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Views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG

The 38 Best Things to Eat at Disneyland

Where to eat the most delicious Mickey-inspired fare at the classic theme park in Anaheim

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Views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
| Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG

After slowly ramping up following Disneyland’s 16-month closure due to COVID-19, the theme parks’ culinary program is back in full force. Any restaurant closures these days are mostly due to construction, as Disneyland Park preps its first Princess and the Frog-inspired restaurant and Downtown Disney, the open-to-the-public promenade, undergoes an appealing revamp that will bring Din Tai Fung and Porto’s to the Southern California theme park resort.

As many guests prepare to take their first trip back in years, Eater has retooled the Eater 38 to pinpoint those Mickey-shaped musts, making it easier than ever to find the most popular tastes and treats, with a few extra surprises. As always, it’s best to utilize mobile ordering, available in Disneyland’s app, to pre-purchase meals earlier in the day to save time.

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Filmstrip Fries at Award Wieners

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The perfect mix between hot, crispy fries and potato wedges, this reliable side also makes for a filling snack.

Breakfast Chimichanga at Ship to Shore

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It’s a heavy start to a long day, but this deep-fried tortilla stuffed with egg, cheese, and sausage is worth it. Grab it (with the salsa verde) before 11 a.m. outside Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Candy Canes

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Believe it or not, this seasonal staple is the most in-demand item you’ll find at Disneyland. Plan ahead by searching for which dates they’re offered each December and arriving extra early. It’s a pain to get them, but these house-made delicacies are worth the wait.

QuesaBirria tacos at Cocina Cucamonga

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Trust us — there’s a reason this al fresco eatery and its hefty braised beef tacos have become a favorite among frequent park goers.

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

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The best quick-service restaurant in Disneyland pays homage to space food without sacrificing flavor. The fried chicken tip-yip and cold brew black caf are what they’re known for, but even the meatless Felucian kefta is a sleeper hit.

Ronto-less Wrap at Ronto Roasters

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The vegan version of Disney’s Ronto Wrap outshines the original by swapping a pork-packed pita for a merguez-style Impossible sausage with gochujang sauce and kimchi slaw. It’s hearty, filling, and phenomenal.

Veggie wrap placed in a metal holder.
Ronto-less Garden Wrap from Ronto Roasters.
Disneyland Resort

Turkey Legs at Edelweiss Snacks

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This salty roasted leg of meat is so eye-poppingly large and delicious that it’s irrefutably iconic. Find it here, at the stand near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, at the Ship to Shore Marketplace, or at Poultry Palace in Disney California Adventure.

Disneyland Best Dishes
A turkey leg.
[Official Photo]

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante

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This Frontierland eatery serves enchiladas, tacos, and other Mexican fare with reliably large portions and plentiful outdoor seating — two things that are a plus on a busy Disney day. The menu changes from time to time, but with seasonal flavors like horchata cold brew and pozole, there’ll always be something worth ordering.

Maurice's Treats

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This under-the-radar snack stand tends to offer treats you’ve likely seen on TikTok. Not in the mood for a snack? A Boysen Apple Freeze never disappoints.

Fried Chicken Dinner at Plaza Inn

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Dine how they used to in the old days at the classic Plaza Inn, whose perfectly crisp three-piece combo has stood the test of time.

Fried Chicken Dinner at Plaza Inn.
Fried Chicken Dinner at Plaza Inn.
[Official Photo]

Matterhorn Macaroon at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

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What’s not to love about a white chocolate-dipped blob of sugary coconut shaped like one of the park’s famed mountains?

Dole Whip at Tiki Juice Bar

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Adventureland’s unexpectedly vegan pineapple soft-serve is a frozen classic. Get it straight up, topped with pineapple juice, or do as the locals do — order it dusted with Tajin seasoning on top. Craving something different? Head to the nearby Tropical Hideaway for strawberry or mango swirls or Disneyland Hotel’s Tangaroa Terrace for floats with rum.

Dole Whip.
Dole Whip.
Paul Hiffmeyer

Jolly Holiday Combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café

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Grilled cheese and a cup of tomato basil soup at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. is an absolute must on chilly California evenings.

Jolly Holiday Combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.
Jolly Holiday Combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.
[Official Photo]

Skewers at Bengal Barbecue

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Adventureland’s Bengal Barbecue food stand serves up sticks of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, providing a little protein-packed fuel on long park days.

