I’m at Disneyland. Where Should I Eat?
Disneyland Park’s history resonates with theme park fans.
That’s why the first theme park in the world remains one of the two most popular in terms of attendance.
Even better, Disney has spent the past seven decades perfecting the menus here.
The next time you’re at Disneyland, here’s where you should eat.
Quick Service vs. Table Service
Like Walt Disney World, Disneyland splits most of its dining options into two categories.
Quick Service restaurants are what we have traditionally called fast food.
While Disney elevates its menus, you’ll still find burgers, chicken nuggets, pizza, and sandwiches for the most part.
The benefits of Quick Service are twofold. First, you’ll save quite a bit of money relative to Table Service dining. Second, you’ll eat faster.
Still, sometimes you’ll prefer a better meal. Park guests burn many calories at the Happiest Place on Earth. So, refueling is always smart.
Also, sometimes a bit of downtime in a lovely restaurant provides the respite you need before you head back to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Both options will satisfy your needs during your visit, and neither of them is wrong. In truth, most guests combine Quick Service and Table Service dining.
I feel having one style for lunch and the other for dinner usually works best.
Best Quick Service at Disneyland
I’m going to start with one I feel strongly that you should choose.
Nobody would argue The Plaza serves the finest cuisine at Disneyland because…it doesn’t. But you should eat here anyway.
You’re experiencing Disney/theme park history when you choose this place.
Once called The Red Wagon Inn, the restaurant always pleased its best customer: Walt Disney.
Uncle Walt loved the chicken dish here and often hosted VIPs here on Main Street, U.S.A.
Fried Chicken remains the most popular dish to this day and uses the same recipe!
At Frontierland, you should try Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant, which serves Mexican cuisine…and has a bit of history to it as well!
Doritos were accidentally invented here! You…won’t find them on the menu today, though.
Critter Country also operates one of the most beloved dining experiences.
There’s something warm and inviting about Hungry Bear Restaurant, especially when you order the signature Honey-Spiced Chicken Sandwich.
Star Wars fans should try a place familiar to Walt Disney World fans. The West Coast version of Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo is just as good, if not better!
I’ll also recommend two more places.
The Golden Horseshoe highlights classic Disneyland. Plus, it has some of the cheapest cuisine at any restaurant. Be sure to get an ice cream float!
Similarly, Bengal Barbecue is more of a snack shack, but you’ll love the prices. Most dishes are under $10 and surprisingly filling. Make sure to try the Polynesian sauce with your order.
Worst Quick Service at Disneyland
You’ll never meet a more passionate, loyal group than Disneyland fans. Many of them reside locally. So, they’re incredibly attached to their favorites.
As such, anything I say here will meet strong resistance in certain circles.
Still, I’ll stick my head in the lion’s mouth and say that Alien Pizza Planet serves overpriced slices of pizza that lack in flavor.
Also, mentioning Royal Street Verandah is kind of a cheat because it just serves gumbo. But you can order beignets for a treat.
Best Table Service at Disneyland
For whatever reason, Walt Disney World’s Table Service restaurants have proven more popular over the years.
These eateries possess name recognition in a way that few Disneyland locales can match.
For this reason, identifying the best Table Service options at the Happiest Place on Earth is fairly easy. If you’ve heard a lot about the place, it’s probably good.
For example, two different eateries in New Orleans Square have earned this distinction.
I’d go so far as to say that Blue Bayou is probably the most famous of all Disneyland restaurants. That’s due to its idyllic setting.
This dining experience places you in the same building as Pirates of the Caribbean.
This is as magical as Disney gets, especially when your table sits right by the water.
I will say that you’ll pay more here than any other restaurant on this list, though. So, it’s more of a special event scenario, what with the $52 Filet Mignon and all.
When you want to save a bit of money but dine in the same vicinity, choose Café Orleans instead.
This restaurant ranks 30th on TripAdvisor out of all 500+ Anaheim restaurants. Blue Bayou sits 26th on the same list. So, they really are nearly equal.
I suspect foodies would slightly favor Café Orleans, even though it’s lacking the background appeal of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Disneyland loyalists rave about the Shrimp and Grits and Monte Cristo dishes on the menu.
Finally, you may be surprised to learn that Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A. surpasses both. TripAdvisor voters grade it in the top 15 in Anaheim!
While the entrees here are all good, what you really want is an appetizer, Walt’s Chili. Yes, it’s the same chili recipe Uncle Walt adored!
Worst Table Service at Disneyland
I’ll admit I was scared for my life in suggesting subpar Quick Service options. However, I don’t expect Table Service to prove controversial.
Most Disneyland fans know the open secret that is River Belle Terrace. It perennially ranks at or near the bottom of Disneyland Park dining experiences. The Frontierland eatery resides in a stately building and provides a calming ambiance.
As for the food, Weeeeeeeeeell. I guess I’d describe the entrees as edible. We’re talking about sandwiches and comfort food dishes priced in the $20-$30 range.
Really, that’s what bothers Disney fans about the place. The food tastes like Quick Service, but the pricing is definitely in the Table Service range.
This is the one Table Service option you can safely skip.
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Feature Photo:(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)