Favorite counter service

[Rory607]

We will have three nights/two days at DL this spring. We love table service at WDW, but we are trying to maximize our time for attractions this trip. We will probably do one sit-down meal at DS, but otherwise quick service. So what are your favorites? We’ll have two adults and two kids.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I'm a big fan all things retro and the first "Cars" movie so I love Flo's V8 Cafe. Not knowing how old your children are and what kind of food they like, Blue Bayou is amazing for a sit down meal in terms of atmosphere.

 

[crystal1313]

I find most places don't have a lot of variety for kids...I would for sure check out the menus online ahead of time for kid options. Sometimes we get them an adult meal to share.

Our favorites at DL are: Jolly Holiday and Rancho del Zocalo. Also enjoy a corn dog!

At DCA: We like Flos (although the kid burger there was not all that great). We also like Pacific Wharf Cafe.

Last trip we left DCA at lunch and got food at Black tap.

PS. what is DS? Downtown Disney?

 

[Rory607]

I'm a big fan all things retro and the first "Cars" movie so I love Flo's V8 Cafe. Not knowing how old your children are and what kind of food they like, Blue Bayou is amazing for a sit down meal in terms of atmosphere.

My H and I will eat pretty much anything. Kids are 9 and 5. The 9 year old can find something she likes anywhere, pretty much. The 5 year old is ridiculously picky, so I hate to plan around him. Sometimes we just get him sides because he will not try anything new. It drives me crazy, but I refuse to make everyone else cater to him.

 

[Rory607]

I find most places don't have a lot of variety for kids...I would for sure check out the menus online ahead of time for kid options. Sometimes we get them an adult meal to share.

Our favorites at DL are: Jolly Holiday and Rancho del Zocalo. Also enjoy a corn dog!

At DCA: We like Flos (although the kid burger there was not all that great). We also like Pacific Wharf Cafe.

Last trip we left DCA at lunch and got food at Black tap.

PS. what is DS? Downtown Disney?

Oops, DS was Disney Springs! I meant Downtown Disney. We are usually WDW people!

 

[gerilyne]

Our favorites at DL are: Plaza Inn for the fried chicken, Rancho del Zocalo, and Red Rose Tavern for their breakfast.

At DCA: Flo's for breakfast is my favorite. That french toast... well I have dreams about it.

We tend to eat at the same places each time so I have a list this next trip of new places to try. We'll see how many we get to.

 

[crystal1313]

Oops, DS was Disney Springs! I meant Downtown Disney. We are usually WDW people!

Ok, I was right in my guess about DS!

My youngest is also ridiculously picky! We usually find something he will eat at the places I listed. He even ate the turkey sandwich from Jolly Holiday last trip (not on kid menu) and was really happy with it. I was shocked! At Rancho, he will eat the rice. We won't cater to him for a special meal either. He eats where we eat!

Both my kids love eating at Carthay Circle because they have a lot of options for kids. Plus we let them get shirley temples or Roy Rogers. LOL. Both will eat the margherita pizza at Naples too (DTD). I also forgot to mention Plaza Inn. Picky eater will eat the pasta there. Oldest son likes the fried chicken. =)

I usually try to look at the counter service menus before a trip, that way when we get hungry, I know what is around that we would all eat. Hope that helps!

 

[coaches24]

Its been a couple years for me now but Rancho del Zocalo is one place we eat often as is the plaza inn. But the place in DCA right next to Soarin (smoke jumpers?) andAward Weiners on Buena Vista street are some of our favorites that we eat at every trip.

 

[katyringo]

We love flo’s. Their pot pie is my favorite.

Award wieners at DCA. It looks just like a simply hot dog stand thing, but it’s unique and so good!

Rancho del zocalo is one we like and gets us away from the chicken nuggets.

lamplight Lounge is more sit down, but they take walk ups. My kids love it there.

Jolly holiday is good for a sandwhich and dessert!

I think you will be impressed with quick service at Disneyland. Disneyland focuses less on table service then WDW..

 

[Canadian Harmony]

We also have our list of favourites, which are often not MY list of favourites

DLR: Jolly Holiday for awesome breakfast, Bengal BBQ for a quick snack, Cafe Orleans/French Market, and often the Carnation Cafe will take walk-ins, but we reserve just in case. Zocalo is probably my personal fave as we don't get good Mexican food here. The Plaza Inn is always a success because we all love the chicken (especially if we can't get into Carnation). My new go-to is Galaxy Grill for a burger - they're good and the desserts are yummy.

DCA: Flo's is DH's fave for breakfast on that side, and we like Smoke Jumpers for their burgers too. The kids haven't eaten at Award Weiners, but I'm sure my fry-loving daughter and her hot dog-loving sister would appreciate the food there. I will go out of my way for Cocina Cucamonga (particularly for their seasonal margarita with tajin around the rim), and the kids like it too. They also like the Lucky Fortune for noodles. I really need to try the soup at the Bakery... For something fancy, we try to hit Carthay Circle every trip. The food and service are bar-none, even in the lounge!

