The perfect eating places in Disneyland in 2024

On-the-go churros or rooster fingers may fit as meals for some Disneyland Resort friends. Nonetheless, whenever you’re spending as a lot as a journey to a Disney theme park prices nowadays, you would possibly wish to ensure you are having fun with the perfect restaurant meals, concessions and experiences that the park has to supply.

Whereas Disney World’s eating places are sometimes extra talked about, Disneyland’s eating choices have additionally remodeled. With elevated crowds and shortly booked-up eating places, it is a good suggestion to map out your consuming plan upfront — no less than for a couple of meals.

What makes a Disney restaurant nice will not be essentially the meals. It could be a personality expertise, a enjoyable theme or a great place proper close to the rides that makes the restaurant particular.

Does it get higher than really consuming inside an attraction on the Blue Bayou and watching the Pirates of the Caribbean boats go by? We predict not.

We have dined at dozens of Disneyland eating places through the years on each household and adult-only holidays, from the smallest of snack carts to the fanciest white-tablecloth eateries. Here is what it is best to learn about eating at Disneyland and our picks for the perfect Disneyland eating places — whether or not you are at Disneyland, Disney California Journey Park or a Disneyland resort.

Associated: The whole lot it is advisable learn about visiting Disneyland

For no-cost help with planning and reserving your subsequent Disney trip, take a look at TPG’s Disney reserving companion, Mouse Counselors.

Finest eating places in Disneyland Resort

Listed below are a few of the greatest Disneyland eating places to take pleasure in.

Plaza Inn

The place it’s: Primary Road, U.S.A.

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What’s on the menu: Mickey waffles and fried rooster

House to the one Disneyland character meal inside both of the 2 parks, Plaza Inn is a favourite for households or anybody who desires some character face time. Throughout morning hours, Plaza Inn hosts Minnie & Pals — Breakfast within the Park. The breakfast is buffet type, with kid-friendly favorites like Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles obtainable alongside eggs, biscuits and gravy, and different morning consolation meals.

Guests are all the time assured a photograph alternative with Minnie Mouse. Different common characters embody Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Chip ‘n Dale, Pluto and Daisy Duck.

Reservations go shortly for this meal, so make your plans as quickly because the 60-day advance reservation window opens. A reminder: Early morning is the perfect time for brief experience strains, so you might not wish to waste these first few hours sitting down for breakfast. Reserve a time that is a couple of hours after the park opens. (I’ve all the time discovered that 10:30 a.m. is good on days with an 8 a.m. park opening.)

For lunch and dinner, the characters name it a day, and the restaurant turns into a daily fast-casual restaurant. Even with out characters, Plaza Inn is a restaurant with a whole lot of worth. Costs are affordable, and parts are hearty. Do not miss the restaurant’s signature dish, fried rooster.

Bengal Barbecue

The place it’s: Adventureland

What’s on the menu: Chieftain rooster skewer, Bengal beef skewer

For a really fast chew, Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland has all the time been considered one of my household’s favorites.

The menu gives a whole lot of lean meats and some veggies — a welcome change from all of the churros and Mickey ice cream bars that usually make up a Disneyland food regimen. Lots of the meals objects are on skewers, so you possibly can take them to go as you race off to your subsequent Lightning Lane reservation time. When you have extra time, sit and take a break within the adjoining shaded and themed seating space.

Crimson Rose Taverne

The place it’s: Fantasyland

What’s on the menu: Burgers, chopped salads, pizza flatbreads

When you have little ones, chances are high good that you’re going to spend a whole lot of time in Fantasyland. The fast-service restaurant there works properly for households with infants, toddlers and youthful youngsters. It was rebranded a couple of years in the past as Crimson Rose Taverne from “Magnificence and the Beast,” however many friends nonetheless realize it as Village Haus.

You possibly can depend on Crimson Rose Taverne for the staples many choosy youngsters eat, together with rooster tenders, hamburgers and flatbread cheese pizza. There’s ample indoor and outside seating, and there is even sufficient room to maneuver a stroller as much as most of the tables. The meals for adults is nothing notably memorable, however park-weary dad and mom will be glad about the simple logistics.

