Favorite food finds at Disneyland and California Adventure?

[muchaloha]

Hi all! We are heading to DL/DCA in December and would love to know the best food spots (restaurant, snacks, quick eats, etc) at both parks. What is worth it and what isn't? "Must do" places to make a dinning reservation? Overrated places or snacks to stay away from? And if there are any Christmas treats we need to put on our list while we are there? We haven't gone in SO long, that we have no idea what we should hit. We love all types of food, so throw your favorites our way! Would love to hear all your suggestions! Thanks!!

 

[DizMe]

There's a great post on the Community Board (it's linked at the top of the Disneyland main page) about food! https://www.disboards.com/threads/my-favorite-foods-at-disneyland-as-a-local.3894591/

 

[Mar_613]

The link DizMe sent has good recommendations!

☆I can vouch for the chicken fusilli pasta at Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland, but absolutely stay away from the pizza/breadsticks. The pasta is tasty, filling, and a dish i get every time in the park. The pizza there though is somehow worse than cafeteria pizza, very bland
☆The corn dogs from the Little Red Wagon at the end of main street are also super tasty, sometimes they are a bit overcooked, so for some it can be hit or miss, but for me they're a favorite.
☆Dole Whips are an amazing treat to have if you want to cool down, I'm not normally a fan of pineapple flavored anything, but I really enjoyed it when I tried it.
☆Personally, the Mickey Beignets at the Mint Julep Bar are a must, more so than a churro or Mickey pretzel.
☆The popcorn, especially when freshly popped, is incredible, I'd definitely recommend
☆In Cars Land in DCA there is a quick service restaurant that sells pasta in a bread cone, I highly recommend the bacon mac and cheese.
☆Kind of random I admit, but the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country has amazing fries.

Unfortunately, i'm not very well versed with any of the restaurants that need a reservation, most of what I recommended are quick service restaurants or snacks, but I hope it helps

 

[MillauFr]

Napa Rose is out must do every trip.

 

[DizMe]

For a walk-up snack, I love the bagel twists at Maurice's Treats cart in the princess fantasy faire area. Scroll down in this review to see pictures of the sweet and savory bagel twists and one of my favorite beverages, the Boysen Apple Freeze. https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013...and-maurices-treats-at-the-new-fantasy-faire/

 

[Louis63]

Carthay Circle loung, plus I belive there will be food festival going on

 

[taaren]

The two hardest reservations to get are Lamplighter Lounge in DCA and Blue Bayou in DL. Closely followed by Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe. I wake up at 60 days out at 6a to nab Lamplighter and frequently Orleans or Carnation. Read DisneyFoodBlog to find out what fabulous seasonal things will be offered around the parks when you get closer to your trip. The Festival of Holiday food booths will be up in December, which some of the booths change annually, a few favorites come back year after year. If you like beignets, go early to Mint Julep Bar as the lines are long throughout the day because a lot of people think its worth it. Many other places are subjective and menus change frequently to make the locals/APs happy.

 

[maggnanimouse]

I recently realized that I had been sleeping on the very popular Quesabirria Tacos at Cocina Cucamonga in DCA. They're incredible! So good, in fact, that they limit you to two orders per transaction.

 

[muchaloha]

The two hardest reservations to get are Lamplighter Lounge in DCA and Blue Bayou in DL. Closely followed by Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe. I wake up at 60 days out at 6a to nab Lamplighter and frequently Orleans or Carnation. Read DisneyFoodBlog to find out what fabulous seasonal things will be offered around the parks when you get closer to your trip. The Festival of Holiday food booths will be up in December, which some of the booths change annually, a few favorites come back year after year. If you like beignets, go early to Mint Julep Bar as the lines are long throughout the day because a lot of people think its worth it. Many other places are subjective and menus change frequently to make the locals/APs happy.

ooooh! Lamplighter Lounge is at the top of my list after looking at the menu! Do you have a favorite dish there?

 

[taaren]

ooooh! Lamplighter Lounge is at the top of my list after looking at the menu! Do you have a favorite dish there?

My favorite drink is the Melrose, use your favorite search engine to look for off-menu Lamplighter drinks to find off-menu favorites there's a few DFB articles about them. Our last several favorite must-have dishes and the reason we decided we have to book them every time were the seasonal items, I really hope they'll bring them back in future years when we get Keys again. The doughnuts changed flavors every trip, and all the regular menu items have never disappointed, so its just a meal that's worth the (admittedly high) price tag for us every time at Lamplighter.

 

[DharmaLou]

*Lamplight, not Lamplighter. My favorite thing there is the lobster nachos
Breakfast shawarma in Avengers Campus
Churros. All the churros.
Bao at the Tropical Hideaway (and Dole Whip)
Raspberry macaron at Jolly Holiday

 

[MinnieInVA]

My current favorite treat is the Raspberry Rose Macaron at Jolly Holiday, but they always sell out mid day. Make sure you get yours early! We mobile order ours right after park opening for lunch time pickup.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

My favorite place to eat is Galaxy’s Edge:

Ronto Wrap
Ronto-less Wrap (vegetarian and so so good! I’m not vegetarian and I alternate between this and the regular Ronto Wrap)
Breakfast Ronto Wrap (this is amazing)


Everything at Docking Bay 7 (including the black caf cold brew)


Chocolate popcorn from the popcorn carts in Galaxy’s Edge

Also, I love, love, love the hand pies sold at the various sweet shops. These are pastries like homemade pop tarts. Each location has a different flavor. So far my favorites are blueberry (Trolley Treats in DCA) and strawberry (Candy Palace in DL), but I really want to try raspberry (at Bing Bong’s in DCA).

