Please give me your restaurant recommendations

[jabead]

My family of 5 (DH, myself, and 3 kids - ages 6, 9, 12) are leaving in just 8 days for our So. CA trip. We're spending 5 days at Disneyland, 2 days in San Diego (going to Sea World on one day), 1 day at Huntington Beach, and a couple of days in the Hollywood area (going to Univ Studios on one day and seeing Lilo & Stitch at the El Capitan during its premiere weekend on the other). Please tell me your favorite places to eat at the theme parks as well as the surrounding areas. As of now I've made ressies (or PS ???) at Goofy's for dinner on our first night in the Disneyland area, Blue Bayou for lunch, and Avalon Cove for lunch. Any other ideas for sit-down or counter service restaurants would be welcomed. Also thinking about the dinner/magic show at Wizardz at Univ City Walk. Has anyone been? Any recommendations for Mexican restaurants in Old Town/San Diego? Thank you so much!~

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

Besides the ones that you name, at Disneyland I like Redd Rocket's pizza port in tomorrowland. They have "scatter service" meaning each person picks what they want on their tray and you all pay at once before entering the seating area. Here I love the pasta. Plaza Inn at the end of main street is also great with delicious fried chicken and a cobb salad that they toss to order. That is scatter service as well as is Rancho del Zocalo which is a relatively new place in Frontierland. They have mexican food along with BBQ. Very good as well and the atmosphere (you eat outside) is really neat. Plaza Inn has a wonderful character breakfast buffet too.

At the hotels I can recommend the Storytellers Cafe, althought it is extremely expensive. For just my husband and I, breakfast was around $50 with tip. But it is a good buffet with delish caramel french toast.

At Downtown Disney, restaurante Naples is good. Their "personal" sized pizzas make a good meal if you share one and order a salad or soup to go along. Although some people don't like it, we usually go to Rainforest Cafe. They have a huge menu which I bet would be a hit with your kids. There is something for everyone there.

In the anaheim surrounding areas, I like red robin and buca di beppo down on Harbor (near all the new hotels). You would have to drive here though, not within walking distance, but only a 5 minute trip. Buca di beppo is a very unique italian place, all meals are served family style and you get SO MUCH food you can't believe it.

In San Diego I like the speghetti factory downtown. A fun family place. Sorry, I don't like Mexican food so I can't comment on Old Town. Some fun places to check out besides sea world are Balboa Park, Coronado, La Jolla (you could stop in La Jolla on your way down or on your way back up) and Mission Beach.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[daannzzz]

At the Disneyland we like...
The Plaza Inn for pasta, fried chicken and salads
Redd Rockets for pasta and salads ( not the pizza)
French Market for a variety of items
Blue Bayou for full service lunch in awesome setting with decent food.

At DCA....
Avalone cove has good American food and is a patone price deal with Characters. I loke the food here.

At the Hotels....
Hook's Point and Goofy's Kitchen are both real gooth at the Disneyland Hotel
Storyyteller cafe is good at the Grand Californian ( but don't expect any storytelling)
We don't eat often off Disney Property. There is a new Mimi's Cafe across the street though which is pretty good.

 

[Tink33]

Old town for great Mexican food = Casa de Bandini

http://www.bazaardelmundo.com/dining/bandini.html

 

[tinagirl]

I really like Yamabuki in the Paradise Pier hotel if you are into Japanese food. They give you 8 california rolls for only $5, which is a pretty good price for all that crab. They have tempura and teriyaki too, which go really great with the Miso Soup. The restraunt is split into two little sections, and there is a sushi bar section if you just want a quick bite.

On Harbor Mimi's Cafe has really good breakfast (hint, get the pain perdu). It's a fair sized French cafe, and carries some creole style food as well.

If you want alot of choices head to the block, which has more restraunts than downtown Disney, and isn't that far away. To get there you can either take the 5 to City Dr. Exit, and make a right, or simply make a left on Katella from Harbor blvd, and turn right on State College Road (it will turn into City drive.) You'll pass by the Pond and the Angels stadium (I still call it the Big A) this way too, so it's mini sightseeing. Dave & Busters is good, as is Johnny Rockets (a 50's style diner), and they have a food court with Jodie Maronies.