Tiana’s Palace

The place it’s: New Orleans Sq.

What’s on the menu: 7 greens gumbo with rooster and andouille sausage, Gulf shrimp and grits

Greater than a yr after its debut, Tiana’s Palace restaurant in New Orleans Sq. is holding robust as probably the greatest quick-service eating places on the Disneyland Resort.

Tiana’s Palace changed longtime favourite French Market as a part of bringing the beloved “The Princess and the Frog” story to Disneyland. It can quickly be joined by a brand new attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Journey, on Nov. 15, 2024.

Like its French Market predecessor, Tiana’s Palace is a higher-end counter service restaurant. This makes it a wise alternative for friends who desire a nicer eating expertise with out fairly as a lot expense or time invested as a real sit-down meal.

The menu is Creole- and Cajun-inspired, with a number of gumbo dishes, a beef po’boy sandwich, tacky shrimp and grits, and sides like buttermilk cornbread. Much less adventurous choices (toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese) are on the children’ menu when you’ve got choosy eaters within the household.

Tables are outdoors on a principally shaded veranda overlooking Rivers of America and the Mark Twain Riverboat. Cease by the close by Mint Julep Bar, the place you possibly can seize a (nonalcoholic) mint julep to accompany your meal or a Mickey beignet for dessert.

Blue Bayou

The place it’s: New Orleans Sq.

What’s on the menu: Rooster gumbo and filet mignon

For the quintessential Disneyland date evening, head straight for New Orleans Sq..

My husband and I’ve made dinner at Blue Bayou our date-night custom, beginning once we first visited the park collectively greater than 20 years in the past. It is truthful to say the meals high quality and menu selection have each dropped a bit within the final a number of years. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless onerous to high Blue Bayou’s location and atmosphere.

The restaurant is solely indoors however is lit to provide the phantasm of alfresco nighttime eating overlooking the bayou.

Boats from the Pirates of the Caribbean experience float by whereas fireflies dance overhead. Lunch is inexpensive than dinner, however it’s nonetheless some of the costly meals at Disneyland. The restaurant has shifted considerably from its Cajun and Creole roots to supply extra customary American tremendous eating fare, however there’s nonetheless some spice in a couple of dishes. Reservations are an absolute should.

Whereas it is a fancier restaurant and is priced accordingly, households should not essentially rule it out. Blue Bayou is usually a very particular higher-end Disney eating expertise with older youngsters or teenagers for dinner, and it is often stuffed with fairly a couple of households at lunch.

Docking Bay 7 Meals and Cargo

The place it’s: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

What’s on the menu: Endorian fried rooster tip-yip

The opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in 2019 introduced a number of new eating places. The meals choices on Batuu weren’t with out some controversy and blended evaluations — no less than initially.

Associated: The important information to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland

Disneyland continuously tweaks menus in response to buyer suggestions, and Docking Bay 7 has now stood the check of time as one of many extra dependable counter service eating places within the park. With ample, air-conditioned indoor seating, it is also a straightforward place to take a break and (often) discover a desk. There is a small, partially shaded outside terrace that gives recent air and high quality views for Star Wars people-watching, too.

Lunch and dinner menu objects embody fried rooster (“tip-yip”), a couple of adventurous seasonal entrees and a number of other vegetarian choices. The pickiest eaters will not discover many selections right here, nonetheless, so verify the menu rigorously when you’ve got younger youngsters.

Additionally, do not rule out the thought of a wrap from Ronto’s Roasters subsequent door; it is arguably an excellent tastier possibility and can be open for breakfast. The standard morning wrap with egg and pork sausage is our favourite; there are additionally plant-based backyard wraps and a wrap with sausage and slaw obtainable for lunch or dinner. And when you’re within the temper for a enjoyable, candy coffee-style drink, seize the chilly brew black caf (chilly brew topped with candy cream cheese and chocolate puffs).

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree

The place it’s: Critter Nation (quickly to be re-named Bayou Nation)

What’s on the menu: Barbecue platters and sandwiches, burgers and ribs

Whereas it is too quickly to provide this restaurant an official place on the “greatest Disneyland eating places” listing, Hungry Bear is no less than one to observe intently within the coming weeks and months.

