Calling all the vegetarians!

[Nee Nee and Biddy]

What are the best places in WDW for vegetarian meals? Lunch and dinner. Did you find it easy to find vegetarian options? Any great tips? Thanks!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

My sister is a vegetarian and she always finds things to eat at WDW. We bought her a gift for Christmas two years ago. It was a book for vegetarians going to WDW. I think we bought it at Barnes and Noble. I don't remember the name but I'm sure you can find it.

HBC

 

[tiggersmom2]

My brother is a vegetarian and he prefers the buffets. His favorite buffet is the Akershus followed by Boma's.

 

[zakatak]

Well, I'll name a few of my favorites:

Boma, of course.
Jiko

Prime Time 50's - MGM - Stuffed Pepper (YUM)

Columbia Harbor House - MK - Hummus/Broccoli Slaw Sandwich w/ Veggie Chili (Double YUM)

Liberty Tree Tavern - MK - Salad w/ Strawberry Viniagrette

Tusker House - AK - Roasted Veggies w/ Hummus Sandwich

Epcot - lots around the world, including Tabouli!

That's just some to get you started! Alot of places have veggie burgers, pasta, etc... I don't eat dairy, but if you do, there is more to eat!

Check out wdwig.com's menu pages for all the options in the WORLD!

 

[bavaria]

I am still having computer blues, but was going to post my 'ultimate' list after 50+ visits.

After my Jan trip, here are some tips - sorry have to type quickly running out of time in the library!!!

- Yachtsman Galley for dinner - trust me. Yes, it's a steakhouse and there is lots of raw meat on display, but very good veggie options. Ask the chef
- Concourse Steakhouse - went there 3x in 2 weeks, lots of veggie sides, embarassingly cheap, it was under $10 for a huge plate for dinner which I couldn't finish
- lunch at the Yacht Club - I was lucky enough to meet two chefs there who took such wonderful care of me during the week
- two options in the French restaurant, very tasty
- Italy for pasta, but skip the cheese sauce and ask for tomato instead
- curry in the UK pavilion

Those are my most recent favourite finds, I promise that I will post my ultimate list soon once I get some free time.

Note on Animal Kingdom buffet- do call ahead on the day you plan to dine - they day that I went, there were two starches and two veggie dishes, one of which was green beans, so I chose not to dine there. I have heard mixed results, it really depends on the daily selections, which can be wonderful. The other restaurant is fantastic, Chef Annette has some great veggie items but will make what you wish.

Good luck!!!!

 

[bavaria]

OK I'm back with some more ideas! I will preface this by stating that I usually dine in sit down restaurants, and prefer one quality meal daily rather than lunch and dinner. Full service menus do change frequently. I try and avoid dairy, which does make it a little tougher. At home I don't even have to think twice about which restaurant to choose, with lots of Asian, Indian etc choices. It's still a little tough sometimes in the world though, and someone needs to help the vegans out - I don't know what they do!!! Here are my comments based on many experiences

Magic Kingdom
- Cosmic Ray's for salads, veggie burgers, soups, and mashed potatoes
- Liberty Tree for veggie lunch entree
- Tony's for pasta
(Magic Kingdom is my least favourite for veggie choices)

MGM
- Brown Derby for veggie noodle entree (Asian style) or they will make wonderful creations for you here - just ask!
- Prime Time has been mixed for me, and sometimes treats veggies as aliens (seriously, not even in character when they do that)
- Hollywood and Vine: never ended up eating here since I didn't like the choices on the buffet
- Mama Melrose: pasta or they will make you a veggie option

the counter service doesn't seem to have as many options in MGM, based on my experience

Epcot
Future World

- Wonders of Life/Pure and Simple: I used to eat here, but since I usually go in low season it is never open anymore so can't comment
- Living Seas: asian style noodle entree, not so hot, I prefer to ask for veggie sides etc
- Electric Umbrella: haven't eaten here for years, but recall seeing a veggie option on the menu recently

