Disney Meat Lovers – Steaks, Burgers, Turkey Legs, etc!
A bowl loaded with leafy greens, roasted veggies, tender beans, and a sprinkle of crunchy nuts sounds like a great summer dinner to me, and now that the weather is warming up, I’ll be eating plenty of big salads with fresh ingredients like these! Fresh and light meals are essential in the heat, but wouldn’t that salad be a lot tastier if it were topped with some juicy grilled steak? Just because its summer doesn’t mean I’ll be giving up protein; far from it! And when I travel to Walt Disney World, the brutal combination of the endless walking and overwhelming heat makes my appetite for fill-you-up-foods insatiable and a light salad is more suited as an appetizer than a main course.
Photo Credit: DisneyTouristBlog.com
As much as I love animals, I can’t deny my love of meat. It’s rare that I go even a day without at least one meat-based meal, and luckily for us meat lovers, Walt Disney World’s restaurants have a knack for cooking up some of the most flavorful and tender cuts of meat I’ve had the pleasure of indulging in. You can get a burger anywhere you turn, so don’t just go for the one that’s the most convenient…seek out these mouth-watering meat dishes that I’m drooling just thinking about!
The Best BBQ
If they open any more, there will soon be a restaurant for every day of the year at Disney Springs! That’s great news since we’ll never run out of options, but it can also be overwhelming when you’re trying to choose from that huge list of spots! When you’re looking for BBQ that gets its flavor from the smoker instead of sugar, look no farther than The Polite Pig! I dream of that BBQ chicken, and each time I get it, the hot, drippy, juicy first bite reminds me why.
For a table-service option, head to Homecomin’. Chef Art Smith has put together a menu of traditional southern entrees and sides tailor-made for starving vacationers, and there is definitely an option on that long menu for everyone in your family…but you came for the BBQ! The HFK Barbecue Bun is my recommendation here. Slow-cooked pork has been chopped and tossed in the restaurant’s house-made spicy BBQ sauce before being loaded (and I mean loaded) onto a soft brioche bun. With a pile of chips and slaw flaking the big sandwich, you definitely won’t leave hungry!
You’ll have to head to the parks for some of the best BBQ on all of Walt Disney World property. When lunchtime hunger pangs start in Animal Kingdom and you’re trying to choose a spot, follow your nose! Flame Tree Barbecue’s long line isn’t for nothing: their BBQ is really tasty! While it’s a little big sugar-heavy for my taste, folks who grew up with this style sauce will be pleased with its authenticity.
Burgers
What’s a vacation without at least one big cheeseburger? Boring! Don’t worry, Walt Disney World is more flush with burger stops than Manhattan is with yellow cabs. Of course, you’ll want the best of the best, so set your sights on D-Luxe Burger in Disney Springs. Freshly grilled buns and great toppings don’t hurt their lineup of made-to-order bugers, and you’d be silly to skip out on the hand-cut French fries!
TIP: D-Luxe claims all burgers are cooked to medium, but I like to order mine medium-rare for what is a true medium!
There are a lot of really tasty burgers on Property, so choosing a few to highlight isn’t an easy feat! In most restaurants, consistency is key, and whenever I’ve ordered a burger at the Boathouse, I’ve never been disappointed! They’re cooked to true temperature, the meat is high-quality, and the rolls are always fresh…what else do you need in a burger? Oh, don’t forget about the amazing views of the water…
Meat, Neat
Sometimes, you just need plain old meat. Nothing fancy, nothing fussy, just a good cut of nice meat, am I right? When those moments come, I head to Liberty Tree Tavern. This family-style, all you care to enjoy restaurant sits in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom. When you go, be sure to bring your appetite since you’ll be served salad, rolls, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans…and an impressive-looking platter with roasted carved turkey, slow-cooked pork, and an oh-so-tender pile of pot roast. Definitely fill up on the meats as they are hands-down the best part…of the entree….you’ll want to save some room for the famous dessert.
Not in the mood for a sit-down meal? You don’t have to go to a restaurant at all for Walt Disney World’s most famous meat of them all. Perhaps you’ve seen the T-shirts, hats, and online memes dedicated to them. Any guesses yet? I’m talking about the world-famous turkey legs! You can get one of these massive turkey legs at various locations throughout the parks and across the Resort, and if I’ve learned anything from my recent vacation with my family, it’s to recommend the turkey legs with a disclaimer: they’re really big! After purchasing a (pricey) turkey leg for each of his kids, my uncle wished he had shared just one among them all…because none of them were able to come close to finishing! I’m not suggesting you share yours, though…just make sure you’re hungry!
The food at Walt Disney World Resort is always the one aspect of my trips I talk and write about the most. I’m obsessed with the Epcot festival menus, the seasonal food offerings, and every time there’s a new menu item at one of the restaurants, I’m the first in line to taste it! Enjoying a hearty meal featuring a high-quality meat really can’t be beat, and Walt Disney World really knows how to cook them up right! I want to know which meat dishes you’re looking forward to trying when you visit, let me know in the comments!
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Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!
