Flood of restaurants with asian flare

[Harambe]

As I peruse all the menus, I can't help but notice a lot of places that now serve asian food.

In AK, Yak & Yeti, plus the counter service place Anadupur (sp?) Local Cafe

The Wave, which is replacing Concourse Steakhouse in the Contemporary - did I read that this place will have an asian flare?

Two new(ish) restaurants in the Japan Pavillion, plus the planned refurbishment of Nine Dragons in the China Pavillion

The Tomorrowland Noodle Station (when it's open!)

Add these to the existing Kimonos (Swan), Kona Cafe (Poly), Wolfgang Puck and California Grill sushi, the Asian station in the Sunshine Seasons CS in the Land, etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love asian food (I served it at my wedding!), but maybe we have enough choices at WDW now.

How about something totally different! Well, not as strange as a dinosaur restaurant . . .

 

[Lyndye]

I agree there are quite a few Asian-inspired menus around the World. I would like to see something new as well!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think if "Asian" was just more than Chinese/Japanese it would be nicer. Perhaps Indian, etc??
Much was expected from Yak and Yeti regarding "pan-Asian", but it's mostly shopping mall Chinese. Let's hope the Wave has a bit more adventurous menu..

 

[LowesChevy]

Thank you! I am glad someone else is noticing this as well. I like Asian food and fusion cuisine, but I think they are over doing it a bit. So two monorail resorts will have Asian influenced cuisine at their casual cafes- Kona and now the Wave. There are a lot of less adventurous or picky eaters that also want table service restaurants.

 

[DAniece]

As I peruse all the menus, I can't help but notice a lot of places that now serve asian food.

In AK, Yak & Yeti, plus the counter service place Anadupur (sp?) Local Cafe

The Wave, which is replacing Concourse Steakhouse in the Contemporary - did I read that this place will have an asian flare?

Two new(ish) restaurants in the Japan Pavillion, plus the planned refurbishment of Nine Dragons in the China Pavillion

The Tomorrowland Noodle Station (when it's open!)

Add these to the existing Kimonos (Swan), Kona Cafe (Poly), Wolfgang Puck and California Grill sushi, the Asian station in the Sunshine Seasons CS in the Land, etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love asian food (I served it at my wedding!), but maybe we have enough choices at WDW now.

How about something totally different! Well, not as strange as a dinosaur restaurant . . .

NEW (as in during 2007)
Yak & Yeti sit-down and counter service

CHANGE (since 2006? 2007?)
The Wave @ Contemporary

Not NEW or CHANGE (since 2006? 2007?)
*Refurbishment -- Japan @ Epcot -- the menu was always Japanese at each of these venues (teppanyaki - hot flat grill cooking, sushi & such -- used to be the bar area overlooking the Epcot World Showcase promanade)
*Refurbishment -- China @ Epcot -- the menu has always been Chinese (sort of)
*Tomorrowland Noodle Station @ Magic Kingdom -- this was changed over in 2006 (I think), they quickly took away the true asian food and went to a menu that includes prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans (not very asian or asian-inspired in my book); PLUS the doggoned place is rarely if ever open, the only times I've noticed it open = huge crowds in the parks & resorts and/or when free DDP is offered and they have to have someplace to put people who want to make their table-service ADRs

We've eaten at the Yak & Yeti once. We wouldn't even classify it as good as mall-food-court asian food. Not only that, the menu is very clearly run-of-the-mill Chinese food. And for goodness sake, during the Food & Wine Festival, why can't they serve decent asian street food? The stuff at the asian stands is pitiful...

So, in our final analysis, the asian food at WDW isn't all that great. Yes, there are quite a few venues offering "asian inspired" food, but I'd argue that the inspiration isn't very strong in general. I'd love it if there was something more strongly Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, or whatever...

