how is San Angel??

[bjcaed]

We have eaten at most places in Epcot. We have ridden Grand fiesta, but never eaten there. We are going to WDW in November and heading to Epcot for dinner after arrival. We are from Texas and love some TEx Mex. How is the food? The atmosphere seems great! Really love Biergarten and that is our second choice for the night.
Thanks so much!!

 

[Anthony1971]

It is NOT Tex-Mex.... it is more traditional meaning not spicy, not fried, no sauce... all the good things Tex-Mex has....

 

[BlueStarryHat]

A lot of people hate San Angel, but we've never had a bad meal there and the service has always been top-notch. The food is good, too. The first time we went I was expecting Taco Bell on steroids, but it was very nice traditional Mexican food. This time we're going to try for a seat nearer the water and the volcano.

 

[StuckinPA]

San Angel Inn is my personal favorite! It doesn't feel like a trip without a visit. I personally love the frozen lime margaritas, too. Even my soon to be 12-year-old son is a fan. The atmosphere is the best at Disney in my opinion.

 

[RealBlast3]

I love it, too! Terrific, authentic Mexican food. Couldn't disagree more with the DIsboard podcasts that always bash it - I honestly don't get their disdain for it at all! Oh, well, different strokes for different folks. I think it's great food and most definitely NOT microwaved frozen Mexican food, as they claimed.

 

[purple figment]

We are from Texas and love some TEx Mex. How is the food?

The San Angel Inn and La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot are operated by the same company that has restaurants in Mexico City so it is more like traditional Mexican food and not Tex Mex. If you go to either restaurant with this in mind it can be very enjoyable although different from the typical Tex Mex flavors.

 

[momcloud]

My favorite!!! I love feeling like you are eating in a village in Mexico. We are planning to eat there in October.

 

[Hopefully]

As the others have stated, it is not Tex Mex but rather more traditional Mexican food.
If you love Tex Mex you will likely be disappointed.
It was my favorite meal last year. But I had Chicken al Pastor - not Tex Mex at all

 

[heidijanesmith]

We had a really poor experience at San Angel Inn, one of the worst in or out of WDW. The atmosphere is beautiful, we had a beautiful table by the river. Our server was really bad and our food was awful.

We have not gone back as there are so many great eateries at EPCOT that we really like!

 

[Masonmj84]

We ate there recently for the first time and had an overall decent experience (and better than I expected, given some of the not-so-kind reviews).

We had the earliest possible lunch ADR (11:30 am) so we were able to get a water side table.

I thought the quality of the entrees was generally good, with the quantity being somewhat on the smallish side. I ordered the steak tacos, which were good but small. These came with sides of beans (good) and rice (meh).

Service was super fast and reasonably friendly (whole meal took less than an hour, including dessert). But the speed of service may have been, at least in part, due to the restaurant being mostly empty when we arrived.

And, as many people note, it's super dark in there and the tables are very close together. But, overall, a very cool and unique atmosphere.

I'd definately consider eating there again for lunch but it wouldn't be among my very top choices in Epcot (where, other than Monsieur Paul, which is on a totally different level, my favorite Epcot restaurants are Via Napoli and Teppan Edo).

 

[cigar95]

The San Angel Inn and La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot are operated by the same company that has restaurants in Mexico City so it is more like traditional Mexican food and not Tex Mex. If you go to either restaurant with this in mind it can be very enjoyable although different from the typical Tex Mex flavors.

The two represent different regions of Mexico. The Inn is from the north, while La Hacienda is more central and southern Mexico. A few years back, the Inn went through an undeniable "slump", but when her cousin opened up across the promenade in 2010, she definitely upped her game. Perhaps the podcast boys need to give her another try.
La Hacienda is probably my #3 or #4 eatery at WDW. I always ask to be seated at Esmeralda's table.

 

[Mimifree]

I really didn't like it. I didn't expect it to taste anything like a local Mexican restaurant, but I expected it to taste good. We didn't have very good service either.

 

[maryj11]

We plan to eat there for the first this coming trip. I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of the restaurant.

 

[Farps]

We have had two very good meals there, and the atmosphere is remarkable. If the menu looks good to you then you should definitely give it a try.

 

[AngiTN]

I love it, too! Terrific, authentic Mexican food. Couldn't disagree more with the DIsboard podcasts that always bash it - I honestly don't get their disdain for it at all! Oh, well, different strokes for different folks. I think it's great food and most definitely NOT microwaved frozen Mexican food, as they claimed.

The San Angel Inn and La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot are operated by the same company that has restaurants in Mexico City so it is more like traditional Mexican food and not Tex Mex. If you go to either restaurant with this in mind it can be very enjoyable although different from the typical Tex Mex flavors.

