Are you trying to figure out if the Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror is worth a visit this year?
Rest assured, you’re in for a frightfully good treat!
Halloween Horror Nights has become an annual tradition for horror enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.
This highly anticipated event, known for its spine-chilling attractions and terrifying mazes, draws crowds from all over the world.
And now, there’s something new to sink your teeth into at Halloween Horror Nights: the Taste of Terror!
I recently had the opportunity to personally partake in this thrilling new addition to the frightful lineup of HHN 32.
I’m super excited to give you all the details about the Taste of Terror and what you can expect!
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What is the Taste of Terror at Halloween Horror Nights?
New this year is the Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror!
This exciting addition gives you a sneak peek of the delectable treats that will be available during this year’s event.
Taste of Terror Dates
The Taste of Terror will take place on select nights from August 10 through August 26 of 2023.
Since the announcement both the dates and prices have changed which I will go into further details in my review later.
Dates of HHN Taste of Terror 2023 are August:
- 10th
- 12th
- 13th
- 18th
- 19th
- 25th
- 26th
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What time does the Taste of Terror event start?
On the select dates listed above, you can arrive for check-in at 6 p.m. with the actual event lasting from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
When I attended I was able to get in about 10 minutes earlier which was great for me (being a solo traveler) to find a good seat.
How much is the Taste of Terror?
The cost for Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror is $135.99 a change from the previous price of $160.
This price includes:
- Enjoy an exclusive – before event start – all you care to eat preview of select food & beverage items that will be featured at Halloween Horror Nights 2023
- All Non-Alcoholic beverages included
- Alcohol beverages included via a hosted bar (you must be 21+ with valid photo ID to drink)
- Souvenir Halloween Horror Nights light-up cup (21+ Only)
- Halloween Horror Nights Coca-Cola Freestyle cup (separate fee applies to activate)
- One (1) digital download of a photo taken at the Taste of Terror
Can you purchase tickets to the HHN Taste of Terror at Universal Studios?
During my visit there was still an opportunity for daytime park guests to purchase a ticket for that evening’s event if they happened to be in the park on the day of the event.
I also heard Team Members inform guests who were not drinking alcohol of a cheaper price for the event.
All they had to do was go to Guest Services to be refunded the original amount for the event.
They would then be charged for the new, cheaper price after the refund was already given.
There was also an option for Passholders to receive a discount on this event as well.
Please note that these options may change as it’s not something that’s noted on the website.
For more information and to purchase tickets to Taste of Terror, click here.
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What to Expect at the Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror
After you check-in near the New York skyline area past Jimmy Fallon’s ride, you’ll receive a refreshing bottle of water as you wait for the event to start.
Once you enter you’ll be welcomed to the many food stations that are themed to the frightening Halloween Horror Nights houses and scare zones along with a mixture of tables, booths and lounge areas to relax and enjoy your food and drinks.
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Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror Menu Items
Now that you know what to expect at this Universal Orlando event, let’s go over the complete menu for the 2023 HHN Taste of Terror!
Savory Dishes
- Surfer Boy French Bread Pizza: French bread style pizza with crispy Spam, pineapple chutney, jalapeno, scallions and mozzarella. Vegan option available.
- Peanut Blooder Smash Burger: Smash Burger with a peanut sauce, raspberry jelly, cheddar cheese, shaved onions, jalapeno bacon and cherry peppers on a vampire bun.
- Fried ’til The End Chicken: This comes with fried popcorn chicken tossed in Nashville sauce, drizzled with ranch, topped with scallions and chili threads.
- Bloody Campground Poutine: Crispy fries topped with Asian Inspired gravy, char sui roasted pork, cheese curds, scallions, and crispy chilis.
- Vegan Walking Taco: Fritos Chips topped with vegan chorizo, shredded mozzarella, roasted corn salsa, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce and cilantro.
- Left Behind Ravioli: Mini cheese ravioli with marinara, truffle cream and tempura fried emoki mushrooms.
- Burnt Ends Poutine: Crispy fries topped with beefless burnt ends gravy, vegan cheese and scallions.
- Mutilated Pork Loin: Slow smoked applewood bacon wrapped pork loin, roasted root hash with fig and pear and red wine demi with assorted rolls.
- Fall Harvest Salad: Arugula, frisee, roasted sheet potato, roasted corn. golden apple, heirloom cherry tomatoes, candied walnuts, toasted pumpkin seeds with apple pumpkin vinaigrette
2023 HHN Dessert
- Pumpkin Dulce De Leche Puff: This sweet treat comes with pumpkin and dulce de leche filled puff topped with whipped ganache, pumpkin seeds and gold accents.