Thanks for listening to my griping,
EG

 

[Harambe]

NEW (as in during 2007)
Yak & Yeti sit-down and counter service

CHANGE (since 2006? 2007?)
The Wave @ Contemporary

Not NEW or CHANGE (since 2006? 2007?)
*Refurbishment -- Japan @ Epcot -- the menu was always Japanese at each of these venues (teppanyaki - hot flat grill cooking, sushi & such -- used to be the bar area overlooking the Epcot World Showcase promanade)
*Refurbishment -- China @ Epcot -- the menu has always been Chinese (sort of)
*Tomorrowland Noodle Station @ Magic Kingdom -- this was changed over in 2006 (I think), they quickly took away the true asian food and went to a menu that includes prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans (not very asian or asian-inspired in my book); PLUS the doggoned place is rarely if ever open, the only times I've noticed it open = huge crowds in the parks & resorts and/or when free DDP is offered and they have to have someplace to put people who want to make their table-service ADRs

We've eaten at the Yak & Yeti once. We wouldn't even classify it as good as mall-food-court asian food. Not only that, the menu is very clearly run-of-the-mill Chinese food. And for goodness sake, during the Food & Wine Festival, why can't they serve decent asian street food? The stuff at the asian stands is pitiful...

So, in our final analysis, the asian food at WDW isn't all that great. Yes, there are quite a few venues offering "asian inspired" food, but I'd argue that the inspiration isn't very strong in general. I'd love it if there was something more strongly Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, or whatever...

Thanks for listening to my griping,
EG

Gripe away!! LOL!

I know the Japan and China venues aren't new, but Disney is putting a lot of money into them now, and still opening new restaurants with similar menus.

Just an observation on my part. It seems as if Disney found an ol' bunch of questionnaires somewhere that said everyone loves asian food!

I think the Wave is what disappointed me the most - I don't know what I was hoping for, but it wasn't "asian inspired".

 

[DAniece]

Yeah, You'd expect that a company like Disney that's done such an excellent job with their engineering (think math, numbers, analysis) could do a better job of understanding their market when it comes to decision-making re: food & beverage.

I certainly think they're going into overkill with the attempts to get asian food everywhere. I'd much rather see fewer venues of a particular type of food per square acre and more variety (did that make sense?). What I mean is, one good asian place in MK, one good hispanic place in MK, one good italian place in MK, etc.. for each part or each area of WDW (ex of individual areas: Disney Hollywood Studios, Resorts in between, Magic Kingdom, MK resorts, etc) Epcot could be the exception b/c of the world showcase...

I guess my gripe is the quality of the cuisine and the authenticity ... that bothers me more lately than what (type) and where (location).

EG

 

[Colleen27]

I just wish there was a little more variety of Asian!. I'd love to see Thai or Indian cuisine pop up somewhere at WDW, rather than more run of the mill "Asian inspired" menus. Yak & Yeti's menu doesn't even sound as good as our local Chinese take-out, and I'd really hoped for something more unique there. The Japan rehab looks and sounds great, though, and Tokyo Dining's menu looks absolutely fabulous. Hopefully the Nine Dragons rehab will be just as good.

 

[simonkodousek]

I just wish there was a little more variety of Asian!. I'd love to see Thai or Indian cuisine pop up somewhere at WDW, rather than more run of the mill "Asian inspired" menus. Yak & Yeti's menu doesn't even sound as good as our local Chinese take-out, and I'd really hoped for something more unique there. The Japan rehab looks and sounds great, though, and Tokyo Dining's menu looks absolutely fabulous. Hopefully the Nine Dragons rehab will be just as good.

I absolutely love Thai and Indian food, and would be thrilled to see some restaurants go up with those cuisines served, and the only ones served. I can't wait for the Nine Dragons rehab!!

 

[ElizabethB]

We, too, were disappointed when we saw the menu for Yak and Yeti. We had hopes for Indian cuisine. After all, it's in Anandapur, Disney's idealized version of a town in India.

Frankly, all of WDW is simply becoming way too generic food-wise. But, it's what the people want, apparently. We, however, are losing interest quickly.

 

[GQ's Ghost]

hello...do you read these boards.

Every other post is My child is a picky eater, my husband is a meat an potatos person....i am vegan...bla bla bla

Asian or Italian is as far out on a limb most americans will go. Those of us who desire fine dining and are looking for something off the beaten path are the ones who suffer.

Disney is just doing what they know will sell.

 

[Harambe]

hello...do you read these boards.

