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Disney Springs is home to plenty of amazing dining locations including the popular Frontera Cocina in the Town Center area. Operated by Chef Rick Bayless, Frontera Cocina features a wonderful menu of authentic Mexican cuisine served in a bright and vibrant environment that also offers scenic views of Disney Springs and the water just outside.
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Frontera Cocina features a modern take on traditional Mexican décor, with vibrant blue and yellow walls, blue glass lighting, traditional blue Mexican plates hanging on the walls, brightly tiled floors, and a large “Wall of Fame” featuring many different tequilas. One of the main focal points of Frontera Cocina is a vaulted portion of the ceiling with dark wooden beams, a vibrant tile mosaic depicting a swirling sun and designs, and a beautiful chandelier with hanging orange glass pendants of different sizes.
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Credit: Frontera Cocina
One of the focal points of the dining area of Frontera Cocina is an open kitchen where Guests can watch chefs bringing the creations of Chef Rick Bayless to life. While the inside dining room is definitely vibrant and beautiful, Guests can also enjoy seating on an outdoor patio that overlooks some of the waterways that wind their way through Disney Springs. This outdoor seating is especially beautiful as the sun sets over Lake Buena Vista each night and the lights begin to come on across Disney Springs.
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Frontera Cocina is open each day for lunch and dinner and features extensive menus that highlight traditional ingredients and flavors found in authentic Mexican cuisine. The best way to kick off any meal is by ordering one of the many delicious specialty cocktails such as the Elote Old Fashioned or Mexican Negroni, draft beers, mezcal, tequila, or wines that are featured. Guests can also sip on the popular Red Sangria which features hibiscus flower tea, Malbec, orange liqueur, and house-made limonada.
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Being a traditional Mexican restaurant, it is no surprise that the main specialty beverages offered at Frontera Cocina are tequila and mezcal and Guests can enjoy them by the pour, flight, or in delicious margaritas. Guests can enjoy the Frontera Margarita which features Centinela blanco tequila, Gran Gala orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave or many other inventive options such as the Watermelon Pink Flamingo, The Smoky Pineapple, Blackberrita, Play With Fire, and El Dios Chinola.
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Once Guests are settled in with their drinks at Frontera Cocina, they can focus on digging into some amazing cuisine, beginning with an extensive menu of starters. Guacamole is absolutely a Guest favorite, and Frontera Cocina serves it up in several different ways starting with the Guacamole & Chips – Verde which features smoky chipotle, herb salsa, roasted poblanos and tomatillos, toasted pepitas, cilantro, and onions. Guests can also enjoy the Guacamole & Chips – Cranberry-Jicama and the Guacamole & Chips – Bacon, which adds in crispy Nueske bacon.
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Other starter options on the menu at Frontera Cocina are classic Chips & Salsa, Toasted Pumpkin Seed “Hummus” which is a pumpkin seed habanero dip, Chipotle Chicken Flautas, and hearty Tortilla Soup. Guests also love the Crispy Chipotle Calamari which is topped with a caramelized lime aioli, chili de arbol salsa, and cotija as well as the Queso Fundido served with roasted poblanos, caramelized onions, and warm corn tortillas.
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Guests who are looking for a light meal option at Frontera Cocina have various salads to choose from that all pack fresh ingredients and bold flavors with the option to add grilled chicken breast, carne Asada, or mojo garlic grilled shrimp for an additional fee. The Fall Ensalada tops field greens with cranberries, candied Neuske bacon, Bartlett pears, goat cheese, toasted pepitas, and a sweet-smoky chipotle vinaigrette and the Taquería Ensalada tops Arcadian lettuce with poblano rajas, carrots, radishes, avocados, crunchy tortilla strips, cotija, and an avocado-lime vinaigrette.
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Credit: Frontera Cocina
Of course, tacos are some of the most popular menu items at Frontera Cocina and there are four options to pick from including the popular Carne Asada Tacos with poblano rajas, black bean refritos, queso fresco, salsa verde, and guacamole, and the indulgent Carnitas Enchiladas with slow-cooked pork, roasted butternut, cranberry-infused mole, Chihuahua cheese, crema, and black beans. A slightly lighter taco option is the Grilled Chicken Chipotle Tacos with caramelized onions, black bean refritos, queso fresco, guacamole, and chipotle salsa, and Guests who prefer vegetarian options can enjoy the Garlicky Mushroom & Eggplant Tacos topped with slow-cooked garlic-mezcal mojo, goat cheese, garlicky red bean refritos, and poblano rajas.
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Credit: Frontera Cocina
Guests who opt to order tacos as their main course meals at Frontera Cocina might also want to add on some delicious sides to round out their meals, and there are several great menu options to choose from. The Garlicky Red Bean Refritos are creamy and pack some serious heat from chipotle peppers, the Fried Plantains are perfectly crispy on the outside and served with crema and cotija, and the Arroz con Plantains elevates white rice with the addition of plantains and fresh cilantro.
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The entrée options at Frontera Cocina all feature bold and vibrant flavors that make it so that Guests have a hard time choosing just what to order, but by far the Carne Asada is the most popular option on the list. It features a Creekstone Natural Black Angus steak marinated in garlic and red chilé and served with black bean refritos, queso fresco, caramelized plantains, cotija cheese, tomatillo salsa, and warm corn tortillas. Guests also have the option of adding mojo garlic shrimp on top for an additional fee, taking it to an even more indulgent level!
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Other meat entrée options include the Oaxacan Red Mole Chicken served with plantain rice and warm corn tortillas and the Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas which feature a guajillo chile sauce, queso Chihuahua, crispy onions, and black bean refritos. Guests who are looking to enjoy pork as their main entrée at Frontera Cocina can opt for the Cochinita Pibil which marinate the pork in achiote before slow roasting it and serving it with black beans, poblano rajas, pickled red onions, and habanero salsa.
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Seafood lovers have several flavorful entrée options at Frontera Cocina starting with the Shrimp Mojo de Ajo which is a Florida Pink shrimp pan-roasted with garlic, olive oil, lime, and chipotle and served with plantain rice, grilled calabacitas, and warm corn tortillas. Guests can also enjoy seafood in the Oaxacan Green Mole Grilled Snapper which is topped with an herb-based green mole and served with white beans, plantain rice, spicy salad greens, and warm corn tortillas.
Credit: Frontera Cocina
With so many incredible menu items at Frontera Cocina, Guests might find it hard to save room for dessert, but there are three wonderful options that make the task a little easier, beginning with traditional Soft Serve with unique flavors like Mexican Vanilla, Ancho Chile Chocolate, and Swirl. Guests can also enjoy the Cuatro Leches which is a sponge cake soaked in four kinds of milk and served with whipped cream, toasted coconut, blackberries, and lime zest, or the Flan de Queso which is topped with guayaba-piloncillo caramel, guava paste, and fresh orange.
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Frontera Cocina is an amazing table service restaurant in Disney Springs that features the perfect combination of incredible cuisine crafted by Chef Rick Bayless and bright, vibrant décor and atmosphere. Lunch and dinner at Frontera Cocina are both sure to thrill Guests with indulgent, authentic Mexican cuisine that pairs perfectly with a tequila flight or delicious margarita. Be sure to visit Frontera Cocina on any trip to Disney Springs and dig in!