Bao Buns at Tropical Hideaway

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Packed with curried vegetables and makrut lime chicken, these handheld buns at the Tropical Hideaway make for a hearty snack that pairs perfectly with the sweet chile dipping sauce.

Churro Toffee

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A white chocolate and cinnamon sugar-coated hunk of toffee whose popularity — and ever-increasing price — are a testament to its newly minted cult status. Find it here and at all Disneyland Resort’s candy shops.

Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar

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Regulars will boast about Ralph Brennan’s beignets just beyond park gates, but a sack of Mickey-shaped donuts is impossible to pass up. Bear caution towards the seasonal flavors, which can be hit-or-miss. Find them at Hungry Bear Restaurant and Royal Street Veranda while Mint Julep Bar is under construction.

Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar.
Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar.
[Official Photo]

Fried Pickles at Carnation Cafe

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Carnation Cafe is known for serving up some of Walt’s favorite foods, and these Parmesan and bread crumb-coated spears are the perfect throwback. Each order comes with just a few, leaving enough room for a heartier meal.

Mickey Waffle

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You’ll need to splurge on a pricey character breakfast buffet (Storyteller Cafe, Goofy’s Kitchen, Plaza Inn) or nab a breakfast reservation at Carnation Cafe on Disneyland’s Main Street, USA for ‘em— unless you know they’re sneakily on the kid’s menu at this quick-service hotel eatery.

Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant

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Somewhere beneath the batter and powdered sugar is a turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese sandwich that’s the unofficial dish of Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. It’ll put you in a catatonic state, but trying it at least once at Blue Bayou, which now serves alcohol, or Café Orleans is a rite of passage. For vegetarians, there’s a meatless version at Café Orleans made with three types of cheese.

Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant.
Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant.
[Official Photo]

Ballast Point Brewing Anaheim

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This San Diego-bred brewery, which is now Disneyland’s first, boasts location-specific pints, fresh California fare, and noteworthy share plates, including blackened fish tacos and pretzel sticks dunked in beer cheese — all in a second-story escape from the theme park crowds.

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes

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Ignore the towering milkshakes. Black Tap’s hearty burgers, hefty sandwiches, and easy-to-split dishes like queso and chips and platters of fries with dipping sauces are ideal for refueling after a long day zig-zagging across Disneyland.

Colorful rainbow bead shakes in silver cups.
Shakes from Black Tap at Disneyland.
Disneyland Resort

Ice Cream at Salt & Straw

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With Salt & Straw’s first Orange County shop comes high-quality scoops and a menu of intriguing flavors, like salted, malted chocolate chip cookie dough, which are far superior to the Dreyer’s cones sold inside the park.

Pizza at Naples Ristorante e Bar

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Wood-fired pies made with all the right ingredients — Caputo flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and handmade mozzarella — result in the best pie you’ll find at Disneyland.

Pizza at Naples Ristorante E Bar
Pizza at Naples Ristorante E Bar
Carlye Wisel

Tonkotsu Ramen at Tangaroa Terrace

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A hot bowl of soup isn’t the Disney dish you’d expect to find besides a monorail-themed pool, but this silky pork broth loaded with all the fixings, including a soy sauce egg, makes for a delightful surprise.

Panko-Crusted Long Beans at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

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No one’s technically coming to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar for the food, but these crispy crunchy bites are the perfect complement to a couple rounds of Hippopoto Mai Tais or Krakatoa Punch. Not thirsty? Find them a la carte at Tangaroa Terrace next door.

Hand-Dipped Bar at Clarabelle's Hand Scooped Ice Cream

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These customizable bars at Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream are the real deal. Choose an ice cream flavor, have it dunked in milk or dark chocolate, and covered with a variety of chocolate chips, Mickey-shaped sprinkles, candy, or better yet, all of the above.

Hand-dipped ice cream bar at Clarabelle’s at Disney’s California Adventure held by a worker.
Hand-Dipped Bar at Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream.
[Official Photo]

Mickey Gingerbread

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This sweet spiced snack, exclusively for sale in wintertime, has become a kind of seasonal phenomenon for good reason. Mobile order the soft cookie at Jolly Holiday, or pick one up at the in-park Starbucks or at Disney’s Grand Californian lobby (where they’re a couple bucks more). But don’t delay, because they will sell out.

