Top 5 Disney Dining Recommendations?

[DisneyLover2015]

We are going to DL for one week (5-day pass) in late April, early May, with my 5-year old son and I'm interested to hear what are people's recommendations for the top 5 Disney dining experiences, either in DL or in California Adventure. We are planning to have at least one meal in the park each day, and then pack snacks/water, and eat at our condo for the other meals. So far, we know we want to do a character dining experience on one of the mornings, and we want to do the Advanced Dining Reservations for Fantasmic at the Blue Bayou. I'm interested to hear from park veterans what are the top 5 other restaurants you would recommend? Thanks!

 

[jaxy82]

1. Café Orleans in DL. It's the most amazingly fabulous Monte Cristo sandwich EVER. I DREAM about that thing. The fries are fabulous, too.

2. Ghirardelli in CA. Amazingly good ice cream and they give free chocolates while you're in line.

3. Tortilla Jo's in DTD. Really good Mexican food (especially the guacamole) and reasonable prices.

4. Flo's in CA. I am a little on the fence about this one because I guess they have changed their menu since I was last there that you can't just pick any two sides, but overall, this was my favorite counter service place in the resort.

5. Plaza Inn in DL. One word: CHICKEN. Their fried chicken is amazing. It's also a very reasonable deal since you get a bunch of stuff with it; easily sharable for lunch.

 

[princessmocha]

I'm not sure I have 5 as we only spent 3 days there, but here are top favorites

1. Blue Bayou - Amazing!!! Food was excellent and the atmosphere can't be beat. Even my finicky kiddos enjoyed the food. I had the Monte Cristo there and it was fabulous. It was tons of food (and I can eat) My daughter had the salmon and loved it!

2. Flo's - We had breakfast here and it was super yummy. I had the french toast and probably could have licked my plate!

3. Pacific Wharf Cafe - My whole family loved it here. The bread bowl soups were so yummy and really hit the spot.

4. Goofy's Kitchen - It was typical brunch buffet, but the character interaction was fabulous and the food was pretty good.

All 4 of these I would return to in a heartbeat. I really wish we would have had more time. I really wanted to try the bacon mac n cheese cone at the Cozy Cone and a bunch of other restaurants. Just means I need to plan another trip!

 

[GatorChris]

Flo's used to be great. Not so much anymore.

Here's my list:
#1-Big Thunder Ranch BBQ
#2-Carnation Cafe
#3-Pacific Wharf Cafe
#4-Pinnochio Village Haus (Sausage Pretzel Kraut Dog)
#5-Cocina Cucamonga

 

[disneyobsessed808]

1. Napa Rose - I love it here. Yes, it is pricey but the food is sooooooo worth it. They also have a kid's menu.

2. Plaza Inn Fried Chicken - Best fried chicken, white meat, at least, EVER!

3. PCH Grill Surf's Up Breakfast - Great character interaction (a must if you like Stitch) and decent food.

4. Hungry Bear - Yummy Fried Green Tomato sandwich

5. Breakfast at Flo's - Love the french toast, which is actually more like a bread pudding dessert. Also can't beat the views in the back of the RSR track

 

[Heymy]

Top five table service:

#1 Goofy's Kitchen
#2 Carnation Cafe
#3 Catal
#4 Tortilla Jo's
#5 Jazz Kitchen

Top five small plates:
#1 Trader Sam's
#2 Cove Bar
#3 UVA Bar
#4 Hearthstone Lounge
#5 Carthay Circle Lounge
(yes a whole category of bars, but we love to go and get small plates as a meal, definitely some of the best food in the resort, and have a cocktail, while the kids get a "special drink".)

Counter service:
#1 Corn Dog Castle
#2 White Water Snacks
#3 Bengal BBQ
#4 Paradise Garden Grill
#5 Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe

 

[DahliaRW]

We love Napa Rose, but with a child I'd skip it. Do Carthay Circle instead, same head chef, food is very very good, I'd say NR is a tiny bit better, but you won't be dissapointed with Carthay. For Carthay Circle, make your reservation for about 30 minutes before the Pixar Play Parade is scheduled and request to sit out on the patio overlooking Buena Vista Street. Then during dinner your 5yo will be entertained watching the parade, giving you more time to enjoy your food (or watch it as well)! Combine this with a WOC dinner package, and you're golden. There are very few children in the Carthay Circle viewing area, so the adults usually are very nice and let your child slip in front and stand in front of the railing with a perfect view of the show!

