There is something pretty cool about coming back to where your story started — especially when you return with your own restaurant.
Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice officially opens Saturday, September 19, at Universal CityWalk, bringing Joey Fatone’s Orlando-born restaurant concept right into the center of Universal Orlando Resort.
And this one feels like much more than simply another new CityWalk dining option.
Long before Joey Fatone became famous as a member of *NSYNC, he was a Universal Orlando Team Member performing as Wolfie in Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue at Universal Studios Florida. His longtime manager and Fat One’s business partner Joe Mulvihill was there too, performing as Beetlejuice.
Decades later, the two are coming back to Universal — except now their names are attached to a restaurant of their own.
That might be my favorite part of this whole story.
You can work somewhere early in your career without really knowing where life is going to take you. Joey and Joe eventually traveled the world, built careers beyond Universal and launched Fat One’s in Orlando. Now they are returning to essentially the same place where it all started, but this time as business owners.
From Florida Mall to Universal CityWalk
Fat One’s originally launched in Orlando in 2016, with its first location at the Florida Mall. The brand has gone through several forms over the years, but its move to Universal CityWalk puts it in a completely different league when it comes to visibility.
The new restaurant takes over the former Hot Dog Hall of Fame location on CityWalk’s upper level. Hot Dog Hall of Fame permanently closed in July 2026 to make way for Fat One’s, ending its run at CityWalk and clearing the space for Joey Fatone’s new concept.
It is actually a pretty fitting replacement. CityWalk is still keeping a hot dog-focused restaurant in that spot, but Fat One’s brings a completely different personality, menu and Orlando connection to the space.
CityWalk has always been the gathering point connecting Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and the resort’s nightlife and dining. Putting Fat One’s right in the middle of that traffic gives the restaurant exposure to both theme park guests and locals stopping by CityWalk for dinner.
And Fat One’s isn’t exactly going with basic hot dogs either.
These Aren’t Your Regular Theme Park Hot Dogs
The CityWalk menu features nine gourmet hot dogs, along with Italian ice and specialty beers.
One of the signature choices is appropriately called The Fat One, a footlong topped with roasted pork, pepperoni, chili beans, cheddar cheese sauce, red onion sauce, Pop Fries and chives.
There is also The Brazilian, featuring grilled linguica sausage with onion sauce, jalapeño veganaise, cotija cheese, Calabrian honey, red peppers, cilantro and potato sticks.
Then there is the Dirty K-Pop Dog, which goes in an entirely different direction with kimchi slaw, spicy gochujang mayo, scallions, crispy onions and black sesame.
That variety is probably what interests me most. Instead of simply replacing Hot Dog Hall of Fame with another traditional hot dog restaurant, Fat One’s is bringing some unusual combinations that give people a reason to try something different.
And if you’re walking around Orlando in the heat, having Italian ice sitting right next to the hot dogs doesn’t hurt either.
Joey Fatone Will Be There for Opening Day
Fat One’s officially opens at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, and both Joey Fatone and Joe Mulvihill are scheduled to appear for the opening celebration.
There is also a pretty fun bonus for anyone planning to get there early.
The first 100 guests will receive a wristband for a free hot dog served by Joey Fatone himself. Joey will also remain at the restaurant for a limited time afterward for photos.
I have a feeling there are going to be quite a few *NSYNC fans mixed into the CityWalk crowd Saturday morning.
A Full-Circle Universal Orlando Story
New restaurants come and go around theme park resorts all the time, but the history behind Fat One’s makes this opening stand out a little more.
Joey Fatone and Joe Mulvihill aren’t simply bringing an outside restaurant brand into Universal CityWalk. They are former Universal Orlando Team Members coming back with a brand they built themselves.
They once performed inside Universal Studios Florida. Now they’re running their own restaurant just outside the park gates.
That is a pretty great Orlando success story.
And starting September 19, Universal guests can grab one of their overloaded hot dogs, cool off with some Italian ice and eat at a restaurant created by two people whose own careers started just a short walk away.