Napa Rose

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Disneyland hotels have no shortage of fine dining, but Napa Rose is the best of them all. Stop by the Grand Californian Hotel restaurant for an upscale dinner or hit the lounge for post-ride cocktails and small plates. Either way, you can’t lose.

GCH Craftsman Bar

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Disneyland can be overwhelming, and this poolside eatery at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel makes for an ideal midday escape. Order a cocktail, split a pizza, and unwind before heading back into the chaos.

Carthay Circle Lounge

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If you want to sit down, relax, and have a great cocktail inside a Disney park, look no further. There are plenty of small plates at Carthay Circle restaurant’s downstairs lounge, but all take a backseat to perfectly executed classic cocktails. Opt for the namesake Manhattan or Martini or even the delightful (and booze-free) Rose Petal Soda.

Carthay Circle Lounge
Carthay Circle Lounge
Carlye Wisel

Pym Test Kitchen

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Disney’s new Marvel-themed land offers solid food by way of Italian sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with candied bacon, and comically oversized chicken schnitzels, but don’t fill up on mains — the homemade brownie-based candy bar is one of the best desserts Disney’s ever created.

Silver bowl of pasta and meatball at Disneyland.
Experiment No. EE45: Impossible Spoonful at Pym Test Kitchen.
Disneyland Resort

Filled Cones at Cozy Cone Motel

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The Cars Land frankenfood that defies tradition (and at times, digestion), but nevertheless makes whoever is eating it very, very happy. Choose between Chili Cone Queso and Bacon Mac n’ Cheese at the third cone from the left.

Sourdough Bread Bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe

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The bread bowls served at Pacific Wharf Café are made at Disney California Adventure’s onsite Boudin Bakery. Each bowl is filled with a heaping ladle of clam chowder, mac and cheese or whatever’s in season. Find other iterations at Disneyland’s Harbour Galley and Refreshment Corner, or even served with gumbo at Royal Street Verandah.

<span data-author="2171280">Sourdough Bread Bowl at </span><span data-author="82">Pacific Wharf Cafe.</span>
Sourdough Bread Bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe.
[Official Photo]

Lamplight Lounge

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Come for the most indulgent weekend brunch inside a Disneyland theme park, or book a table for lunch or dinner to try Lamplight Lounge’s impeccably crispy salt-and-pepper potato skins, served with paprika aioli and dusted in Manchego shavings. Order two instead of sharing.

Lobster Nachos at Lamplight Lounge

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The former Cove Bar’s lobster-topped nachos, made with homemade tortilla chips and all the fixings, was such a crowd favorite that the dish survived the Cove Bar’s closing and is now served at Lamplight Lounge and its upstairs Boardwalk Dining patio.

Disneyland Best Dishes
Lobster Nachos at Lamplight Lounge
[Official Photo]

Drumettes at Poultry Palace

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Served in a grab-and-go takeout box themed to a Toy Story short, these Shake ‘n Bake-style drumettes are moist and flavorful, not to mention meta as heck.

Jack-Jack's Cookie Num Nums

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Bypass the bake shops and icing-slathered sweets for this decadent deep-dish cookie, filled with milk chocolate chunks and dark chocolate chips, and served melty and warm.

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Filmstrip Fries at Award Wieners

The perfect mix between hot, crispy fries and potato wedges, this reliable side also makes for a filling snack.

Breakfast Chimichanga at Ship to Shore

It’s a heavy start to a long day, but this deep-fried tortilla stuffed with egg, cheese, and sausage is worth it. Grab it (with the salsa verde) before 11 a.m. outside Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Candy Canes

Believe it or not, this seasonal staple is the most in-demand item you’ll find at Disneyland. Plan ahead by searching for which dates they’re offered each December and arriving extra early. It’s a pain to get them, but these house-made delicacies are worth the wait.

QuesaBirria tacos at Cocina Cucamonga

Trust us — there’s a reason this al fresco eatery and its hefty braised beef tacos have become a favorite among frequent park goers.

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

The best quick-service restaurant in Disneyland pays homage to space food without sacrificing flavor. The fried chicken tip-yip and cold brew black caf are what they’re known for, but even the meatless Felucian kefta is a sleeper hit.

Ronto-less Wrap at Ronto Roasters

The vegan version of Disney’s Ronto Wrap outshines the original by swapping a pork-packed pita for a merguez-style Impossible sausage with gochujang sauce and kimchi slaw. It’s hearty, filling, and phenomenal.