- Hellfire Mini Cake: Layered chocolate cake, with a mango cayenne filling, topped with a chocolate guitar.
- Lost Explorer Coconut Cupcake: Vanilla cupcake with a coconut filling and graham cracker dirt.
- Chicharróns De Harina: Fried flour crisps, seasoned with cinnamon sugar.
- Graveyard Mini Cake: Layered Oreo cake with double chocolate cream cheese filling topped with a chocolate tombstone.
- Trick-Or-Treat Bucket: Chocolate creme brulee topped with peanut butter buttercream, caramel popcorn, candy corn M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces and licorice strip.
- Bloody Snowball: chocolate cake with marshmallow buttercream and desiccated coconut.
2023 Halloween Horror Nights Specialty Cocktails
- Surfer Boy Tropical Dream Punch: Cruzan rum, orange, pineapple, lime, passionfruit, and grapefruit juice with vanilla bean.
- Salt Lake City Iced Coffee: Brewed coffee, JF Haden’s Espresso Liqueur, Cruzan light rum, vanilla bean, smoked sea salt and hella smoked bitters.
- Tinseltown Torment: Old Forester Bourbon and cherry brandy with orange and cranberry juices complete with chocolate and cherry syrups and orange bitters.
- Ghoul Juice: Myers’s Dark Rum, Cherry Brandy, Simple Syrup, Mango Nectar, Lime Juice, Dale Degroff’s Pimento Bitters and Peychaud ‘s Bitters.
- Electric Death: New Amsterdam Gin, blue curaçao, lime juice, vanilla bean, simple syrup, pineapple juice and Dale Degroff’s Pimento Bitters.
Watch: New to Halloween Horror Nights? Don’t Go Without Knowing These 15 Tips!
My Review and Experience at HHN Taste of Terror
As mentioned earlier, from the first announcement of this event both the dates and cost changed.
I was originally scheduled to go on August 11, 2023; however, the event was canceled at the last minute and I didn’t know it until I got there.
I was extremely disappointed but the Universal Orlando Team Members quickly apologized and did a wonderful job at correcting the situation.
Although I was sad to miss that Friday night event, I was able to have a free dinner on Universal at the new Minion Cafe and front of the line access to the new Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast ride.
I was also able to rebook my Taste of Terror experience for that upcoming Sunday. So shout out to Todd and his team for taking such good care of me!
Vibe of Taste of Terror
When I entered the soundstage for this event, I was immediately hooked by the spooky, yet hipster vibe of the setup.
I love the mixture of seating areas that included classic mall booths, chairs themed to a gothic garden, cult-like tables and the luxurious yet ghastly lounge areas which were my favorites.
What I Liked the Most at Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror
The selection of food that was offered was one of the things that I liked the most.
I felt like there was a good variety of new options that gave me a good idea of what to expect at HHN this year.
There was also an assortment of drinks available that complemented the dishes in many of the food booths.
I’m also a fan of how the food was themed around certain houses of the event. A little detail that I know you will enjoy too.
Let’s not forget how much I also loooooved the naming of each food item this year. It was unique, fun and very Halloween 🙂
7 Best Food and Drinks at HHN Taste of Terror
Below are the best things I ate at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights dining experience:
1. Peanut Blooder Smash Burger
I’ve been in a peanut butter mood lately so I truly enjoyed the Smash Burger with its peanut sauce, raspberry jelly, cheddar cheese, shaved onions, jalapeno bacon and cherry peppers on a vampire bun.
It was sweet, savory and juicy!
Plus, the red and black bun makes it feel like such a Halloween Horror Nights statement dish.
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2. Tinseltown Torment
The Tinseltown Torment came with Old Forester Bourbon and cherry brandy with orange and cranberry juices complete with chocolate and cherry syrups and orange bitters.
It tasted like a deliciously twisted blend of sweet and tangy flavors, with a hint of darkness lurking beneath the surface.
If you’re a fan of bold, daring concoctions, this cocktail is sure to send shivers down your spine in the most satisfying way.
But fear not, there are plenty of other tantalizing treats to sink your teeth into at Halloween Horror Nights.
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3. Vegan Walking Taco
The Vegan Walking Taco had Fritos Chips topped with vegan chorizo, shredded mozzarella, roasted corn salsa, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce and cilantro.
It’s as if I was taking a mouthwatering journey through a haunted forest of flavors with the vegan chorizo sweet roasted corn salsa!