And now I want all the food...

 

[bethwc101]

Our favorites at DL are: Plaza Inn for the fried chicken, Rancho del Zocalo, and Red Rose Tavern for their breakfast.

At DCA: Flo's for breakfast is my favorite. That french toast... well I have dreams about it.

We tend to eat at the same places each time so I have a list this next trip of new places to try. We'll see how many we get to.

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Flo's breakfast, but I had a really disappointing experience when i tried it. The whole thing was super hard and chewy with a funny taste like they had used stale bread. I tried a bite of each to see if just once piece was weird and then I lost my appetite. I'm 100% it was a fluke experience and I am super disappointment about it as I LOVE french toast and have read all the rave reviews about it. But it was such a not good experience, I can't convince myself to try it again.
I know I should have gone to the counter to share my experience, but it kinda just shocked me initially that this is what people loved and took me far too long to realize it was probably just a fluke and by that time we were in line for RSR and then forgot about it.

 

[Pamela M]

Get a corn dog from the little red wagon on Main street! Then sit down and eat it while you wait for a parade.

 

[Rory607]

I think you will be impressed with quick service at Disneyland. Disneyland focuses less on table service then WDW..

This is good to hear!

 

[wench]

For quick service.....BENGAL BARBECUE hands down is our favorite.

 

[gerilyne]

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Flo's breakfast, but I had a really disappointing experience when i tried it. The whole thing was super hard and chewy with a funny taste like they had used stale bread. I tried a bite of each to see if just once piece was weird and then I lost my appetite. I'm 100% it was a fluke experience and I am super disappointment about it as I LOVE french toast and have read all the rave reviews about it. But it was such a not good experience, I can't convince myself to try it again.
I know I should have gone to the counter to share my experience, but it kinda just shocked me initially that this is what people loved and took me far too long to realize it was probably just a fluke and by that time we were in line for RSR and then forgot about it.

I totally get that off experience after so many people have raved about it. For me it was the lobster nachos at Lamplight Lounge. It just was a total miss. They were kind of cold and tasteless to me. It could also have been we had the nachos at the Craftsman Bar just a day or two before and they were amazing. Hopefully you will have a better experience next time!

 

[VandVsmama]

Favorite quick service at DL & DCA:

• French Market - especially the soup in a bread bowl. Picky eater YDD loves the pulled pork sandwich. She won't eat the bread. Just eats the pork.
• corn dogs from Little Red Wagon near the Plaza Inn on Main Street
• Plaza Inn for lunch or dinner
• Flo's V-8 Café
• Hungry Bear - especially if you sit on the "2nd" floor (not lower level) close to the Rivers of America
• Smokejumper's Grill
• ice cream sundae's from Gibson Girl on Main Street

All Ears.net has all the menus & prices for DL at https://allears.net/dlr/dining/menu.

 

[DLgal]

The good thing is most CS restaurants are all really close to other ones and with mobile order, it's easy to grab kids something and sit down and eat somewhere else nearby. We do this very often, as I have 2 autistic picky eaters who can usually not agree where to eat. Our go to are: Plaza Inn, Flo's V8 Cafe, Red Rose Taverne, and Smokejumpers Grill. Everyone can find something at all these that they like.

As adults, my husband and I like Docking Bay 7, Bengal BBQ, Jolly Holiday, Rancho del Zocalo, and French Market. The kids won't eat anything from any of those places, so we will get them pizza or chicken tenders or a burger from a nearby place via mobile order beforehand.

In Downtown Disney, my favorite CS is Napolini. It's a stellar deal for amazing neapolitan personal pizzas.

 

[Howry]

Smokejumpers in DCA is our go to. We like the burger bar where we can make our burgers however we want.

 

[Speedracer5]

I second (third, fourth, etc.) the vote for the corn dogs at the little red wagon on Main Street.

I also love Jolly Holiday. Sometimes we just eat snacks for lunch, so the Dole Whip stand or grabbing a big piece of watermelon from the cart in front of Mark Twain is sometimes sufficient.

If in Downtown Disney, Earl of Sandwich is delicious.

If available, I highly recommend mobile ordering on your phone. We literally walked up to the Dole Whip stand with 20 people in line. I ordered on the mobile app and within minutes walked up to the counter, in front of all those people, and got my order.

 

[kikismom]

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Flo's breakfast, but I had a really disappointing experience when i tried it. The whole thing was super hard and chewy with a funny taste like they had used stale bread. I tried a bite of each to see if just once piece was weird and then I lost my appetite. I'm 100% it was a fluke experience and I am super disappointment about it as I LOVE french toast and have read all the rave reviews about it. But it was such a not good experience, I can't convince myself to try it again.
I know I should have gone to the counter to share my experience, but it kinda just shocked me initially that this is what people loved and took me far too long to realize it was probably just a fluke and by that time we were in line for RSR and then forgot about it.

This is me too! I see people posting photos of their french toast and it looks amazing. Mine was gross and hard. One day I'll try it again but not this trip! I have too much food to work in already.