Monstropolis, the land based on Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., is set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2027. Along with new attractions and themed streets, the land will include two restaurants pulled straight from the films.
Disney’s culinary and beverage teams are developing menus for Harryhausen’s and Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, and they have shared early details on the dishes and drinks under consideration. This article covers both restaurants, the menu items in development, and the thinking behind the food.
The Challenge of Cooking for Monsters
View this post on Instagram
Building menus for a city of monsters raised some unusual questions. The team had to create food that feels authentic to the world of Monstropolis while still appealing to human guests. That led to questions the chefs had never faced before. Do monsters slurp? Do they chew? Is there such a thing as too many eyeballs on one plate?
Two of the people leading this work are Chef Brian Piasecki, Director of Culinary and Concept Development, and Evan Rosenthal, Beverage Director. Both have described a process built on collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering and close study of Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University.
“There were so many moments where we asked, ‘Is this too much?'” Rosenthal said. “And sometimes we’d hear back, ‘No. Can we take it further? Can we make it brighter, bolder, and more interesting?’ Those are the moments of true collaboration.”
What “Grossly Fun” Food Means
The culinary team describes its approach as “grossly fun” food. The idea is to start with dishes guests already know and enjoy, then add playful twists that make sense in a monster’s world.
“Monstropolis is full of fun, adventure, zaniness, and craziness,” Piasecki said. “We’re taking familiar dishes and adding unexpected twists that feel authentic to this world.”
This balance matters for a land that will draw families with young children as well as adult fans of the films. The flavors stay approachable, and the presentation provides the surprise.
Harryhausen’s: Table-Service Dining With an Eight-Tentacled Chef
Fans of Monsters, Inc. will recognize Harryhausen’s as the upscale sushi restaurant from the film. At Hollywood Studios, it will operate as a table-service restaurant. Imagineers are recreating the space as it appeared on screen.
The centerpiece of the dining room will be the restaurant’s head sushi chef. He is a new Audio-Animatronic figure who uses eight tentacles to prepare food in the middle of the space. Guests will be able to watch him work during their meal.
Although sushi is part of the plan, the menu will include more than sushi. Rosenthal explained that the goal is to keep the restaurant’s identity as a place for a night out while making sure it works for every guest at the table.
“In a place like Harryhausen’s, it’s the swanky place that you go for a night out, but we want it to be fun for guests of all ages,” he said. The team wants dishes that appeal to both younger and older diners and that give guests a reason to return because the food is “delicious and entertaining.”
Ramen Bowls With a Monster Twist
Ramen bowls are among the dishes being explored for Harryhausen’s. They draw on traditional Japanese flavors and use classic components, including:
- Rich tonkotsu broth
- Alkaline ramen noodles
- Fishcake sliced to resemble eyeballs
- Green eggs
The broth and noodles keep the dish grounded in a style many guests already enjoy. The eyeball fishcake and green eggs supply the monster-inspired details. Menu items are still in development, so the final versions may change before opening.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza: A Monsters University Hangout
Down the street from Harryhausen’s, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza takes inspiration from Monsters University. This quick-service restaurant is designed to feel like the neighborhood pizza shop where generations of monster students gathered after class.
Rosenthal said nostalgia guided the menu planning. “When ideating the menu, we kept those thoughts of nostalgia in the front of our minds, remembering what we loved from our neighborhood pizza shops as kids, and finding a way to add those elements of fun unexpectedness,” he said. “At its core, it still feels like the pizza shop that you want to go back to time after time.”
The two restaurants serve different purposes. Harryhausen’s represents an evening out on the town in Monstropolis. Archie’s reflects the casual, everyday side of monster life.
Blort Makes Its Real-World Debut
One of the more anticipated items is Blort, a popular soft drink in the world of Monstropolis that first appeared in Monsters University. Because no human has ever tasted it, the beverage team had freedom to decide what it should be.
The current concept is a purple frozen take on the soda, topped with Scream Apple Foam. Blort will be served at Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza. Like the food items, the drink is still being developed, so details could shift as opening day approaches.
Conclusion
Monstropolis will bring two distinct dining options to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2027. Harryhausen’s offers a table-service meal with an Audio-Animatronic sushi chef and ramen bowls featuring eyeball fishcake and green eggs. Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza serves as a casual hangout inspired by Monsters University, complete with the first real version of Blort.
The menus are still being refined, so expect more details as the opening gets closer. For now, these early looks give fans a good idea of how the land will blend familiar flavors with the humor of the films.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
