Best Counter Service Meals?

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I'd love to hear about your favorite counter service meals...On our past trips we did mostly table service restaurants with lots of character meals. But, the kids are getting older and we are on a tighter budget so we may try to do more counter service meals. I'd love to hear about the best restaurants in the parks for counter service. I'm trying to get excited about trying something different (for budget sake). Thanks!!

 

[waynesgirl]

Pecos Bill's-MK
Columbia House-MK
Cosmic Ray's-MK

Rainforest Cafe (get appetizer plates-cheaper and you get variety) AK

Starting Rolls-DHS; this is good for breakfast or lunch; big sandwiches-enough that you can share if needed

Anything EPCOT has to offer in WS-so many little stands like Morroco has a noodle stand, eggrolls in China, Japan has great sushi and noodle restaurants-but at the TS restaurants, you can always order appetizers and have a great meal in itself and everyone can share.

But, we always take extra snack with us (granola bars, pretzel packs, trail mix, powder drink mixes to put in a water bottle, and chips that we can snack on through the day.) Makes it easier on the wallet bringing things from home sometimes-having a good breakfast and snacking on granola bars (with a fruit bowl at the parks) usually holds us over 'til dinner time so we can splurge a little more.

Definitely consider cutting to 2 good meals a day with snacking in between-that cut my spending a lot. Space your timing out as well-eat a little later for breakfast and a little earlier for dinner-like right when they get ready to change from lunch menu-then you pay lunch prices for the same size. It really does save money.

Have so much fun!

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

Earl of Sandwich -DTD
Wolfgang Pucks-DTD

Flame Tree BBQ-AK

Backlot Express-HS
Studio Catering- HS

Columbia Harbor House-MK
Pecos Bills-MK
El Pirata y elperico-MK (seasonal)

Sunshine Seasons- EP
Almost anything in the WS

 

[2luvmickey]

At Epcot, we like Boulangerie Patisserie in France. Lots of yummy treats, and ham and cheese sandwiches or croissants. Also offers a cheese plate.

Most of the parks offer fresh fruit at the carts - apples, etc. for $1

My family likes to plan our big meal at lunch for a few reasons:
1. By 1:30pm, we are ready to sit down in an air conditioned restaurant
2. Lunch is less expensive than dinner
3. Gives us time to talk over the morning and plan the rest of the day/evening
4. Always carry a deck of cards to pass the time while waiting for the food

 

[dalt01]

Columbia House-MK

Columbia Harbor House-MK

.......... the tuna fish salad at Columbia Harbour House is wonderful......................the best counter service however is not in a park IMHO......it is riverside mill in POR.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Some have already been mentioned, but these are some of the family favorites.

Pepper Market-CSR
Capt'n Cook's-Poly
Riverside Mill-POR
Wolfgang Puck Express-DTD
Earl of Sandwich-DTD
Pecos Bill's and Cosmic Ray's, both have a toppings bar-MK
Sunshine Seasons-EPCOT

Most have entrees that can be shared.

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

.......... the tuna fish salad at Columbia Harbour House is wonderful......................the best counter service however is not in a park IMHO......it is riverside mill in POR.

We agree!!! The food court at POR Riverside is awesome with the best "create your own salad" that I have had. Even when not staying at the resort, we still plan one meal at this food court. And, the atmosphere is terrific!!!!!

 

[Tink2312]

Columbia harbour house - MK
cosmic rays - MK
flame tree BBQ - AK
sunshine seasons - Epcot
contempo cafe - contemporary
earl of sandwich -DTD
wolfgang puck express - DTD

 

[BEASLYBOO]

MK
-Columbia House-Must have the Anchors Away Tuna Sandwich
-Casey's Corner-I love those little hot dog bites.

Epcot
-Tangeriene Cafe-Lamb Schwarma Platter-Big enough to share
-Sunshine Seasons-Really good Beet Salad and Vegetarian Chillie
-French Boulangerie has really good ham croissant and cheese platter
-Cantina St. Angel has decent nachos and combo platter, good churros

DHS
-I try not to eat there, the only decent CS is Studio Catering Co. and it's often too busy but they have good wraps and panninies. Stay away, far far away, from the ABC Commissary!

