We've Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disneyland Resort. These Are the Best. | the disney food blog (2024)

Let’s face it. No day atDisneylandis complete without indulging in some of the delicious food.

Disneyland is home to some of our favorite table service and counter service restaurants, where you can find some great Disney treats. Come along as we show you all our favorite places to eat in Disneyland— but here’s a warning that you might get hungry!

We’ve already looked at the best of the best in Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. Here, we’re reviewing all our favorite restaurants in all of the Disneyland Resort so that you’ll already know where the best spots are. We’ve ranked a table service restaurant (which are sit-down restaurants) and a counter service restaurant (which are fast food-style restaurants) at Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, a Disney Resort, and a Wild Card. We’ll be includingimportant details on all of them so that you can know exactly which ones you’ll be adding to your magical day in Disneyland.

Ready to dig in? Let’s GO!

Quick Service

Quick Service (Counter Service) restaurants are going to have a lower price point compared with table service restaurants. Of course, with that can come with lower quality when generally speaking, but we seriously think that thesecounter service locations serve up some worthy options.You don’t need a reservation for theserestaurants, andcan either purchase viamobile order in the Disneyland appor by placing an order in person. Another thing to note is thatnot all of these restaurants have available seating.

If your priority is riding ALL. THE. RIDES! in Disney California Adventure or Disneyland, you may find that a quick mealat aCounter Service restaurantwill fit your needs!

Disneyland –Plaza Inn Lunch and Dinner

Our FAVORITE counter service option might seem a bit familiar… it’s the lunch and dinner offerings from Plaza Inn!

Lunch and dinner at Plaza Inn are served cafeteria-style — but don’t let that scare you away. From fried chicken to pot roast, this restaurant has hearty eats that won’t disappoint.

Disney’s California Adventure –Pym Test Kitchen

Located in Avengers Campus, the Pym Test Kitchen has an Ant-Man and The Wasp theme, with food that “shrinks and grows” to help tell the story. Dine here if you’re a big Marvel fan! There’s no doubt that these eats are highly themed and great for those who know all about the Pym Particles.

All in all, if you’re looking for the full superhero experience at Avengers Campus, then this is a place that you definitely don’t want to miss. The atmosphere screams Marvel, and Disney found a way to put a unique spin on classic dishes that most park-goers will enjoy.

We think that the peanut butter sandwich (PB3 Superb Sandwich) is the real standout here, but we aren’t turning our nose up at anything on the menu — it’s all tasty!

Downtown Disney – Earl of Sandwich

Earl of Sandwichis aquick service dining spotinspired by the 1762 invention of the sandwich by John Montagu, the fourth “Earl of Sandwich.”

Earl of Sandwich iswell-loved for serving up tasty toasted sandwichesalong with pizza bread, salads, mac and cheese, and more… all at reasonable prices. The Earl serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner at this popular spot inDisneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney!

Disney Resort – GCH Craftsman Grill

In the heart ofDisneyland Resort’s Grand Californian Hotellies this gem of a quick service dining spot.GCH Craftsman Grilloffers a relaxing atmosphere and a great variety of quick meals.

A surprisingly wide variety of options is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast features items like Avocado Toast, Waffles, Quiche, and more, along with a variety of grab-and-go pastries. Lunch and dinner serve up Hand-crafted Sandwiches, Artisanal Pizzas, and Skewers.

A Hot Dog of the Month is one of the highlights on the menu. You never know what you’ll find!

Wild Card –Cozy Cone Motel

Plan a pit stop at theCozy Cone MotelinCars Land! Resembling Sally’s Motel fromCars, this quick-service location fuels fans with a variety of snacks and beverages served from five different Cone-shaped kiosks.

We recommend the Chile Cone Queso and Churros (watch for seasonal flavors) with dipping sauce.