World Showcase

- Le Cellier: one veggie option, or ask them for something special
- Rose and Crown: they finally brought back the veggie curry with root vegetables, one of my favourites. Also have veggie cottage pie, not on the menu, but you can request it
- Chefs de France: TWO veggie entrees, never tried the macaroni and cheese, but the lasagne is amazing (and it is not Italian style). New favourite, based on service, ambiance, and ability to watch the chair act while dining
- Tagerine cafe: cold veggie plate, veggie pseudo pizza does not seem to be around any more (it was a great choice)
- Morocco full service restaurant: coucous with veggies, but it was disappointing and lacked flavour
- Japan: LOTS of choices, one of my favourites. Available at all four restaurants. Tempura veggies, veggie sushi, etc. Matsumura Lounge to people watch
- USA: never found anything here, can't comment
- Italy: gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce, avoid it if you don't want too much dairy and ask for tomato sauce. Also soups and salads. Good variety
- Biergarten: if you can stand sauerkraut and rotkohl, it's all yours! For a buffet, not great choices for veggies, I can talk first hand about being a veggie in Bavaria but that's another story
- Nine Dragons: never ate here, but veggie options, also in the fast food area
- Akershus: one of my favourites; veggies on the buffet, or order hot items like mashed rutabagas and veggies (note that I do find that the veggies have a little too much oil, personal preference)
- Mexico full service: they have a separate veggie menu, you will need to ask for it, but it has several choices

Resorts
Carribean Beach
- full service restaurant has Asian style noodle dish
- my FAVOURITE veggie sandwich at the burger stand, with coleslaw and other veggies. one of the reasons that I stay at CBR!

Pop Century
- lots of choices, vary by day; note that all of the moderates are great at letting you take a variety of sides

All Stars
- ditto Pop Century, and they usually heap on a few extra veggies for you!

Port Orleans
Riverside
- since the food court downsized a while back, it's been tough. Used to be my favourite resort, but challenging lately. Requests for pizza with no cheese or a veggie taco salad sometimes confuse the staff, not sure why. They try, but it just falls short of the other resorts

Boardwalk
- Spoodles: wow, what a disappointment!!!! that's all I will say

Yacht and Beach
Yacht Club Galley and the lunch restaurant will be favourites based on my comments above. Lunch is currently a portobello reuben, but ask them to make anything and they will deliver!!!

Grand Floridian
- hand made veggie burger for lunch, again chef was amazing, went way above and beyond to help out
- dinner was tougher, Citricos staff seemed a little confused and I didn't bother but went back to one of my favourites....

Contemporary
- CONCOURSE STEAKHOUSE!!! order any of the sides and you will have a huge meal for an embarassingly low price. Lunch or dinner

Wilderness Lodge
- veggie choice at Whispering Canyon changes, not too inspired
- Ask chef at Artists Point for something special

Fort Wilderness
- whatever dining line tells you, SKIP the Trails End - usually salad and one vegetable on the menu. Not worth the trip

Coronado
- mixed results, better choices in the Pepper Market but sometimes have to push for results

Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Jiko for chef Anette's tofu and grains indian style, or she will do up a whole menu for you....
- Boma with the caution to CALL ahead on the day of your planned visit. If you don't happen to like the veggies that day, it isn't worth it. If you do, it is a great option. Voted best veggie in Orlando, but hotel staff seem to be completely unaware of this

Downtown Disney
House of Blues - embarassingly cheap for mixed veggies and creative starches - a favourite
Wolfgang Puck Express - lots of flavourable choices

Hope that this list helps a little!!!!!

 

[bavaria]

And just a follow up - after that long post, I realized how often 'asian style noodle dish' came up - A few years ago I complained that the veggie option was always pasta with tomato sauce, so now it is often the pasta or the Asian style noodle dish. I know that they are trying.....but.... don't expect variety unless you dine in a full service resort restaurant and ask the chef for something special.

And I skipped Animal Kingdom Park - since I usually leave there before lunch time. But there is a veggie entree at Tusker House, it seems to change every so often. Don't know if Pizzafari will make a pizza without cheese, I never tried.

 

[Pocah]

Prime Time 50's - MGM - Stuffed Pepper (YUM)

Columbia Harbor House - MK - Hummus/Broccoli Slaw Sandwich w/ Veggie Chili (Double YUM)

I don't eat dairy, but if you do, there is more to eat!

The stuffed pepper at Prime Time has soy cheese with casein, which is a dairy product (at least it did the last time I checked). However, you can order it without the soy cheese. I believe the broccoli slaw also contains dairy, but you can also have this omitted from the sandwich.

 

[Pocah]

What are the best places in WDW for vegetarian meals? Lunch and dinner. Did you find it easy to find vegetarian options? Any great tips? Thanks!

Almost all restaurants have at least 1 vegetarian dish, a BIG improvement over just a few years ago. I used to call ahead everywhere, but now I find I don't always have to. (Generally dinner shows are the exception.) This doesn't mean I can go anywhere and always find something, but at least there will be something somewhere in each park. I'm vegan, by the way, so if you each dairy/eggs, it'll be even easier for you.

The last time I went, I enjoyed the following with no advance notice:

MK
Tony's - pasta. I don't remember if I requested a special, no-meat pasta or if they already had it. I do remember asking the server questions before I ordered. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it was fine.