In a quiet nook alongside the Rivers of America in Critter Nation, Hungry Bear Restaurant was a longtime counter service favourite for households with younger youngsters. The restaurant had plenty of shaded outside seating, so it was all the time a super place to take a much-needed break for lunch noon.

Sadly, the meals high quality declined, and the menu turned fairly ho-hum, so we deleted this restaurant from our listing a number of years in the past. Fortunately, Disney responded to the lackluster evaluations. It is within the technique of finishing an overhaul of the restaurant and its menu in anticipation of the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Journey subsequent door.

Associated: Disney World vs. Disneyland — which is the higher park?

The brand new menu is predicted to deliver again a few of the flavors from the beloved and never-forgotten Massive Thunder Ranch Barbecue restaurant, which closed almost a decade in the past to make manner for the development of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The not too long ago revealed meals lineup contains barbecue, brisket and ribs, together with the same old burgers and rooster tenders that work properly for choosy eaters.

Finest eating places in Disney California Journey

Listed below are the perfect Disney California Journey eating places.

Flo’s V8 Cafe

The place it’s: Vehicles Land

What’s on the menu: Burgers and turkey membership sandwich

Flo’s V8 Cafe is Disney’s tackle the basic American diner, identical to you would possibly discover alongside Route 66.

The theming and setting in Vehicles Land are immersive and simply a lot enjoyable. By quick-service restaurant requirements, the meals is downright scrumptious. The menu is not fairly as intensive and diverse because it was once a couple of years in the past. Nonetheless, it nonetheless has extra selections than your common counter-service restaurant at Disneyland Resort.

Lunch and dinner embody objects like burgers, a Cobb salad, fried rooster and a turkey membership sandwich. Shakes are additionally obtainable as a candy deal with. Children can discover loads of selection, from macaroni and cheese to rooster strips.

Lamplight Lounge

The place it’s: Pixar Pier

What’s on the menu: Lobster nachos, potato skins and doughnuts

Lamplight Lounge stays one of many hottest eating tickets at Disneyland Resort, so it is a should to make a reservation properly upfront if you wish to dine right here. Weekend brunch (Friday via Sunday) is particularly widespread.

Instagrammable meals and cocktails abound. The decor is Pixar-themed, with tons of memorabilia and particulars to discover. Like Blue Bayou in Disneyland Park, Lamplight Lounge might be higher suited to households with older youngsters and teenagers because of its environment and worth. Nonetheless, youthful youngsters who love Pixar films will really feel proper at residence right here, too.

The sentimental favourite menu merchandise is the lobster nachos, which had been additionally obtainable on the predecessor restaurant on this area, Cove Bar. The menu is unquestionably extra diverse and attention-grabbing for foodie dad and mom than at many Disneyland eating places, and the drink menu (each alcoholic and nonalcoholic) is filled with whimsical choices.

Carthay Circle Restaurant

The place it’s: Buena Vista Road

What’s on the menu: Rib eye, pork chops and mushroom ravioli

For a signature eating expertise in California Journey, Carthay Circle Restaurant is the best choice. It is also priced accordingly, so save this for a particular adults’ evening out or price range accordingly.

Set inside a duplicate of the Carthay Circle Theater, the place Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” debuted in 1937, this restaurant teems with Disney and Outdated Hollywood historical past and lore.

Menu objects embody pork chops, rib eye, recent fish and pasta. Carthay Circle Restaurant’s menu is most intensive at dinner, nevertheless it has simply added a inexpensive pre-fixe menu for lunch.

If you do not have the price range or the time for a fancier meal, the Carthay Circle Lounge downstairs in the identical constructing gives lighter bites and scrumptious cocktails. Consuming within the lounge’s outside seating part supplies the added perk of five-star people-watching — you may in all probability even spot a personality or two strolling by on the best way to their subsequent look.