Table Service

There are a few things you should know about table service restaurants before we talk about the restaurants. First,these meals are going to be a bit pricier than counter service meals, due to the portion sizes, quality, service, and atmosphere of the restaurant. These are just a bit fancier — but not so fancy you can’t just walk in after a long day in the parks. Secondly,you’ll need to make a reservation to visit any of these table service restaurants. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance of your desired date, so make sure to stay on top of your trip dates and your desired restaurants.

Disneyland –Cafe Orleans

Alright, this one is our TOP Disneyland restaurant. Cafe Orleans is very similar to Blue Bayou in terms of location and serving Louisiana-style food.

The atmosphere is very classy, and the Monte Cristo Sandwich and French Onion soup are some of our favorites on the menu. Plus, Walt Disney himself dined here back in the day! We also love that you can sit inside in the dining room, or outside on the covered patio!

The view, the food, that iconic Disneyland experience. We’re sure it’ll be one of your favorite spots, too!

Disney’s California Adventure –Carthay Circle Restaurant

Located on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure, this restaurant is based on the Carthay Circle Theatre, where Disney’s first film,Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered. The concept of everything inside the restaurant isold Hollywood, and you can see that in the warm golden colors, wood accents, lighting, and decor.

This is a signature dining spot, making it a great location for those special occasions — a birthday, anniversary, graduation, special date, etc. That old Hollywood atmosphere lends itself to that kind of thing and can really make YOU feel like a part of that famous moment in time.

Pro tip: If you can, walk around and take a moment to admire all the great photographs of Walt!

Thereis a good selection ofwine,and we’d expect nothing less from a classy restaurant that showcases the best of Californian cuisine!

We do feel like the cost is worth it for many of the items, but you’ll want to take a close look at the menu options that will be available during your trip to make sure the flavors are ones that fit your palette. As good as some of the food items are, we think the service and atmosphere is what really can make this signature dining experience worth the cash.

Downtown Disney – Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen

Come catch the fever of the festive French Quarter down south in New Orleans… right inDisneyland’s Downtown Disney District! If you’re looking for that southern food with a Creole spin, you’ve found the right spot!

Get your fill of cornbread, po’ boys, and hushpuppies, but they often introduce new items, as well.Their new menu item, theSpicy Honey-Glazed Salmon, definitely sounds like it’ll bring in those famousNew Orleans flavors.

This seafood dish includesa pan-roasted salmon filetand aseasonal succotash of corn,beans, and fresh herbs, all topped with a smoothlemon butter sauce. It really seems like the perfect balance ofspicyandsweetwith fresh flavors from the vegetables and fish.

Disney Resort – Napa Rose

A sophisticated and authentic dining experience awaits you at theaward-winning Napa Roserestaurant nestled insideDisney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Indulge in a thoughtfully-composed menu of fresh seasonal flavors with a focus onwine country cuisinebyChef Andrew Sutton.Napa Rose also boasts one ofDisneyland’s finest wine collections. Atmosphere abounds inside the dining room, which partially overlooks Disney California Adventure park.

Napa Rose offersfine dining for dinnereach evening. And from 8AM – 11AM onThursdays through Mondays, Napa Rose hosts a character dining experience:Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures.

Wild Card –Lamplight Lounge

Lamplight Lounge pays tribute not only to the films of Pixar, but also to the artists of Pixar Studio who bring the stories to life. Fans of Pixar will be in their element here! Lamplight Lounge has anoutdoor patio upstairs, as well as indoor and outdoor seating downstairs.

The cuisine at Lamplight Lounge is seriously upscale pub grub. From the first colorful drink to the last tasty bite, this restaurant delivers. If you like seafood, get the Lobster Nachos!

Also, we recommend the brunch — dishes are flavorful and thoughtful, with playful elements of color and taste that set this restaurant apart.

While exploring Disney’s California theme parks, you won’t go hungry! And many of the dining options are exceptionally themed. We think these are some of the best options for your trip to the Disneyland Resort in California. Happy dining!

We’ve Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These Are the BEST.

What are your favorite restaurants in Disney’s Calfornia parks? Did your favorite make our list? Let us know in the comments below!