Top 5 Must Have Meals at DL

[cookees]

We didnt want to wait for sit down meals...we ate where things were fast...we loved the chili in a bread bowl on Main Street and the Bengal BBQ!

I am still dreaming of the Jalapeno cheddar pretzels..........

 

[shamrockshake]

BB. monte cristo, yum!
carnation cafe
goofeys kitchen
storytellers really good french toast and corn chowder!
Beinets in Downtown disney

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Character breakfast at the Plaza Inn
Clam Chowder in a bread bowl at that place by Pirates (can't think of the name)
DH loves the chicken strips at Stage Door Cafe, he eats them at least twice per trip.

 

[kristenhh]

It is a fake "Pizza Planet" but I love their Chicken Fusilli Countdown -- I must have it on every visit.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks so much everyone. My trip is almost 60 days away

 

[hlbtimes2]

1. breakfast at the carnation cafe
2. corn dog from the red cart
3. claw chowder in a bread bowl from the royal street veranda
4. breakfast with Minnie at the plaza
5. the childrens ravioli meal at pizza port, get it with the white sauce!

To answer a few random questions in this thread: Carnation does take PS, but they are not required. It will save you a 30-45 min wait if you call and make PS. YOu can often get them the moring you want to dine there.

PS can be made no more then 60 days in advance. Its not like WDW where you need to plan 6 months out and panic about getting what you want. Its not that cut throat at all.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I am kicking myself for missing Bengal BBQ on our trip last fall. Actually was really kicking myself, because the rumor at the time was it was going to be closed within the month, but thankfully that didn't happen. Next time we go, I'm there!

I did have the Dole Whip Float, yum! Of course the whole time I was eating/drinking it I was thinking "I wish it was just a giant mound of the ice cream!" Hence a few days later I had the Dole Whip. Boy, I wish I could get this locally! It is sooooo yummy. But next time no sharesies, I'm getting my own!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

That sure does look cute! That restaurant doesn't take advanced ressies, does it? Is it a long wait?? Is lunch or dinner a better choice?

Thanks!

Lives4Disney

carnation cafe is only open for breakfast and lunch and its not open all year round

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I am kicking myself for missing Bengal BBQ on our trip last fall. Actually was really kicking myself, because the rumor at the time was it was going to be closed within the month, but thankfully that didn't happen. Next time we go, I'm there!

I did have the Dole Whip Float, yum! Of course the whole time I was eating/drinking it I was thinking "I wish it was just a giant mound of the ice cream!" Hence a few days later I had the Dole Whip. Boy, I wish I could get this locally! It is sooooo yummy. But next time no sharesies, I'm getting my own!

Bengal is good but I think it's a bit pricey....then again everything in the DL is pricey! Ooo....the dole whip float....my favorite!

 

[lilpixie]

Here . . . I'll give you a big list and you can pick your top 5

On Main St.:

Carnation Cafe -- Takes Reservations -- pot pie, deli sandwich, croissant sandwich, turkey on pretzel bread, loaded baked potato soup, caramel apple pie
Plaza Inn -- fried chicken, pasta w/ alfredo pesto and chicken

Adventureland :
Bengal BBQ -- meat skewers, bacon wrapped asparagus, mickey pretzels
Tiki Juice Bar -- dole whip

Critter Country:
Hungry Bear -- bacon cheeseburger
Pooh's corner sweet shop -- Tigger tails, smores

New Orleans Sq.:
Blue Bayou --Takes Reservations -- monte cristo (lunch only), pork tenderloins, flying dutchman cookie boat, treasure chest creme brulee, Mickey beignets

Cafe Orleans -Takes Reservations -- Monte cristo, cajun chicken caesar salad, turkey Crossaints, Pommes Frites (garlic fries), roast beef po boys, muffaletta

French Market -- beef stew, fettucini , jambalya, roast chicken sandwich (lunch only)

Frontierland:
Rancho del Zocalo -- mexican dishes -- Hacienda caesar salad

River Bell Terrace -- Mickey pancakes, giant cinnamon rolls, vegetable stew in breadbowl, turkey sandwich

Stage Door cafe -- deep fried artery cloggers -- chicken tenders, fried mozzarella, french fries

Tomorrowland:
Red Rockets Pizza Port -- Caesar salad, foccacia bread, Chicken Fuisilli (pesto alfredo)

DCA:
Pacific Wharf Cafe -- soup and salads in breadbowls
Boudin bakery -- Mickey shaped bread
Taste Pilots Grille -- hamburgers
Ariels grotto -- takes reservations -- princess character meal
Whitewater snacks -- Grand Californian

Downtown Disney:
Jazz Kitchen, Rainforest Cafe, La Brea Bakery, Naples, Catal

Whew -- so you see there are lots of choices -- this is a list I have been compiling from my own experience at DL and from posts from other Disers!!!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Bengal is good but I think it's a bit pricey....then again everything in the DL is pricey! Ooo....the dole whip float....my favorite!

