The best food to try at Disneyland

Open for dinner only.

There are quick, do-the-trick restaurants in Disneyland, and then there are the restaurants you should reserve for a capital-M meal. The gem of them all is Napa Rose, not only one of the best restaurants in Disney’s park and in Anaheim, but one of the best restaurants in Orange County. The lauded California-cuisine affair boasts nearly 20,000 bottles of Californian and European wines on offer (complete with tastings), plus an always-booked chef’s counter, making this a destination not just for park-goers. It also offers a lounge, a bar and its standard dining room for a more casual experience. Given the extreme focus on seasonality, the menu is ever changing, but you’ll always find two items here, both fantastic: the Smiling Tiger Salad, where spicy Thai-style marinated beef meets lobster-and-shrimp fritters with greens tossed in a coconut vinaigrette; and the portobello mushroom “cappuccino,” an earthy, silky, luscious bisque under thyme froth. Order one, order both, order anything here.

Location: Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

The in-park beignets at New Orleans Square have somewhat of a cult following, but we’ve got to break our silence: The beignets in Downtown Disney are superior not just to the in-park options, but to just about any beignets we’ve ever tasted. This probably has something to do with the fact that they’re from Ralph Brennan’s, a prominent New Orleans restaurant group. Found at the Jazz Kitchen, the lively dining destination brings a distinctly West Coast energy to the menu while holding true to its Louisiana roots. Sure, you can’t beat the classic presentation of the French doughnut, but it’s Disney and they’ve spared no expense (or calorie). Here, you can go bananas (pun very much intended) with a decadent vanilla bean crème anglaise topped bananas foster glazed beignet. If you really want to let the good times roll, we suggest grabbing them from Beignets Expressed, its attached to-go spot. You’ll find the usual suspects in addition to a robust line-up of glazed beignets available with a variety of toppings, including hazelnut, blueberry-lemon, and seasonal delights. Commit to your impending sugar coma and pair it with a frozen mint julep. You’re welcome.  

Location: Downtown Disney

We officially declare that Disneyland’s churro toffee has earned its rightful place alongside the park’s other iconic eats, like Dole whip and corn dogs, held in the highest of esteem. It’s a mind-bending combination adding the flavors of the theme park favorite churros to buttery toffee. The handheld dessert sees freshly made toffee covered in a creamy white chocolate before being drench in cinnamon churro sugar. It’s absolutely delicious, surprisingly not too sweet and will make for an epic treat on the way out that will soften the sting of realization that your day at the happiest place on earth is over. 

Location: Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen in Disneyland; Trolley Treats in California Adventure; Marceline’s Confectionery in Downtown Disney

The force is strong with all five senses inside Galaxy’s Edge, bringing to life the world of Star Wars. Since its fruition, Ronto Wraps have served as the intergalactic mainstay, as ubiquitous as the gas station hot dog—but with a space twist, of course. You can find them at the open-air Ronto Roasters, centered by a large mechanical spit helmed by a pitmaster droid. Did we mention they go in hard on the theme? Morning, noon and night, the bite lusted by galactic adventurers of all kinds is available in classic, breakfast, and plant-based. In its original version, a soft pillowy pita is piled high with grilled sausage, roasted pork, a tangy slaw and heavenly peppercorn sauce. If you can brave the nightmare that is L.A. morning traffic, you’d be remiss not to try its breakfast version that uses its tangy sauce and grilled sausage but sees the addition of egg and cheese. And even the most loyal carnivores will be fooled by the vegan version with a spicy kimchi slaw, plant-based sausage and gochujang spread.

Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. This childhood classic may be simple, but it’s well executed at Jolly Holiday Bakery, the Mary Poppins-themed eatery located a stone’s throw from Sleeping Beauty Castle. The classic tomato basil soup and grilled cheese is a year-round favorite, while Disney likes to show off its culinary muscles—and we are all for it—with seasonal specials, like a beef birria toasted cheese. This proves to be one of Disneyland’s most popular spots, and for good reason. Beat the crowds by mobile ordering this filling fixation, then head to the patio and enjoy the live pianist cranking out ragtime tunes at Refreshment Corner next door.

