5 Monstrous Menu Items for Halloween 2022 – Orange County Register

The Scary Face Pancake at IHOP may be one of the most iconic Halloween menu items at restaurants, but it’s not the scariest.

The Pancakes have made their annual return to IHOP. With features made from whipped cream, candy corn, and mini Oreos, they’re very kid-friendly.

But other restaurants go to the dark side to pay tribute to scary movies, iconic characters, and offbeat pop stars, sometimes with a gross presentation.

Here are a few monstrous menu items on offer across Southern California.

Ozzy Osbourne burger

What: Grill ‘Em All is a heavy metal themed hamburger joint created in 2010 by the winners of Season 1 of The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network.

Co-owner Matt Chernus said the restaurant created a half-pound burger to celebrate rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his latest album Patient No. 9”, which was released last month, to pay tribute. They sought Osbourne’s blessing and got it, he said.

The burger has a black bun reminiscent of Osbourne’s years fronting the band Black Sabbath.

“The next step was, can we do something spooky and spooky because that’s our vibe and Halloween is coming up,” he said in a phone interview. “We decided on a homemade chimichurri because the green color would be a little creepy with the black color of the bun. We paired this with bleu cheese and a garlic aioli, added some veggies and onion crumbles for crunch. That’s it. We sent this to the prince of darkness, got the ok and here we are.”

For the Oct. 1 launch of the burger, Grill ‘Em All enlisted the services of a 25-foot inflatable Ozzy, who debuted at Comic-Con and has been touring in support of the album launch. It was mounted on the restaurant roof for a few hours.

Though Osbourne has been known to allegedly bit off the head of a bat, he’s often been cited for being vegan or vegetarian in recent years.

Other burgers at Grill ‘Em All are named after rockers like Metallica and Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Chernus said they are all open.

Where: Grill ‘Em All, 19 E. Main St., Alhambra.

Information: 626-284-2874, grillemallburgs.com

Edward Burger Hands

What: Beetle House LA describes itself as a year-round celebration of Halloween. It began as a pop-up in New York City in 2016 and expanded to Hollywood the following year, according to its website.

The menu is full of horror and film references, including a tribute to Tim Burton’s 1990 film Edward Scissorhands.

Edward Burger Hands features a half-pound beef patty, smoked bacon, pepperjack cheese, and avocado, all held together with scissors for diners to keep.

The restaurant is open for dinner Thursday through Sunday and recommends reservations secured with a credit card.

Where: 7080 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Information: 929-291-0337, beetlehousela.com

Alfred Hitch cocktail

What: Reading Cinemas has a dine-in multiplex in Murrieta celebrating October with an Alfred Hitchcock film festival. It culminates on Halloween with the director’s 1960 thriller Psycho.

Special menu items include the Alfred Hitch cocktail, a sunrise mimosa with grenadine, orange juice, prosecco and topped with a maraschino cherry and a strawberry.

There’s also a Master Sandwich of Suspense, grilled cheese with turkey, tomato, basil and marinara sauce on the side.

Where: Reading Theaters at Cal Oaks Plaza with Titan Luxe, 41090 California Oaks Road, Murrieta.

Information: readcinemasus.com

Gray witch

What: Cauldron Spirits & Brews is a witch and fairy tale restaurant across from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park.

Gray Witch is a French ’75 cocktail made with Nolet’s gin, champagne and creme de violette.

It’s not so much the menu as the atmosphere that makes Cauldron a Halloween haunt. According to its website, the restaurant is encouraging diners to wear costumes with a 10 percent discount on food and drinks.

The Cauldron is open from 10pm for adults 21 and over

Where: The Cauldron Spirits & Brews, 8028 Beach Blvd, Suite B, Buena Park.

Information: 714-484-2733, thecauldronbar.com

Don Bugito’s Creepy Crawly Critters

What: Seattle’s Salt & Straw is an ice cream maker with a Halloween lineup called Ice Scream. It contains an aroma made with real insects.

Creepy Crawly Critters by Don Bugito is a light green matcha ice cream with chocolate covered crickets and mealworms in toffee brittle.

Other flavors include Black Cat Licorice & Lavender; the Great Candycopia, salted butterscotch ice cream with homemade versions of popular candy bars; Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread; and Double Bubble Toil & Trouble, coconut cream with fruits and spices that taste like bubble gum.

The Ice Scream series is available in Scoop shops and can also be ordered online in portions.

Where: There are 10 stores in Los Angeles County and two in Orange County: Newport Beach and Downtown Disney, Anaheim.

Information: salzandstroh.com