Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant/Dining Help Thread

[MelanieC]

Also - Don't forget about All Ear's Vegan articles. This month's just came out today and isn't on the link so I'll include it.

by Emily Woesthoff
General Manager for BabyCakes NYC at Downtown Disney

Who wants a snack? Silly question, right? Touring the parks can give everyone a hankering for a filling snack from time to time. The obvious choice for great vegan snacks within the parks comes from the various fruit carts located throughout. They typically carry apples, oranges, bananas (if you're lucky), or small packages of cut fruit. But let's face it -- if you've been walking around the Magic Kingdom all day and you still have a good four hours until your dinner reservation, that apple just isn't going to cut it! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the staple for vegan snacking throughout various stadiums and ballparks: The Soft Pretzel.

When done right, this snack item can be the perfect combination of warm, doughy, and salty. Is there anything better? Sure, there is! But in the theme park vegan snack department, soft pretzels are often all we have to curb the between-meal-hunger. The best thing is that these babies are widely available in all four theme parks, and they're great for sharing!

Now, you should keep in mind that some stands have gone and corrupted our beloved pretzel by stuffing the inside with cream cheese. These are definitely not vegan, and not very appealing (to me, at least). Just go for your trusty, run of the mill soft pretzel and your hunger will be tamed for more park touring and even more attractions!

Missed previous Vegan Tips from Emily? We're compiling them here:

http://allears.net/din/vegantips.htm

 

[disneyholic family]

Wow - I was vegetarian for 6 months prior to becoming vegan, but I had no idea about the parmesean. Who would have thunk it and I definately ate parmesean when I was vegetarian.........sigh!!

there are a lot of hidden things in "vegetarian" food...

 

[itsalebeau]

there are a lot of hidden things in "vegetarian" food...

I know, right?! *sigh*

I'm bummed because that blog that was posted a page or two ago said that he confirmed chicken stock in the beans at the Mexico restaurants. Don't they have a specific vegetarian menu?? That is really lame.

 

[disneydreamkate]

I'm still so confused about where I want to go. It's either Jiko, 1900 Park fare - but only I can figure out when Chef TJ is working (anyone know his current schedule)? or Boma. Decisions, decisions!

We were three vegetarians who ate at all three restaurants you mentioned our last trip. It was the first time we ate at both Jiko and 1900 PF. We love Boma! Excellent soup and salad options and the night we were there they had a delicious tofu dish. Jiko was amazing. We were given the vegetarian menu and DH ordered one entree while I ordered the other. It was an incredible dinner! We were sorely disappointed with 1900 Park Fare. the chef did not offer to bring us anything and just took us around the buffet. He showed us what our options were: Broccoli, one of the salads, and the tomato soup. Oh. And white rice. It was the most disappointing meal I have *ever had at WDW thus far. The character interaction was fun, but definitely not worth it to eat rice and broccoli ( I didn't enjoy the salad or soup). Both dh and I left hungry and when we got back to our resort (AKL) ordered food from Mara...while we had to smell Boma and kick ourselves!
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[kissinuk]

I know, right?! *sigh*

I'm bummed because that blog that was posted a page or two ago said that he confirmed chicken stock in the beans at the Mexico restaurants. Don't they have a specific vegetarian menu?? That is really lame.

Yeah, I noticed that too, although it only mentions the counter service. Last time I went to San Angel Inn they did have a seperate veggie menu, but not as many options as it had 5 years ago or so.

 

[MelanieC]

I know, right?! *sigh*

I'm bummed because that blog that was posted a page or two ago said that he confirmed chicken stock in the beans at the Mexico restaurants. Don't they have a specific vegetarian menu?? That is really lame.

Yeah - I was surprised at that because I've heard otherwise, but things constantly change and we have to stay on our toes and ask questions. I think it was the fast food area that he said had the stock, but I could be wrong. I know inside, they definately have a vegetarian menu........but this new CS is hooked up to a new sit down restaurant and not the one inside the pavillion facing the ride.

 

[MelanieC]

We were three vegetarians who ate at all three restaurants you mentioned our last trip. It was the first time we ate at both Jiko and 1900 PF. We love Boma! Excellent soup and salad options and the night we were there they had a delicious tofu dish. Jiko was amazing. We were given the vegetarian menu and DH ordered one entree while I ordered the other. It was an incredible dinner! We were sorely disappointed with 1900 Park Fare. the chef did not offer to bring us anything and just took us around the buffet. He showed us what our options were: Broccoli, one of the salads, and the tomato soup. Oh. And white rice. It was the most disappointing meal I have *ever had at WDW thus far. The character interaction was fun, but definitely not worth it to eat rice and broccoli ( I didn't enjoy the salad or soup). Both dh and I left hungry and when we got back to our resort (AKL) ordered food from Mara...while we had to smell Boma and kick ourselves!
Have a wonderful trip!