AK
-Yak and Yeti CS, I've had really good hot shrimp lomein, and really yucky cold, congeled noodles w. hard shrimp.
-The Safari Corn Dog stand is good.

I detest Disney pizza of any kind.

 

[tink713]

Columbia Harbour House-MK
Tangierine Cafe-Epcot
Pizzafari-AK

Sassagoula Floatworks-POFQ
Everything Pop-POP

WPE-DTD
Earl of Sandwich-DTD

 

[momof1princess]

MK:
Pecos Bill's
Pinocchio Village Haus (pizza/salad combo is enough for 2)

EP:
Liberty Inn

DHS:
Backlot Express
Studio Catering Company

AK:
Pizzafari
Flame Tree BBQ

Pop Century food court is great and has tons of options to suit everyone.

 

[di19]

DTD - Wolfgang Puck Express is amazing as a counter service

 

[ksueboo]

Our favorite is

Flame Tree BBQ at AK (pulled pork, yummy!)
Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD. This was the first time I ever took a picture of DH food, which he still to this day thinks is an extremely odd thing to do. Silly boy!
Also, loved the greek salad I got during Epcot's F&W!

 

[ncmomof2]

I second the following (or third or fourth...):

Cosmic rays - MK
Flame tree BBQ - AK
Sunshine seasons - Epcot
Earl of sandwich -DTD

 

[cbg1027]

I love:
CHH
Tangierine Cafe
and WPE!

 

[mikelangelo11]

I love the Tangierine Cafe. The Lamb wraps are excellent, and I'm usually not a big fan of lamb. This has become my new favorite cs in Epcot.I also like the Fish & Chips from the Rose & Crown in the UK.And the Cantina de San Angel has great nachos and margueritas.

 

[Steve_WDW_TRIP]

Pecos bill is reeal good, MK

 

[ROEDISNEY]

MK- CHH
DHS- Back lot tour
AK- Pizza Safari
Epcot - EU

 

[WVParkfan]

We are "counter service" people. Our favorite is Sunshine Seasons at the Land Pavilion in Epcot! They have Asian food, amazing salads, rotisserie chicken, and flatbread sandwiches (among other things). Truly the best counter service selection in all of Walt Disney World. Here are some other favorites that are both good and economical:

Magic Kingdom:
- Cosmic Ray's - $8 double cheeseburger with fries or apples/ $7.50 eight piece chicken nuggets and fries.
- Pecos Bill's - $7.79 chicken caesar salad
- El Pirata y el Perico - $7.50 Burrito with rice and beans.
- Columbia Harbor House - $7 fish basket.
------------
Animal Kingdom:
- Pizzafari - $8 personal pizza and salad
- Flametree BBQ - $10 slab of ribs, beans, corn muffin.
- Tamu Tamu - $6.50 cheeseburger basket with fries or apples / $7.70 Turkey & Swiss on Focaccia.
------------
Hollywood Studios:
- Catalina Eddies - $8.29 Hot Italian deli sandwich.
- Studio Catering Company - $8.59 Buffalo Chicken sandwich with fries or apples.
- Backlot Express - $7.59 double cheeseburger with fries or carrots/ $6.59 hotdog with fries.
------------
Epcot:
- See above about Sunshine Seasons. Best Counter Service options in all of Disney.
- Electric Umbrella - $8.09 Bacon Double Cheeseburger with fries or grapes.
- China Pavilion's Lotus Blossom Cafe' - $8.49 Orange Chicken with Steamed Rice.
- Germany Pavilion's Sommerfest - $6.59 Frankfurter served with sauerkraut and roll /
Salted Soft Pretzel - $4.29
- Japan Pavilion's Yakitori House - $8.49 Teriyaki chicken, sukiyaki beef, and steamed
rice.
- UK Pavilion's Yorkshire County Fish Shop - $8 Fish and Chips.

 

[Kaleigh]

Our favorites are:
MK- Cosmic Ray's- Large Portions, confusing ordering process if family wants different things. Good fixins bar
Pecos Bills- Good fixins bar

Epcot- Sunshine Seasons- healthy options, large portions
Sommerfest- great desserts, good brats
Boulangerie Pattisserie- amazing desserts
Yorkshire Fish- quality fish and chips, good portions

Studios- Backlot Express- free drink refills

AK- Flametree BBQ- good portions, good fries