Think pink: Food and drinks to try at the Jersey Shore before seeing 'Barbie' movie

Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·6 min read

Come on Barbie, let's go party down at the Jersey Shore, just in time for the movie of the year.

With the new "Barbie" flick coming out this Friday, and pink fever consuming the masses, Barbiecore is everywhere. People are wearing pink clothes, pink makeup, pink nails — Pantone's color of the year is even 'Viva Magenta.'

But to truly exude Barbie's magnificence, you have to feel pink on the inside and out. So rather than just dawning a rosy frock, here's where to go to enjoy strawberry pop tarts, strawberry ice cream, pink drinks and more.

Boba and Ice Cream at Bubbles07

Strawberry bubble tea with a plushie, in front of Bubbles 07 in Brick.
Strawberry bubble tea with a plushie, in front of Bubbles 07 in Brick.

There's nothing more whimsical than bubble or "boba" tea — milky or fruity tea loaded with sweet tapioca pearls or juicy popping bubbles.

For a wide selection of bubble teas, fresh crepes and rolled ice creams, head on down to Bubbles07 in Brick, Toms River or Beachwood.

While we've never seen Barbie sipping boba, we're sure she'd order the strawberry flavor, bursting with popping strawberry boba. If you're not down for the "popping" mouth feel, try the strawberry jellies instead.

For more 'think pink' energy, try the strawberry milkshake or strawberry slushy. If you want to eat pink, too, try one of the strawberry-laden rolled ice creams, like the Machu Picchu (with strawberry, graham cracker and strawberry syrup), or a strawberry banana Nutella crepe (with whipped yogurt and custard cream).

Go: For Brick: 56 Chambers Bridge Road, 732-820-6626; For Toms River: 1490 Route 37 East, 732-798-4684; For Beachwood: 200 Atlantic City Blvd., 848-223-7310; bubbles07.com.

More Boba: From mango-green tea to chocolate crepes: Where to find best bubble tea at Jersey Shore

Barbie Truck: The Barbie Truck is heading to New Jersey on its Dreamhouse Living Tour

Hard or soft pink ice cream, and in a pink cone!

Bubblegum soft ice cream from Skipper Dipper in Long Beach, served in a pink vanilla cone from the famous Konery in Brooklyn.
Bubblegum soft ice cream from Skipper Dipper in Long Beach, served in a pink vanilla cone from the famous Konery in Brooklyn.

What if you could have pink ice cream, in a pink cone, and it wasn't just strawberry?

Skipper Dipper on Long Beach Island has been a safe haven for ice cream aficionados since 1978, with homemade waffle cones, rich and creamy soft and hard ice creams, and signature "schmears" (toppings like cookie butter or Nutella that are smeared on the inside of your cone).

If you're more of a softy, get the bubble gum soft ice cream with rainbow sprinkles in a pink vanilla cone, which isn't made in house like the waffle, but at the famous Konery in Brooklyn.

Co-owner Dave Powitz said these cones have seen increased sales this year, and "wouldn't be surprised" if the latest Barbie-craze had something to do with that.

For hard ice cream, try the cotton candy — topped with rainbow sprinkles, of course.

Go: 9305 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township; 609-492-9680, skipperdipper.com.

More on Barbie: Why are moviegoers so excited to see 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' together?

An elevated cocktail at the new Lita in Aberdeen

Rosita, mixed with Suyo Pisco, mezcal, red bell pepper, strawberry, Ancho Reyes, aperol and lemon, at Lita, a modern Iberian restaurant, in Aberdeen.
Rosita, mixed with Suyo Pisco, mezcal, red bell pepper, strawberry, Ancho Reyes, aperol and lemon, at Lita, a modern Iberian restaurant, in Aberdeen.

What's more in line with Barbie's class than worldly bites and classy cocktail culture?

Lita, a new Iberian restaurant in Aberdeen by the geniuses at Heirloom Kitchen, serves just that.

The restaurant is three course, pre fixe, but if you're just looking for a quick bite and sip, the upscale bar counter has 14 seats.

Try the Rosalita cocktail, aptly named after co-owner David Viana's mother (bonus points for girl power), with Suyo Pisco, mezcal, red bell pepper, strawberry, Ancho Reyes, aperol and lemon.

Go: 1055 Route 34, Aberdeen; 732-696-8517, thelovelylita.com.

More on Lita: New Iberian restaurant opens this week in Aberdeen

Strawberry donuts at Chubby Unicorn in Bayville

Strawberry shortcake and strawberry glazed donuts from the Chubby Unicorn Donut Shop in Bayville.
Strawberry shortcake and strawberry glazed donuts from the Chubby Unicorn Donut Shop in Bayville.

Another simple yet perfect pink bite. Yet this time, the unicorn's not crying, he's getting delightfully plump.

Chubby Unicorn Donut Shop specializes in a variety of zany donuts — like Fruity Pebbles or Snickers — but to eat like Barbie (if she'd be willing to eat the calories), try the strawberry glazed and strawberry shortcake.