Location: Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland

If this full-service Italian spot in Downtown Disney appears to know what it’s doing, that’s because it absolutely does. After all, it’s a Patina Group restaurant, one of L.A.’s most established hospitality groups and caterers. At Naples Ristorante e Bar, the team keeps a heavy focus on their Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas—though the pastas aren’t too shabby, either, and you can round it all out with spritzes, wine and beer. The bottoms of these pies are firm but foldable, and the centers are gooey (though not so much that you have to use a knife and fork). You can order classics such as pepperoni (we stan) and margherita, or go wild with gorgonzola and roasted-pumpkin varieties. These are pizzas we’d be happy to order outside of a theme park’s shopping district—in fact, hey Patina Group, can you open a standalone a little closer to L.A.?

Location: Downtown Disney

The opening of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel brought a refreshed mid-century feel to the iconic hotel and one of the best dang watering holes in the entire resort. Palm Breeze Bar is an airy, colorful space that fuses contemporary modern design elements with Disney lore in the form of a sprawling mural inspired by the signature aesthetic of Disney Legend Mary Blair. The menu feels very Southern California, with prominent Asian and Mexican influences. We’ll gladly drag our weary bodies out of the theme parks and straight to the hotel for its Coctel de Mariscos, a ceviche-style dish served in a martini glass. It’s loaded with fresh fish, snow crab and avocado—all of it swimming in a pool of cocktail sauce that offers just the right amount of salty brine and a kick of heat. It’s delightfully refreshing and a welcome departure from heavier eats found elsewhere. You’d be hard pressed to find fresher seafood on property. 

Location: The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

A sandwich shouldn’t be this funny, yet here we are. At the Ant-Man–themed Pym Test Kitchen, the comicality of a teeny tiny brioche bun sandwiching a massive plank of fried chicken is only mirrored by its deliciousness. The restaurant’s menu parallels the hilarity of Ant-Man and the Wasp’s quantum sizing (and resizing), and while this new Avengers Campus spot offers a slew of big-and-small items, the chicken sandwich here is king. The schnitzel-like patty is fried to a perfect golden hue, and the shell is ideal: crunchy and textured, but not oily. Squiggles of teriyaki sauce and chili mayo add light heat and sweetness underneath the pickled cabbage slaw, and while the buns don’t contribute much in the way of flavor (there’s not much of them to begin with), they add some serious Scott Lang-level playfulness.

Location: Avengers Campus at California Adventure

In the spirit of adventure and, of course, Adventureland, Bengal Barbecue offers vibrant food to eat on the go, located right across from the Jungle Cruise ride. Just make your way past the jungle vines and follow the tantilizing smell of barbecued meat and you’ll find it: The menu here is simple and straightforward—marinated, grilled meat skewers—but it’s executed perfectly. The pork belly is succulent and the “hot and spicy” beef skewers thankfully keep things spicy; there’s also charred chicken, bacon-wrapped asparagus and a veggie skewer, if you want to change things up. Our advice? Order the plate, which adds fluffy jasmine rice and a refreshing miso-and-citrus slaw to brighten it all up. 

Location: Adventureland at Disneyland

This gem inside California Adventure is all about Old Hollywood glamour, designed after L.A.’s now-demolished 1920s Carthay Circle Theater and sporting a star-quality menu. Steaks, chops and some of the best cocktails in the park can be found here, but you’d be remiss to skip the fresh pastas, made in-house and decked out with seasonal vegetables, braised lamb and truffle butter, or as ravioli stuffed with roasted mushrooms and surrounded by braised turnips and English peas. You might be tempted to order a steak dinner à la an Old Hollywood exec, but trust us on the pastas. For a taste of Mickey’s white glove treatment—sans reservations—park-goers can visit the more relaxed Carthay Circle Lounge located on the first floor. Belly up to the bar or cozy in its intimate tables while still basking in that glow of tinsel town thanks to its complementary vibes. While the menu does rotate seasonally, you’ll find locals on its patio dining al fresco huddled over bowls of one of its menu mainstays, strozzapreti pasta with fresh San Marzano tomatoes.

 Location: Buena Vista Street at California Adventure

If you’re going to need anything to get through a day of lines at Disneyland, it’s stamina—which means starting your day with a solid breakfast. And the best breakfast to do the trick? Well that can be found just outside the park, at Disneyland Hotel’s Tangaroa Terrace café, just next to the pool. The loco moco breakfast burrito is hearty, fun and flavorful, giving you the best of the traditional Hawaiian dish—ground beef, yolky egg, steamed rice and plenty of deeply rich gravy—all tucked into a burrito with crispy fried onions. 

