The Best Appetizers in Walt Disney World

A lot of Guests dream about Disney dining at the Walt Disney World Resort both before and after enjoying a vacation there, but many times they focus on the indulgent entrees and decadent desserts. In addition to those menu items, there are also a ton of absolutely delicious appetizer options at the table service restaurants on property that include bold flavors and a wide variety of ingredients including seafood, steak, cheese, and more. From savory to slightly sweet and everything in between, here are the best appetizers to enjoy in table service restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort!

Bacon & Eggs – Steakhouse 71

Steakhouse 71 is a table service restaurant found on the ground level of Disney’s Contemporary Resort that celebrates the year that the Walt Disney World Resort first opened with a retro, yet modern, décor and menu of American favorites from the 1970s with updated elements. A great way to begin any meal at Steakhouse 71 is with the Bacon & Eggs appetizer which is a play on the traditional breakfast duo with maple-lacquered pork belly, smoked cheese grits, and a perfect egg.

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Crispy Popcorn Shrimp Tempura – Morimoto Asia

Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs has quickly gained a following of Guests thanks to its modern décor and atmosphere and delicious menu of pan-Asian delicacies crafted by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Morimoto Asia features several delicious small plates including the Crispy Popcorn Shrimp Tempura featuring the restaurant’s signature tempura shrimp fried to perfection and paired with a spicy gochujang aioli.

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Crispy Mac & Cheese Bites – Wine Bar George

Also found in The Landing in Disney Springs is Wine Bar George, a table service restaurant that invites Guests to enjoy hundreds of wine selections from Master Sommelier George Miliotes while dining on small plates and cheese and charcuterie boards. Guests are sure to absolutely love the Crispy Mac & Cheese Bites which feature warm and gooey macaroni and cheese perfectly fried into crispy balls and served with tomato nage and pecorino.

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Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup – Le Cellier Steakhouse

With the heat and humidity often found at the Walt Disney World Resort, soup might not always be at the top of a Guest’s list to enjoy as an appetizer, but Le Cellier Steakhouse in EPCOT’s Canada Pavilion in World Showcase serves up an option that is so delicious, it can’t be missed. The Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup is a thick and creamy appetizer that features Moosehead Pale Ale and Nueske’s Applewood-smoked Bacon for a creamy and smoky delight.

RELATED: Dining at EPCOT’s Le Cellier Steakhouse

Braised Beef Short Rib Wontons – California Grill

At the very top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is California Grill, a table service restaurant open for dinner only that serves up a menu of contemporary American cuisine featuring ingredients and flavors from the Pacific Northwest. An amazing appetizer to begin any meal at California Grill is the Braised Beef Short Rib Wontons which feature a decent portion of the melt-in-your-mouth meat paired with doenjang miso-cola-onion sauce, crispy garlic-chili oil, radish, and pickled lotus root.

RELATED: Dining at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Crab-topped Fries – Paddlefish

Guests who are looking to enjoy an indulgent seafood meal at the Walt Disney World Resort have to head to The Landing area of Disney Springs to enjoy a lunch or dinner at Paddlefish, a table service restaurant housed inside of a steamboat gently floating on Lake Buena Vista. Paddlefish features a very seafood-heavy menu including the Crab-topped Fries appetizer which tops a bed of skin-on fries with blue crab and Louie dressing for a delicious and shareable beginning to any meal.

RELATED: The Best Crab Dishes in Walt Disney World

Lil’ BRGs – STK Orlando

Nearby in The Landing in Disney Springs is STK Orlando, a modern take on a classic steakhouse that features in-house entertainment from a DJ and a menu of updated favorites with major flavor. An indulgent appetizer that Guests can enjoy at STK Orlando for brunch, lunch, and dinner is the Lil’ BRGs which are slider-sized patties of wagyu beef with special sauce on sesame seed buns.

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Orinoco Ida’s Cachapas – Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom is home to the Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, a table service restaurant run by the skippers from the nearby Jungle Cruise that serves up a menu of bold international flavors with signature corny names. Orinoco Ida’s Cachapas is named after one of the boats from the famous attraction and features house-made corn pancakes with beer-braised pork, roasted corn, fresno pepper salsa, and avocado cream for a hearty and flavorful appetizer option in the Magic Kingdom.

