Best Restaraunt near Disney but not in Disney

[tholczer]

We'll have a car and want to escape Disney food. Any good suggestions?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Obviously tastes vary widely. We have enjoyed our meals at the Buca di Beppo on Harbor, the Mimi's near Hojos, and the Cheesecake Factory at Garden Walk. If you're looking for something more special or that isn't a chain, sorry, I can't help you.

 

[ParkHopper1]

In my opinion, that is what Down Town Disney is for! Wouldn't quite consider it "Disney" food. There is also Napa Rose and GCH and Steakhouse 55 on property

Lots of chains in surrounding areas, haven't hit too many mom and pop shops.

 

[Huff]

Depends on what you like and budget. For an upscale steak head to Mortons on Harbor near Convention Center.

For breakfast or lunch, head to Knotts diner. It is outside the park so no entry required and they have 2 hour free parking right outside. Famous for their chicken they even have chicken and eggs breakfast. Dinners are most likely good but I have never gone then.

We also enjoy Benihanas on Ball a couple miles east of Disneyland.

 

[skiingfast]

Los Sanchez, Wow, super awesome! I'll be going there every Disney trip from now on.

But I wouldn't show up at noon. It is so popular it gets busy.

http://www.lossanchez.com/loca.htm

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Depends how far you wanna go...I have a few places that I was introduced to by my friend who grew up in HB but they're further toward HB

 

[tholczer]

Thanks for the suggestions. Those all look great. Choices make me happy.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

What kind of food do you like, and how much would you like to spend?

 

[tholczer]

We like everything and don't really care about price. We just want GOOD.

 

[aurorae]

There's a McCormick & Schmicks at Garden Walk. We've always had good food when we've eaten at one of their restaraunts.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

Since you have a vehicle, drive up S. Harbor past Hojo's, and hit IN-N-OUT, for the best fast food burger you'll ever have. A 1/4 mile up the street on the left is a Ruby's Diner, a TS place that has outstanding food. Both are stuck in the 50's(in a good way), but are excellent places to eat. There is a Disney Character Warehouse around the corner from IN-N-OUT, and a Henry's Farmers Market between the 2 restaurants for snacks.

 

[Sidney Land]

Obviously tastes vary widely. We have enjoyed our meals at the Buca di Beppo on Harbor, the Mimi's near Hojos, and the Cheesecake Factory at Garden Walk. If you're looking for something more special or that isn't a chain, sorry, I can't help you.

Yes to both Mimi's and Cheesecake Factory.

Los Sanchez, Wow, super awesome! I'll be going there every Disney trip from now on.

But I wouldn't show up at noon. It is so popular it gets busy.

Also a favorite counter service place - always hopping. The location south on DL Drive, which becomes West Street, is the closest. You know you're on the right road if you pass by a YELLOW house.

Since you have a vehicle, drive up S. Harbor past Hojo's, and hit IN-N-OUT, for the best fast food burger you'll ever have. A 1/4 mile up the street on the left is a Ruby's Diner, a TS place that has outstanding food. Both are stuck in the 50's(in a good way), but are excellent places to eat. There is a Disney Character Warehouse around the corner from IN-N-OUT, and a Henry's Farmers Market between the 2 restaurants for snacks.

Ruby's at Harbor/Orangethorpe has closed, but there's a closer one on Lincoln between the I-5 and West St.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Since you have a vehicle, drive up S. Harbor past Hojo's, and hit IN-N-OUT, for the best fast food burger you'll ever have. A 1/4 mile up the street on the left is a Ruby's Diner, a TS place that has outstanding food. Both are stuck in the 50's(in a good way), but are excellent places to eat. There is a Disney Character Warehouse around the corner from IN-N-OUT, and a Henry's Farmers Market between the 2 restaurants for snacks.

That Ruby's closed recently. There is one if you go up Harbor, then Left on Lincoln by the freeway. I just recently did a post on Disney's Character Warehouse.

I personally am anti-national chain restaurant (except for fast food), even the high end ones. We like the Lazy Dog Cafe (a local chain--the one in Orange). For quick Japanese food, we like Osaka on State College, Southeast corner of State College and Lincoln. We also like Stubricks in Fullerton and if you're willing to go a little further, the Zankou Chicken on Ball in Anaheim is the best kebaps, rotisserie chicken, and shawerma you'll ever have. For fancy fare, Mr. Stox is amazing and on Katella right near Disneyland. Great wine list too.