Not only was it terrifyingly delicious, but was also a great option for those at the event who follow a plant-based diet.
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4. Graveyard Mini Cake
The Graveyard Mini Cake was one of my highlights of the night.
It came as a layered Oreo cake with double chocolate cream cheese filling topped with a chocolate tombstone.
The Graveyard Mini Cake was richly decadent with a soft crunch on the outside to complement the moist surprise inside.
It was a great way for me to end my evening dinner at Taste of Horror.
5. Fried ’til The End Chicken
You’re definitely going to love this dish if you want something on the go that’s not too messy.
Fried ‘til The End Chicken comes with fried popcorn chicken tossed in Nashville sauce, drizzled with ranch, topped with scallions and chili threads.
It’s sooo good and one of the top winners of the night.
Just make sure you get it warm so that you can get the full experience of it.
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6. Electric Death
The Electric Death name is so accurate for this drink. It’s intoxicating, mystifying and strong!
You will only need one of these to give you courage to go through the houses at Halloween Horror Nights.
It comes with New Amsterdam Gin, blue curaçao, lime juice, vanilla bean, simple syrup, pineapple juice and Dale Degroff’s Pimento Bitters.
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7. Fall Harvest Salad
Believe it or not, the Fall Harvest Salad was my favorite dish of the night.
Mainly because it was a super hot Florida day and it was nice to have a refreshing salad that was not too heavy.
It came with Arugula, frisee, roasted sheet potato, roasted corn, golden apple, heirloom cherry tomatoes, candied walnuts, toasted pumpkin seeds with apple pumpkin vinaigrette.
The winner of this dish was the Apple Pumpkin Vinaigrette which made the salad amazing!!!
This dressing was carefully prepared and made with love by the Universal Chef who was serving it.
Unfortunately this is only available for the Taste of Horror event and will not be available for HHN 32.
Enjoying the Atmosphere of Taste of Terror
Now that you know my thoughts on the Halloween Horror Nights food, let’s go through more of my review for this event.
I liked that there was a house represented at each booth for the event.
I also loved the spooky lounge feel. It was as if we were going down a dark adventure filled with fun, friends, food, and drinks!
It felt like Universal gave us enough time to try everything and the Team Members were incredible!
Everyone from check-in, to the chefs, to the servers all made me feel welcomed and at home (even if it was a spooky home).
I also felt like the Team Member cared that I was there and that they wanted to make sure that I (and everyone else) had a great experience.
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What I Liked the Least at Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror 2023
One of the main things that was lacking was some type of live entertainment.
It could’ve been something like a live band playing tunes.
Also, it would’ve been nice if there was an HHN Team Member there to officially kick off the event in order to get us all hyped about the upcoming season.
I say this because once I was filled with food, I was a bit bored. I could see others getting bored too as the music made us a bit sleepy.
Improvements I’d Like to See for Future HHN Taste of Terror Events
In order for this to be a premier extra for the Halloween Horror Nights season, I would recommend adding features like:
- Live music and/or entertainment
- Interactions with the famous HHN Icons
- A sneak preview of one of the Halloween Horror Nights houses for the upcoming year
- Photo opportunity with scareactors
Adding things like the ones I’ve mentioned in addition to the great food, drinks and atmosphere that we already get with Taste of Terror, would make this a top-notch experience for the Halloween season.
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Is Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror Worth it?
At this point, I think it’s only worth it for a true, die-hard fans of HHN.
That’s who I primarily saw at the event as we’re the ones always looking for more things to do when it comes to Halloween Horror Nights.
My Overall Rating of Taste of Terror
- Food: 8
- Cocktails: 8
- Ambiance: 9
- Customer Service: 10
- Price: 7
I give this HHN dining experience a 8.4 out of 10 on the ThemeParkHipster dining scale and I hope you enjoy it too!
If some of the experiences are added like the ones I mentioned above, then I think it would make this event worth the money.
It would also be something I would love to visit each year before the HHN season opens.
Whether you’re a fan of classic horror films or simply enjoy getting your adrenaline pumping, Halloween Horror Nights offers an unforgettable experience that will leave you screaming for more.
So grab your friends, prepare to be scared, and get ready to indulge in both fear and food at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights!
Now, let me know if you think that Taste of Terror is overpriced? Sound off in the comments section below.
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
This event looks like a lot of fun! As someone that likes to observe the houses from afar this gives me an opportunity to feel like I’m a part of the experience without all the scary stuff. That menu also looks amazing.
Hi Tiffany!
I’m the same way. This event gives you a way to enjoy HHN without all of the scares.