Location: Disneyland Hotel

Easily our favorite attraction in Disneyland’s transportive Star Wars corner of the park, Oga’s Cantina is like stepping straight into the seedy, party-packed drinking dens of a galaxy far, far away. Oga also slings non-boozy concoctions for little ones and adults keeping sober—you know, in case they’re approached by the First Order. There are porg-shaped tiki mugs and flights of beer served in rancor teeth, but we can’t get enough of the Fuzzy Tauntaun, a peach-vodka concoction with peach schnapps, orange juice, tangerine and a theatrical layer of “buzzz” foam, which tingles your lips.

Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

Frontierland’s premier dessert split our lives into two periods: before the monkey bread, and after it. The seasonal sundae is salty, sweet, hot and cold, piling ice cream onto warm, buttery monkey bread and covering it all with cinnamon, pumpkin or even cookie butter. There’s plenty to love in the Southern-leaning River Belle Terrace restaurant, but nothing can compare to the monkey bread, which pulls apart in doughy, sweet pieces. 

Location: Frontierland at Disneyland

Real ones know: The lobster roll at Disneyland is, honestly, very good and worth seeking out, the quality is nowhere near what you’d probably expect from fast-casual theme-park seafood. Critter Country’s pint-size fish shack, which sits right along the edge of the Rivers of America, offers a handful of order-worthy items but the best of them all is the New England-style lobster roll. The seasoned, chilled lobster meat is plentiful and tossed with celery and onions in mayonnaise, that gets wedged into a buttered roll, then sprinkled with a hefty helping of fresh chives. Refreshing and a good deal, this lobster roll is a Disney sleeper hit.

Location: Critter Country at Disneyland

If you still fantasize over the hot pocket of your youth, head to Café Daisy, located in the newly reimagined Mickey’s Toontown, for the pizza flop-over. Here, it takes the classic pizza and flips it on its head with fresh dough, zesty sauce and cheese that’s folded together like a taco and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. If we’re feeling fancy, we’ll order the pepperoni version. They’re not reinventing the wheel here by any means, and it tends to be a bit greasy (hey! it adds character) but it hits the spot by satisfying that nostalgic craving while simultaneously fueling the body for the rest of your marathon park day. 

Location: Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland

The icon, the legend, the dramatic tropical swirl so tantalizing it can wrap lines around a corner: We’re talking about the one and only Dole Whip, the most beloved and copied item on this list. The Tiki Room classic is a dairy-free Dole pineapple dessert, light and tart and first served right out front of Disneyland’s own temple to singing animatronic birds. As one of the most popular items to ever come out of the park, it’s spread to Disney World and beyond, with celebrity chefs such as Christina Tosi and Roy Choi paying their respects to the treat. In Disneyland you can still find it in its original form, as well as in float form (served in a cup with pineapple juice). Around the corner at Tropical Hideaway you can find it as sundaes and flavors like raspberry, while at Tangaroa Terrace, you can even add a shot of dark or coconut rum to your Dole Whip. Try one or try them all, we can’t pick a favorite. (Okay, maybe we like the rum.)

Location: Tiki Room and Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland at Disneyland; Tangaroa Terrace in Disneyland Hotel

Ballast Point’s Disney outpost should be the first stop for beer fanatics, but even if you’re not into the brewery’s award-winning IPAs and stouts, its gastropub offers plenty of food that’s also worth a visit. Plenty of the dishes involve beer in glazes, marinades and even a stellar Sculpin beer cheese, but it’s hard to beat the beer-free poke, a pile of large soy- and pineapple-vinaigrette–marinated ahi pieces piled together under wedges of avocado, seaweed salad and a crumbling of macadamia nuts. Use a fork or, even better, some of those accompanying fried wonton chips to scoop it all up.

Location: Downtown Disney

When the Avengers needed to fuel up after the Battle of New York they ate at Shawarma Palace, and we definitely see why: The New York-inspired street cart sells two varieties of shawarma—chicken, or a veggie option of falafel with roasted cauliflower—and they’re both excellent. That’s in large part due to a tangy coconut yogurt that’s light and refreshing, with crunch and texture from cucumber and tomato, not to mention extra punch from a healthy smear of delectably potent garlic sauce. It’s a balance of cool and warm that’s big on flavor—and makes for excellent fuel, even if you’re not saving a city.