Pym Take a look at Kitchen

The place it’s: Avengers Campus

What’s on the menu: Quantum pretzel, not-so-little rooster sandwich

The meals at Pym Take a look at Kitchen will not be the perfect on a Disney property, however it’s fairly enjoyable. It made the reduce primarily based on sheer originality.

The idea of this counter-service restaurant in Avenger’s Campus is that Ant-Man and the Wasp’s Pym particles are getting used to experiment with making meals teeny-tiny or monumental.

On the menu, you may discover an infinite pretzel, a not-so-little rooster sandwich with a tiny bun however an enormous rooster patty, pasta with tiny noodles and outsized Inconceivable plant-based “meatballs.” Children often get a kick out of the pretzel, which is bigger than their heads.

Pym Take a look at Kitchen is among the few breakfast choices open in California Journey Park, and its choices are additionally fairly stable within the morning. The “Calculated Breakfast = E x 2 + (B+P)/T” is served with two eggs which might be totally different sizes and ready in several methods.

Fortunate Fortune Cookery

The place it’s: San Fransokyo Sq. (previously Pacific Wharf)

What’s on the menu: Yaki udon with Karaage-inspired crispy rooster and pork wonton nachos

When Disney not too long ago remodeled Pacific Wharf into the town of San Fransokyo from the movie Massive Hero 6, the world’s eating places positively benefited from the refresh. This part of the park is now a eating vacation spot with a number of delicacies selections, all sharing a single giant outside seating space.

There at the moment are a number of restaurant standouts price attempting anew, however my private favourite to this point is Fortunate Fortune Cookery.

The restaurant has all the time been a go-to place for a dependable teriyaki rice bowl and a few veggies for anybody in search of a more healthy chew. It now additionally gives a combination of pan-Asian delicacies that includes Korean, Chinese language and Japanese flavors. I attempted a number of menu objects throughout a latest journey. The meat bulgogi burrito with rice and coleslaw was the perfect factor I ate all day, combining taste profiles from a number of totally different delicacies traditions.

For dessert, the restaurant serves an lovely and really tasty Baymax macaron with buttercream and chocolate hazelnut filling. Boba followers can even get their repair with Thai tea.

Meals pageant marketplaces

The place it’s: Grizzly Peak, Paradise Gardens

What’s on the menu: Modifications seasonally

Disney California Journey is residence to a number of meals festivals all year long. When these happen, meals “marketplaces” pop up alongside the pathways of the park — often no less than from Grizzly Peak to the tip of Paradise Gardens.

The meals choices at these festivals are enjoyable and distinctive, and so they provide an incredible alternative for guests to strive new flavors. The all the time dependable Paradise Backyard Grill restaurant often serves pageant meals objects as properly, typically in bigger parts.

The biggest of those festivals is the Disney California Journey Meals and Wine Competition within the spring.

Look additionally for the Competition of Holidays throughout the November and December vacation season and the Lunar New 12 months marketplaces throughout the annual Lunar New 12 months Celebration. Households and teams can get a whole lot of worth out of sharing a Sip ‘n’ Savor cross, which supplies you tickets to redeem for quite a few dishes for a single set worth.

Associated: The place to remain at Disneyland

Dealer Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar

The place it’s: Disneyland Lodge

What’s on the menu: HippopotoMai-Tai, zombie, pu pu platter, Hawaiian platter

Close to the pool on the Disneyland Lodge, you may discover one of many liveliest locations to eat or drink on Disneyland property: Dealer Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. It is a spot the place volcanoes explode, servers shout, and it is easy to have a great time.

The poke bowl and Hawaiian platter are enjoyable choices right here, however you possibly can’t go mistaken simply coming in for a snack and a drink. Order the proper one, and you might be part of a shipwreck, explosion or different enjoyable catastrophe.

Napa Rose

The place it’s: Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge & Spa

What’s on the menu: Steak and fish

You will not discover any shipwrecks or screaming servers at Napa Rose inside Disneyland’s Grand Californian Lodge. Nonetheless, you’ll find a complicated (however not stuffy) menu of duck breast, steak and sustainably sourced fish, to call a couple of objects.

