Favorite counter service

[Aurora0427]

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.

Our favorite at Disneyland is the Mexican quick service.... I can’t remember the name but I think it has Rancho in the title! It’s right by Big Thunder Mountain. You can eat really healthy or unhealthy- the soup they have at the middle station isn’t on the menu and it’s amazing. I usually get that and the taco trio.

We love the beignets and coffee at French Market for breakfast- we love riding rides for about an hour and then taking a mini break. Makes me feel like I’m back at Cafe Du Monde in NOLA.

Our favorite at DCA is Pacific Wharf and the Mexican place there too.... they have these bowls that are delicious. We try and eat pretty healthy, so both Mexican places help with that.

Flo’s is pretty good and definitely has the best atmosphere. We like the food at the other places I mentioned better, but we enjoy Flo’s when we want to sit inside and the music is so good. I’m a sucker for the 50s vibe!!!!

 

[Aurora0427]

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.

I bring my kids lunch into the park so we can eat lunch wherever we want..... they are so picky it’s annoying. I feel your pain!

 

[Aurora0427]

I think it was mentioned earlier, but I forgot about the clam chowder at the Royal Veranda window in New Orleans Square. Last time we went, we picked up some beignets and mint juleps from the mint julep bar and brought them over to the Royal Veranda. It was delicious. The mint julep bar also had mobile ordering. The Boudin sourdough place in CA Adventure also has good clam chowder.

I have to try the mint juleps next time. I always forget about those. I’ve been dying to try one of the bread bowls too.... I love clam chowder. And bread bowls. I just gained 5 pounds just saying that out loud.

 

[katyringo]

Our typical routine is to get some granola bars and stuff to snack on as we enter the park, enjoy low crowd mornings and then hit up somewhere for breakfast or a brunch type situation

 

[lindyv321]

You can now mobile order the large mac and cheese in the bread bowl, FYI.

Good to know! Thanks! Mobile order is amazing and I love that they keep adding to it.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, so I'll recommend our go to -- the Craftsman Grill at GCH. While not technically in the park, GCH is easy to get to if in DtD or DCA. There are a large variety of options. We like the nachos and pizzas there. Their breakfast is good too. I love the breakfast burrito. Afterward you can check out the beautiful GCH lobby!

 

[crystal1313]

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, so I'll recommend our go to -- the Craftsman Grill at GCH. While not technically in the park, GCH is easy to get to if in DtD or DCA. There are a large variety of options. We like the nachos and pizzas there. Their breakfast is good too. I love the breakfast burrito. Afterward you can check out the beautiful GCH lobby!

Shhhhhh!

 

[JohnR5101]

I agree with virtually all the recommendations here. I've enjoyed most of them. But to take this in a different direction, are there places you would absolutely avoid? For me the one that stands out is Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland. I'm not sure why that place is still open. Maybe its just new ones visiting who haven't been there before.
I wonder why Disney doesn't invite in a decent franchise like In-N-Out? They've done that before with McDonalds.

 

[gerilyne]

I agree with virtually all the recommendations here. I've enjoyed most of them. But to take this in a different direction, are there places you would absolutely avoid? For me the one that stands out is Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland. I'm not sure why that place is still open. Maybe its just new ones visiting who haven't been there before.
I wonder why Disney doesn't invite in a decent franchise like In-N-Out? They've done that before with McDonalds.

I agree about avoiding Galactic Grill. While the breakfast I had there wasn't terrible, their burgers are just kind of meh. I mean it's been a few years (due to avoiding it) but it was one and done for me.

I haven't been there since 2012 when it was called something else (how terrible is it I can't remember?) but Alien Pizza Planet is a skip for me. There is not really a lot about their pizza that impressed me enough to give it another try.

 

[Blue32]

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, so I'll recommend our go to -- the Craftsman Grill at GCH. While not technically in the park, GCH is easy to get to if in DtD or DCA. There are a large variety of options. We like the nachos and pizzas there. Their breakfast is good too. I love the breakfast burrito. Afterward you can check out the beautiful GCH lobby!

Tom from Disney Tourist Blog describes the new menu at GCH Grille as possibly the best counter service in all of DLR and WDW! High praise!

