Please help me choose restaurants

[ToyStory3]

Hi - I will be on a brief solo trip in late March (going to CA for work conference). I've been once before but just for a day. Excited to have 2 days this time - I absolutely loved both DCA and DL! I want to eat counter service meals while I'm there - the attractions are my main goal. Last trip I had one of the famous corn dogs and definitely want to do that again. But, I'd love to hear about 1 or 2 of the best counter service restaurants, meals and snacks from each park. I eat pretty much everything except for moderately spicy foods (mild is fine). Thank you!

 

[DBMC]

A must have for me is Bengal BBQ. I love the meat skewers, and the bacon wrapped asparagus. I love the fried chicken at the plaza, and of course, you can't go to DLR without eating a churro!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

My two favorite sweet snacks are churros from the street carts and the beignets from the mint julep bar across from the New Orleans railroad station. The mint juleps are also tasty and make for a nice sipping drink for a warm afternoon.

 

[prestoncaldwell]

Try a soup or lobster roll at Harbour Galley in New Orleans Square right next to where the canoes would be loading if ROA wasn't busted.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I like the chicken meal at French Market in New Orleans Square which I usually split with my daughter. I'm not sure if it's baked or rotisserie but it's really good. For DCA I would go with one of the soup bowls at Pacific Wharf.

 

[DLRExpert]

Disneyland

Main Street
- Carnation Cafe: Walt's Chili...not the best but cool for nostalgic reasons as chili was Walts favorite thing to eat.
- Plaza Inn: Chicken Dinner, best meal at Disneyland

Adventureland
- Bengal BBQ: it's all good, but pricey for what you get
- Enchanted Tiki Room: Dole Whip, a tip is to go to the line inside of the attraction if the line outside is long.

Frontierland
- Rancho Zocalo: Breakfast, especially the Mexican offerings are good
- Stage Door Cafe: Same Corn Dog they sell on Main Street and it usually has the shorter wait.

New Orleans Square
- Cafe Orleans: Monte Cristo, Garlic fries
- Blue Bayou: Everything and the ambiance cannot be better
- Harbor Galley: Awesome potato meal

Fantasyland
- Fantasy Faire: Has pretty good baked goods

Toontown
- Avoid

Tomorrowland
- Avoid

Disney California Adventure

Buena Vista Street
- Carthay Circle: Food is good but a bit pricey

Hollywood Land
- Avoid

Grizzly Peak
- Smokejumpers: Chicken Sandwich, but the Onion Rings are awesome. I think they use the same breading as the Corn Dog

Paradise Pier
- Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta: The Chicken-Tomato Pasta is great
- Corn Dog Castle: Same as Disneyland plus a few more choices

Cars Land
- Floe's: The Beef Cheddar

Downtown Disney
- Jazz Kitchen

Disneyland Hotel
- Trader Sam's: Pork Flatbread and Fried Green Beans

Grand California Hotel
- White Water Snacks: When I go to DCA, I go here for lunch. Food is of better quality than the park, it's more relaxing, and the Nachos half steak, half chicken is really good
- Napa Rose: Probably the best food in all of the Disneyland Resort but pricey.

ME

 

[Darkbeer1]

Since Downtown Disney is now part of the Security Area, I would recommend the Earl of Sandwiches and Wetzel's Pretzels (The Hot Dog wrapped in a Pretzel is a favorite along with a freshly made lemonade).

And just outside the parks on Harbor, after finishing the parks for the day, the Pizza Press next to the Tropicana is a great place for a fast and fresh meal.

 

[GatorChris]

I've got a few!

Village Haus in Fantasyland has a great sauerkruat chicken sausage dog on a pretzel roll. I love it! Never miss it.

The beignets at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen are waaaayyy better than the ones at French Market. They taste authentic. Sure, it's in Downtown Disney, but you could easily take the monorail directly from Tomorrowland to Jazz Kitchen.

At DCA is my favorite counter service of the resort, Pacific Wharf. Get a very tasty clam chowder in a bread bowl. I could eat that everyday and not get sick of it.

Also at DCA, I just tried Smokejumpers for the first time last month. The chili burger was good, not great, but the onion rings were totally awesome.

 

[BrianL]

Pacific Wharf Bakery is a must do for me. The smell in there alone is the smell of heaven! They make sourdough bread onsite and have soup in a bread bowl, a few sandwiches, and usually excellent deserts (seasonal). This is my go-to at DCA.

