Favourite off-site restaurants?

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Visiting Anaheim next month for eight days (staying at the Hotel Menage) and will be visiting Disneyland for some of that time. On the days when we're not visiting Mickey's Place what are your favourite local restaurants? Would like to try a Chinese or Japanese restaurant (possibly for a take-out or two), Italian is a favourite of ours, and maybe tex-mex style. Recommendations for places on a tight budget would be welcome

 

[nutshell]

Visiting Anaheim next month for eight days (staying at the Hotel Menage) and will be visiting Disneyland for some of that time. On the days when we're not visiting Mickey's Place what are your favourite local restaurants? Would like to try a Chinese or Japanese restaurant (possibly for a take-out or two), Italian is a favourite of ours, and maybe tex-mex style. Recommendations for places on a tight budget would be welcome

This might sound funny, but non-Californians should all go to In-N-Out Burger. It's a simple burger joint, but it's fresh and declicious. And it's cheap!!! There's even a secret menu you can find online to use when you order!

 

[sportbettor]

Our favorite Chinese and Italian Restaraunts are both on the corner of Chapman and Harbor. You would need a car to get there unless you want to take ART or something. Not sure about the name of the Chinese place but its right on the corner across Chapman from the Target. The Itailian place is called Buca di Beppo and its on the same corner (diagonally opposite from Target) in the hotel plaza with the Embassy Suites. Its a chain restaraunt but it has a fun atmosphere and isnt too expensive.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

You would need a car to get there ...

Thanks for the recommendations. We'll have a car, so happy to drive a bit to get to nice places.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We love trying different restaurants when we are traveling. One of the websites my DH always checks is yelp dot com. They have lots of reviews for lots of different kinds of restaurants. It also appears to be local people who are usually doing the reviewing. We found some good restaurants on our last trip to DLR through yelp. Type in anaheim area and then you can choose your restaurant category and they even indicate price ranges and frequently you can click on the restaurant name and it is a menu link. Very helpful!!

 

[DangerMouse]

MiMi's Cafe on Harbor & Manchester. Really great food, large portions, reasonable prices.

 

[RuthieT]

MiMi's hands down.... We ate there alot during our stay. VERY GOOD... In and Out burger is good too.

 

[CraftyMouse]

This might sound funny, but non-Californians should all go to In-N-Out Burger. It's a simple burger joint, but it's fresh and declicious. And it's cheap!!! There's even a secret menu you can find online to use when you order!

You definitely need to go to an In-N-Out Burger! They are to-die-for. Even my DD16, who won't eat fast food hamburgers, loves I-N-O Burger! They only have them in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California so we don't get them nearly often enough, but we make sure to stop there at least once or twice on each trip to the Western US. We even have an I-N-O Burger sticker on the back of our minivan!

FYI, there is one right near the complex that houses the DL outlet in the Orangefaire mall. We usually kill two birds with one stone and have I-N-O Burger when we go to the outlet store. Here are directions from DL (you have to go a few miles before getting to Orangethrope)...

To get to Disney's Character Warehouse from Disneyland, go north on Harbor Blvd and cross Hwy 91. Make a right at Orangethorpe and another right at Pomona, which is a street that goes right into the Orangefair Marketplace shopping center. A Michael's store is right in front of you; drive toward it and then go left to get to the Character Warehouse, which is at the corner of the building.

The I-N-O Burger is a separate, stand-alone, building along the main road. It is a block or two further down Harbor, at the corner of Harbor and E. Orangethorpe. (FYI, both the outlet and the I-N-O Burger are in Fullerton, not Anaheim.)

 

[Handbag Lady]

Mimi's is the best! We ate there Wednesday night last week, great service, great food, and was within budget.

They have really large meals, so maybe even splitting a meal for two people would work if you are not used to giant portions.

 

[bumbershoot]

We really liked our Mimi's veggie burgers, but we LOVED our Millie's mac and cheese with salad and garlic bread. Coco's had good veggie burgers, too.

We don't travel away from the basic area when we go, so I don't know about those other options.

 

[MommyLove]

I'm going to recommend Bubba Gump Shrimp Co:
www.bubbagump.com/locations/anaheim.html

for Asian cuisine, try PF Changs
321 W. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92802
Phone: (714) 507-2021

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I think there is also a Cheesecake Factory across from the target.

Directly across from DL is a Mimi's, McDonalds, Millie's and Tony Romas. All would probably work for you.

 

[midorimouse]

I agree with Mimi's if you're looking for a place within walking distance of the parks. We tried Denny's, IHOP (more expensive than other IHOPs), Millie's and Mimi's, and Mimi's was definitely the best. I also liked that Denny's sells breakfast items a la carte since I'm on a special diet for health reasons.

I had really good macadamia nut crusted orange roughy at Mimi's for $15.

We also went to Claimjumper's right next to Knott's Berry Farm.

Yes, you have to go to In 'n' Out. I get the Protein Burger (no bun). They also have grilled cheese for the kids if they don't want a burger (bun and cheese). And order grilled onions. Yummy! I used to get their pink lemonade, but I can't have it anymore. Their food tastes homemade. They don't have freezers in the restaurants, and everything is fresh.

 

[Sy-]

Is Rainforest Cafe considered off-site since it is not in the parks? Or is Downtown Disney on-site?

 

[bclydia]

Okay, so everyone here raves about In N Out burger and so, last trip, we made a point of going there. I have to say, I just don't get it. It's a very basic burger. Nothing special. I certainly wouldn't make the effort to go there again.
I do however, really love Baja Fresh for mexican. Really yummy and very fresh.
There is one up by the character warehouse.
Red Lobster is another favourite. It's about 2 miles south on Harbor. Be sure to join their club online right before you go. They will email you a questionaire and if you fill it out, then you'll get a link to a coupon for a free appetizer. It's usually only good for 2 weeks though so don't do it too soon.
We like the Rainforest Cafe too. They have great smoothies!
I'll second (or fifth, as the case may be) the recommendation for Mimi's. Very yummy food.
Millie's is a good family restaurant too. Their menu is extensive and the portions are huge. We share here. Very good about accommodating special needs too.
I'd skip the IHOP as the prices are astronomical and the food poor.
Also skip the restaurant right next to Best Western Park Place Inn on the crosswalk. It's called Captain something-or-another and it's frightening.
There is a coupon at the anaheim website for 10% off the MacDonald's on Harbor.
Have a great time!

 

[pixiewings71]

We can't stand In N Out, honestly, we pretty much hate it. No way will we spend our money to eat there.
We love Mimi's, the Rainforest Cafe, Bubba Gump (Cheesecake Factory is right next to it) and the Jazz Kitchen. All really good and very close to DL. I wouldn't recommend InO though, definitely NOT.

 

[jlmarr]

P.F. Chang's is right next to Cheesecake Factory on Katella (in GardenWalk). I'll second the vote for Mimi's Cafe, which BTW originated in Anaheim (not the location adjacent to DL). A highly regarded restaurant that I've never been to is the Anaheim White House. Our favorite Mexican restaurant is Chili Pepper in Orange, on Main just south of Chapman.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks all, plenty of food for thought

 

[Mililani Mouser]

My must do's:

1. In N Out Burger

2. Krispy Kreme (when HOT sign is ON)

3. Claimjumpers

 

[Bloodhound]

My must do's:

1. In N Out Burger

2. Krispy Kreme (when HOT sign is ON)

3. Claimjumpers

What is Claimjumpers?