Best Places to Eat Lunch at Walt Disney World

You will burn an insane amount of calories while at Walt Disney World.

In fact, I regularly walk 10-15 miles per day during a Disney vacation. And that means every meal I eat is virtually calorie-free!

Okay, I apologize to fitness fanatics for that last bit of heresy, but I’m making a point here.

You can eat whatever you want at Disney, 100 percent guilt-free!

Photo: Josh D’Amaro/Instagram

Here are the nine best places to stuff your face at lunch at Walt Disney World.

Note: the one rule here is that the place MUST be open right now!

Biergarten Restaurant

Do you like your luncheon meats tubed and gigantic? Could you eat sauerkraut for 45 minutes straight?

Also, how do you feel about grown men in lederhosen?

I’m not asking these questions randomly. The answers determine your level of interest in Biergarten Restaurant.

EPCOT fanatics love this place at the Germany pavilion for two reasons. The first is that it’s easy to get a reservation here right now.

In fact, Biergarten is often the only Table Service reservation available at the World Showcase.

You shouldn’t make you question the quality of the cuisine, though!

The devoutly Teutonic flavors will remind you of Oktoberfest. Plus, you’ll have access to all the beer you could ever need at lunch.

You won’t be driving, not even at Test Track. So, it’s okay to imbibe!

Cinderella’s Royal Table

The most expensive suggestion on this list also provides the best overall experience.

I mean, you’ve always wanted to go inside Cinderella Castle, right?

As a park guest, you can walk through the castle, but you cannot see what’s inside.

When you dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table, you’re an invited guest of the Disney Princess who holds court here.

You’ll get a photo op with Cinderella – when there’s not a pandemic – and then a delicious royal meal inside the palace!

Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll hardly even notice the food because you’re too busy soaking up the regal atmosphere and admiring the view.

Some of the windows at Cinderella’s Royal Table overlook parts of New Fantasyland, providing a unique perspective.

Photo Credit: ComeSeeOrlando.com

Others…show off the fireworks platforms. So, it’s kinda hit or miss.

Flame Tree Barbecue

All Disney fans know where to find the best barbecue at the parks. While Regal Eagle at EPCOT has received recent hype, the old favorite remains.

Yes, the competition has improved recently, but Flame Tree Barbecue still claims the title.

Guests here know what they’re getting, which is piping hot food straight off the grill.

The chefs lovingly baste your entrée with spices and herbs before you eat it, creating a dry rub that will perfect the meat.

When you want a pulled pork sandwich and baked beans, this is the only place to go!

Hollywood & Vine

Character meals proved problematic in 2020 and early 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns. That went double for buffets.

Hollywood & Vine meals featured both of them, forcing the restaurant to remain closed for a while after the parks reopened.

Image Credit: Disney

Thankfully, this staple of Disney’s Hollywood Studios has returned, and I’d argue it’s better than ever.

When you eat lunch here now, you choose an entrée rather than grabbing potluck off the buffet.

Tasty dishes like Pork Osso Bucco and Plant-based Pan Roasted King Trumpet Mushrooms will make you forget about the restaurant’s history.

Photo: Disney

How can dishes like that be available at a place that once served chicken nuggets and pizza? The difference in meal quality is remarkable.

Also, Disney figured out a way to host character interactions that maintain the safety of guests and cast members alike.

So, you’ll get to play with hostess Minnie Mouse and all her friends when you eat here!

The Plaza Inn

Okay, let’s say that you don’t want to explore the castle. Instead, you’d rather admire it from afar.

I have a suggestion for this approach as well. The Plaza Inn sits on the corner of Main Street, U.S.A., an underrated gem at Magic Kingdom.

Now, I won’t lie and say that the food here is the best at the park. It’s perfectly fine, but it won’t blow your mind or anything.

Photo: TulipandSnowflake.com

Instead, the appeal comes in two forms. One is the castle view, whether you’re eating inside the restaurant or sitting on the outside patio.

The other is the dessert, which will remind you of childhood trips to ice cream parlors.

Free advice: Get the Original Banana Split! The fudge and strawberry sauce blend perfectly.

San Angel Inn Restaurante

The second World Showcase restaurant on this list resides at the Mexico pavilion.

In fact, San Angel Inn Restaurante shares the same space with Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros.

You can watch the rides float by as you eat your lunch in a gorgeous, dark setting.

An abandoned Mesoamerican pyramid functions as the centerpiece of this meal. You’ll get distracted by it while you’re eating.

Don’t sleep on the food, though! The decadent Mexican flavors will remind you of the glory of salty dishes. The tortilla chips alone will justify your visit.

Still, you should save room for dessert, as the caramel ice cream is mouth-wateringly delicious.

T-REX Cafe

Do you like Build-A-Bear toys, loud noises, and extinction-level events?

If so, I’ve got the restaurant for you! At Disney Springs, you can dine at T-Rex Cafe, one of the best lunches available for kids.

This highly themed restaurant celebrates the age of the dinosaur, with audio-animatronics populating the restaurant.

In fact, one side of the building sells dinosaur merchandise, including a unique Build-A-Dino station!

Plus, every 20 minutes, the restaurant lights up and provides thunderous noises. The ceiling recreates the comet strike that killed the dinosaurs.

The experience is obnoxiously loud and impossible to ignore…and also a ton of fun.

By the way, you’re not settling when you eat here. The menu features a ton of options and even some novelty beverages you can take with you.

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

I guess the point that I’m making here is that you’ll never go wrong eating lunch at the World Showcase.

You’ll notice that one-third of this list consists of eateries from the back half of EPCOT, the place where international culinary delights abound.

I’m particularly fond of lunch at Via Napoli at the Italy pavilion.

While Italian food isn’t in short supply at Walt Disney World, good pizza is. And I’m of the opinion that Via Napoli serves the best slices.

The key ingredient is the cheese, which someone tastes fresher and richer than the other options. It vaguely reminds me of Giordano’s, a Chicago staple.

Also, the price is unexpectedly reasonable. When you order a Mezzo Metro, four people can split a $50 pizza…and still have plenty of leftovers!

That cheese, tho…

Woody’s Lunch Box

I mean, it’s right there in the name!

Woody from Toy Story wants to serve you lunch! Why wouldn’t you let him?

Photo Credit: Steven Diaz, photographer

Okay, sure, Woody’s an imaginary plastic toy, but you’ve had worse lunch options. You’ve eaten at Arby’s, right?

Seriously, the food at Woody’s Lunch Box redefines comfort cuisine. You can order the best grilled cheese sandwich on the planet.

Disney will throw in some tater tots to make the meal feel fresher than your usual burger and fries, too.

Plus, you’ll find the ultimate finishers here. The box lunch tarts will remind you of upscale Pop-Tarts, and the restaurant serves a new one each day!

Woody’s Lunch Box will make you feel like you’re back at school and opening your meal in the school cafeteria.

While your friends eat mystery meat, you’ve got home-cooked love in your lunchbox!