Vegetarian Food in WDW

[Marvel_Princess]

I've been to WDW many times before but this will be my first year going as a vegetarian! I've looked at the menus for many restaurants, but I would love to know: What is the best "non meat induced" food you have eaten? What should I try? Is there anything I should avoid? It can be anything from appetizers to desserts and at any sit down restaurant in WDW. You can also put the worst you've ever eaten!

I can't wait to hear what you have to say!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I would say Boma by far has the best vegetarian options in wdw. I pretty much eat veggie there and I'm not a vegetarian.

The salads and soups are wonderful, also try to falafel and fufu. Can't miss IMO!!!

As far as I know, all desserts in wdw are vegetarian - unless you don't eat eggs.

 

[Vegcentric]

Hey there!
You should pop on over to this thread, which I think will be really helpful to you:

Vegan and Vegetarian Dining Help Thread

Also, regarding desserts - some desserts do contain gelatin (I checked the ingredients on the zebra domes, and it listed gelatin). Just ask your server if you're unsure.

 

[Kay1]

I'll start with the worst: the veggie burger at ASMU. Weird hard things in the patty and the only topping I was offered was bacon.

The good: all the salads and veggies at Tusker House, The Lighthouse sandwich at Columbia Harbor House, the veggie burgers at Cosmic Rays and Restaurantasaurus (great toppings bars), the veggie sandwich at Backlot Express, the tofu at Brown Derby, the veggie platter at The Tangerine Cafe, and, my personal favorite, the tofu dish at Sci-Fi.

 

[Marvel_Princess]

Beauty & the Best> These sound great! Thanks! :]

Vegcentric> Thank you! :] I'll be sure look at the link

Thanks Kay1 I'll make sure I avoid that :]! and the rest sound delicious!

 

[TillyMarigold]

AFAIK all the veggie burgers are the same? Gardenburger Malibu burgers. They are the "veggie-filled" type, not the "meat-like" type. Just about anywhere that has burgers has them. I'll be honest--I love veggie burgers that are filled with veggies and I LOVE French fries, so I eat a lot of the burgers and don't mind. But there aren't always a lot of other QS options. I've also had the vegetarian tacos at El Pirata y el Perico, the veggie sandwich at Studios Catering Co (which was good but very flat, I think they use a grill press?), pizza at Pizzafari (which comes w/ Caesar salad which is not vegetarian), the Picnic in the Park at AK (now seasonal), there's a few options at Sunshine Seasons, someone already mentioned the Lighthouse sandwich ... basically every restaurant, QS or TS, will have at least one option, and most TS restaurants also have at least 1 other dish that can be made vegetarian (like at Sci-Fi, besides the tofu, you can also get the shrimp pasta without the shrimp, or a veggie burger). So I would say overall, if you are a vegetarian who is basically not picky (other than not eating meat, of course), there is always plenty to eat and you should choose based on what type of food you like and not by specific menu options.

By the way, Jiko, Boma, and Sanaa are all AWESOME for vegetarians, and The Mara doesn't have a huge vegetarian selection but their falafel is the best I've ever had. So we loved our stay at AKL last week.

 

[everythingALICE]

The best counter service I had is definitely the Lighthouse Sandwich that someone mentioned from Columbia Harbour House. So yummy, last time I had it twice in one trip! Last year I also got a really great veggie burrito (not on the menu) from the Cantina in Mexico...but I'm not sure if that will be available when the new place opens up.

Some of my favorite dishes are the grilled veggie stuffed pasta at Akershus in Epcot, veggie lasagna at Le Chefs de France, veggie option at Ohana (even if you aren't lucky enough to get Chef TJ, the standard veggie dish is super delicious and plentiful), and surprisingly, the grilled (or maybe roasted?) veggie option at HDDR was AWESOME! It was simple, but the veggies were plentiful, fresh, and perfectly seasoned. It was definitely one of my favorite meals all trip! Boma and Tusker House buffets are great for vegetarians.

As far as things to stay away from, I haven't had anything too horrible, luckily. I had a pretty sad either baked ziti or cheese lasagna from the counter service at CBR, but it wasn't inedible...just seemed like it had been leftover for a while. Just be sure to ask (particularly at buffets), whether dishes are *actually* vegetarian. As I'm sure you already know, many bases are made using some sort of beef or chicken stock, and it may not be apparent just from looking at it.

Have a great trip!

 

[Linda67]

Another vote for Boma
The variety there is excellent and the food is full of flavour

I enjoyed the Veggie Burgers much more on this trip than our last one but I always try and get one from somewhere with a toppings bar (Cosmic Ray's or Pecos Bills are good) so that you can add extra veggies

In Epcot, the Tangierine Cafe does a wonderful vegetarian platter

The grilled vegetable sandwiches at Earl Of Sandwich are a great quick snack

 

[WVParkfan]

We're not vegetarian, but we certainly like variety. We're also Counter-Service folks, so here are some great CS ideas that are vegetarian:

DHS - Backlot Express has a grilled vegetable salad. It may be one of my favorite things to eat in all of Disney!
DHS - Studio Catering has a Greek Salad.
DHS - Tune-in Lounge beside 50's Prime Time has an awesome order of 'Smores.

