Recommended Food outside of DLR????

[IBLarsen]

Hey Everyone, I'm trying to think about dining options for our upcoming DLR trip. We have little ones (3 and 5) and will take a break in the afternoons at the hotel. We will also have a rental car, so I am curious about dining options available if we were to leave after naptime to have say an early dinner before heading back to the parks. I have no idea what is reasonably close. I just read about NostalicDad eating at Bubba Gumps on their trip and it sounded good and got me thinking that we don't really have to eat every meal in the parks. Any favorites out there that you all would recommend eating at? Or would you prefer to just eat at the parks? I know we will have one dinner at Goofy's on our arrival day, but that's all I've got figured out! Any suggestions?? Thanks so much!

 

[IASWAM]

If you are looking for a quick bite to eat, go to In-N-Out Burgers. We tried them this year for the first time. Because it is a fast food restaurant, it would be better for lunch than dinner. Probably the best fast food burger I have ever had. I have also heard they have some sort of secret menu, but I don't know much about it.

 

[heatherleigh]

I'd prefer to just eat in the parks or Downtown Disney. When we go to DL, we always drive, park, and stay at the resort the entire trip. Only once did we ever leave, and that was to a supermarket nearby. It was important, otherwise we wouldn't have gone.

Since we don't get to go very often, I refuse to leave the parks or the area after we arrive. I don't want to be away for a minute. Plus it is a little more convenient to stay put rather than pack up the family (four babies.) I'm kind of a baby when it comes to DL though, and I don't think I'd want to leave the park.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

How about Cheese Cake Factory at Garden Walk....YUMM YUMM

 

[Brady's Mom]

We always have a car when we are at DLR and have always tried off-site places to eat. Some as "far" away as Huntington Beach or Tustin or Fullerton. We have some we like and some we won't go back to.

This next trip (Dec.) we are staying much closer to the parks. We plan on eating more conservatively. No long distances to drive for food, which equates to more time in the park. I am hoping to maximize our park time - even with 2 smaller kids who will go to bed early (8 pm). Since we are staying at HoJo's DH and I can then take turns going to DL or DCA with our 12 year old while the littler boys have a bath and go to bed!! So, our 12 year old gets personal time with mom or dad and our littler boys get a good nights sleep since they wake up at 6:30 am pretty regularly.

So for this trip we are choosing meals in the park, or Mimi's or Pizza Hut, places that are close to HoJo's. We haven't decided on all of our dinner choices, yet, but we still have time.

Just noticed I now have 200 posts!!

 

[IASWAM]

I don't know why I didn't think of this for my PP on this thread, but Mimi's is always a good choice. I had the BBQ bacon Cheeseburger last week, and it was awesome.

 

[jakoky]

hi there, we were at DL in may 06 and sept 07...our favourite place to eat offsite was definately mimis...my 17 yr old dd just mentioned it again a few days ago...we are a family of 5 and we all loved it...we also ate at tony romas and dennys offsite...we did an espn dinner too(good but a little pricy)....we were there 10 nights and mimi's was our most visited and enjoyed restaurant-great food and great service Have a great trip
sharon

 

[eduk8r26]

Another vote for Mimi's.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

What's your budget like? Interested in a sit down place, or fast food? There's fast food places in the area, and small eateries like pizza places, etc. There's also more expensive places like Buca de Pepo (how off is my spelling ), and other restaurants. We're pretty crafty when it comes to sneaking in fast food, but on a few occasions we have gone to a mexican restaurant called Los Sanchez in Garden Grove. Their plates are huge, and prices are okay. The Cajun place in downtown Disney is okay, have only tried the express place right next to the restaurant.

 

[pumpkin5156]

This is just my experience with little ones: Don't go far. Try not to drive anywhere. I find that getting in and out quickly is always good, and if you drive somewhere, you not only waste park time (depends on how important this is to you), but dealing with cranky babies.

Close is Mimi's, IHOP, McD's, Subway, and a bit of a walk gets you to the Garden Walk.

We've also had good experiences in Downtown Disney. ESPN Zone was good (a little over priced I thought). There are also snacky places in DTD: Wetzels' Pretzles, some ice cream place, vender booths, etc.

It really depends on your budget, your patience, and how much time you have.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Cost of food + Time away from DLR + Travel Expenses (Cab, Car or Gas) > Cost to eat in DLR!

