOR USF 2023 Mardi Gras Puerto Rico alcapurrias

The tomato paired well with the mayo ketchup dip for a fantastic dish.

*NEW* Vegan Alcapurrias – $9.99

crispy green banana and yautia masa served with mayo ketchup

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This is the same dish without the meat. It’s good and makes for a good vegan option, but it feels lacking after trying the beef.

Classic Pi̱a Colada Р$12 for 12 oz. single serve, $13.50 for 12 oz. souvenir cup, or $16.50 for 20 oz. souvenir cup

Cruzan light rum, Coco Real cream of coconut, with lime and pineapple juice

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While this is a standard piña colada, it’s not frozen and wasn’t a favorite of ours. You get the tropical juices up front, very pineapple-forward.

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It’s not well balanced and comes off too tart. We won’t get this again.

*NEW* Piragua de Crema – $4.99

shaved ice with vanilla cream flavor

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The piraguas are refreshing for a warm day, but the crema has a very chemical taste on the back end.

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It’s off putting, and we recommend trying a different flavor.

*NEW* Piragua de Coco – $4.99

shaved ice with coconut flavor

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The coconut is too subtle in this, so you’re just drinking shaved ice.

*NEW* Piragua de Frambuesa – $4.99

shaved ice with raspberry flavor

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This one was similarly flavorless.

*NEW* Piragua de Tamarindo – $4.99

shaved ice with tamarind flavor

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If you want to get a piragua, try the tamarind. It has a strong and interesting flavor profile.

*NEW* Ponche (non-alcoholic) – $7.50

non-alcoholic Welch’s® grape juice mixed with sweetened condensed milk and blackberry extract

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 This was our favorite drink here. It’s heavy for a beverage but tastes like a grape version of a creamsicle.

Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs from February 4 through April 16.

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