Next year, the gates of Monstropolis from Disney and Pixar's Monsters, Inc. will swing open at Disney's Hollywood Studios — and for the first time ever, humans are invited in. Guests of all ages will get to explore a bustling monster metropolis packed with laughs, adventures, and some seriously monstrously delicious food.

Before anyone can dig in, though, Disney's culinary and beverage teams had an unusual challenge on their hands: crafting menus that feel authentically monster while still being appetizing to us humans. Their approach? Taking characters, locations, and even the tiniest details from the films and transforming them into experiences guests can see, smell, and taste.

Disney recently sat down with Chef Brian Piasecki, Director of Culinary and Concept Development, and Evan Rosenthal, Beverage Director, for a sneak-shriek at how the flavors of Monstropolis are coming to life.

Grossly Fun Food for Humans and Monsters Alike

Developing menus fit for a monster — but still enjoyable for guests — led the culinary team to ask questions they never imagined they'd need to answer: Do they slurp? Do they chew? Is this too many eyeballs?

"There were so many moments where we asked, 'Is this too much?' 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." — Evan Rosenthal, Beverage Director

"Monstropolis is full of fun, adventure, zaniness, and craziness. We're taking familiar dishes and adding unexpected twists that feel authentic to this world." — Chef Brian Piasecki, Director of Culinary and Concept Development

The result is what the team affectionately calls "grossly fun" food: familiar flavors reimagined with playful, monster-inspired twists.

Two New Restaurants Coming to Monstropolis

Two new-to-human dining destinations will welcome guests into Monstropolis, each offering a completely different side of monster life.

Harryhausen's

Fans of the original film will recognize Harryhausen's — and Imagineers are building it just as you saw it on screen. The centerpiece of this table-service restaurant is a brand-new Audio-Animatronic figure: the head sushi chef, who guests will find using eight talented tentacles to prep food right in the center of the dining space. The menu goes beyond sushi, offering a vibrant dining experience that feels like it's straight out of the movie.

"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. Making sure that the menu appeals to younger guests, to older guests, and then challenging ourselves and taking things that we love and saying, is there something we can add that gets people talking about it and gets them to come back because it's delicious and entertaining." — Evan Rosenthal

Some of the menu items being explored at Harryhausen's include ramen bowls inspired by traditional Japanese flavors but served with monster-sized personality. Think rich tonkotsu broth and alkaline ramen noodles alongside playful, monster-y touches like fishcake sliced to look like eyeballs and green eggs.

Archie's Scare Pig Pizza

Just down the street, Archie's Scare Pig Pizza brings a completely different vibe. Inspired by Monsters University, this quick-service spot is designed to feel like the beloved pizza hangout where generations of monster college students gathered after class.

"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. At its core, it still feels like the pizza shop that you want to go back to time after time." — Evan Rosenthal

Archie's will also be home to a real-world debut that fans of Monsters University will be excited about. Blort — one of the most popular soft drinks in all of Monstropolis — has never been seen or tasted by a human, giving Disney's beverage team the chance to dream big. The result? Perhaps a purple frozen spin on Monstropolis' favorite soda, topped with a Scream Apple Foam that's so tasty, it's scary.

All Eyes on Monstropolis Dining

Together, Harryhausen's and Archie's Scare Pig Pizza offer two distinct ways to experience everyday life in Monstropolis — from a lively night out on the town to a favorite student hangout straight out of Monsters University.

Throughout the creative process, the culinary team worked closely with Walt Disney Imagineering, studying the rich storytelling of both Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University to develop menus guests of all ages will love.

"The best part of our job is that with every project and every story, we get to see it through a new lens and then add things to it that feel uniquely Disney and can't be replicated anywhere else. Whether that's with one eyeball or dozens of them." — Evan Rosenthal

And if you're wondering whether there can ever be too many eyeballs on the menu — the team already has the answer: you can never have enough eyeballs in Monstropolis.

At its heart, this new land is all about storytelling. Every dish and dining experience is thoughtfully designed to help fans and families step through the screen and into the beloved world of Monsters, Inc. in a way like never before.