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/white-water-snacks-hidden-gem-restaurant/

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

Are the pizza places bad? Boardwalk and pizza planet? My whole family will eat pizza! Its very hard to go somewhere that everyone will enjoy, I was excited to go to both pizza places and get pizza and salad during our trip on different days.

 

[crystal1313]

Are the pizza places bad? Boardwalk and pizza planet? My whole family will eat pizza! Its very hard to go somewhere that everyone will enjoy, I was excited to go to both pizza places and get pizza and salad during our trip on different days.

If we eat pizza, we go to Naples in DTD =)

 

[Aurora0427]

Tom from Disney Tourist Blog describes the new menu at GCH Grille as possibly the best counter service in all of DLR and WDW! High praise!

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/white-water-snacks-hidden-gem-restaurant/

Omg I keep forgetting about this. Next trip we are going!

 

[jcatron243]

We always eat at Pizza Planet and Boardwalk Pizza Honestly its not gourmet or anything, but it is something we can agree on.

 

[DLgal]

Are the pizza places bad? Boardwalk and pizza planet? My whole family will eat pizza! Its very hard to go somewhere that everyone will enjoy, I was excited to go to both pizza places and get pizza and salad during our trip on different days.

My kids love Pizza Planet, and if you get a slice as soon as it comes out of the oven, it's darn good. They also have pretty great salads and pasta dishes.

Boardwalk Pizza and pasta always seems so sad and empty. They don't have the volume of guests there like at Pizza Planet in DL so the pizza just sits there and is usually cold, and I swear the slices are smaller over there too. We don't go there anymore.

But the best is absolutely Napolini. You get an entire personal pizza for about the same price as one slice at Pizza Planet.

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

Thanks! I’ve been looking up all the menus everywhere and have a list. My kids are very basic. Lol not food adventurous at all. Plain pepperoni basic pizza is all they need.

 

[DLgal]

Thanks! I’ve been looking up all the menus everywhere and have a list. My kids are very basic. Lol not food adventurous at all. Plain pepperoni basic pizza is all they need.

Several other CS locations in DL serve pizzas as well. Red Rose Taverne has a flatbread and Daisy's Diner in Toontown serves personal pizzas (cheese and pepperoni). My picky kids like all those pizzas too.

 

[Not Your Mom]

Several other CS locations in DL serve pizzas as well. Red Rose Taverne has a flatbread and Daisy's Diner in Toontown serves personal pizzas (cheese and pepperoni). My picky kids like all those pizzas too.

My twins loved the pizza at Red Rose Tavern, said it was the best they'd had. I got the cauliflower sandwich as I am vegetarian but it was messy and did not taste good.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Tom from Disney Tourist Blog describes the new menu at GCH Grille as possibly the best counter service in all of DLR and WDW! High praise!

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/white-water-snacks-hidden-gem-restaurant/

Thanks for sharing! I love Tom's insights and he's spot on with this article -- especially with the rec for the forest mushroom pizza. Ugh so amazing. I've never had a bad meal here (even going back to when it was White Water Snacks).

 

[twodogs]

In DL- You can also get corn dogs via mobile order at Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland. We usually go here rather than the wagon because we can get fries instead of chips or apples.
French Dip from French Market is good
Fried Chicken at Plaza Inn, it’s big enough to share!

In DCA- The Wharf, we always eat here. My son likes the mac and cheese and sourdough bread at Pacific Wharf Cafe. If I mobile order I’ll order him the kids mac and cheese with bread on the side or if I go in to order I get the mac and cheese in the bread bowl. The best meal I’ve ever eaten at the resort was at Cocina Cucamonga in September. I got the chicken Cocina bowl and still think about it! We also like the margaritas and atmosphere in this area.
The worst meal we’ve ever had was the pizza at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. DO NOT waste your money!
In DTD- Earl of Sandwich is great, quick, and inexpensive. We also enjoyed Jazz Kitchen Express. Sadly the closed ESPN Zone which was our favorite sit down option.

When we went two weeks ago, they now have Mac and Cheese in a bread bowl on Mobile Order!!! YAY!!!