Must Eat DLR Food?

We always have to get dole whip when we go! The plaza inn for the chicken is a tradition for us as well to get dinner. And then we usually do ice cream while waiting for fireworks/parades.
 
Don't go expecting to enjoy most of the food items. They are generally meh... The food is edible but nothing special. If you go with high expectations you will be disappointed.
 
Since you describe yourself as a foodie and like unique items, I'd go with a breakfast at Carnation Cafe - Eggs Benedict is my choice there.

Have a meal at Carthay Circle (lunch or dinner) and a meal at Blue Bayou (lunch or dinner).

If you don't mind leaving the parks for a meal, have a dinner at Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel.

I don't consider myself a foodie. I actually feel like I am pretty basic when it comes to food, but I want healthy and delicious food. Generally, the "favorite" foods of the masses at Disneyland are essentially junk foods like carnival type food, fried foods and sugary stuff. I am constantly disappointed by stuff that I've read that I have to try.
 
Honestly? Nothing. I love Disneyland but there food is nothing to get excited about. And that is for all levels of service. We have been to all of the DL places and a most of DCA and we now try to eat as many meals as possible out of the park. Dole Whip might be the only exception.
 


I really love White Water Snacks at GCH. It's a nice break from the parks and I haven't gotten an item there I didn't like. Their burgers are good (I got the off menu veggie burger), and their rice bowls are tasty too.

Rancho Del Zocalo (DLH) has amazing food too. They are also really good at customizing your food -- I don't eat meat so they are always happy to substitute veggies (their cauliflower is so good).

I know you mentioned no Mickey pretzels, but if you are a pretzel fan I do like the Bavarian ones at Sonoma Terrace (DCA) with a nice cold beer.

In Downtown Disney we love Tortilla Jos! They have a quick service side and a sit down restaurant. The employees are amazingly friendly and their table side guacamole is incredible. I also like their burritos.
 
My must haves on every trip are fried chicken at Plaza Inn, skewers at Bengal BBQ, beignets and mint julep from the Mint Julep bar, french toast from Flo's V8 cafe, and churros! Everything else I try and change up and try new things from different places. Rancho Del Zocalo is one of my favs as well. If you are a foodie person and can swing the budget, the chef's counter at Napa Rose at the GCH is a wonderful experience. You have to book it directly from the restaurant I believe (it's been a few years since I did it)
 
If you're wanting a special sit-down meal, Napa Rose is an excellent restaurant. Not sure if they still do a tasting menu, but having that at the chef's counter is one of my favorite things to do at Disneyland Resort.
 


Don't go expecting to enjoy most of the food items. They are generally meh... The food is edible but nothing special. If you go with high expectations you will be disappointed.
Honestly? Nothing. I love Disneyland but there food is nothing to get excited about. And that is for all levels of service. We have been to all of the DL places and a most of DCA and we now try to eat as many meals as possible out of the park. Dole Whip might be the only exception.
I think this is contextual. Is the food at DLR exceptional when compared to gourmet food available in the greater L.A. area? Of course not! But is the food much better than what you can get at the average theme park? Surprisingly, yes. Places like CCR and CC Lounge, Lamplight Lounge (downstairs), NR, S55 (breakfast and dinner), Paradise Garden Grill, etc. are not usually found in your average theme park. Yes, you have to be discerning and know how to work your way around the menus, but, in general, DLR will spoil you when it comes to theme park food. Just try to do as well at Sea World...
 
I've tried lots of various food items and DL and most not not really memorable. The ones that stick out as being good and a little different are: fried chicken dinner at Plaza Inn (DL), french toast breakfast at Flo's (DCA), and surprisingly, the cheese burger pizza from Pizza Port (i think most people hated it but i thought it worked real well with chunks of burger with mustard, pickles and grilled onions.

Other items that I find are good but not really exciting: tomatoe soup with a grilled cheese sandwich at Jolly Holiday (DL) and the hot dog with mac and cheese on it from Coke Corner (DL).

I've found most of the meals I've had at sit down restaurants (usually for fantasmic seating) are under seasoned, over cooked and just too much food.
 
I think the food at DL is outstanding for a theme park! I like to get a variety of skewers at Bengal BBQ and split them up, skip the bread. Fried Chicken at the ‘Plaza Inn is a must. I always get the Surf N Turf at Blue Bayou.
 
Food at DCA is much better than DL. Carthay Circle is the best among the sit-down options in the park. There you will find beauty and substance for sure! Blue Bayou is for ambience, not good food. You have to be ok with that if you choose to go. Napa Rose in the GCH is lovely, and always a place for me to try & love something new. I've only had breakfast at S55, but it was excellent. DL is ok for snacks, my favorite being the Bengal skewers. My family goes nuts for the treats in Pooh's Corner. I don't know why I find the popcorn amazing and addictive, but it is. Beignets are a must at Jazz Kitchen! Don't waste your money on the mickey shaped ones in DL.
 
pomme frites at cafe orleans (really, it's the dipping sauce that makes it)
specialty burger at galactic grill
beef poutine at red rose tavern
brioche french toast at flo's
ghirardelli's soda fountain
 
Mediterranean skewer platters at Paradise Garden Grill
raspberry mickey macarons at Jolly Holiday
matterhorn macaroons at Jolly Holiday
yes, the monte cristo and pommes frites at Café Orleans (huge portions....plenty to share!)!!
oh and yes, the brioche French toast at Flo's.... another shareable breakfast
Steakhouse 55 , most definitely!
and plenty of good snacks to be found around the parks!!
 
Don’t go to Blue Bayou for dinner, it’s more expensive and the best thing you can get there is the Monte Cristo and you can get it at lunch, plus it’s cheaper I think.

No trip for us would be complete without a churro and a hot dog at the Refreshment Corner, lame but it’s a theme park!

You should definitely get some beignets at the French Quarter as well, they are great.

One of the traditions we have is to wait till quite late at night, 1-2 hours until close and goto the Pooh ride which exits directly into a sweet treats shop which we always manage to have a little snack at and it’s so peaceful.

I haven’t really found any ‘must-dos’ at DCA but I will say that Lamplight Lounge definitely is a place you should go to but nothing stuck out on the menu.
 
Carnation Cafe has a great menu. I enjoy the meatloaf every time we go. The fried pickles are so yummy too. My kids who hate pickles, eat these!

I love getting a Pear-o-dice beverage and dill popcorn from Cozy Cones in DCA, get a seat on a bench and people watch for a bit.
 
I don't love DL/DCA food, I think it's just all right, overpriced theme park food, but I get it, it's at a theme park, but one thing we eat without fail EVERY time we're there is the Countdown Chicken Fusilli pasta from Red Rockett's or Alien Pizza Planet (whatever the name of it is - they overlaid it and I don't know if it is still that or it changed back). Two of us usually share it with a Caesar salad (it's just an okay Caesar). We don't eat anything else there ever! I am not a fan of Tomorrowland in general, which includes the restaurant atmosphere, so we usually order it to go and then find a spot to sit and wait for a parade or something. I will say that people always ask us where we got the Mac and Cheese. I tell them what it is before telling them where they can get it. Anyway, we find it's one of the better meals.
 
I tried the chicken fried steak sandwich at Stage Door for the first time on Wednesday and I was surprised how much I liked it! Good sized portion and it's only $12 or so, which is what I'd expect to pay outside a theme park.
 

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