disneyland restaurants

[wulfekamp]

We are heading to Disneyland in may for our first trip. Would like your top 5 sit down meal places and top 5 counter service places in the parks. Thanks for the help.

 

[purple figment]

Table Service:
-Blue Bayou (DL)
-Cafe Orleans (DL)
-Big Thunder Ranch (DL)
-Carnation Cafe (DL)
-Carthay Circle (DCA)

Counter Service
-French Market (DL)
-Jolly Holiday (DL)
-Plaza Inn (lunch & dinner) (DL)
-River Belle Terrace (breakfast) (DL)
-Flo's V8 Cafe (DCA)

There are also excellent restaurants in the hotels and DTD.

You'll get more answers if you re-post your question on the Disneyland board since this restaurant board is for Disney World restaurants.

DL board:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=26

 

[wulfekamp]

thank you

 

[NickEslick]

Goofy's Kitchen - Equivalent to Chef Mickey's but in my opinion 100 times better.
House of Blues
Carnation Cafe
Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen - Haven't been in a while though
Carthay Circle Restaurant - I have not been, but it is a new with all the new stuff in California Adventure and I have heard good things

I don't you Counter Service enough, but when I do... Corn Dog Wagon or Castle

 

[Meriweather]

TS
Carthay Circle
Napa Rose
Carnation Cafe
House of Blues
Big Thunder Ranch

CS
Pacific Wharf
Jolly Holiday
Paradise Garden Grill
Flo's
Stage Door Cafe for a corn dog

 

[PoohsFan1]

For TS we really enjoyed:
- Blue Bayou
- Plaza In for the Minnie and Friends breakfast (we had the best character interaction there)
- Napa Valley in Grand California
- Steakhouse 55 in Disneyland Hotel
- Carnation Cafe
- Goofy's Kitchen (food was OK, but the character interaction was great)
- Story Teller's Cafe character breakfast in Grand California

QS Restaurants
- Cozy Cone Cafe
- Little Red Wagon in Disneyland Park for the best corn dogs and if you are in California Adventure go to Corn Dog Castle (same corn dogs).

 

[scrappymel]

TS: blue bayou, goofy's kitchen for characters, big thunder ranch bbq (we were completely UNIMPRESSED with wine country trattoria)

QS: royal street veranda (gumbo bowls), flo's v8, earl of sandwich downtown, and the chimichanga cart near BTMRR in DL

also... don't miss the yummy caramel popcorn cart near soarin' at DCA.

 

[Kristina4109]

My faves:

TS: Blue Bayou in Disneyland Park
Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure
Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel

QS: French Market in Disneyland Park
Flo's V8 Cafe in California Adventure

 

[figment_jii]

It's worth pointing out that the resorts (DLH, PPI, and GCH) and DTD a are very close to the two parks. So you can easily get to any of the restaurants in the hotels and DTD. Everything is within walking distance of each other at DLR. I point this out because several of the recommendations above include resort and DTD a restaurants.

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

TS: Carthay Circle
Ariel's Grotto
Storyteller's Cafe
Goofy's Kitchen

CS: French Market
Cove Bar (in between TS and CS)

 

[sleepydog25]

TS
Napa Rose
Carthay Circle
Wine Country Trattoria
As another poster suggested, DTD has some good choices and is close by

QS
Redd Rocketts (fresh salads)
Rancho del Zocalo

 

[sharonabe]

I don't have five, but I do have one:

Our BEST QS lunch was at Liberty Belle Terrace. Great sandwich as it was, but the toppings bar had unique items and even a few salad type things to add to our plate. Great deal!!

OH, you do have to try at least one corn dog while you're there.

 

[cattywampus]

TS: Blue Bayou
Carthay Circle
Cafe Orleans Patio only
Trader Sam (DL Hotel -- kids at lunch only)
Storytellers Cafe (GCH)

CS: Paradise Grill
Bengal BBQ
Stage door Cafe (same corn dogs as red wagon, with less wait and fries instead of chips)
Hungry Bear
French Market

Bonus
Snacks: Mint Julep Bar for Beignets (little window to right of French Market by NOS Train Station)
Jolly Holiday Bakery
Pooh Corner (exit from Winnie the Pooh) Bakery, hand made candy, etc

 

[navyblue8]

Corn dog wagon, hands down. Skip Wine Country for sure.

 

[tlovesdis]

TS:

Cafe Orleans (DL)
Wine Country Trattoria (DCA)

CS:

Corn Dog Castle (DCA)
Rancho Del Zocalo (DL)

 

[kapicka]

For anyone going to Disneyland by Jan 10th you HAVE to visit Big Thunder Ranch BBQ inside Disneyland before they close it forever.

I'm really hoping/wishing they could just move it and have it survive somewhere else in the park. It could replace the restaurant by the Winnie the Pooh ride, or the Mexican restaurant on the other side of Thunder Mountain. Anywhere!

 

[goodeats]

Carnation Cafe (on Main Street) and Storytellers in the GCH are great TS breakfast locations.

My favorite QS are Hungry Bear Restaurant in critter country (the onion rings and sweet potato fries are excellent), the Boudin Bakery (great salads), and French Market for the ambience (but food is iffy). People really like the chicken fusili pasta at Pizza Port, but I don't really eat pasta. Bengle BBQ is good, but expensive. For special snacks you can't beat Ghiradielli for sundaes or beignets in NOS.

For TS you HAVE to eat at Napa Rose. If it's too expensive at least go to the lounge and indulge in a drink and appetizer. It's the greatest place ever! Carthay Circle is OK, good cocktails though. I have had good experiences at Storytellers for dinner and Tortilla Jos in DTD.

I personally have never cared for the food at Big Thunder BBQ, but the atmosphere is wonderful!