They also serve frozen yogurt decked out with all the same crazy toppings, and milkshakes, for an all around sweet treat before downing absurd amounts of popcorn in the theater.

Go: 271 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville section of Berkeley Township; 732-998-8785, chubbyunicorndonuts.com.

More zany donuts: Offering endless donut and ice cream combinations, Sundae Donuts opens in Pier Village

Drink Unicorn Tears at Toast

A Unicorn Tears drink, with strawberry vanilla milk, whipped cream and heart-shaped sprinkles, from Toast in Red Bank and Asbury Park.
A Unicorn Tears drink, with strawberry vanilla milk, whipped cream and heart-shaped sprinkles, from Toast in Red Bank and Asbury Park.

Drinking 'Unicorn Tears' isn't as villainous as it sounds.

In fact, it's a fun, dairy-based drink that reads much more Barbie and less Gothel or Rothbart (can you tell which Barbie movies are this reporter's favorite?).

It consists of strawberry vanilla milk, topped with whipped cream and heart-shaped sprinkles.

Simple, perfect, and most importantly, pink.

Go: For Red Bank: 45 Monmouth St., 732-224-1234, redbank.toastcitydiner.com. For Asbury Park: 516 Cookman Ave., 732-776-5900, asburypark.toastcitydiner.com.

Strawberry pop tarts and refreshers from The Local

Fresh baked strawberry pop tarts with rainbow sprinkles from The Local Market and Kitchen in Ship Bottom.
Fresh baked strawberry pop tarts with rainbow sprinkles from The Local Market and Kitchen in Ship Bottom.

This beloved local market and kitchen is just blocks away from the bridge that brings you on to Long Beach Island.

Known for their freshly baked pastries, breakfast beverages and homemade bites, one of the top-selling items are the pop tarts — strawberry being a favorite, both in and out of "Barbie" hysteria.

The flakey pastry is topped with strawberry icing and sprinkles, and filled with sweet, gooey strawberry filling.

More: New restaurants at the Jersey Shore offer pancakes, pizza, wraps and more

Pair it with the strawberries and cream refresher, made with lemonade, coconut milk, strawberry syrup and white mocha sauce.

Go: 604 Central Ave., Ship Bottom; 609-342-0061, localmarketlbi.com.

Sweetheart rolls and sashimi at Safu Sushi

A Sweetheart Roll from Safu Sushi in Toms River, featuring spicy lobster salad wrapped in soy nori and topped with tuna and sriracha tobiko.
A Sweetheart Roll from Safu Sushi in Toms River, featuring spicy lobster salad wrapped in soy nori and topped with tuna and sriracha tobiko.

This swanky, new sushi hub in downtown Toms River has it all: ambiance, class, yet enough casual flare to provide the perfect spot for a girls night out before hitting the theater.

Best part? It's BYOB.

Fit for a truly "sweet" meal, try the Sweetheart Roll (spicy lobster salad wrapped in soy nori and topped with tuna and sriracha tobiko).

Toro aka tuna sashimi presented on a wooden board at Safu Sushi in Toms River.
Toro aka tuna sashimi presented on a wooden board at Safu Sushi in Toms River.

New in Toms River: Not your average diner: MorningStar Cafe opens in Toms River

If you want something a little less heavy, but still pretty and pink, try the fresh cut toro (tuna) sashimi.

Go: 10 Washington St., Toms River; 732-867-2800, safusushi.com.

Tuna dumplings decorated with flowers at Fuji72

Some may think sushi-grade tuna is closer in color to red than pink, but what if it dawns a pink orchid as a hat?

Well its fashion sense is certainly up to par, so we think it works.

Try the tuna dumpling appetizer, fresh from the sushi bar, stuffed with King crab meat (also pink), avocado, crunchy flakes, dressed with honey wasabi sauce and eel sauce.

Go: 626 Route 72, Manahawkin section of Stafford; 609-978-2888, fuji72steakhouse.com.

Sashimi and mochi ice cream from Xina

Fresh salmon sashimi from Xina Restaurant in Toms River.
Fresh salmon sashimi from Xina Restaurant in Toms River.

Salmon is arguably pinker in color than tuna, so this one's for you pink purists.

There's not much to explain with salmon sashimi, but what we can say is that Xina Restaurant's fresh cuts practically melt in your mouth.

Something else pink that melts in your mouth that you can find on this menu is strawberry mochi ice cream.

For those who've never tried it, its a tiny ball of Japanese mochi dough (which sports a chewy and heavenly soft texture) injected with rich ice cream. It usually comes in flavors like vanilla, green tea, and red bean — but for all Barbie-related intents and purposes, get the strawberry.

Go:  3430 Route 37, Toms River; 732-279-6327, xinarestaurant.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Barbie movie: Jersey Shore food and drinks that scream Barbiecore