Other than CC, I'd say Carnation Cafe for breakfast (we always do the last breakfast reservation time and treat it like a combo breakfast/lunch, only eating light snacks early on to get us through until then). Blue Bayou just because it's cool atmosphere, but you could swap it for Cafe Oreans if you prefer better cajun food (or do both, that's what we do). Jolly Holiday Cafe has fantastic sandwiches and treats. That's 5! Unless you're only going to do either BB OR CO, in which case I would add a sundae at Ghiradelli to the list (and plan to share, they are HUGE).

 

[nannyz]

We never go to the high-end restaurants. Nothing on the menus sounds good to me.

My favorites are:

corn dogs -- I dream about the corn dogs
fried green tomato sandwich at Hungry Bear
fried chicken dinner at Plaza Inn
breakfast at Carnation Cafe
hot fudge sundae at Clarabelle's

 

[JasonShannon76]

The Blue Bayou Fantasmic Package food is NOT the same as eating there! You need to eat dinner in there to enjoy atmosphere and their better dishes.

Steakhouse 55 in Disneyland Hotel. Amazing! Best Creme Brûlée ever.

Blue Bayou

Big Thunder BBQ

Napa Rose


For Character Breakfast, I hear Storytellers has amazing food but not as recognizable characters.

 

[emily94]

More than 5 sorry! (In no particular order)
1. Big Thunder BBQ - DL
2. Flo's V8 Cafe - DCA
3. Plaza Inn - DL
4. Uva Bar/Catal - DTD
5. Blue Bayou - DL
6. Carthay Circle - DCA
5. PCH Grill - Paradise Pier Hotel
6. Cafe Orleans - DL
7. Hungry Bear - DL

I agree with the PPs about Napa Rose. Its an expensive meal and you'd be better off skipping it with a 5 year old!

 

[theworldneedscolor]

The Blue Bayou Fantasmic Package food is NOT the same as eating there! You need to eat dinner in there to enjoy atmosphere and their better dishes.

I was just looking at the menu for the Fantasmic package, and it looks pretty similar to the normal menu. Also, how does a Fantasmic package affect your ability to enjoy the atmosphere?

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Carnation Café - oh that potato soup
Café Orleans - monte cristo, biegnets
Blue Bayou - oh the atmosphere and warm bread
Big Thunder BBQ - oh that cornbread
Brain freeze ---- Mexican place by BTMRR - That big enchilada plate so good for sharing

 

[Sherry E]

In no specific order, but just to pick 5 that I would recommend:

1. Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel (counter service place with semi-reasonable prices and a few interesting menu items);

2. Storytellers Café at the Grand Californian Hotel -- but NOT for the character meal. I like SC during lunch or dinner;

3. Plaza Inn in Disneyland -- The fried chicken (which is famous at this point) is too good of a deal to pass up, and it's tasty!;

4. Carnation Café -- It's especially nice if you can get an outside table and people-watch, and the food is pretty good as well; and

5. Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney -- Good sandwiches for a fairly reasonable price, and you can get them to go if you want to take your food back to your condo.


Honorable mention: River Belle Terrace in DL for breakfast -- where you can get the famous Mickey Mouse pancakes!

​

 

[emily94]

Brain freeze ---- Mexican place by BTMRR - That big enchilada plate so good for sharing

Rancho del Zocalo

 

[cmpeter]

Blue Bayou
Bengal BBQ
Pacific Wharf Cafe
Corndog Castle
Carnation Cafe

 

[SplashMo]

Blue Bayou
Napa Rose Chef's Counter
French Market
Minnie's Breakfast
Ghirardelli Hot Fudge Sunday

 

[Godzilla55]

Blue Bayou
Napa Rose Chef's counter
Steakhouse 55
Carthay Circle
Earl of Sandwich in DTD

 

[DahliaRW]

I was just looking at the menu for the Fantasmic package, and it looks pretty similar to the normal menu. Also, how does a Fantasmic package affect your ability to enjoy the atmosphere?

It pretty much IS the same menu and the atmosphere is the same. The PP has no idea what they are talking about. I've eaten at BB 3x, twice without the F! (years before it was available) and once with. The only difference was that my meal was the 3 course deal rather than a la carte.

 

[Iceman93]

In no particular order:

Napa Rose
Carthay Circle Theater
Steakhouse 55
Catal
Club 33

 

[smithfamilyof7]

It pretty much IS the same menu and the atmosphere is the same. The PP has no idea what they are talking about. I've eaten at BB 3x, twice without the F! (years before it was available) and once with. The only difference was that my meal was the 3 course deal rather than a la carte.

Maybe the PP thought the BB Fantasmic package was an "on the go" package? It sounded like they meant you have to eat at BB to experience the atmosphere, meaning if you ate their food outside the restaurant it wouldn't be the same as eating AT the restaurant. Which is true. Maybe just a misunderstanding?