Disney Dining Serving up the latest Disney Eats, Treats, News, and More!
Disney restaurants are some of the best in the world. I really believe that. I wouldn’t work for Disney Dining if I didn’t. In fact, two restaurants at Walt Disney World were just included on the 2023 Michelin list! However, some are definitely better than others. While I’ve made it a point to visit every restaurant on property (yes, literally), there are some I go back to again and again. They’re like old friends. Every time I go, they give me that warm fuzzy feeling. Whether it’s the ambiance, the delicious food, or a combination of the two, some just shine brighter than others. Let’s go on a tour of Walt Disney World and express the BEST restaurant in each park!
Magic Kingdom:
Credit: Disney
Magic Kingdom boasts two of the most popular restaurants on property: Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table. Guests love the idea of eating inside a castle, and both of these restaurants fit the bill, but neither is my pick for the best place to grab a bite in Magic Kingdom. My favorite spot to eat here is Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen. I’m a sucker for a good backstory, and this restaurant has just that! The premise here is that the Jungle Navigation Co. (Which owns and operates the Jungle Cruise) has opened up their canteen to the public so adventurers can enjoy a meal before or after their cruise through the jungle. Skippers serve as wait staff here, and you’ll be treated to all of the delightfully awful puns you’ve come to know and love from your Jungle Cruise Skipper.
EPCOT:
Man, this is a hard one. Out of the four parks, EPCOT absolutely has the best food, hands down. This park sports a whopping 20 table service restaurants, including 3 fine dining establishments (Monsieur Paul, Le Cellier, Tekum Tei) and 2 character meal locations (Garden Grill and Akershus)! The food truly is a destination at EPCOT. Sometimes the ability to have dinner here more than once per trip is the sole reason we get a Park Hopper.
That said, I can’t choose just one restaurant here. I have to choose the best breakfast and best lunch/dinner because breakfast at EPCOT truly deserves a spot of its own. When discussing breakfast here there’s really only one choice: Garden Grill! Not only is the food phenomenal, but so are the character interactions! You’ll meet Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale, which is reason enough to go.
Character meals are insanely popular at Walt Disney World and have a price tag to match. Breakfast, though, is the least expensive meal, so it’s my go-to for meeting characters. The food is served family style, and you’ll find something for everyone in the spread. From fresh fruit to sausage and bacon, they’ve truly thought of everything (and yes, they have Mickey Waffles).
Related: Character Dining at Garden Grill
Breakfast at Garden Grill is also a strategic move too. Did you know you can book “pre-park opening” meals and get access inside before the park even opens? Plan your meal for an hour and a half or so before opening, and then BOOM! You’re finished just as the floodgates open. Now you’re in prime position to rope drop Soarin’ because it’s just an escalator ride away.
Lunch and dinner are a different story. Any of EPCOT’s exceptional cuisine could top the list, but my go-to is always Le Cellier. The cheese soup alone is worth a visit. Themed after a cozy wine cellar in a Canadian château, this signature dining restaurant serves unforgettable steaks and incredible seafood. Just like the cellar it’s themed after, the atmosphere is dimly lit and cool, making it a fantastic midday break to fuel up and recharge.
Related: Recipe for Canadian Cheese Soup
The Canadian Cheese soup cannot be missed! It’s a creamy beer cheese soup made with Moosehead Pale Ale and topped with crispy bacon. It’s good enough that you’ll scour the internet looking for a copycat recipe to enjoy at home (or judt check out our recipe above). Another must-try is the maple Crème Brûlée. It’s Canada, so of course, maple had to make an appearance, right? This dessert is decadent and delicious and will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Hollywood Studios:
Credit: Disney
Unlike EPCOT, Hollywood Studios is never going to win any culinary awards. It’s certainly not the first park you think of when it comes to great food, but they do manage to have a few hidden gems. My favorite? Sci-fi Dine In! This is a really surprising addition to the list because a few years ago, I would’ve called this restaurant “all hype.” The food was unimpressive. The quality has really improved in recent years, though, and I honestly think it’s the best restaurant in the Park now! Do yourself a favor and stick to the more casual options. They do burgers extremely well! With a variety of milkshakes for dessert, this spot is a hit with the younger members of your group too.
Related: Dining at Sci-Fi Dine In
The real reason to check out Sci-Fi? The atmosphere! Once you step inside, you’ll be transported to an old-school drive-in movie theater where you’ll dine in classic 50s-style cars! On the big screen, you’ll be entertained with classic monster movie trailers like The Creature From the Black Lagoon and The Thing! The ambiance in this restaurant is unforgettable. Because of its novel atmosphere, reservations are extremely hard to get. You’ll want to make sure you reserve your spot exactly 60 days in advance.
Animal Kingdom:
Credit: Disney
There are so many things to love about the food at Animal Kingdom! Even the quick service locations are fantastic! Animal Kingdom sports the most exotic food at Walt Disney World, and because of that, it’s not for everyone, but my pick for the best restaurant has something the whole family will love. I’ve eaten at every restaurant in this park several times, but the one I go back to again and again is Yak and Yeti.
For the pickiest ones of the bunch, you’ll find familiar (Americanized) Asian dishes here, like sweet and sour chicken and even burgers. For those who want an adventure, you’ll find some genuinely upstanding options. The Malaysian Seafood Curry is one of my favorite things to eat at Walt Disney World! This dish combines jumbo shrimp & crab ravioli, zucchini, spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms, all tossed in red curry coconut sauce for a meal that’s out of this world! The firecracker shrimp appetizer is a must-try! The spicy fried shrimp is a crowd-pleaser.
No matter which restaurant you choose, you won’t go wrong with any of the ones on this list (or most restaurants at Walt Disney World). They pride themselves on world-class cuisine– there is no typical theme park food here. With ever-evolving menus, this list is sure to change with time, so stay tuned right here at Disney Dining because we will always keep you updated on the very best of the best!