Veggie wrap placed in a metal holder.
Ronto-less Garden Wrap from Ronto Roasters.
Disneyland Resort

Turkey Legs at Edelweiss Snacks

This salty roasted leg of meat is so eye-poppingly large and delicious that it’s irrefutably iconic. Find it here, at the stand near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, at the Ship to Shore Marketplace, or at Poultry Palace in Disney California Adventure.

Disneyland Best Dishes
A turkey leg.
[Official Photo]

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante

This Frontierland eatery serves enchiladas, tacos, and other Mexican fare with reliably large portions and plentiful outdoor seating — two things that are a plus on a busy Disney day. The menu changes from time to time, but with seasonal flavors like horchata cold brew and pozole, there’ll always be something worth ordering.

Maurice's Treats

This under-the-radar snack stand tends to offer treats you’ve likely seen on TikTok. Not in the mood for a snack? A Boysen Apple Freeze never disappoints.

Fried Chicken Dinner at Plaza Inn

Dine how they used to in the old days at the classic Plaza Inn, whose perfectly crisp three-piece combo has stood the test of time.

Fried Chicken Dinner at Plaza Inn.
Fried Chicken Dinner at Plaza Inn.
[Official Photo]

Matterhorn Macaroon at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

What’s not to love about a white chocolate-dipped blob of sugary coconut shaped like one of the park’s famed mountains?

Dole Whip at Tiki Juice Bar

Adventureland’s unexpectedly vegan pineapple soft-serve is a frozen classic. Get it straight up, topped with pineapple juice, or do as the locals do — order it dusted with Tajin seasoning on top. Craving something different? Head to the nearby Tropical Hideaway for strawberry or mango swirls or Disneyland Hotel’s Tangaroa Terrace for floats with rum.

Dole Whip.
Dole Whip.
Paul Hiffmeyer

Jolly Holiday Combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café

Grilled cheese and a cup of tomato basil soup at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. is an absolute must on chilly California evenings.

Jolly Holiday Combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.
Jolly Holiday Combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.
[Official Photo]

Skewers at Bengal Barbecue

Adventureland’s Bengal Barbecue food stand serves up sticks of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, providing a little protein-packed fuel on long park days.

Bao Buns at Tropical Hideaway

Packed with curried vegetables and makrut lime chicken, these handheld buns at the Tropical Hideaway make for a hearty snack that pairs perfectly with the sweet chile dipping sauce.

Related Maps

Churro Toffee

A white chocolate and cinnamon sugar-coated hunk of toffee whose popularity — and ever-increasing price — are a testament to its newly minted cult status. Find it here and at all Disneyland Resort’s candy shops.

Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar

Regulars will boast about Ralph Brennan’s beignets just beyond park gates, but a sack of Mickey-shaped donuts is impossible to pass up. Bear caution towards the seasonal flavors, which can be hit-or-miss. Find them at Hungry Bear Restaurant and Royal Street Veranda while Mint Julep Bar is under construction.

Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar.
Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar.
[Official Photo]

Fried Pickles at Carnation Cafe

Carnation Cafe is known for serving up some of Walt’s favorite foods, and these Parmesan and bread crumb-coated spears are the perfect throwback. Each order comes with just a few, leaving enough room for a heartier meal.

Mickey Waffle

You’ll need to splurge on a pricey character breakfast buffet (Storyteller Cafe, Goofy’s Kitchen, Plaza Inn) or nab a breakfast reservation at Carnation Cafe on Disneyland’s Main Street, USA for ‘em— unless you know they’re sneakily on the kid’s menu at this quick-service hotel eatery.

Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant

Somewhere beneath the batter and powdered sugar is a turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese sandwich that’s the unofficial dish of Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. It’ll put you in a catatonic state, but trying it at least once at Blue Bayou, which now serves alcohol, or Café Orleans is a rite of passage. For vegetarians, there’s a meatless version at Café Orleans made with three types of cheese.

Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant.
Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant.
[Official Photo]

Ballast Point Brewing Anaheim

This San Diego-bred brewery, which is now Disneyland’s first, boasts location-specific pints, fresh California fare, and noteworthy share plates, including blackened fish tacos and pretzel sticks dunked in beer cheese — all in a second-story escape from the theme park crowds.

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes

Ignore the towering milkshakes. Black Tap’s hearty burgers, hefty sandwiches, and easy-to-split dishes like queso and chips and platters of fries with dipping sauces are ideal for refueling after a long day zig-zagging across Disneyland.