 

[ToyStory3]

Disneyland

Main Street
- Carnation Cafe: Walt's Chili...not the best but cool for nostalgic reasons as chili was Walts favorite thing to eat.
- Plaza Inn: Chicken Dinner, best meal at Disneyland

Adventureland
- Bengal BBQ: it's all good, but pricey for what you get
- Enchanted Tiki Room: Dole Whip, a tip is to go to the line inside of the attraction if the line outside is long.

Frontierland
- Rancho Zocalo: Breakfast, especially the Mexican offerings are good
- Stage Door Cafe: Same Corn Dog they sell on Main Street and it usually has the shorter wait.

New Orleans Square
- Cafe Orleans: Monte Cristo, Garlic fries
- Blue Bayou: Everything and the ambiance cannot be better
- Harbor Galley: Awesome potato meal

Fantasyland
- Fantasy Faire: Has pretty good baked goods

Toontown
- Avoid

Tomorrowland
- Avoid

Disney California Adventure

Buena Vista Street
- Carthay Circle: Food is good but a bit pricey

Hollywood Land
- Avoid

Grizzly Peak
- Smokejumpers: Chicken Sandwich, but the Onion Rings are awesome. I think they use the same breading as the Corn Dog

Paradise Pier
- Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta: The Chicken-Tomato Pasta is great
- Corn Dog Castle: Same as Disneyland plus a few more choices

Cars Land
- Floe's: The Beef Cheddar

Downtown Disney
- Jazz Kitchen

Disneyland Hotel
- Trader Sam's: Pork Flatbread and Fried Green Beans

Grand California Hotel
- White Water Snacks: When I go to DCA, I go here for lunch. Food is of better quality than the park, it's more relaxing, and the Nachos half beef, half chicken is really good
- Napa Rose: Probably the best food in all of the Disneyland Resort but pricey.

ME

Thanks so much! This is very helpful.

 

[sohryu]

I'm going to have to disagree with a previous poster and say that the chili burger at Smokejumpers Grill is DELICIOUS. As are the onion rings but really the burger blew me away. I've been eating all the wrong burgers at the parks the last couple of years and finally having this one was a breath of fresh air.

I'll say this: if you're going to eat a burger while you're in the parks, eat the chili burger at Smokejumpers. Don't even try any other burger. If you aren't planning on eating a burger then, eh, no need to go out of your way for this one.

I mean, I would go out of my way for it but that's just me.

 

[rentayenta]

We love the Plaza Inn fried chicken as well as their Cobb salad and pasta alfredo.

We enjoy Carnation Cafe for a late breakfast, everything we've had is wonderful.

 

[azdisneylover]

I second the Whitewater Snacks in the Grand Californian Hotel. The nachos are really good. The individual pizza comes with a salad, (which is a pretty good salad for the price). Carnation Café is good, but I would suggest making a reservation so you do not waste time waiting to get a table. This is one restaurant everyone in my family loves. The loaded baked potato soup is very good. The meatloaf is very yummy, so are the French fries!

 

[ToyStory3]

Where's the Cove Cafe? I'd like to try their lobster nachos.

 

[MillauFr]

Napa Rose can't be beat.

 

[ADLFAN]

Where's the Cove Cafe? I'd like to try their lobster nachos.

Down towards the Pier in DCA with a view of the CA Screamin launch. The drinks are pretty good, too! We also liked the spinach artichoke dip and the tri tip sliders.

Also love the Paradise Garden Grill on the opposite side of the Pier for their spicy meatball skewer with rice and cucumber salad.

The Carnation Cafe in DL has a great menu with something for everyone at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

All the menus for all the restaurants can be found on the super helpful Disneyland app, useful when you're not sure what is nearby at any given moment.

 

[goooof1]

Paradise Garden Grill in DCA has great Mediterranean style skewers served with pita bread, rice pilaf, and cucumber salad......YUM!!!
Jolly Holiday Bakery in DL has good sandwiches and sweet goodies!!!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Where's the Cove Cafe? I'd like to try their lobster nachos.

There's usually a really long line. I've inquired twice about how long of wait and it was over a hour both times. They don't take reservations. I wouldn't consider it "quick" service.

 

[dshimel]

In park counter-service restaurants suck. Go to DTD and try Jazz Kitchen Express.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We like to sample the offerings at the Cozy Cones. Last time they had Mac and cheese in a cone.

I also like Whitewater Snacks at GC.