The Block also has the only Hilo Hattie around, so if anyone is into Hawaiian memorabilia or fashion or music, this HUGE store will have something for you. If any of your kids are into skateboarding, the block also has a large Vans Skatepark and store. It's really fun to watch people skate, and it is a safer environment if your kids ever wanted to try it. I also like Manga House which sells the most popular Anime and Manga stuff (if any of your friends are into Dragonball or something, as alot of kids are).

If all else fails, go to that California standby, Inn & Out. Most people think there isn't much choice here, but that is mostly because they don't know the hidden menu. If you are interested in navigating this "secret" menu, then e-mail me at cstevenson@socal.rr.com, and I'll give you the basic rundown.

I hope this helps
~Tina

 

[jabead]

Thanks for all the great ideas guys! Please keep them coming. What is the Inn & Out? Is it some sort of chain restaurant?

 

[Planogirl]

tinagirl, you are a wealth of information! Van's skatepark sound like somewhere I can send DH and DS while I check out Hilo Hatties. I was trying to decide on some kind of evening activities for our "explore" day.

I'm curious about Inn and Out too. What exactly is this?

 

[Michelle]

In-n-Out is a famous burger chain here, they make cooked-to-order burgers and their drive-through lines can go on FOREVER.

In-N-Out Burger

 

[BobbiKK]

I just want to thank everyone for their great dining tips! We will be going to California in August for the first time in a few years, but this will be the first time we will be going for an extended period of time, so we never really had to look for restaurants before. (It was only DL at the time, no Calif. Adv. so we only stayed a day or two, and visited relatives for the rest of the trip).
We will be sure to try many of these restaurants. Thanks again everyone!

 

[jabead]

Any good places to eat (or not to eat - LOL!) in or around Sea World, Univ Studios, El Capitan Theater, and Huntington Beach? Also has anyone been to Wizardz at Univ City Walk?

 

[tinagirl]

Wizardz is ok. The problem & the great thing at the same time about Wizardz is that their entertainment is always changing. I've been twice. One time the lineup included Ed Alonzo, and another time had no "name". Both were fun. Make sure to visit if Ed Alonzo, Chip Lowell or Dana Daniels (Also appears at Disneyland on occasion) is there, but you can go even if not. As per the food. You basically get a choice of Chicken, Steak, or Vegetarian (never had this, so I'm not sure what it is, but I think it is lasagne). One time I had the chicken and it was dry, but my boyfriend's steak was delicious, so the next time we went and I got steak, which was still good, and he got chicken, but his chicken was much moister and more flavorful. It is fun, but if you want a dinner show for the same price, I would advise Medieval Times, but it is really up to you.

On Citywalk, I'm a fan of Jodi Maronies, and Pit Fire Pizza. Near the el capitan, I like Hamburger Hamlet, which is two stores down from the box office of the el. It is really convenient to grab a quick bite before or after. Now that the Kodak Theater and Hollywood & Highland shopping center has moved in across the street next to the Chinese Theatre, you do have more choices, but I absolutely love the Chinese Dumplings with Spicy Peanut sauce at the Hamlet...I've never gotten a bad meal here and have visited since I started going to the El, which was at The Rockateer when I was 13. Since then I go at least twice a year, for different films and stuff next door. There's alot of hollywood history on that street, even in the El, and next door, so if you are interested in that, a great book is called "Lost Hollywood" by David Wallace, which details tons of information from "the golden age" of Hollywood. I loved it, just as I love being in Hollywood, but then again, I work in film, and I am just a film buff in general so that may only be me.

I don't know much in San Diego, I think Anderson's closed, which is a shame, but if anyone knows if it is still around, then you should DEFINITELY go there.

Toodles
~Tina

 

[Dana_Buckley]

In San Diego (maybe in Anaheim too) try to find 'Islands' , it's a casual chain has great burgers, chicken sandwiches & chicken & fish tacos with great fries too. Also, California Pizza Kitchen has unique pizzas like Thai Chicken and Barbecue chicken pizzas & great salads. In & Out is awesome fastfood, the burgers aren't frozen, the shakes are great & the fries are cut there in the store, no frozen fries here! Enjoy!!

 

[tinagirl]

Just to say, I agree with Dana. Islands is awesome. The fries are huge, and seasoned perfectly. Servers are nice, and theming is cool.



~Tina