Theme parks and food go hand in hand, and no better place showcases this truth than the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. From the theme parks to the hotels and even the Downtown Disney District, there’s an endless number of snacks, treats, and entire meals that are worth the fight to get reservations for. And trust me, after multiple visits to Disneyland to try the latest and greatest in dining, you really can’t go wrong with any of the choices, but there are some quintessential Disneyland dishes that you must nosh on during your next trip.
So if you’re in the midst of planning your next getaway to The Happiest Place on Earth, you’re going to want to keep reading. I’m sharing everything from must-try snacks and character dining options to the best quick-service restaurants and table-service meals worth your precious park time. I’m also sharing some of my best tips and tricks to secure dining reservations and how to skip long lines for snacks. This is the official FamilyVacationist Disneyland foodie guide.
Disneyland foodie guide: must-try Disneyland snacks
Disneyland is renowned for its numerous snack stands, offering a variety of treats, including Mickey-shaped ice creams, pretzels, and seasonal items. But there are a few must-try snacks that are worth the wait in line.
It’s Lemon! at Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
Tucked away on Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure, Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats is dishing out a wide variety of soft serve, but the most popular is the non-dairy lemon. The sweet, tart, and refreshing treat is perfect on warm California days. Additionally, you can get the lemon soft serve swirl topped with a white chocolate shell, making it It’s Snow Capped Lemon!
Mac and Cheese Cones at Cozy Cone Motel
Another hot spot at Disney California Adventure is the Cozy Cone Motel quick-service stand. At Cozy Cone 3, you can find macaroni and cheese stuffed inside a bread cone. There are three different offerings: macaroni and cheese with spicy red pepper cheese sauce, macaroni and cheese mixed with bacon, and beef chili topped with cheddar cheese and corn chips.
Cheesy Garlic Pretzel Bread at Maurice’s Treats
One snack that took social media by storm, and with good reason, is the cheesy garlic pretzel bread from Maurice’s Treats at Disneyland Park. The savory snack is warm pretzel bread stuffed with warm, cheesy garlic spread and topped with melted parmesan cheese. Maurice’s Treats also serves the snack as a breakfast option with scrambled eggs and sausage as additional fillings.
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Pro tip: You can also get the traditional bread at Edelweiss Snacks. Additionally, Edelweiss also serves the bread with a bratwurst stuffed inside. This is a great quick lunch option.
Corn Dogs at Corn Dog Castle
I couldn’t leave my absolute favorite snack at Disneyland off our Disneyland foodie guide: a corn dog from Corn Dog Castle at Disney California Adventure. The hand-dipped dogs come out piping hot, with a crispy exterior and a perfectly cooked interior. Other favorites at Corn Dog Castle include the spicy hot link dog and a fried cheddar cheese stick, the latter of which is what melty cheese dreams are made of.
Churros around the resort
Disney fans will mostly agree that the churros at the Disneyland Resort are superior to their cousins over at Walt Disney World. Throughout the year, the flavors and accompanying dips change, but there’s always a new flavor to try. On a few recent trips to Disneyland, my favorites have been the strawberry sugar churro, which tastes more like cotton candy than strawberry, and the Disneyland 70th churro, which is rolled in ube sugar and topped with blue raspberry icing.
Disneyland Foodie Guide: best quick-service meal options
There are a plethora of quick-service restaurants around the Disneyland Resort, but these three are the ones worth seeking out on your next trip.
Anything in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure
My absolute favorite quick-service area is San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. Within the small area themed to Big Hero 6, there are a handful of quick service restaurants serving everything from beef birria ramen to karaage chicken sandwiches. I often find myself ordering from a few different places and making my own perfect meal. This is especially nice if I’m dining with others and we can share.
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For adults 21 and over, there’s a beer stand, San Fransokyo Cervecería, that sells Karl Strauss Brewing Company brews. I love the Moment of Zen with Yuzu, a Japanese-style rice lager with hints of citrusy yuzu.
Pro tip: Every restaurant in this area offers mobile ordering. Try to put all of your orders in at one time, then go and pick everything up while someone else in your group holds a table.
Bengal Barbecue at Disneyland Park
If you’re looking for a larger snack that can easily double as a small meal, Bengal Barbecue is the spot to be. I suggest the Bengal Rice Plate, which allows you to choose from two regular meat or veggie skewers, which are served on jasmine rice with a side of citrus-miso slaw.
Jolly Holiday at Disneyland Park
Right at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park, you’ll see Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. The popular quick-service restaurant is known for its incredible bakery cases filled with baked treats like a Mickey-shaped raspberry rose macaron, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate croissants. Alongside any baked good, be sure to try the iconic Jolly Holiday combo, which is a toasted cheese sandwich and tomato basil soup, perfect for chilly evenings at the park.
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Pro tip: Jolly Holiday is usually very busy all day. If you want to dine here, consider making a mobile order early in the day for afternoon or evening pick-ups.