That's probably why we never stopped there. I didn't see any actual food from there, but a single skewer was like $4-5 (is that right?) and didn't sound like much food for that price. We actually snacked very little at DL (because we'd brought snack-type foods in with us), but ate most of our lunches & dinners there.

 

[tlovesdis]

#1 Blue Bayou
#2 Rainforest Cafe
#3 La Brea Bakery (for breakfast)
#4 Stagedoor Cafe
#5 White Water Snacks at the Grand

 

[eatmypixiedust]

That's probably why we never stopped there. I didn't see any actual food from there, but a single skewer was like $4-5 (is that right?) and didn't sound like much food for that price. We actually snacked very little at DL (because we'd brought snack-type foods in with us), but ate most of our lunches & dinners there.

I think so...not sure. I remember it was expensive. I usually don't eat there. I smuggle in my own snacks of goldfish crackers or peanut m&m's.

 

[limace]

1. Splurge on the Vineyard. We had such a lengthy, delicious memorable meal there for my dad's 60th. I think we were there 2 or 3 hours, and weren't rushed. We also were able to stand at the balcony with a glass of wine to watch the Electrical Parade...great memory.
2. Blue Bayou, by the water.

Dole PIneapple Whip
Turkey leg!

 

[denyd]

I'll post mine by category:

For Disneyland:
Favorite snack: Dole Whip
Favorite soup: Loaded Potato Cheese at Carnation Cafe
Favorite salad: Chinese Chicken Salad at Rocket Redd's Pizza Port
Favorite burger: Bacon Cheeseburger at Hungry Bear Restaurant
Favorite candy: Tigger Tails

For DCA:
Favorite snack: Strawberries with chocolate from Fairfax Market
Favorite burger: Cheeseburger from Taste Pilots Grill (it's the condiments)
Favorite lunch: Carnitas at Cucina Cucamonga (sp?)
Favorite dessert: Ice Cream Cone from Burrr-Bank

For Downtown Disney:
Favorite romantic dinner # 1: Napa Rose
Favorite romantic dinner # 2: Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (outside table - upstairs)
Favorite meal with kids: Rainforest Cafe
Favorite for drinks and snacks: Uva Bar
Favorite character meal: Goofy's Kitchen for Brunch

Where to avoid:
Daisy's Diner in Toontown (sandwiches, bread had mold)
The McDonald Fries Wagons (1/2 the price at the arches for the same product)
Burger Invasion (see above) though it does have great happy meal toys
Village Haus burgers & pizza (cold & chewy)
San Andrea's Shakes (don't know if it's good or bad because it's never open)

 

[TwingleMum]

I'll post mine by category:

For Disneyland:
Favorite snack: Dole Whip
Favorite soup: Loaded Potato Cheese at Carnation Cafe
Favorite salad: Chinese Chicken Salad at Rocket Redd's Pizza Port
Favorite burger: Bacon Cheeseburger at Hungry Bear Restaurant
Favorite candy: Tigger Tails

For DCA:
Favorite snack: Strawberries with chocolate from Fairfax Market
Favorite burger: Cheeseburger from Taste Pilots Grill (it's the condiments)
Favorite lunch: Carnitas at Cucina Cucamonga (sp?)
Favorite dessert: Ice Cream Cone from Burrr-Bank

For Downtown Disney:
Favorite romantic dinner # 1: Napa Rose
Favorite romantic dinner # 2: Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (outside table - upstairs)
Favorite meal with kids: Rainforest Cafe
Favorite for drinks and snacks: Uva Bar
Favorite character meal: Goofy's Kitchen for Brunch

Where to avoid:
Daisy's Diner in Toontown (sandwiches, bread had mold)
The McDonald Fries Wagons (1/2 the price at the arches for the same product)
Burger Invasion (see above) though it does have great happy meal toys
Village Haus burgers & pizza (cold & chewy)
San Andrea's Shakes (don't know if it's good or bad because it's never open)

WOW!! What a great list, thanks for all the great suggestions

 

[50thisyeartoo!]

over near the thunder mountain railroad...is the turkey leg stand. it's awesome...smoked, tastes like ham! no kidding. even my husband is hooked now. one night one leg was our dinner! i felt like a "caveman" eating that huge thing but it was delicious!

 

[AskTheChief]

This thread makes me miss the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. Waaaaaaaaaah!

 

[honeymom]

Tied for 1st Place - Napa Rose (GCH) & Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Upstairs
2nd Place - Storytellers Breakfast (the dinner might be just as good, but we haven't tried it)

I love the atmosphere at Blue Bayou, but readers should know that they have a few hits and a lot of misses on their menu. DO NOT order the mahi mahi. It is definitely a miss. It's a once a trip meal for us, but definitely not worth eating at a 2nd time.

As for the casual restaurants, I couldn't get my family into Carnation Cafe but it always sounds good. If you have little kids, Goofys Kitchen - otherwise I wouldn't bother since the food is just average. I haven't really found that many good counter service restaurants at DL, although most of them are edible. Rainforest Cafe in DD is an okay meal as a Disney alternative.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Just reading about all this food is making me fat!