This can be a special day meal and one you do not wish to rush via, so do not attempt to cram it in earlier than catching that subsequent experience on Radiator Springs Racers.

The restaurant additionally serves a premium character breakfast — Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures — Thursday via Monday. It is fairly costly at $142 per individual plus tax. Nonetheless, it’s routinely one of many better-reviewed meals and experiences on the resort due to the restaurant’s meticulous service.

Visitors with a severe princess fan within the household ought to definitely think about it if the price range permits, notably for a particular celebration like a birthday or anniversary.

Further ideas for eating places and eating at Disneyland

As with all issues at Disneyland, friends who’re ready may have a much less anxious and extra fulfilling expertise. Listed below are a couple of remaining ideas it is advisable know earlier than you make your Disneyland eating plans and restaurant reservations.

Make use of cellular ordering

Over the previous couple of years, Disneyland has rolled out cellular ordering to the overwhelming majority of counter-service eating places in each parks. You now not want to attend in a bodily queue simply to position an order.

Lately, cellular ordering is just about important. Be sure you obtain the official Disneyland app and that you simply place your order upfront of the mealtime rush.

It isn’t a nasty concept to position your order an hour or two forward in some instances if you already know when and what you wish to eat. At widespread spots and on the busiest days, obtainable time slots start to replenish, and friends are unable to order for quick pickup on the cellular order system. Do not wait till your abdomen is growling to position an order, or you might be left hungry for some time.

When you place your order, wait till the time you’ve got chosen to eat. Then click on within the app once more to point your arrival as you method the restaurant. Your meals is often prepared in a couple of minutes at a pick-up window. Search for the push notification to warn you within the app.

Make Disneyland restaurant reservations 60 days upfront

In case you plan to go to a desk service restaurant or a preferred character meal buffet throughout your Disneyland trip, reservations are a should. We advocate reserving proper at Disneyland’s 60-day reservation window earlier than your journey when you can. Reservations open at 6 a.m. (Pacific time) day by day and the highest eating places can ebook up near immediately.

In case you miss the possibility 60 days out, a service like MouseDining will be useful in alerting you when a gap turns into obtainable. Simply act shortly, as selections disappear as quick as they seem.

Do not forget about eating packages

Disneyland has quite a few widespread reveals and parades that many guests wish to see. Discovering a great seat for them could require tenting out an hour or extra upfront.

One answer is to safe reserved seating or standing areas for these reveals by reserving an related eating bundle. These packages do come at a premium worth, however they save substantial time along with offering a meal that friends could be paying for anyway. Examine the Disneyland web site or app for availability, as there are sometimes modifications to the choices.

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Suppose past the parks

There are such a lot of superb eating places inside Disneyland Park and Disney California Journey, however do not forget to look past park borders for different glorious eating places.

We have already highlighted a few of the greatest choices at a couple of of the Disneyland on-property lodges, however there are nonetheless extra worthy restaurant selections at these properties. Scheduling a resort character meal in your arrival or departure day at considered one of these resort eating places is usually a good alternative, because it provides you a Disney expertise with out the price of a park ticket on that day.

The Downtown Disney district adjoining to the 2 parks additionally options many high quality eating places and eating experiences. These eating places are all only a very brief stroll or monorail experience from the parks. Choices embody a brewery, a restaurant specializing in over-the-top milkshakes, a bowling alley with glorious sushi, and eating places specializing in Cajun, Italian and Mexican dishes.

The not too long ago opened dim sum restaurant Din Tai Fung is already proving to be one of many hardest reservations to get on the Disneyland Resort. Much more new eating places are anticipated in 2025 as development in Downtown Disney continues.

In case you are paying by card for these meals, use a card that rewards you with further miles for eating, just like the Citi Status® Card (5 factors per greenback), American Categorical® Gold Card (4 factors per greenback at eating places on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback), Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card (7 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at U.S. eating places) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (3 factors per greenback). (Be taught extra in regards to the greatest bank cards for eating.)

The data for the Citi Status Card and Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Alternatively, you may also choose up some discounted Disney present playing cards earlier than your journey to save lots of on meals at the perfect eating places in Disneyland.

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