Hand-dipped ice cream bars from Clarabelle’s are insane. My favorite is vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate and peanuts. They also do hand-dipped chocolate covered bananas here.

Nachos at Craftsman Grill (or Craftsman Bar) are off the hook.


I also like the nachos at Lamplight but I sub streak instead of lobster. Also brunch at Lamplight is my favorite! Chilaquiles!



The trio of cookies offered at Troubador Tavern (as part of the Lion King show) are both beautiful and delicious!

Finally, the gingerbread cookies offered at the cart in the lobby of the GCH are one of my very favorite treats. You have to know when the cart opens and line up early because they sell out in less than an hour. They used to only offer these at Christmas time but they did one for Halloween this year.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Some more photos:

Halloween gingerbread


Another Christmas gingerbread:


Strawberry hand pie


Salad, seasonal noodle dish, fried chicken tip yip from Docking Bay 7:




Ronto Wrap:


Quesabirria tacos from Cocina Cucamonga:

 

[Louis63]

The pork belly skewer at bengal bbq

 

[rndmr2]

☆I can vouch for the chicken fusilli pasta at Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland, but absolutely stay away from the pizza/breadsticks. The pasta is tasty, filling, and a dish i get every time in the park. The pizza there though is somehow worse than cafeteria pizza, very bland

We were there in April and did all quick serve places (couldn't get any ressies for sit down places)

Another vote for the Pasta at Pizza Planet. My Husband liked the pizza but he isn't too picky when it comes to pizza. I did like the breadsticks, they were really fresh. (we probably lucked out to get the first of a new batch made/heated up)

☆Personally, the Mickey Beignets at the Mint Julep Bar are a must, more so than a churro or Mickey pretzel.

We had all 3 of these and the beignets were definitely the best, when we were there they had a special dip that was cookie butter!! SO yummy!

My husband and I enjoyed the bread bowls that were available at a couple places with soup, mac and cheese or chili in them

Aunt Flo's in Carsland had an AMAZING Fried chicken meal and a nice big cobb salad

 

[maggnanimouse]

My favorite place to eat is Galaxy’s Edge:

Ronto Wrap
Ronto-less Wrap (vegetarian and so so good! I’m not vegetarian and I alternate between this and the regular Ronto Wrap)
Breakfast Ronto Wrap (this is amazing)
View attachment 705615

Everything at Docking Bay 7 (including the black caf cold brew)
View attachment 705619

Chocolate popcorn from the popcorn carts in Galaxy’s Edge

Also, I love, love, love the hand pies sold at the various sweet shops. These are pastries like homemade pop tarts. Each location has a different flavor. So far my favorites are blueberry (Trolley Treats in DCA) and strawberry (Candy Palace in DL), but I really want to try raspberry (at Bing Bong’s in DCA).

Hand-dipped ice cream bars from Clarabelle’s are insane. My favorite is vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate and peanuts. They also do hand-dipped chocolate covered bananas here.

Nachos at Craftsman Grill (or Craftsman Bar) are off the hook.
View attachment 705613

I also like the nachos at Lamplight but I sub streak instead of lobster. Also brunch at Lamplight is my favorite! Chilaquiles!
View attachment 705616
View attachment 705614

The trio of cookies offered at Troubador Tavern (as part of the Lion King show) are both beautiful and delicious!

Finally, the gingerbread cookies offered at the cart in the lobby of the GCH are one of my very favorite treats. You have to know when the cart opens and line up early because they sell out in less than an hour. They used to only offer these at Christmas time but they did one for Halloween this year.
View attachment 705618
View attachment 705612

Seconded on the Ronto-less Wrap as a non-vegetarian! I actually get disappointed when I go to WDW and they don't have it.

 

[irlandaise]

Disneyland: Any of the skewers at Bengal BBQ. (I usually get one chicken and one vegetable.)

DCA: Hot fudge sundaes at Ghirardelli. Not unique to Disney, but soooo good!

 

[Jrog92]

Some more photos:

Halloween gingerbread
View attachment 705622

Another Christmas gingerbread:
View attachment 705627

Strawberry hand pie
View attachment 705623

Salad, seasonal noodle dish, fried chicken tip yip from Docking Bay 7:
View attachment 705624
View attachment 705626
View attachment 705629

Ronto Wrap:
View attachment 705628

Quesabirria tacos from Cocina Cucamonga:
View attachment 705625

Where did you get the hand pie?

 

[Jinka]

Wow lots of great reviews and pictures too! Thanks!