Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice Is Coming to Universal CityWalk Orlando

Universal CityWalk Orlando is getting a celebrity-backed upgrade to its dining lineup. Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice — founded by *NSYNC member Joey Fatone and his manager Joe Mulvihill — is replacing the long-running Hot Dog Hall of Fame, with the new concept expected to open later in 2026. If you’re a CityWalk regular or just love a good hot dog, this one’s worth knowing about.

Here’s what we know so far about fat one’s hot dogs universal citywalk orlando and what it means for your next visit to Universal Orlando Resort.

Quick Summary

• Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is coming to Universal CityWalk Orlando, replacing Hot Dog Hall of Fame
• The concept was founded by *NSYNC member Joey Fatone and his manager Joe Mulvihill
• Menu will feature “creative, flavor-packed hot dogs, Italian ices, and more”
• Hot Dog Hall of Fame is scheduled to close in July 2026 to make way for the new venue
• Hot Dog Hall of Fame originally opened in 2014 as part of CityWalk’s major reimagining
• Full menu details and an opening date have not yet been announced
• CityWalk is undergoing a broader refresh that also includes Five Guys and Luke Combs’ Category 10

Who Is Joey Fatone — and Why Does This Matter?

If you grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, you know exactly who Joey Fatone is. He was one of the five members of *NSYNC — the boy band that sold over 70 million records worldwide and remains one of the best-selling music acts of all time. Fatone has stayed busy since *NSYNC’s heyday, including TV hosting work and stage performances, and he’s a well-known figure in the Orlando area.

Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is his food concept, co-founded with his manager Joe Mulvihill. The name is a nod to Fatone’s own nickname — “Fat One” was a nickname used within *NSYNC — which gives the brand a self-aware, fun personality right from the start. For a CityWalk restaurant, that kind of story and personality matters. It gives guests something to talk about beyond the food itself.

What’s on the Menu?

Universal’s announcement describes Fat One’s as featuring “creative, flavor-packed hot dogs, Italian ices, and more.” That’s about as much detail as we have right now — the full menu hasn’t been released yet. But the promise of creative, flavor-packed hot dogs is a solid foundation for a CityWalk quick-service concept. Here is the menu from the already existing Orlando restaurant.

Italian ice as a counterpart to hot dogs is a classic pairing — especially in the Florida heat. You grab a loaded hot dog, you grab an Italian ice to cool down, and you’ve got a complete stop that works for families, couples, and solo park-goers alike. It’s exactly the kind of thing that fills a gap in CityWalk’s lineup without trying to compete with the sit-down restaurants.

Expect more detail on the menu as the opening approaches. Universal typically drops full menu reveals in the weeks leading up to a new restaurant debut.

What Happens to Hot Dog Hall of Fame?

Hot Dog Hall of Fame is scheduled to close in July 2026, clearing the way for Fat One’s to move into the space. The venue has been at CityWalk since 2014, when it opened as part of a major reimagining of the entertainment district. It’s had a good run — over a decade serving guests heading to and from the parks — but the time has come for something new.

The location itself works well for this type of concept. It’s a high-traffic area of CityWalk that benefits from the steady flow of guests coming and going from the theme parks, and a quick-service hot dog and Italian ice spot is exactly the kind of casual, walkable dining that performs well there.

CityWalk Is Changing Fast

Fat One’s is just one piece of a larger CityWalk refresh that’s been unfolding over the past year. Universal has been actively updating the district’s dining and entertainment lineup, with several notable additions on the horizon. Five Guys is coming to CityWalk. Luke Combs’ Category 10 — a country-themed bar and restaurant — is also in the works.

Taken together, CityWalk is entering what looks like its most significant evolution since the major reimagining over a decade ago. For guests who’ve been visiting Universal Orlando for years, the next few visits are going to feel noticeably different — and by all indications, in a good way.

If you haven’t walked CityWalk recently, it’s worth spending some time there on your next visit just to see what’s changed. The district has historically been an afterthought for a lot of guests rushing to the parks, but the current investment from Universal suggests they want it to be a destination in its own right.

When Can You Visit Fat One’s?

No official opening date has been set yet. Hot Dog Hall of Fame closes in July, and Universal hasn’t confirmed exactly when Fat One’s will open after that. A late 2026 debut seems reasonable — potentially in time for the busy fall and holiday season — but nothing is confirmed.

We’ll update this post the moment an opening date is announced. In the meantime, if Fat One’s is on your radar for an upcoming Universal trip, plan your visit for fall 2026 or later to give yourself the best shot at catching it open. And keep an eye on the Universal Orlando app — new restaurant openings typically show up there before they’re widely announced.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!