USJ: The Summer-Limited Menu Exceeded Expectations—Saido’s “Next-Level Shaved Ice” Is Worth Trying
A special summer menu for 2026 is now available at Saido, the Japanese restaurant at Universal Studios Japan.
More than just beautiful to look at, these dishes offer a true interactive dining experience, with flavors and textures that change as you eat—perfect for the hot season.
Here are two of the limited-time summer menu items.
Start with Something Refreshing: The Chilled Udon Set
The lavish presentation grabs your attention as soon as it reaches the table, but this menu is also packed with thoughtful, delicate details.
You may want to start with the Chilled Udon Set with Citrus Daikon and White Miso, but it is best to eat the tempura first while it is still hot, dipping it in matcha salt.
While warm, the crisp texture and toasty aroma stand out, making the first bite especially satisfying.
The main udon dish is cool and visually refreshing, colorfully topped with pink grapefruit and pink daikon sprouts.
First, enjoy it with the light, lemon-flavored grated-daikon dipping sauce. Then add the sesame miso sauce to give it a richer flavor.
I was skeptical about whether lemon and sesame miso would work together, but the pairing is surprisingly excellent.
The freshness of the lemon and the thick, rich sesame miso create a unique new appeal that is hard to describe.
Squeezing the grapefruit over it transforms the flavor again, instantly bringing out even more brightness.
Your hands may get a little messy, but try squeezing it in whenever the timing feels right.
One of the best features is being able to enjoy several flavors in a single dish, with the impression changing every time you take a bite.
The set also includes a small side dish, so you can alternate between tempura, udon, and other flavors without getting bored.
Price including tax: US$16.25.
A Showstopper in Both Looks and Flavor: Hydrangea Shaved Ice
The star of this visit is the Hydrangea—Japanese Shaved Ice with Grape and Yuzu, Served with Baked Sweets.
The beautiful purple ice, inspired by hydrangeas, has such a striking presence that you will want to take a photo the moment you see it.
What flavor do you think this purple shaved ice syrup is?
It is actually lemon syrup, and the contrast between the color and flavor is sure to surprise you with the first bite.
Then another purple syrup arrives on the side…!?
Wondering what it is? This one is grape syrup, and adding it gradually changes the flavor.
Start by pouring it over a section without lemon syrup and enjoy the grape flavor on its own. Then try mixing it with the lemon syrup.
The surprises do not stop there—the dessert has more hidden inside.
As you continue eating, grape sorbet, whipped cream, yuzu, and even chocolate appear one after another, creating the fun of a multilayered dessert.
With ordinary shaved ice, the flavor often stays the same or becomes diluted, so many people may lose interest before the end.
This shaved ice, however, keeps changing in both flavor and contents. Few shaved ice desserts make you this excited to discover what will appear next.
Even the nata de coco at the bottom is shaped like a star.
It is a final surprise that keeps the dessert visually entertaining to the very last bite.
Beyond its appearance, the crunchy texture of coarse sugar adds another accent, helping every part stay interesting until the end.
A Satisfying Dessert with No Detail Overlooked
The two accompanying macarons—berry and yogurt—and the Uji matcha pound cake each have a strong presence of their own, with a level of quality far beyond simple side items.
The Uji matcha pound cake also contains sweet azuki beans.
The shaved ice alone is impressive enough to be deeply satisfying, but the plate goes even further. Caramel crunch and sliced almonds are arranged over matcha powder almost like a work of art, creating a dish that feels flawless in both appearance and flavor.
Because every bite offers a different taste and texture, the excitement continues all the way to the end.
It is not only beautiful but also generous in flavor and portion size, making it a refreshing way to cool down in the summer while enjoying a truly satisfying break.
Price including tax: US$11.25.
“Next-Level Dining” to Experience During the Hot Summer
Saido’s summer-limited menu is not simply delicious—it also makes the way you eat part of the fun.
Changing flavors, surprising textures, and beautiful presentation.
Every detail is carefully designed to make summer at USJ feel even more special.
These limited-time dishes let you forget the heat and enjoy flavors available only now.
Be sure to experience them when you visit the park.
Exchange rate used: US$1 = ¥160.
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