As the others have stated, it is not Tex Mex but rather more traditional Mexican food.
If you love Tex Mex you will likely be disappointed.
It was my favorite meal last year. But I had Chicken al Pastor - not Tex Mex at all

The two represent different regions of Mexico. The Inn is from the north, while La Hacienda is more central and southern Mexico. A few years back, the Inn went through an undeniable "slump", but when her cousin opened up across the promenade in 2010, she definitely upped her game. Perhaps the podcast boys need to give her another try.
La Hacienda is probably my #3 or #4 eatery at WDW. I always ask to be seated at Esmeralda's table.

They actually did review it fairly recently and really, really hated on it.

I think one of the reasons is the bold above. Many, if not most go expecting TexMex they eat at their strip mall Mexican. It is NOT that, furtherest thing from that and if anyone goes expecting that they will be very disappointed. Not saying this is why The Dis guys hated on it but just saying it's why many do.

We really like the restaurant and have always enjoyed all our meals there. DH and I went last week

 

[bjcaed]

Thanks so much, I think we will give it a try! My teen girls love the ride and have always wanted to try it. It will be our new one this year.
Thanks so much!!!

 

[RealBlast3]

Well, as I said, the DIS guys felt it was just bad, bad food, the kind that is already made and then heated up, i.e. frozen. They feel very strongly about it. Their whole argument was that it WASN'T authentic, homecooked Mexican food. And as I and many others have said, we feel just the opposite. The DIS guys did not give San Angel Inn any credit at all, they wouldn't even concede it just wasn't their style Mexican food or wasn't Tex Mex or any of that. They just harped over and over that it wasn't the real deal and was some warmed up processed attempt at Mexican food.

I love them and they are entitled to their opinion, but if you ask me, there is a ton of hyperbole and exaggeration in how they explained their reaction. I get that they hate the food and that is their fair and honest reaction. But I strongly disagree with their cheeky metaphors they used to elaborate on their reactions, which make for an entertaining podcast review but are over the top and after all, to say the restaurant just reheats some frozen food is just not accurate.

I honestly don't know how you could look at their food and think that. I have had some amazing dishes over the years that came with clearly freshly made rice and beans and poultry, ect. As many have said, if anything, their food is authentic to a fault - not the opposite.

Best thing to do is to check it out and decide for yourself. I know there are several examples of me being very glad I didn't listen to reviewers about Disney restaurants when they said they were mediocre. Take in everyone's opinions but then decide for yourself.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks so much, I think we will give it a try! My teen girls love the ride and have always wanted to try it. It will be our new one this year.
Thanks so much!!!

If you think about it, come back and update on what y'all thought of it. I think if people pay attention to the menu before they do it would make a difference. What they do is different but it is also good. I'm craving their chips and salsa now (with tequila of course but I'm at work so none of that). I love their smokey chipolte based salsa so much. Heck, their verde salsa is even edible. First one I've ever tried that is

 

[AngiTN]

Well, as I said, the DIS guys felt it was just bad, bad food, the kind that is already made and then heated up, i.e. frozen. They feel very strongly about it. Their whole argument was that it WASN'T authentic, homecooked Mexican food. And as I and many others have said, we feel just the opposite. The DIS guys did not give San Angel Inn any credit at all, they wouldn't even concede it just wasn't their style Mexican food or wasn't Tex Mex or any of that. They just harped over and over that it wasn't the real deal and was some warmed up processed attempt at Mexican food.

I love them and they are entitled to their opinion, but if you ask me, there is a ton of hyperbole and exaggeration in how they explained their reaction. I get that they hate the food and that is their fair and honest reaction. But I strongly disagree with their cheeky metaphors they used to elaborate on their reactions, which make for an entertaining podcast review but are over the top and after all, to say the restaurant just reheats some frozen food is just not accurate.

I honestly don't know how you could look at their food and think that. I have had some amazing dishes over the years that came with clearly freshly made rice and beans and poultry, ect. As many have said, if anything, their food is authentic to a fault - not the opposite.

Best thing to do is to check it out and decide for yourself. I know there are several examples of me being very glad I didn't listen to reviewers about Disney restaurants when they said they were mediocre. Take in everyone's opinions but then decide for yourself.

YES! It's ok to not be a fan of something, of course, but they went on and on and the whole thing was so over the top it was becoming a contest on who could hate on it more.

 

[ThistleMae]

We eat there because it's so beautiful and just so Disney. The food is just okay, not a lot of variety, but not bad. Look at the menu and see what you think. It is a favorite for me because of atmosphere, just like BOG. The food at BOG is not spectacular but the atmosphere is...so it just depends on your expectations.