Columbia - salad requested w/o chicken. Not so great, wouldn't get it again.

MGM
Brown Derby - Thai noodle dish - already vegan - yay! Very good.

Rosie's - boca burger w/o bun. The bun I think was vegan, but when I asked to look at the ingredients, there were loads of other things that aren't good for you, so I asked for just the burger, then I topped it with lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

Sci-Fi - pasta dish requested w/o shrimp. Not spectactular, but good.

Mama Melrose - pasta. Pretty good. But you get tired of pasta with a tomato sauce variation after a while.

AK
I don't think I ate here, since AK has the fewest options. I think I brought my own food that day. (The parks are supposed to let you bring in your own food if you have dietary restrictions.) However, the Rainforest Cafe at the entrance is supposed to have a few dishes. Also, the Tusker House has a veggie sandwich that may or may not be vegan, but it's definitely lacto-ovo vegetarian. Plus there're always those fresh fruit stands.

EPCOT - My favorite park!
Coral Reef - tofu and veggies dish (just okay, but fun atmosphere)

Mexico Cantina - burrito requested w/o meat and dairy. The tortilla, beans and sauce are all vegan! I went here a lot, since it was inexpensive (for Disney) and fast. Plus I LOVE Mexican food. You can also get tacos and other dishes made veg*n. Just ask the order taker what they can do. The one I spoke too knew immediately what they could offer and whether or not the ingredients were truly vegetarian. I figure they must get asked a lot here.

San Angel Inn - vegetarian combination requested w/o dairy. They have a separate vegetarian menu you can ask to see. But the food outside at the cantina tastes almost the same and is cheaper and faster. Of course, the atmosphere inside is a lot nicer.

Tempura Kiku - cold tofu, veggie sushi, avocado roll. I think I special requested the sushi because they didn't have any without fish on the menu. They have veggie tempura, too, but it's cooked in the same oil as the meat, so I didn't get it.

Yakitori House - edamame beans

RESORTS
Poly - Kona Cafe - Asian noodle dish. Other times I called in advance and requested vegan tonga toast and a vegan Asian noodle soup. However, on the last trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find a vegan dish already on the menu!

CR - California Grill - veggie sampler upon request. Another time, they had a vegan Mexican dish, don't remember exactly what, but it was yummy.

Swan - Kimono's Sushi - veggie roll, plus avocado roll upon request, edamame

AKL - Jiko - tandoori tofu and grains dish, cucumber and tomato salad requested w/o dairy. I visited Boma, too, just to look. They appeared to have quite a few things, but mostly cold dishes. Next I might investigate further.

Many other sit-down restaurants had vegetarian dishes on their menus, but most were not vegan. I think if I really wanted to eat at a certain place, they would've been able to rustle up something for me - a salad at least.

 

[monami7]

I found only 1 thing to eat at boma. I was surprised by everyones love of it. I am allergic to nut however. This may have made a huge difference. All of the restuarants were great about making sure I ate well however. Even cooking special meals that were meat and nut free. Just ask.

 

[bavaria]

Well I don't feel so lonely!!! I agree that things a few years were dismal for veggies, and I think that I may have been one of the people who really pushed for improvement. (Hey, I like to think that I finally got DL to serve veggie burgers! )

Sad/glad to see the comment re Boma - a few times when I have seen the daily items and said 'no thanks', I was made to feel as if I didn't appreciate the few veggie items. As I have said before, I am not going to pay $20+ for a buffet which has only 1 or 2 things which appeal to me. If it's green beans that night, I am not dining, and that should not be considered an insult to the kitchen, it's just my choice. (And non-veggies have over 20 choices, so I am sure that not everyone likes ALL choices!)

So be prepared for lots of pasta and/or Asian noodle dishes, unless you are ready to do some talking. If you can find someone in Guest Relations who understands (I have found some really good CM's at Boardwalk and AKL) they will help you to call around. Don't rely on the dining line - they just read what is in the computer, and sometimes it lacks detail or is outdated.

Best bet is to have one full service meal a day in a good sit down restaurant (usually at a resort rather than a park) and ask for the chef. Or visit the restaurant in advance, let them know when you plan on coming, and get some ideas.

It shouldn't have to take such work, and if you want to stick to salad or mundane items, it won't. If you do like to combine good food with a great vacation, then the advance planning is worth it.

And don't let anyone make you feel bad if you DONT call ahead - a good full service kitchen should still be able to accommodate your requests.

 

[HaleyB]

If you are going to a sit down and don't like the choice on the menu just call ahead. The chef at the coral reef made my DH the most wonderful dish. It was very good, very frresh as they made it just for him, and a great deal too.