RELATED: Kungaloosh! Dining at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

Chipotle Chicken Flautas – Frontera Cocina

Authentic Mexican food is served for lunch and dinner at Frontera Cocina, a table service restaurant created by Chef Rick Bayless in the Town Center area of Disney Springs. Featuring a vibrant and bright interior with views of the springs themselves, Guests are sure to relax while enjoying appetizers like the Chipotle Chicken Flautas which are perfectly stuffed and fried to crispy perfection and then served with roasted tomatillo avocado salsa, crema, cotija cheese, and fresh herbs.

RELATED: Dining at Frontera Cocina

Charred Octopus – Tiffins Restaurant

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to several table service locations including Tiffins Restaurant which is open daily for lunch and dinner adjacent to Nomad Lounge and features a menu of international flavors and ingredients inspired by the spirit of travel and adventure. The Charred Octopus at Tiffins Restaurant is a rather unique appetizer that pairs perfectly charred octopus with a spiced chickpea falafel for the perfect blend of textures and flavors to begin any meal at Tiffins Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

RELATED: Seafood Delights! The Best Octopus Dishes in Walt Disney World

Whiskey BBQ Lollipop Chicken – Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Disney Springs features a menu of traditional pub favorites and lively entertainment like Irish Step Dancers to make Guests feel as though they have hopped across the Atlantic to a cozy pub in the heart of Dublin. A great appetizer option to begin any meal at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant is the Whiskey BBQ Lollipop Chicken which takes perfectly cooked lollipops of chicken and smothers them in a tangy whiskey barbecue sauce accompanied by roasted corn and bacon crumbles.

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Shrimp Fritters – Olivia’s Café

A relaxing and delicious table service restaurant slightly off the beaten path at Disney’s Old Key West Resort is Olivia’s Café which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves up a menu of indulgent options inspired by the fresh flavors of Florida. The menu at Olivia’s Café features plenty of fresh seafood options, and Guests absolutely love the Shrimp Fritters appetizer which features decent portions of the seafood fried to perfection and served with unforgettable key lime mustard.

RELATED: Banana Bread French Toast, Rum Swizzle, & a 14-ounce Prime Rib: Dining at Olivia’s Cafe

Berkshire Pork Belly – Citricos

The charm and theming of Mary Poppins Returns is perfectly paired with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine for dinner each evening at Citricos, a table service restaurant found in the main lobby building of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Every menu option at Citricos is absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor, but the perfect beginning to any meal is the Berkshire Pork Belly which is succulent, moist, and paired with a boniato and plantain croquette, salsa verde, and jicama.

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Thigh High Chicken Biscuits – Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

One best restaurant at the Walt Disney World Resort for perfectly fried chicken is Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Disney Springs which features a menu of Southern favorites infused with fresh Florida flavors crafted by Chef Art Smith. Fried chicken is prominently featured on the menu at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ and Guests can kick off every meal with the trio of Thigh High Chicken Biscuits featuring fluffy biscuits piled with Chef Art’s famous fried chicken thighs, bread and butter pickles, and a drizzle of hot honey.

RELATED: The Best Fried Chicken in Walt Disney World

Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise – The Hollywood Brown Derby

The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a very popular restaurant that serves up a menu of contemporary American cuisine in a stunning interior with art-deco details and caricatures of Hollywood’s finest on the walls. The Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise is the perfect beginning to a lunch or dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby and is accompanied by Kalamata olive toast, quail egg, and green peppercorn aioli for bold flavors and a great choice in the Disney Park.

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Lobster Bisque – Yachtsman Steakhouse

The final appetizer that should not be missed at the Walt Disney World Resort can be found at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at Yachtsman Steakhouse, an indulgent classic New England steakhouse that is open for dinner each night. Before digging into absolutely decadent steak and seafood options, Guests can begin dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse with creamy Lobster Bisque featuring lobster biscuits, crème fraiche, and espelette oil for a smooth and unforgettable appetizer.

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