Yeah - I loved my meal at Jiko last year. The menu item has changed and it sounds sort of blah and boring. Chef TJ is at 1900 Park Fare now and he is known for his vegetarian and Vegan 5 course masterpieces. We also ate at Boma last year. I'm half tempted to eat there just because I know there is a lot to eat on the bar and it's one of my favorite restaurants. I do miss some of the soups and things I used to eat there, but my meal was very tasty last year.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I posted on that thread. I like the pretzels at Germany and the chocolate bars there too (dark chocolate). Kaki Gori in Germany is really good. I also know there were some frozen tea drinks not on the meal plan in China.

There are lots of non -sweet sides at Tangerine that are vegan, olive salad, couscous salad, hummus, tabouli.

Mexico has gaucamole and chips at the Mexico CS stand, although it's the same price as a meal from there (I think $9). Mexico also has some candies in the gift shop area that are vegan, as does a lot of the other gift shops. You just have to really read labels.

Thanks! I had forgotten about the kaki gori, those things are so refreshing! And I love the cous cous at Tangerine. I think I'll pass on the guacamole though, that's an insane price to pay for something I can get at home.

 

[cherylp3]

the outdoor restaurant has a vegetarian menu I believe.

 

[Chaitali]

Just wanted to say thanks because this thread has been so helpful! I was in Disney World last month and had some great vegetarian meals at California Grill, Victoria and Albert's, Jiko and La Hacienda de San Angel. I'll be writing about them in my trip report and I'll try to remember to cross post photos here too!

I'm going to be going to Disney World again in October with my mom (who's vegan) and I was thinking about California Grill again. Has anyone gone there as a vegan recently? I've read about the vegan unplugged but those reports were all from a while ago. I was hoping that they're still accommodating for vegans but if not, I'd like to know before I take my mom there.

 

[itsalebeau]

Yeah - I was surprised at that because I've heard otherwise, but things constantly change and we have to stay on our toes and ask questions. I think it was the fast food area that he said had the stock, but I could be wrong. I know inside, they definately have a vegetarian menu........but this new CS is hooked up to a new sit down restaurant and not the one inside the pavillion facing the ride.

Here is what he said:
I stopped by La Cantina De San Angel, Mexico’s new counter service, to see if they had anything veganizable. Unfortunately, it turns out that their beans all contain chicken stock. The chef was very accommodating and offered to make me a guacamole taco, but I was looking for a protein boost, and so respectfully declined.


Ah, I get them mixed up, I see La Hacienda de San Angel is the sit down, with the veg menu (here it is updated from 5/11 - http://allears.net/menu/menu_haciveg.htm).

I wonder how easy it is to get a walk up table at the sit down restaurant (ie: no ADR).

 

[Chaitali]

Here are photos of my vegetarian meal at Victoria and Albert's


IMG_0423 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

IMG_0425 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

IMG_0427 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

IMG_0430 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

IMG_0432 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

IMG_0434 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

IMG_0436 by Chaita_1, on Flickr

 

[s&k'smom]

OMG that meal looks amazing it's almost too pretty to eat but I bet it tasted out of this world.

 

[Chaitali]

OMG that meal looks amazing it's almost too pretty to eat but I bet it tasted out of this world.

It was pretty much the best restaurant meal I've ever had The whole experience was amazing. I've written it up with descriptions in my trip report for anyone who's interested (but it does also reference my husband's omnivore dishes).

 

[KJay]

Chaitali, I just read your trip report- I loved it! Your photos are great, both the vegetarian meals phots as well as the rest. The V&A vegetarian menu sounds soooo good. I'm so happy to see more peole posting pics of their meals!

 

[Chaitali]

Chaitali, I just read your trip report- I loved it! Your photos are great, both the vegetarian meals phots as well as the rest. The V&A vegetarian menu sounds soooo good. I'm so happy to see more peole posting pics of their meals!

Thank you I have a couple more meals I took photos of so I'll post those too when I get them uploaded.

 

[everythingALICE]

Has anyone here been to the Spirit of Aloha Luau? I've already made an ADR since my friend is interested in going, and I'll definitely call closer to the date as far as making a veggie request (noted "other" allergy when making the ADR). Just curious as to what the vegetarian offering might be. Thanks!

 

[MelanieC]

Has anyone here been to the Spirit of Aloha Luau? I've already made an ADR since my friend is interested in going, and I'll definitely call closer to the date as far as making a veggie request (noted "other" allergy when making the ADR). Just curious as to what the vegetarian offering might be. Thanks!

There are definately vegan trip reports out there on the spirit of Aloha. I'll do some digging

 

[SDSorority]

SPEAKING OF PHOTOS....

I started a veggie/vegan photo thread. Link is in my siggie.

I love photo threads... and though I LOVE the regular photo thread.... there was too much meat for my taste

 

[MelanieC]

SPEAKING OF PHOTOS....

I started a veggie/vegan photo thread. Link is in my siggie.

I love photo threads... and though I LOVE the regular photo thread.... there was too much meat for my taste

I started one once and they merged it into the larger photo thread. I hope this one lasts. It's totally worthless in the larger thread because you can't find them in the million pages worth of non -vegetarian/vegan food.