MK - Main Street Bakery has awesome cinnamon rolls
MK - Outpost in Frontierland has a vegetable flatbread sandwich that is very good.
MK - Pinochio Haus has a great Mediterranean salad. You'll have to order it without the chicken.

Epcot - Sunshine Seasons has a grilled vegetable Cuban sandwich that is great.
Epcot - Morocco Pavilion has a vegetable platter with couscous salad, hummus, tabouleh and olives.

AK - Plenty of fresh fruit at various stands around the park, but I can't really remember anything vegetarian except the cheese pizza at Pizzafari. They also have Caesar salads.

And every park has our favorite vegetarian food... Popcorn!!!!

 

[pumba]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2473465
check out this thread

 

[budbeerlady]

My favorite CS is Columbia Harbor House in MK. Mmmmmm. The Lighthouse Sandwich and if its cooler add the vegetarian chilli. So good! (The sandwich is messy, take alot of napkins to your table but it is so worth it!)

My favorite Table service is a hard choice. I loved the vegetable stew at the wave (not a stew like I was thinking a thick soup) and everything at Sanaa was outstanding! The adult Mac-n-cheese at Chefs De France was really good for something different.

The NASTIEST thing I have ever eaten was the vegetarian enchilada at Whispering Canyon. So gross! Imagine baked beans in a shell with some cheese and more baked beans thrown over the top. It was a soggy, boring, gross mess. Buying a can of beans and eating them out of the can would have tasted better.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I would also say Sunshine Seasons is also great. I always get the goat cheese & beet salad there.

And many resort CS locations have the option of a veggie sandwich. I had one at WL the other day and it was great. Also the flatbreads at Capt. Cook's at the Poly are yum.

 

[TillyMarigold]

We're not vegetarian, but we certainly like variety. We're also Counter-Service folks, so here are some great CS ideas that are vegetarian:

DHS - Backlot Express has a grilled vegetable salad. It may be one of my favorite things to eat in all of Disney!
DHS - Studio Catering has a Greek Salad.
DHS - Tune-in Lounge beside 50's Prime Time has an awesome order of 'Smores.

SCC also has a grilled veggie sandwich.

 

[everythingALICE]

I haven't personally had the Smores desserts, but if they use marshmallows (opposed to a fluff or a marshmallow sauce), those are made with gelatin, which you'd want to stay away from (if you're doing a strictly vegetarian diet).

*Most* caesar dressings contain anchovies, so you may want to see if they have an alternative dressing. Restaurantosaurus in AK does serve veggie burgers, if you didn't want to have pizza.

 

[jackdis]

If you are the Polynesian, try OHana. Ask for the chef to come to your table and tell him you are vegetarian. My friend said it was delicious!

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Some others not yet mentioned:
Grilled veggie panini at Boardwalk Bakery
Grilled portabello sandwich at ESPN club (Boardwalk)
Veggie lo mein, stir-fried veggies, and vegetable fried rice at Sunshine Seasons (The Lant at Epcot)
Veggie wrap at Electric Umbrella (Epcot future World)
Veggie wrap at Cosmic Rays (Tomorrowland in MK)

Buffets -- we have had no problem having the chef make pasta with meatless sauce (usually with veggies aded) at Cape May, Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare, Crystal Palace.

 

[alisonwonderland64]

In addition to a lot of the things that were already mentioned (Boma , the Lighthouse Sandwich at CHH, Tangeriene Cafe and Sunshine Seasons), I highly recommend the Colony Salad that you can order for lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom. It does come with chicken on it, but my mom, who's a vegetarian, ordered it without the chicken and thought it was just as good. I think it's one of the best salads I've ever had, not just at Disney!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'll start with the worst: the veggie burger at ASMU. Weird hard things in the patty and the only topping I was offered was bacon.

The good: all the salads and veggies at Tusker House, The Lighthouse sandwich at Columbia Harbor House, the veggie burgers at Cosmic Rays and Restaurantasaurus (great toppings bars), the veggie sandwich at Backlot Express, the tofu at Brown Derby, the veggie platter at The Tangerine Cafe, and, my personal favorite, the tofu dish at Sci-Fi.

Wow, you covered all the best veggie pics I think! I would add Sunshine Seasons has some good veggie options.

 

[DeborahA]

I would add, that if you do find yourself having a meal at a TS you can always let them know when you check in that you are vegetarian. My MIL travels with us sometimes and she is a vegetarian, we always let them know and they bring her something--she is always pleased. We have done TS at Ohana, Garden Grill and HDDR.

 

[MelanieC]

As other's have said - the Lighthouse sandwich at MK's Columbia Harbour House is fabulous. To make it vegan just take off the broccoli slaw.

The veggie sandwich at the Plaza was one of my favorites, but it's not vegan (would have to have it put on another bun, take off the cheese and would have to check the pesto).

Sunshine Seasons at Epcot has several really good veggie options.

Tangerine Cafe in EPcot also has several good veggie options. Some of the items on the veggie platter are not vegan, but subsitutions can be made.

The counter service at The Grand Floridian has a tabouleh salad flatbread.

Mara at the AKL has a flatbread falafel sandwich (vegan if you leave the sauce off, I believe the bread is vegan too).

Boma and Tusker house are great options for vegetarian and vegan.

There are so many more I could mention, but these are some of my favorite places to eat.