 

[smiles33]

If you're a more adventurous diner (i.e., will try ethnic/non-chain restaurants), Anaheim is in the middle of Orange County, which has large Vietnamese and Latino communities. We're really looking forward to trying a bunch of hole-in-the-wall places I found on Chowhound.

I haven't eaten at any of these yet (we leave in less than a month!) but Chowhounds are foodies who love good food:

• Thai Nakorn (Thai food for lunch or dinner)
• Hong An or Thien An (Vietnamese)
• Jagerhaus (German breakfast)
• El Farolito or Los Cotijas (Mexican)

 

[StarTink]

That Ruby's closed recently. There is one if you go up Harbor, then Left on Lincoln by the freeway. I just recently did a post on Disney's Character Warehouse.

I personally am anti-national chain restaurant (except for fast food), even the high end ones. We like the Lazy Dog Cafe (a local chain--the one in Orange). For quick Japanese food, we like Osaka on State College, Southeast corner of State College and Lincoln. We also like Stubricks in Fullerton and if you're willing to go a little further, the Zankou Chicken on Ball in Anaheim is the best kebaps, rotisserie chicken, and shawerma you'll ever have. For fancy fare, Mr. Stox is amazing and on Katella right near Disneyland. Great wine list too.

I've eaten at Lazy Dog and really enjoyed it. Have to agree with Mr Stox too. I have been there several times and it is always wonderful.

 

[disneyguy1818]

If you don't count Downtown Disney as inside Disney, I'd suggest Catal- they have excellent Mediterranean cuisine and a fairly upscale atmosphere. The paella is great there. Otherwise, you could check out Garden Walk- Roy's Hawaiian is good.

 

[StarTink]

Catal is good as well. The John Dory fish was excellent and the Butternut Squash good as well.

Be wary of the Rice Pudding though... it was delicious but there must have been 5 cups of rice in that bowl. One of the few deserts that you actually get your monies worth

 

[tinkermell]

I love Ralph Brennans' Jazz Kitchen in DTD. So fun and the atmosphere is great. Either request an upstairs balcony seat, or inside where the jazz band plays. Order their famous Bananas Fosters, which they prepare right at your table.

 

[IdahoBetty]

A lot depends on how much you want to spend and how far you're willing to drive. I live in Anaheim Hills, which is the far eastern corner of Orange County. Here are some restaurants that the hubby and I like, and go back to over and over again:

Memphis / Costa Mesa: southern food filtered through a SoCal sensibility. Restaurant is in building that must have been an old dive bar at some point, now has both indoor and outdoor seating. Reasonable prices and good service. There's also a Memphis in the arts district of Santa Ana, but we never eaten there.

Leatherby's Cafe Rouge / Costa Mesa: haute California cuisine, pricey and great service. In the middle of the OC performing arts plaza, so great people watching when concerts or shows are scheduled. Quiet and a little deserted after 8 pm or so, because all the show / theater-going crowds have left by then. Actually, any of the Patina group restaurants are excellent...

If you're feeling adventurous, try Surati Farsan Mart in Artesia, which is an Indian snack shop with hot food in an area that could be very easily named Little Bombay. It's by far the nicest place on Pioneer, and you'll get some great food for not very much money (try the stuffed dosa, bhell puri, or pani puri)! Everyone speaks English and is very helpful, but it's probably not for the faint of heart. Lots of interesting shops on Pioneer, saris, jewelry, sweets, etc.

Citrus City Grill in Orange is pretty good, nice patio for lounging and people watching. There's a lot of good walking and window-shopping in the old town area (The Circle), lots of antique malls to snoop through when you're done eating.

Lastly, our local neighborhood 'nice' restaurant in Anaheim Hills: Canyon, California haute cuisine. Excellent food and great mixed drinks, oddly hidden in a strip mall.

Good luck!

 

[the donut]

If you're a more adventurous diner (i.e., will try ethnic/non-chain restaurants), Anaheim is in the middle of Orange County, which has large Vietnamese and Latino communities. We're really looking forward to trying a bunch of hole-in-the-wall places I found on Chowhound.

I haven't eaten at any of these yet (we leave in less than a month!) but Chowhounds are foodies who love good food:

• Thai Nakorn (Thai food for lunch or dinner)
• Hong An or Thien An (Vietnamese)
• Jagerhaus (German breakfast)
• El Farolito or Los Cotijas (Mexican)

Thai Nakorn is excellent. They have Nam Sod with Crispy Rice that's excellent. I also liked their pad kee mao (spicy flat noodles).

We also like another Thai restaurant, Fa Sai Thai, which unlike Thai Nakorn, will deliver to the hotels.