Disneyland foodie guide: best table service restaurants
Sometimes you need a break and want to sit down at a traditional restaurant for a meal. That’s where our Disneyland foodie guide picks for the best table service restaurants come in.
Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure
You may know about Lamplight Lounge from the restaurant’s iconic lobster nachos (only available at the Boardwalk Dining part of the restaurant), but there’s more to this delightful spot at Disney California Adventure. At the main restaurant, there’s everything from small sharables, like onion blossoms and potato skins, to lavish plates of prime rib and herb-roasted chicken. You will need a reservation for the main restaurant.
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Alternatively, Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining is an al fresco spot overlooking Pixar Pier that serves a completely different menu, and you don’t need reservations to dine here. You simply need to join the walk-up waitlist or check with the host to see if a table is available when you’re ready to eat. A few favorites on the menu are, of course, the lobster nachos, along with things like fish tacos, beef sliders, and Korean-style chicken wings.
At both restaurants, the drink menu has fun cocktails and mocktails, all themed around beloved Pixar movies.
Pro tip: I love the Boardwalk Dining option at Lamplight Lounge the best, not only for its menu, but also for the views. You can see the entirety of Pixar Pier, including folks blasting off on The Incredicoaster.
Carnation Cafe at Disneyland Park
Another quintessential Disneyland experience is dining at Carnation Cafe, which is nestled right along Main Street, U.S.A. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can’t go wrong with any meal here. Breakfast is standard fare with omelets, breakfast sandwiches, Mickey waffles, and more.
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At lunch and dinner, portions are big enough to share, especially the fantastic patty melt or turkey club. Just be sure to get a cup of Walt’s chili or baked potato soup, along with the hand-breaded fried pickles served with a zesty dipping sauce to round out your meal.
Pro tip: Ask if you can sit outside on nice days. The patio offers great views of Main Street, U.S.A., plus the ambiance of the park brings a lot to the dining experience.
Cafe Orleans at Disneyland Park
If there’s one place you must go at Disneyland Park, it’s Cafe Orleans. The restaurant, located in New Orleans Square, has one of Disneyland’s most iconic meals: the Monte Cristo sandwich. The hearty sandwich is stuffed with turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese, then battered and fried and served alongside seasoned fries or a salad. The sandwich also comes as a triple cheese option, filled with brie, Swiss, and mozzarella.
Pro tip: This is another spot that has delightful outdoor seating. If you’re lucky, you may be seated near the barrier railing and be able to spot a few characters, like Captain Jack Sparrow or Captain Redd, walking around.
Disneyland foodie guide: best character dining at the Disneyland Resort
If you’re looking to pair a meal with seeing some of your favorite characters, you have a few options at the Disneyland Resort. Since character dining is somewhat limited, these reservations can be hard to get. Your best bet for securing one is to make reservations online through the Disneyland app when your dining reservation window opens 60 days prior to the start of your trip.
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Pro tip: Any of the restaurants that offer pictures via Disney’s PhotoPass service are included in the cost of your meal. You can view your photos on the Disneyland app, then download them to your phone.
Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel
My absolute favorite character dining experience at Disneyland is Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. The restaurant feels like it’s right out of the late 90s in the best way possible. Your meal starts by meeting Chef Goofy in his kitchen, then you’re taken to your table, where the waitstaff will explain how the characters will come around, and then you’re free to explore the buffet. In the past, I’ve seen Minnie, Chip ’n’ Dale, and Pluto at the restaurant.
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Breakfast is my go-to meal here, but it really feels more like brunch. Some highlight dishes include chilaquiles, made-to-order omelets, fresh fruit, and, of course, Mickey waffles. There are also a few more…dare I say, Goofy items, including peanut butter and jelly pizza, chicken and waffles pizza, and soft-serve ice cream.
Plaza Inn at Disneyland Park
If you’re looking for a character dining opportunity inside one of the theme parks, then the Plaza Inn for breakfast is your only option, but it’s a good one. The restaurant invites you to enjoy Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park, a buffet-style breakfast with all the classic options. During your meal, characters will stop by your table. The one guaranteed character is Minnie Mouse, but you could also see pals like Tigger, Chip ’n’ Dale, Daisy, or Max Goof.
Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
If you love to see the characters in a variety of outfits that are fit for the season, Storytellers Cafe is the spot to be at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Throughout the year, the buffet-style restaurant hosts a variety of themed meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For instance, through the Halloween season, dinner is taken over with Clarabelle’s Enchanted Halloween Dinner, where Clarabelle Cow has invited her woodland friends to join her for a Halloween party. During the winter holidays, you can enjoy Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party for breakfast and brunch, where all of the characters don their best plaid and cozy pajamas.
Depending on the meal and the time of year, the menu will change. Some staples at breakfast include baked goods, Mickey waffles, a carving station, and pork carnitas chilaquiles. Dinner ranges from baby back ribs and prime rib to braised short ribs with polenta and a seasonal bread pudding.
