7 Best Disneyland Restaurants – NerdWallet

If you’re visiting Disneyland, you have plenty of tasty dine-in and quick-service options that Disneyland restaurants offer. With a busy day of rides and attractions, lots of walking and long wait lines ahead, having a dining strategy can help you make the most of your visit.

Here are the best restaurants at Disneyland to round out your bucket list.

Where: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. 

Best for: A casual, plant-based meal.

Park visitors who are looking for a flavorful, plant-based option can make a pit stop at Ronto Roasters on the planet of Batuu. Its plant-based sausage wrap, inspired by Korean cuisine, is accompanied by kimchi, pickled cucumbers and gochujang. The quick-service restaurant also offers meat-based breakfast and lunch wraps and is a great place to grab hot coffee at the start of a full day at the park.

What to eat: Ronto-less Garden Wrap.

Best for: A sit-down meal with the family.

The Carnation Cafe offers hearty American food that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. It offers indoor seating as well as alfresco dining and is open throughout the day. It’s said to serve many of Walt Disney’s favorite comfort food dishes.

What to eat: Fried Pickles.

Best for: An on-the-go bite while headed to a standby line.

Bengal Barbecue offers savory skewers that are easy to eat along the short walk to the Jungle Cruise or Indiana Jones rides nearby. Unless you buy the Bengal Rice Plate, the individual skewer portions are petite and meant as a light snack from point A to B. 

Each skewer is about five inches long. If you want a little something extra, add a snack like the Tiger Tail Breadstick or Pineapple Spear. 

What to eat: Bengal Beef Skewer.

Where: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Best for: Cool seating options on hot days.

On its busiest days, a place to sit and have a casual meal at Disneyland comes at a premium. Visitors of Docking Bay 7, however, will find some relief at this immersive Star Wars dine-in experience. 

The restaurant offers plenty of air-conditioned seating inside, away from the hot California sun, as well as an outdoor terrace that has seating with partial shade. Plus, the Cold Brew Black Caf is a refreshing must-have when the weather is in the triple digits.

What to eat: Endorian Roasted Chicken Salad, Cold Brew Black Caf.

Cost: $14.29 and $6.29, respectively.

Best for: An interactive Character Breakfast experience.

Place a Disneyland restaurant reservation early enough and you might scoop up a seat for the park’s famous Character Breakfast. Plaza Inn offers traditional American cuisine while you’re greeted by beloved Minnie Mouse and other Disney friends. The character lineup changes frequently, which adds to the surprise.

What to eat: Mickey-shaped Waffles (breakfast), Fried Chicken Entree (lunch/dinner).

Cost: $35 to $59.99 per adult and $19.49, respectively.

Where: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Best for: Happy hour with fellow Disney adults.

Yes, another Galaxy’s Edge restaurant, but a list of best Disneyland restaurants isn’t complete without it. After all, where else in the park can you have a cosmic cocktail while listening to music by the infamous DJ R-3X droid? 

What to drink: The Outer Rim (alcoholic), Blurrgfire (nonalcoholic).

Cost: $18 and $7, respectively.

Where: New Orleans Square.

Best for: A special celebration with ambiance.

Blue Bayou Restaurant is tucked into New Orleans Square with seating under a lantern-lit terrace. There, the cozy scene looks out onto the Pirates of the Caribbean boat path. It offers a Louisiana-style menu with an ambiance that’s more akin to fine dining compared with other restaurants on the list.

The Disneyland restaurant has been undergoing refurbishment since April 21, 2022, but as soon as it opens its books, it’ll be a hot spot once more.

What to eat: Monte Cristo Sandwich. 

Casual and fine dining reservation slots for Disneyland restaurants are released 60 days out. So if you have a park reservation for a date that’s three months away, you won’t be able to make a Disneyland restaurant reservation just yet. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning your Disneyland dining experience. If you want to book a top Disneyland restaurant, like Blue Bayou, be aware that popular park restaurants can fully book within minutes of a date being released.

Here’s how to make reservations for Disneyland restaurants: 

Visit the Disneyland site and under “Things to Do” on the top navigation bar, click “Make Reservations.” You’ll need to enter your desired date and time, and the number of people in your party to search available reservations.

Open the Disneyland app and tap the “+” at the bottom of the screen. Select “Check dining availability,” and then enter your party size, date and time frame or time slot. Choose a restaurant from the availability list.

Note that you’ll need to provide your credit card information to guarantee your restaurant reservation. If you don’t cancel at least two hours before your reservation or are a no-show, your card will be charged a $10 fee per person, per missed reservation.

• Don’t forget about your Magic Key discount. Disneyland cast members are generally great about asking if you’re a Magic Key holder. But it doesn’t hurt to have your Magic Key ready to scan at checkout. Remember: Some food vendors, like churro snack carts, don’t qualify for the Magic Key dining discount. See the dining discount list of Disneyland restaurants. 

• Order ahead. Use the Disneyland mobile app to place your order in advance. Magic Key holders who’ve linked their pass in the app will automatically have their discount applied at checkout. 

• Go for shareables. It’s no secret that a jaunt to Disneyland can squeeze your wallet. If you’re on a budget or simply want to try an array of foods, split your order with a family member or friend. Disneyland restaurants offer generous portions that can easily be shared.

(Top photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)