Can anyone tell me if any of the veggie burgers in WDW are the grain and mushroom based ones (I know I have seen many of them refered to as the Bocca Burger style, yuck). I don't want my veggie burgers to taste like meat...

 

[bavaria]

Sadly they are usually Boca Burger style rather than Gardenburger style. Go to the Grand Floridian for the best handmade one though!

And oddly enough, a few years ago at DL a CM went to the staff dining area to get me a garden type one which they served, rather than the Boca type one which they serve to guests!!!!

 

[Talking Hands]

>Fort Wilderness
- whatever dining line tells you, SKIP the Trails End - usually salad and one vegetable on the menu. Not worth the trip<

They have gone out of their way to make vegetarian food for my daughters. Cheese pizza that was separate for them, baked potatoes with toppings such as cheese, veggies and butter and sour cream, Fresh fruit

>- Boma with the caution to CALL ahead on the day of your planned visit. If you don't happen to like the veggies that day, it isn't worth it. If you do, it is a great option. Voted best veggie in Orlando, but hotel staff seem to be completely unaware of this<
My daughter asked the server to show her what was vegetarian and the chef come put and went over each item with her. He then decided that was not enough and went back and made her a complete vegetarian that was beautiful and delicious. They are more than willing to work with you at AKL

 

[battricia]

When I went in august this is what we ate (my sister and I are vegetarian, not vegan):

MGM: Prime Time Cafe: the stuffed pepper is SOOO GOOD! you have to try that.
Hollywood and Vine: they have some decent selections, veggie lomein, buffalo
mozzerella and tomato salad, cucumber salad. Mac and
cheese. I'd say it's probably not worth the 20 dollars/person
although I'd probably do it again. I love buffets.

Animal Kingdom: Rain forest cafe: they have some veggie sandwich and a veggie burger.
They also have a veggie pasta option.
Tusker house: the veggie sandwich is really good.

Magic Kingdom: Columbia harbor house: a really good hummos and coleslaw sandwich.

Epcot: The Land food court: Veggie lasagna (very good and a large serving of it), they
also have a veggie wrap type sandwich.

Down Town Disney: Wolfgang puck Express: they have good pizza with a veggie option.
Planet Hollywood: They have good bruschetta and spinach dip as
appetizers, they also have a veggie type sandwich
and a pasta option.

I hope these help, I found them all to be very good.

tricia.

 

[Pocah]

Hollywood and Vine: they have some decent selections, veggie lomein,

Hi. Last time I checked (which was a couple of years ago now), the veggie lomein had oyster sauce in it, which would make it non-vegetarian. The person behind the counter had said it was vegetarian, but I asked to see the ingredients. I then explained to her that oyster sauce is not vegetarian. I haven't gone back since, but I hope they're not still telling people it's vegetarian when it's not.

 

[AWilliams]

I've never had a problem eating anywhere on Disney property.

Ohanas is one of my favorites. They always make a delicious pasta dish.

San Angel in Mexico is great since they have a separate vegetarian menu.

We have PS for Chefs de France, Artists Point, and Ohanas for this trip. I can't wait!!!

 

[MelissathePooh]

has anyone really not mentioned the califorina grill (home of the vegetarian zone) yet?

Chef Annette who used to be sort of famous for veg offerings at artist point a few years back has been at Jiko since it opened, ;she is one of the best.

For fast food, remember in MK, cosmic rays for veggie burgers, columbia harbor house for veggie sandwhich and chili, and plaza pavillion for cheese pizza. In MGM remember Rosie's / Catalina Eddie's for cheese pizza and veggie burgers. In AK, remember Tusker House for veg sandwhich and pizzafari for cheese/veggie pizza. In Epcot, remember the land food court, try the japanese fast food, try tangeriene cafe in morroco.

Every sit down restaurant will have at least one thing.

Buffets are up to you.

Vegetarian is really easy at wdw, vegan will be harder and you might want to call ahead.

 

[PercussionGirl]

im a vegetarian and ive always foud something to eat in WDW. the only problem i had was i ate too much food! the vegetarian chili was a favourite of mine (Columbia Harbour House i think) even the non vegetarians in my family would eat it rather than a burger or something!

 

[dkostel]

It's gotten MUCH better than it used to be, but almost all places are accommodating. I went to the Hoop-di-doo and my server was chastising me for not eating the family style ribs-chicken. I told him I was a veg (my first Disney veg experience, I didn't think to call ahead). He went into the kitchen within 10 or so minutes came back with more spaghetti marinara and steamed veggies than I could possibly eat in 2 meals.

Donna