10 most outrageous eats at California theme parks

Theme parks and over-the-top food go together like roller coasters and funnel cakes — as long as you make sure you hop on the stomach-churning rides before diving into the wild, wacky and tasty treats.

Yelp has compiled the 10 most outrageous theme park eats in the U.S. based on top ratings received from users.

The Yelp list includes theme parks in Tennessee (Dollywood), Missouri (Silver Dollar City), Ohio (Cedar Point), Pennsylvania (Hersheypark) and Florida (Disney and Universal).

But you don’t have to trek all over the country to get your fill. It turns out most of the items on the Yelp list are available right here in California.

Join us as we take a culinary journey across the state in this roundup of the 10 most outrageous theme park eats in California.

Yelpers helped with reviews of their favorite zany, kooky and indulgent theme park foods and drinks.

1) Butterbeer

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Citywalk Hollywood

The secret recipe sweet drink with a foam top served cold, hot or frozen tastes like shortbread backed by notes of vanilla and butterscotch.

Universal’s culinary wizards have added the butterbeer flavor to potted cream, ice cream and fudge.

Yelpers say: “We tried the hot and cold Butterbeer as well as the Butterbeer Ice Cream. The Hot Butterbeer was my favorite. It was like a warm hug. It had a caramel butterscotch flavor and I loved the cream on top.” — Yelp Elite Hui L.

Also available at Universal Orlando in Florida.

2) Pickle Dog

Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs

Downtown Disney at the Disneyland resort

This deep fried meal on a stick has a cornmeal batter outer layer that surrounds a jumbo dill pickle stuffed with an all-beef hot dog. You can order peanut butter dipping sauce on the side.

Disney parks have sold more than 200,000 Pickle Dogs since the viral snack food was created in 2021 as a promo for National Corn Dog Day, according to Yelp.

Yelpers say: “I love the Pickle Dog. It’s massive and worth eating if you’re a pickle fan. The crispy outside is such a good crunch to go along with the soft inside. You wouldn’t think that it would go well with the peanut butter, but somehow it does.” — Elvia M.

Also available at Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Disney’s BoardWalk in Florida.

3) Mickey Pretzel

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Pretzel Carts

The soft and fluffy Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzel served warm and dusted with coarse salt can be ordered with cheese sauce for dipping.

Disneyland sells more than a million Mickey pretzels every year, according to Yelp.

Yelpers say: “I needed my favorite snack: the Mickey Pretzel, of course. A must-stop for me is at the Refreshment Corner in Disneyland for a hot, salted pretzel and a bubbly, cold drink. Grab a couple packs of mustard and I’m good. It’s my regular stop and my go-to for my favorite pretzel.” – Yelp Elite Lorri D.

Also available at all Disney parks.

4) CrazyShakes

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes

Downtown Disney

The eye-popping desserts overflowing with toppings, candy bars and baked goods are designed to be fun to eat, share and photograph.

Black Tap offers a wide selection of the showstopping treats with names like Bam Bam, Brooklyn Blackout and Cakeshake.

The flavor profiles are always changing with the latest addition — the Cotton Candy CrazyShake — celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary.

Yelpers say: “The shakes look amazing. They are clearly made for Instagram. We tried the Brooklyn Blackout which comes with a chocolatey ice cream base, an enormous brownie, a ton of whipped cream and chocolate chips. Honestly, it’s much more of a sundae than a shake.” – Craig W.

Yelp also recommends the King Size Shakes at the Simply Chocolate dessert stand at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.

5) Fun Bun

Knott’s Berry Farm

The Fun Bun has been a Knott’s Boysenberry Festival staple since 2015 when it debuted as the Deep Fried Cinnamon Bun.

Knott’s chefs dipped a cinnamon roll in funnel cake batter, dropped it in the deep fryer and then doused it with boysenberry and dusted with powdered sugar.

The viral food took off when it was renamed the Fun Bun — a shortened combination of the words “funnel” and “cinnamon bun.”

Now you’ll occasionally find it outside the boysenberry festival season as a Maple Fun Bun with Pecans during Knott’s Merry Farm or Super Fun Bun during Knott’s Summer Nights.

