Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice Sets Opening Date at Universal CityWalk Orlando
Joey Fatone’s Fat One’s Universal CityWalk Orlando opening details are here, plus what to know about Five Guys arriving at CityWalk soon. Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice will officially open at Universal CityWalk Orlando on Saturday, Sept. 19, with founder and *NSYNC member Joey Fatone welcoming its first guests. The former *NSYNC star has been teasing the arrival for weeks, and after months of construction walls and Instagram breadcrumbs, CityWalk guests finally have a date to circle on the calendar.
From Food Truck to CityWalk Storefront
Fat One’s is the brainchild of Joey Fatone and his longtime manager, Joe Mulvihill. The concept started small, first as a brick-and-mortar stand at The Florida Mall in 2016, then as a Central Florida food truck beginning in 2018. Fatone, a New York native who moved to the Orlando area as a teenager and attended Dr. Phillips High School, actually got his start as a performer at Universal Studios Florida long before *NSYNC made him a household name, which makes the CityWalk location something of a homecoming.
Universal Orlando Resort first announced the concept back in May, confirming that Fat One’s would take over the longtime home of Hot Dog Hall of Fame, which closed in July after operating at CityWalk since 2014. The new restaurant is described as serving “creative, flavor-packed hot dogs, Italian ices, and more.”
What Took So Long?
Fatone gave fans a real-time countdown on Instagram in early September, sharing construction photos of the space with its new red, white, and black star graphics and signage already installed. In the comments, Fatone said the opening “definitely is this month,” that his team was finalizing the date, and that he expected the grand opening to land on a weekend, with a formal announcement coming soon. That announcement is now here: the date is September 19.
What’s on the Fat One’s Universal CityWalk Menu?
Universal Orlando Resort hasn’t released a full menu yet. However, if the food truck version is any indication, expect gourmet hot dogs loaded with toppings like pulled pork, bacon jam, and beer cheese, plus a classic build-your-own dog with ketchup, mustard, onions, and relish. Every dog reportedly comes with a side of Fat One’s “Brooklyn Flats,” described as something between a thick-cut chip and a waffle fry. Of course, there’s the Italian ice the name promises. It’s already the most requested menu item among fans commenting on the restaurant’s social pages, and it will be a welcome bit of relief for anyone walking CityWalk in the Florida heat.
Five Guys Is Still Coming, Too
Fat One’s isn’t the only new bite headed to Universal CityWalk Orlando. Back in April, Universal announced that Five Guys is on its way to CityWalk, taking over the second-floor space long occupied by the Burger King Whopper Bar, which closed for good on April 21 after opening as the world’s first Whopper Bar location back in 2009. The burger chain was originally billed for a “later this summer” debut alongside the returning Universal Legacy Store, which reopened April 24.
Summer is almost over without a Five Guys grand opening, but signage and buildout at the location suggest the wait is nearly over. An official date hasn’t been confirmed as of this writing, so consider this your heads up that the mountain of fries is coming soon.
The Bigger Universal CityWalk Orlando Picture
Fat One’s and Five Guys are just two pieces of a larger refresh happening at CityWalk this year. Along with the returning Legacy Store, Universal has also confirmed Luke Combs’ Category 10 entertainment venue for the district, expected to open in 2027. Between the celebrity-owned hot dog stand, a beloved burger chain, and a country music mega-star’s live venue, CityWalk’s dining and entertainment lineup is looking noticeably different from what it did a year ago.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News. As always, eat like you mean it!
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