SoCal locals (or freq. DL'ers) any rec's for dining outside the parks?

[cooniez]

We will have our car with us when we go to DL this June & I was wondering if anyone who frequents the parks/lives in the area can recommend some good restaurants outside of the parks? DH especially is hoping to find some good cajun food, but nothing much came up when I checked Yelp. TIA!

 

[Potterswife]

outside the parks, we like Bucca De Beppo, Outback Steakhouse, Mimi's cafe, Coco's and there's a Joe's crabshack (not so much 'cajun' but the food has a southern flair)

 

[rentayenta]

In n Out Burger and Los Sanchez. If you don't mind a 15 minute drive, eat near the beach. In Seal Beach there is Walt's Wharf. In Huntington Beach there is Duke's or Chimayo. In Long Beach there is McKenna's. The food options in So Cal are endless!

 

[erinbharris]

Can you elaborate on some of the beach places...what kind of food? Which ones would you recommend for small kids?

Thanks!

 

[MAH4546]

What areas? Are you just staying in Orange County or are you going up to Los Angeles? Los Angeles is a mecca of amazing places to eat.

 

[chrissiecutie]

In n Out Burger and Los Sanchez. If you don't mind a 15 minute drive, eat near the beach. In Seal Beach there is Walt's Wharf. In Huntington Beach there is Duke's or Chimayo. In Long Beach there is McKenna's. The food options in So Cal are endless!

I second In N Out! Not sure where you live but they only have these in Ca, Vegas and Arizona- I think!

As someone from Wa State- I eat at In n Out every single chance I get while in Cali! Really....every...single...chance!

It's fast food but it's amazing!

You can eat Outback anywhere, trust me...find an In n Out and go!

 

[ColoradoK]

Mimi's Cafe right next to the HoJo has a Cajuny dish or two. My hubby is from Louisiana and always gets their jambalaya pasta thing. If he approves then it must be on the right track...

There is a restaurant in Downtown Disney that has some Cajun stuff too.

 

[Mister Toad]

I second In N Out! Not sure where you live but they only have these in Ca, Vegas and Arizona- I think!

As someone from Wa State- I eat at In n Out every single chance I get while in Cali! Really....every...single...chance!

It's fast food but it's amazing!

You can eat Outback anywhere, trust me...find an In n Out and go!

Agreed. Coming from Chicago, first stop is ALWAYS In N Out. Totally worth it.

 

[JosieGirl71]

We always go to In N Out and Mimi's Cafe. Delish!

 

[Lavender_and_Roses]

What's the deal with Mimi's cafe? I've lived in SoCal for 5 years and have def. been to a Mimis, but it didn't seem that special to me?? I love In-N-Out however

 

[bumbershoot]

cooniez, not sure it would count as "good", but there is a Bubba Gumps at GardenWalk (a very local mall).

 

[JosieGirl71]

What's the deal with Mimi's cafe? I've lived in SoCal for 5 years and have def. been to a Mimis, but it didn't seem that special to me?? I love In-N-Out however

The first time we had it, we had been on vacation for a week and eating out every meal. Mimi's food just tasted homemade to us and it has been a favorite ever since.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Agreed. Coming from Chicago, first stop is ALWAYS In N Out. Totally worth it.

LOL...when I say every time, I mean every time I can- I eat here!

Our last trip, I think I ate here 6 times in 10 days. So basically anytime I wasn't eating in the parks, the only other place I ate was In n Out! Sometimes twice in a day....it's that good!

 

[tinkermell]

Hi there!

I love In and Out also.

In DTD, you can find Cajun food at Ralph Brennans' Jazz Kitchen. That is my favorite restaurant there. If you call for ressies, ask for a table upstairs on the balcony near the rails. It's fun to watch everyone walk by down below.

Bubba Gumps for peel and eat shrimp. Yum!
Cheesecake Factory for everything. My absolute favorite is the Luau Salad. My favorite cheesecake is the Vanilla Bean with raspberry puree on top.
Roys for fancy food. I've eaten at a Roys once, and it was very good. All located in the Garden Walk district, which is walkable from DL. Or you can take a shuttle there.

At Huntington Beach would be the Sugar Shack and Ruby's at the end of the pier. Fancy would be Dukes at the beginning of the pier.

Newport Beach would be Charie's Chili near the pier. In both Huntington and Newport you can find some of the first nachos I ever had back in the early 70's. They are called cheese strips. They used to be called Strips and Cheese. Anywhos, these are must whenever we go. They sell them at the kiosk buildings along the beaches. They are just a bunch of chips covered with cheese, melted, then served with a red hot sauce. Nothing big, but they are good. Either that or they are very nostalgic for me.

We love Huntington Beach for watching the surfers, volleyball games, people walking by, biking, skating along the" strand." My DH's favorite would be all the exotic cars cruising the Pacific Coast Highway. At Newport, it's fun to walk the "strand" by all of the really cool and beautiful homes right along the beach. The piers at both beaches are alot of fun too.

If you are into art, go to Laguna Beach. It's very beautiful and nestled along the cliffs. Fun shopping but expensive.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We will have our car with us when we go to DL this June & I was wondering if anyone who frequents the parks/lives in the area can recommend some good restaurants outside of the parks? DH especially is hoping to find some good cajun food, but nothing much came up when I checked Yelp. TIA!

Boiling Crab!!

Here is a link to their website. We love the shrimp boil with the whole shebang, we find it a very good value, too. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get there from DLR, but we love to explore food places and this one is fun and sooo good.

 

[stevejanelle]

Boiling Crab!!

Here is a link to their website. We love the shrimp boil with the whole shebang, we find it a very good value, too. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get there from DLR, but we love to explore food places and this one is fun and sooo good.

I just check out their web site. Looked at the menu. They CHARGE $.50 for condiments (ketchup/may, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, etc) and $.25 for water. NO WAY will I go to any restaurant that will nickel and dime me for those items. Simply ridiculous. WOW.

 

[Mister Toad]

LOL...when I say every time, I mean every time I can- I eat here!

Our last trip, I think I ate here 6 times in 10 days. So basically anytime I wasn't eating in the parks, the only other place I ate was In n Out! Sometimes twice in a day....it's that good!

Haha, that beats me. I usually go on night one after flying in, and maybe again if I can find the time.

 

[socalmomof2boys]

We love to go to IN and OUT as well..the Cheesecake Factory is a really nice sit down resturant..kinda pricey but large portions and great food..

 

[iheartdisney]

Are you heading over to Universal at all? If so, City walk has alot of great places as well, including my favorite, the Saddle Ranch. If you ever watch reality shows where they go to a resturaunt and ride the mechanical bull, that is Saddle Ranch. Heck, I went there after seeing it on the first season of Rock of Love.
Anyway, they are a chop house, so the steak is the absolute freshest and awesomest you will ever find. AND for dessert, how does make your own Smores over an open fire pit sound?

 

[chrissiecutie]

Haha, that beats me. I usually go on night one after flying in, and maybe again if I can find the time.

It's my other obsession besides Disney, of course!

Even my very red meat loving DH gets sick of it and begs to eat somewhere else....poor man, he doesn't stand a chance!

I always go the day I fly in and fly out (or drive) and then a few times throughout the trip. I have been known to eat it for both lunch and dinner the same day!