ALSO SEE: 70 new menu items coming to Knott’s Summer Nights

The Fun Bun can usually be found at Sutter’s Funnel Cake, Log Ride Funnel Cake and Ghost Town Grub when it’s available.

Yelpers say: “The Fun Bun is basically a deep-fried cinnamon bun covered with boysenberry sauce and powdered sugar. The end-result? A deep fried exterior with a gooey cinnamon-y interior and boysenberry sauce to complement it all. It’s just a darned-good thing that cannot and should not be missed.” – Jeremy L.

Yelp also recommends the 25-pound Apple Pie at the Spotlight Bakery at Dollywood in Tennessee.

6) Strawberry Shortcake Sundae Funnel Cake

Funnel Cake Factory

Six Flags Magic Mountain

A dinner plate-sized wheel of sweet, crispy fried dough serves as the base of this over-the-top dessert with a mountain of strawberry topping, graham cracker pie crust, caramel, whipped topping, powdered sugar and vanilla soft serve ice cream.

The whole thing packs a 1,750-calorie punch, according to Yelp.

Yelpers say: “So good. The funnel cake was perfectly crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside and was the perfect combo with the ice cream and strawberries.” — Yelp Elite Stephanie B.

7) Tater Twists

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

The deep fried spiral-cut potato on a stick is a culinary marvel.

The Tater Twist turns a humble potato into a corkscrew-shaped oddity that tastes like a cross between a potato chip and skillet-fried home fry. You can add seasonings at the flavor station.

Yelpers say: “A must have snack for us when we go to the boardwalk. Tater Twists are a deep fried, delicious and crispy delight. They remind me of fresh, thick cut potato chips. I love the flavor station where you can add various powdered seasonings and of course, hot sauce.” — Yelp Elite Alissa M.

Yelp also recommends the Tater Twist and Tater Dog at Silver Dollar City in Missouri.

8) Jumbo Smoked Turkey Leg

Turkey Leg Carts

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

The Turkey Legs sold at Disneyland are sourced, cured and pre-smoked by a company in Texas and then smoked in hickory for six more hours at the park, according to Yelp.

The “comically enormous drumsticks fit for a fairy tale giant” are so big that Disney periodically debunks false rumors they are actually emu or ostrich legs, according to Yelp.

Disneyland offers a ghost pepper variation of the Turkey Legs during the Halloween season.

Disney has sold Turkey Leg t-shirts, collectible pins and air fresheners to satisfy the cult following, according to Yelp.

Yelpers say: “My son is a big Disney Turkey Leg fan. I usually think I should bring a plastic baggie or a container for the leftovers, but there are never any leftovers. He demolishes the entire thing because he just loves it so much. — Yelp Elite Evelyn B.

Also available at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks in Florida.

9) Cheddar Cheese Stick

Corn Dog Castle

Disney California Adventure

The gooey cheese-on-a-stick looks like a corn dog but tastes like a grilled cheese sandwich.

The cheddar cheese stick is dipped in corn batter and deep fried until its golden brown on the outside and melted goodness on the inside.

Yelpers say: “If you’re a fan of grilled cheese, then get the Cheese-on-a-Stick. Incredible. Hot, gooey cheese surrounded by a light cornbread batter. Worth every calorie” —Danielle R.

Yelp also recommends Cheese-on-a-Stick at Cedar Point in Ohio.

10) Big Pink Donut

Lard Lad Donuts

Universal Studios Hollywood

Your Homer-sized sweet tooth can be satisfied in the Simpsons themed land of Springfield U.S.A. at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal chefs bake the massive donuts daily with cotton candy-colored frosting and rainbow sprinkles, according to Yelp.

It’s big enough to share but also comes in a takeout box in case you have leftovers.

Yelpers say: “This donut is huge. Don’t let the size fool you — there was no drop-off in taste. The donut tasted freshly baked with a crispy outside that contained a light and fluffy inside with the appropriate amount of sweetness.” — Jerry G.

Also available at Universal Orlando in Florida.