Where Are the Best Places to Eat at Downtown Disney?
The genius of Disneyland Resort is that everything is close.
You can exit an official Disney hotel and literally be standing in Downtown Disney.
Disneyland Hotel Exterior Hat near the Entrance from Downtown Disney
Then, you can walk 100 feet and be standing inside Disney California Adventure.
The convenience will blow your mind the first time, and it opens up new possibilities.
You’re not confined to eating at the parks because Downtown Disney is right there!
So, where are the best places to eat at Downtown Disney?
Ballast Point Brewing Company
Here’s a story of a homebrew made good. It’ll give hope to all you hops enthusiasts.
Some friends in San Diego got together and tried to make some homebrews. They quickly realized that ingredients were hard to come by for non-professionals.
So, they started a beer market targeting homebrew aficionados and made a few discoveries along the way.
Photo: Disney
Before long, Ballast Point Brewing was born, and it was immediately a hit.
In 2019, Disney tried to get into the act by opening Ballast Point Brewing Company.
As fate would have it, Disney chose the absolute worst possible time for this.
Three months after the homebrew specialists opened at Disneyland, the pandemic closed it for a year.
This annoyance almost worked in the new brewery’s favor, as buzz grew while people weren’t able to go.
When Ballast Point finally reopened, it had become one of the top hangout spots at Downtown Disney.
When you want to hang out with friends, go here and order a flatbread or some Baja Fish Tacos.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes
(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes)
Have you ever heard the term, “CrazyShake?” If not, I have quite the treat for you!
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes obviously serves burgers and shakes.
When you’re hungry, you’ll probably go for the burgers, but what you’ll remember are the shakes.
This is the type of place that serves you a shake and throws a huge slice of cake on top for good measure.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes
You will smile the whole way through dessert, even though there’s no chance you’ll finish it all.
When you want to eat somewhere that will make the entire group happy, this is the place to go.
Céntrico
Chef Carlos Gaytan has opened several restaurants, including the iconic Tzuco.
If the name sounds familiar, you’re probably someone who watches Top Chef.
Photo: Disney
During the New Orleans season, Gaytan finished fifth, winning multiple challenges along the way.
This seems like a good time to mention that he’s also a Michelin-star chef.
Disney admired his cuisine enough to encourage him to take over an entire space at Downtown Disney.
Gaytan currently operates three (!) different restaurants, Céntrico, Paseo, and Tiendita.
Photo: Disney
They’re all good, but Céntrico currently holds a TripAdvisor grade of 4.8 out of 5. Folks, that’s impossible!
Foodies, unite. This is the place that will leave your tastebuds dancing.
Din Tai Fung
How big a deal was Downtown Disney’s acquisition of Din Tai Fung?
Well, Disney announced it at the D23 Expo, which speaks volumes about its importance.
Din Tai Fung Bar
Din Tai Fung is actually a Taiwanese restaurant chain with locations around the world.
I’m not joking. You can find these restaurants in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada.
This chain is 68 years old now, but Downtown Disney only added its franchisee in July 2024.
Despite its relatively newness, it has quickly become arguably THE go-to dining spot at Downtown Disney.
Photo: Disney
If you’re a fan of xiaolongbao, this is the place for you. And if you don’t know what that is, you should try it.
Earl of Sandwich
What is dead may never die! Game of Thrones knew it, and now Disneyland fans know it, too.
Photo: Disney
For many years now, Disneyland officials have haphazardly attempted to kill Earl of Sandwich.
I say haphazardly because this restaurant is the Freddy Krueger of sandwich shops.
Earl of Sandwich
No matter how many times Disney has tried to put it down, it just keeps coming back.
That’s not happening by accident, folks. Fans have voted with their wallets on this one.
Earl of Sandwich provides some of the best meal values in Anaheim.
Let me be clear. I’m not just talking about Disneyland when I say that. I mean the whole city.
This place sells sandwiches for less than $10. Subway can’t even beat that.
Not coincidentally, every time Downtown Disney claims it’s killing Earl of Sandwich, people revolt.
Eventually, Disney gave in and decided to build a huge new restaurant, making Earl of Sandwich permanent.
Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio
Disney
New Orleans cooking is world-renowned for its powerful, down-home flavors.
At the Jazz Kitchen, guests can explore a strange hybrid of that style of cooking with California cuisine.
You wouldn’t expect New Orleans spices to blend so well with California sensibilities, but they really do.
The Jazz Kitchen has earned multiple OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards.
Photo: Jazz Kitchen
It’s also a great place to order a bottle of wine or a specialty cocktail.
So, you can think of this as a more refined experience than Ballast Point, depending on your mood.
Naples Ristorante e Bar
Photo: Disney
Walt Disney World fans always do a double-take at this name, as it sounds familiar but isn’t quite right.
That’s because Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria has delighted EPCOT fans for ages now.
Photo: Naples
We know to go to the Italy pavilion and savor the decadent oversized pizzas here.
Well, Naples Ristorante e Bar is exactly with the bonus of an exceptional California bar.
Photo: Disney
You can head here and order a Wood-Fired Authentic Pizza Napoletana (Neapolitan pizza) and drink, too.
While I’m acutely aware that EPCOT’s version sells excellent drinks as well, the Anaheim version is objectively better.
When you’re part of a group that needs a great compromise option, Naples is your best bet.
Everyone loves pizza and alcohol, right?
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Feature Photo: Disney
