Which One Restaurant in World Showcase to choose?

[GeorgiaHoo]

Wife and I have been to both Teppan Edo and San Angel. Our kids insist that we eat at Teppan Edo (they haven't been to San Angel) every trip, and it is pretty good food and a pretty good show. But we've been to better teppanyaki restaurants, so if I had to choose between the two for an adults only dinner I lean towards San Angel. The food there is fine (other than the salsa - terrible), the service was good, and the atmosphere was fun. Neither place has great beer, but at San Angel you can get some decent margaritas while I thought Teppan Edo was really lacking in the adults drink department.

We are trying La Hacienda in November, and it seems to get decent reviews as well.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

My wife loves San Angel Inn and she was born close to the border. She says it reminds her of her family's cooking. Both restaurants at Mexico are great but the atmosphere inside is better. That would be my vote

 

[Beeej]

I think I'm leaning in favour of San Angel Inn. It sounds like the atmosphere with the boats going past will be a uniquely 'Disney' experience, and it's good to hear others rate the food as both tasty and authentic. Also good points about the drinks being better!

The comments about places with good Illuminations views are useful, but as we're currently only planning one evening in Epcot I'm keen to view the show outside. I'd hate to bank on getting a good view from a restaurant, and then to end up at a table without one.

 

[amberpi]

The most unique is San Angel Inn. For food AND atmosphere, SRT. By a mile.

 

[AustinMommyofThree]

You ask to stay away from the pavilions representing Western Europe... Well, there goes half of them

Mexico
Italy
France
Norway
United States
United Kingdom
China
Japan
Canada
Germany
Morocco

Everyone's talking about Teppan Edo, and that's a great choice. The Mexican fare at WS isn't good by Southwestern US standards. If you've never had actual "Tex Mex" food, you may be pleasantly surprised. Then again, if The Americans don't like it, that's a really bad sign.

I'm going to go a bit against the grain and say Morocco. Restaurant Marrakesh has some unique flavors. It's a definite change of pace from all the burgers and fries (chips?) you'll find everywhere else.

I'm confused by your post. Tex-Mex is very different from Mexican cuisine in pretty much every way, and I think the problem is that many Americans go to San Angel expecting Tex-Mex and are disappointed because they don't bother to know the difference. As it is, the food at San Angel is pretty Americanized (as is the food at all of the WS restaurants), but we think it's a very good representation of Mexican cuisine and the setting is second to none. If we want Tex-Mex, we can stay at home in the place that invented the cuisine, as no place does Tex-Mex better than Texas.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think I'm leaning in favour of San Angel Inn. It sounds like the atmosphere with the boats going past will be a uniquely 'Disney' experience, and it's good to hear others rate the food as both tasty and authentic. Also good points about the drinks being better.

I like both the blood orange and jalapeño margaritas on the rocks. Lots of posters here mention how much they enjoy the avocado one, but it's frozen and I just prefer on-the-rocks margaritas.

Cajeta is a caramel sauce made from goat's milk and sugar. So delicious! We just ate out at a local Mexican place and had a dessert of crepes, cajeta, pecans and vanilla ice cream. It was fabulous and San Angel no doubt will offer something as good.

 

[FelisLachesis]

I'm confused by your post. Tex-Mex is very different from Mexican cuisine in pretty much every way, and I think the problem is that many Americans go to San Angel expecting Tex-Mex and are disappointed because they don't bother to know the difference. As it is, the food at San Angel is pretty Americanized (as is the food at all of the WS restaurants), but we think it's a very good representation of Mexican cuisine and the setting is second to none. If we want Tex-Mex, we can stay at home in the place that invented the cuisine, as no place does Tex-Mex better than Texas.

You have a point, and it made me look into the restaurants in The Mexico pavilion more. The Inn is definitely different from anything I've seen before regarding Mexican food. That does look much more pure Mexican than TexMex. I may have to dig deeper.

I remember eating something at the Mexico pavilion, once, I think it was at The Cantina, and oh boy, it was bland. When I think Mexican or TexMex, bland is not one word I would ever consider using.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I've never been overly impressed by the food at the TS in Mexico, but there is no denying that they both have great atmosphere. If going at lunch, then you have to go to San Angel since La Hacienda only open at dinner. Be prepared for crowds at lunch at San Angel. For a quieter experience, do dinner at La Hacienda--you can try, and I mean only try, to request a table by the windows near Illuminations time and watch the show from there as well. As far as Japan, for sushi, Teppan Edo. I did not like Tokyo Dining at all. I also like both QS at Japan and Mexico.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

By the way, while I'd probably go with San Angel based on your criteria, we also liked Teppan Edo. Just not as unique as San Angel I suppose.