My Favorite Places to Eat at EPCOT

The term “embarrassment of riches” applies to dining at EPCOT.

I’m not joking when I say that the World Showcase alone offers better dining options than my entire city. And I live in an area with 880,000 people.

EPCOT is ostensibly a theme park, but it’s more of a dining mecca, holy land for foodies.

As someone who is decidedly not a foodie, I use different criteria when I pick my meals.

If I could teleport to the World Showcase right now and eat dinner there, it’s 100 percent what I would do, though.

Here are my favorite places to eat at EPCOT. As an FYI, this list could have been MUCH longer!

Akershus

I’ll start by saying that I limited this list to ten. I could have easily taken it to 15, which is a remarkable statement from me.

There aren’t 15 restaurants I love in my town, which my wife will angrily confirm.

She haaaaaates the daily “I dunno, where do you wanna eat?” discussions.

So, if I can find this many places to eat at EPCOT, literally anyone can. It really is the best theme park for food in the world…by far!

Longtime readers know that I favor Akershus for two reasons.

The first is that I’m a shameless tourist wherever I go. If you can show me the world’s largest anything, I’ll stop there.

In fact, I’ll probably buy a t-shirt that says World’s Largest Whatever.

So, I adore what Disney calls “thematic feeding.” In fact, most of this list falls into that bucket because I’m so addicted to it.

At Akershus, you can pretend like you’re eating with Disney Princesses, friends who come to your table and entertain you.

Then, we have the salad bar, which includes Gjetost, a Norwegian cheese delicacy that I love so much that I buy it on Amazon.

That stuff’s sitting in my fridge right now, but it wouldn’t be if not for the brilliance of Akershus.

Connections Café & Eatery

Confession: I wanted to hate this place when it opened because I was squarely on Team Electric Umbrella.

Yes, I know most people considered the old restaurant one of the worst dining options at EPCOT. My family always loved it, though.

Alas, my pre-existing grudge against Connections Café didn’t last long.

I knew within ten minutes that I loved the new place. It’s open and spacious, offers a deep menu, and celebrates all things EPCOT.

As a lifetime EPCOT fan, I quickly discovered that while I wanted to dislike this restaurant, it’s actually right in my wheelhouse.

Those wall murals are soooo impressive.

Coral Reef Restaurant

These next two listings represent a kind of challenge for me in that my feelings may change some.

I’m acutely aware of the negative buzz that Coral Reef has garnered over the years.

When you dine here, you’re staring at a giant saltwater tank of fish. It’s like a meal at a Disney aquarium.

Diners expect the food to match the experience because Disney prices Coral Reef that way.

For the money you pay, the meal can disappoint. Since I’ve historically been a meat-and-potatoes person, I was fine with it.

Also, I looooooove the desserts here. Still, I can understand why others view Coral Reef as offering terrible bang for the buck.

The food has always suited me well, and the dining experience is inimitable.

Coral Reef is one of three restaurants on this list whose magic is only possible at Disney.

For that reason alone, I adore it.

Le Cellier Steakhouse

I mentioned an issue with Coral Reef and Le Cellier. About eight months ago, I stopped eating beef and pork.

I didn’t switch to vegetarianism because I literally might have starved to death.

But I’m still telling you right now that I love a steakhouse because their steak is great.

However, I…don’t eat steak now. I’m still gonna be an evangelist for Le Cellier anyway.

During our ten-year anniversary trip, this was one of the celebration restaurants we chose.

That statement speaks volumes about the high regard I hold for Le Cellier.

If you like maple flavors, this place will be like the mothership calling you home.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse

I don’t know whether dieticians have a term for me yet.

For a while, I was primarily eating chicken tenders for sustenance.

Eventually, the struggle to consume enough daily protein forced me back to eating various pork products.

While I wish I could go vegan or vegetarian, it’s just not possible for me.

So, I’ve made my peace with the fact that barbecue dishes work well for me.

I’ve got a local place in town that’s ideal for me, but it pales in comparison to Regal Eagle Smokehouse.

This place not only serves delicious BBQ with a Muppets theme, it even adds extras seemingly just for me.

This place serves Texas Toast and Banana Pudding!!! If I could only eat two foods for the rest of my life, I might pick those!

No, I’m lying. I’d pick fried cheese, but Texas Toast is waaaay up there. I’ve got the Zaxby’s receipts to prove it.

Rose & Crown Dining Room

I’ve raved about this place on many occasions.

For my family, some of our most treasured vacation moments have occurred here.

We adore watching EPCOT’s nighttime presentations occur just beyond our table by the waters of the World Showcase Lagoon.

My wife swears by the food here as well. She loves the Sticky Toffee Pudding, and her happiness is my happiness.

San Angel Inn

Again, ambiance matters to me when I’m dining. There was an old fast-casual dining chain I used to love called Daryl’s.

You could eat inside a Double Decker bus or a prison cell.

In a way, Daryl’s worked as my Disney substitute when I wasn’t at Walt Disney World.

There’s no replacing the real thing, though, and I remember every time I set foot in the Mexico pavilion.

At this location, you’re staring at an abandoned Mayan temple. It’s hypnotic.

Even better, the boats from the adjoining attraction, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, float by while you watch.

This place captivates me in a way that few other places have in my entire life…and I’m not just talking about restaurants!

Space 220

Based on Coral Reef and San Angel, you had to know this one was coming.

I’ll never forget my first time eating at Space 220, partially because I’d waited for so long.

Disney announced this restaurant several years before it officially opened, as technical hurdles and the pandemic repeatedly delayed it.

However, the delays served Space 220 well. When it finally opened, it was perfect in every way.

I sat in silence with a group of friends for the first 20 minutes of our meal.

If not for the server taking our order, we legitimately wouldn’t have said a word.

All of us sat there and gazed upon the splendor of this immersive outer space experience. It was mesmerizing.

While the food could have been worse than Coral Reef and I wouldn’t have cared, I’m happy to report the opposite.

This meal was probably the best one I had during that particular Walt Disney World vacation.

I don’t have perfect dining experiences often, but think of my first time at Space 220 as one of them.

Sunshine Seasons

This restaurant’s dining area is one of my favorite hangout spots at Walt Disney World.

You can sit here and bask in the excitement as people explore The Land pavilion.

They’ll run to Soarin’ around the World, and they’ll sniff out the lines for Living with the Land.

Generally, the adults in the party have a hopeful look about Living with the Land, which everyone knows provides a respite.

During a Sunshine Seasons meal, you can take it all in. Even better, you’re dining on the freshest ingredients at EPCOT.

Many of the dishes include components cultivated at The Land pavilion, and as a super-taster, I can assure you that you can tell.

Teppan Edo

I think you’ve figured out by now that I’m all about dinner and a show.

My family will mourn the Spirit of Aloha indefinitely because it was one of our places.

Similarly, the next time at Disney, I’m confident we’ll dine at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, an experience I unabashedly adore.

Teppan Edo isn’t quite as special in that most towns offer some version of teppanyaki dining.

In fact, there’s one ten minutes from us. Still, the Disney version feels more authentic since all the Cast Members come from Japan.

As for the food, well, you can tell that’s a lower priority for me.

In a few weeks, I’ll provide updated Walt Disney World restaurant rankings since I realize I’m long overdue on such lists.

Teppan Edo won’t be at the top of my EPCOT list since that will prioritize food quality.

When I’m on vacation, I care much more about fun, though. And Teppan Edo is FUN!

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Feature Photo: Disney