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm the nutjob on the boards. I absolutely do NOT suggest In N Out. I absolutely refuse to eat there......I can't stand them. Seriously, just yuk. I'd much rather eat a burger at McDonald's than In N Out and if you know me you'd know much I don't like eating at McD's. LOL

We love
Rainforest Cafe
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Napoli Pizza
Jamba Juice (yum, smoothies!)
these are in DTD.

We also love
Mimi's
Millie's
Bubba Gump
Cheesecake Factory
(and I think I would LOVE PF Changs too but we've never actually eaten there LOL)
These are on Harbor or at the Garden Walk

Also the Denny's and Ihop are both good, they are on Harbor.

 

[cheshiregirl]

I'm the nutjob on the boards. I absolutely do NOT suggest In N Out. I absolutely refuse to eat there......I can't stand them. Seriously, just yuk. I'd much rather eat a burger at McDonald's than In N Out and if you know me you'd know much I don't like eating at McD's. LOL .

And I thought I was the only one!

I am also not a fan of In N Out. I especially can't stand the french fries. They are undercooked IMHO and just not tasty.

Anyway, here's another shout out to Mimi's Cafe (especially for the Pain Perdu breakfast) and a vote for Red Robin which is over by the Crowne Pointe hotel. We love Red Robin and it is about the only sitdown restaurant out there that DH and I can get out of for less than $25 including tip!

 

[silence]

We dont like wasting "park hours" by eating offsite. However, we are usually visiting during off season and with fewer park hours to get everything in.

This past trip, we took afternoon breaks. We ate at Bubba Gumps (love this place), Tony Romas (loved the baby back ribs, beef ribs - not so much) and we also got take out from PF Changs (love this place).

I'm not sure what kind of meals you are looking for. I know I have seen people comment on how expensive food is in the park. Well, I can tell you, we spent MORE at these offsite places than we would have in the park.

We have also enjoyed dinner at Mimi's when staying at HoJo or at Joe's Crabshack as well.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I don't know why I didn't think of this for my PP on this thread, but Mimi's is always a good choice. .

oh yeah!!...we have mimi's all over the place here in CA but the one in Anaheim is the best ever...its right across the street from the walkin entrance to DL between Hojo and Fairfield Inn...

 

[disneegrl4eva]

And I thought I was the only one!

I am also not a fan of In N Out. I especially can't stand the french fries. They are undercooked IMHO and just not tasty.

yeah I am not a fan of In N Out either...my dd loves it ...the burgers are ok but I dont like the fries...she used to eat what they call animal fries....its not on the menu but if you ask for it they know what you are talking about...its fries with like thousand island dressing and grilled onions yuck but hey its popular so to each his/her own

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

We love Red Robin and it is about the only sitdown restaurant out there that DH and I can get out of for less than $25 including tip!

I did not know there was a Red Robin close by. My kids (3 and 5) LOVE RR. I dont know if you are familiar with the restaunt...

All I can say....bottomless french fries. When they bring out meal, we automatically ask for more fries.

If your kids split a meal, like mine do, the kitchen will actually split the meal for them so they each get their own plate (or basket is what it actually comes in)

They have a really yummy salad and of course I can not think of the name...chicken, eggs, tomato, bacon, lettuce of course, and a yummy honey mustard poppysead dressing. And with bottomless fries you can have a few of those too (he he)

I also like the Wisky River BBQ burger.

Wow I am thinking DH is going to have to take me out to RR tomorrow night, I am getting hungry and I just ate dinner

Oh and the restaunt is loud enough to entertain the kids and loud enough to drown out cranky/winey kids!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

I absolutely do NOT suggest In N Out.

What kind of crazy are you????? How can you expect us to take your restaurant suggestions now??? J/K...

 

[disneyobsessed808]

yeah I am not a fan of In N Out either...my dd loves it ...the burgers are ok but I dont like the fries...she used to eat what they call animal fries....its not on the menu but if you ask for it they know what you are talking about...its fries with like thousand island dressing and grilled onions yuck but hey its popular so to each his/her own

the animal fries look really gross, but they taste absolutely heavenly. its fries with grilled onions, a slice of cheese, and thousand island dressing. it's pretty much the only reason i go to in-n-out (the burgers are just okay).

my mouth is watering thinking about it

 

[jlmarr]

Sharing the same parking lot as In-N-Out burger there is a Chuck E Cheese, which might be a good choice for the OP's kids. I haven't been there in ages so don't know what it's like these days. Anywho, that's north on Harbor Blvd in Fullerton, about 3 1/2 miles from DLR. I'd also recommend Ruby's Diner, which is on the southwest corner of Harbor and Orangethorpe in Fullerton, kind of caddy-corner from In-N-Out.