Location: Avengers Campus at California Adventure

Pacific Wharf Café may be no more, but the iconic bread bowls, a longtime Disney fan favorite, live on at Aunt Cass Café. Located in newly reimagined San Fransokyo Square, the land takes inspiration from Big Hero 6 not only in its atmosphere, fusing the east with the west, but in its bites offerings familiar tastes with Asian twists. The clam chowder has been given a welcomed refresh pairing the creamy soup with the umami notes of white miso. And have no fear, it continues to be dished out in the same delightfully chewy, hollowed-out bread bowl from famed baker Boudin—and we promise that each slurp continues to be as comforting as a Baymax hug. After ingesting this behemoth, take a stroll through the Boudin Bakery Tour just around the corner, one of Disneyland’s greatest hidden gems. 

Location: San Fransokyo Square at California Adventure

Abandon all caloric concern, ye who enter here: Black Tap’s shakes are some of the most colorful and stacked we’ve ever tried, and they come laden with the likes of candy, freshly baked cookies, whipped cream, caramel and even entire slices of pie. You can tackle the signature CrazyShakes while seated inside or on the patio (the burgers and snacks like fried pickles are also solid), or simply walk up to the to-go window designated for the over-the-top dessert drinks.

Location: Downtown Disney

When Disney announced that Cove Bar would flip to the Pixar-themed Lamplight Lounge, the question was almost deafening: “What about the lobster nachos?!” Park-goers beelined for the pile of thick, crunchy tortilla chips smothered in warm lobster, black beans, aged-cheddar cheese sauce, crema and pico de gallo, and blessedly, this dish stuck around as the area transformed into Pixar Pier. Vibrant, flavorful and an upscale twist on the bar-food favorite, the lobster nachos are blessedly here to stay.

Location: Pixar Pier at California Adventure

Disneyland fans just about lost it when the longtime bagel twist was replaced with the cheesy garlic pretzel bread. But the joke was on us as our newest foodie obsession far surpasses its predecessor. While not quite the makings of a photographic masterpiece, the tinfoil encased snack is a large loaf of soft, pretzel bread that’s filled with cheesy garlic spread. And when it comes to filling, they mean filled. The creamy herb mixture is both flavorful—we’re talking so much garlic you’ll repel any vampires in greater Southern California—and ample, pouring over its sides, ensuring every bite is a thrill for your palate. For those looking to balance this out as more of a meal, grab a meat skewer at nearby Bengal Barbecue and turn it into a somewhat messy sandwich.

Location: Fantasyland at Disneyland

This is a sandwich so decadent that it might knock you out for a bit, but it’s a sandwich so good that we don’t even care. Disneyland’s take on the classic deep-fried, meat-and-cheese beauty comes packed with layers of turkey, ham and Swiss cheese that’s all battered, fried and heavily dusted with powdered sugar for that ideal sweet-savory balance that makes this a sandwich hall-of-fame legend. In lieu of jam this version comes with berry purée, perfect for dunking. Looking for a meat-free version? There’s a three-cheese spin that involves Swiss, mozzarella and brie for equal indulgence. 

Location: New Orleans Square at Disneyland

The Tiki Room gets all the glory, but Disneyland Hotel’s tucked-away tiki bar is where the fun really is. A far cry from the sunny pool it sits next to, Trader Sam’s is a dark cave of a bar in nod to California’s classic tiki bars of yore, such as Trader Vic’s and Don the Beachcomber. Nautical and tropical bric-a-brac hang on the walls and from the ceiling, and if you know which cocktails to order, some of the decorations even spring to life. We’re partial to the HippopotoMai-Tai, a boozy, stormy drink made with two kinds of rum, orange Curaçao, almond syrup, agave nectar and fresh lime juice that comes in an adorable monkey face glass. With this being classic tiki, the cocktails here are booze-forward to say the least and best paired with an accompanying snack. The panko-crusted long beans are the ultimate in imbibing sustenance, crisped to perfection and served with a tangy, cool togarashi aioli. It’s the ideal nosh as you gawk at the Disney Easter egg eye candy that litters the walls.

Location: Disneyland Hotel

Plenty of Disneyland’s dishes have grown their own cult followings over the years, but one of the most enduring is the fried chicken at Plaza Inn. The crackling and crispy shell is so thick and excellently fried that you can hear the crunch with every bite, while the meat stays succulent beneath it. Served with gravy, mashed potatoes, a biscuit and vegetables, it’s a down-home American classic done right, right near the front of the park.

Location: Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland

Disney’s food teams do some next-level planning and design work when it comes to integrating rides and characters into their snack carts. The best of the bunch might just be Jack-Jack’s Cookie Num Nums, a food stand dedicated to The Incredibles’ cookie-obsessed superhero’s favorite treat—which, by the way, features prominently on the Incredicoaster ride next door. The cookie itself is thick, deep and studded with not one but three types of chocolate chips hand-placed in the dough so that every bite of this warm, gooey cookie is chocolatey and rich.