Every other post is My child is a picky eater, my husband is a meat an potatos person....i am vegan...bla bla bla

Asian or Italian is as far out on a limb most americans will go. Those of us who desire fine dining and are looking for something off the beaten path are the ones who suffer.

Disney is just doing what they know will sell.

You make a good point, GQ. Disney wants to please, so folks return again and again.

But I also like the idea of a certain type of restaurant - say we go with the Indian food - only serving that type of food, and in a small place brimming with that particular culture (and - gasp - not one pat of butter embossed with a Mickey head). That way only those that are interested could go, and those with pickey eaters in tow could choose another place that serves the generic along with the more unusual.

Again, these places don't have to be huge restaurants, but little havens of culture. Wouldn't that be awesome! Let's all fill out some more questionnaires!

 

[Laura]

Every other post is My child is a picky eater, my husband is a meat an potatos person....i am vegan...bla bla bla

That one doesn't mesh with the others. Plenty of vegans are not picky eaters and love authentic ethnic foods. In fact, many ethnic foods are vegan and vegetarian.

 

[GQ's Ghost]

That one doesn't mesh with the others. Plenty of vegans are not picky eaters and love authentic ethnic foods. In fact, many ethnic foods are vegan and vegetarian.

Thanks.

I am not up to speed on the details regarding being "Vegan", but the point is most places don't cater to it I would assume.

Fine food is one of my guilty pleasures. Not that I have money to burn, but I would like more places like where you could pay extra and try something new.

As long as it doesn't have mushrooms or mayonaise, I will eat it. I guess I am picky too.

 

[canda]

i wish there was more "good" mexican, tex-mex, and or mex-i-cali.

 

[mrzrich]

hello...do you read these boards.

Every other post is My child is a picky eater, my husband is a meat an potatos person....i am vegan...bla bla bla

Asian or Italian is as far out on a limb most americans will go. Those of us who desire fine dining and are looking for something off the beaten path are the ones who suffer.

Disney is just doing what they know will sell.

Then Disney will have to explain why whenever somebody here asks for the "Best CS in WDW"

Tons of us raise our hand to say Tangierine Cafe

 

[Colleen27]

i wish there was more "good" mexican, tex-mex, and or mex-i-cali.

Me too! San Angel was disappointing, and I would LOVE to see some GOOD Mexican at Disney! Maybe with Japan done and China undergoing rehab next, Mexico will make it to the top of the list for 2009.

 

[gina2000]

I just think a lot of people live in areas where exotic really doesn't exist and their palates are not used to spicy, strong tasting foods. WDW tries to create an Asian-inspired menu that has little to do with Asian spices and all to do with Asian appearances. It doesn't work well for me but it must work for a majority of their patrons because they continue to churn out "inspired" menus that are authentic in name only.

To me, even their pizza isn't close to anything that resembles "good" pizza and while that's all a matter of taste, most pizza lovers can appreciate variations in pizza as long as the sauce is good and the crust is chewy. Many east coast ethnic cities turn out splendid pizzas despite their regional differences. I'd eat pizza in Boston, NYC, or DC before I'd touch WDW pizza. Even Spoodles and Mama Melrose's flatbreads leave a lot to be desired. Jiko and CG are better.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Ok I admit that I love all the new asian style places but would it kill WDW to make a nice good old fashion Italian style pizza place with veal cutlet subs, eggplant subs, meatball parms, sausage parms, calzones, REAL pizza, Italian hoagies/subs, good cheesesteaks, etc etc???

 

[Laura]

Thanks.

I am not up to speed on the details regarding being "Vegan", but the point is most places don't cater to it I would assume.

Fine food is one of my guilty pleasures. Not that I have money to burn, but I would like more places like where you could pay extra and try something new.

As long as it doesn't have mushrooms or mayonaise, I will eat it. I guess I am picky too.

WDW barely caters to vegans (like vegetarians, but don't eat dairy, eggs, honey or processed sugar). The meat and potato husbands and picky children far outnumber vegans; even we vegetarians do. So it doesn't make sense to me to lump them together with the picky bland eaters, when vegans have nothing to do with the dumbing down of WDW restaurant menus. Often their meals aren't on the menus at all; they have to order something in advance. They can't afford to be picky when at the mercy of Disney chefs.