Location: Pixar Pier at California Adventure

Amusement-park food can start to add up over the course of a day, so when you find a good deal—and one that’s filling—hang onto it. In the case of the goods at Corn Dog Castle, we mean that literally: These girthy, hefty corn dogs are so big they’re almost unwieldy, so hold on tight. Priced at $10 and under, these bad boys come fresh from the fryer, a perfectly crisp crust over fluffy cornflour breading. They’ve got a veggie option and a standard dipped hot dog, but the best is the hot link, a spicy and fennel-flecked sausage that isn’t afraid to bring the heat.

Location: Paradise Gardens Park at California Adventure

One of the joys of Disneyland is finding a portable bite to snack on while you roam between lands and, let’s face it, hop into lines. Main Street is colored with vendors and shops all selling quick bites, but when you want something beyond popcorn and candied apples, you must try the stuffed pretzels, specifically the jalapeño option, whose mild spice gets cooled by warm, rich cream cheese. You can tear off portions to share with friends, but why would you want to?

Location: Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland

When Disney announced its new restaurant along the banks of the Jungle Cruise, we knew we’d be in for something worldly, exciting and perhaps a menu that’s a little bolder than your usual popcorn and fried-chicken fare (not that we don’t love those, too). Enter Tropical Hideaway’s cafeteria-style eatery that lets you pick and choose, and you should always choose the bao. Available in vegetarian, pork char siu and lime chicken options, these steamed, stuffed buns are well-spiced, flavorful and an ideal snack (or meal, if you order a few). Enjoy with a side of Dole Whip—especially considering you can only find flavors like raspberry in this restaurant.

Location: Adventureland at Disneyland

Disney doesn’t just tap into its location in SoCal, but hits a home run with a spin on this local favorite. The QuesaBirria Tacos have become a cult favorite amongst those visiting in the know. Packed with the most tender birria beef, its quality and substantial portion size make it easily one of the best bangs for your buck while visiting Mickey’s kingdom. It’s served with a punchy tomatillo salsa, but we go right for the accompanying consommé that is downright addicting, providing a silly symphony of flavors that balance out the richness of the meat and cheese. Close your eyes and you’ll completely forget you’re within earshot of a roller coaster. This plentiful dish can also be accommodated for those with gluten and wheat allergy needs. 

Location: San Fransokyo Square at California Adventure

Main Street, U.S.A. is like peering into the childhood of Walt Disney, and in one restaurant there, you can actually dine like the Mickey magnate himself. Carnation Cafe is a popular but tucked-away little spot serving American standards, including one of Walt’s favorite foods. But Walt didn’t just love chili—he loved this specific chili: Carnation Cafe uses the same chili recipe that Walt would eat when he was alive, and it’s a straightforward, meaty, tomato-heavy classic that comes topped with cheese, sour cream and chopped fresh tomatoes.

Location: Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland

Sure, we’re all about the ribs in Galaxy’s Edge, but plant-eaters landing on Black Spire Outpost still have it good: Docking Bay 7 stocks a fantastic Mediterranean-leaning mezze dish, where vegan kefta—sourced from the verdant planet Felucia, so we hear—sit alongside herbed hummus, a tomato-and-cucumber relish and a few slices of pita. It’s one of the most refreshing meals in the park.

Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

It doesn’t take much work to find movie references scattered across Disney parks’ menus, and at the edge of Fantasyland, one of these references is so popular and sought-out, it sells out nearly every day. Named, of course, for the nebulous item in the tune “Be Our Guest,” now we know what the Lumière-touted “gray stuff” actually is: a creamy dessert that covers red velvet cake with gray cookies-and-cream buttercream frosting, and at the center, there’s raspberry filling. And yes, it’s delicious.

Location: Fantasyland at Disneyland

Sushi’s abundant for hundreds of miles outside Disneyland’s walls, but if you get the craving while visiting the park, you’re almost out of luck. Fortunately Downtown Disney’s bowling-alley-slash-restaurant Splitsville has you covered with utilitarian rolls that should sate your needs, and with a full bar and bowling on deck, too. This isn’t omakase-quality, high-end sushi, but it’s the ideal spot to sit on a patio and nosh on volcano rolls, nigiri, spicy tuna and some seaweed salad—throw in one of those cocktails on draft and you’re good to go.

Location: Downtown Disney