Everyone posts about food at Disneyland, but I want to know what’s worth it and what’s not. The Ultimate Eating Guide Inside and Outside of Disneyland.
Every time we go to Disneyland we have good food and food we wish we would have skipped. No one’s list out there seemed to tell us what to skip as well, so we will do it ourselves. Here’s where to eat outside of Disneyland, best restaurants in Anaheim, and love it or leave it inside the Disneyland park.
Love it Or Leave It Inside The Disneyland Park
Mickey Mouse Pretzels
Leave it. While they are convenient for a quick snack, and super cute I’ll add, they aren’t that chewy, buttery pretzel you crave from the mall. However, there’s a great option right around the corner.
Skip the Mickey Mouse Pretzels and at the end of the night head through Downtown Disney, which is open until 2 am, and snag yourself a Wetzel’s Pretzel. Heck, grab a cinnamon sugar one too.
Mint Julep at Cafe Orleans
LOVE IT! Don’t you dare skip it.
If you go to Disneyland in the warmer weather you’re going to be super thirsty from all of that standing in line.
Chocolate Chip Cookie from Pooh Corner
Leave it! Every food post I read about Disneyland mentioned the chocolate chip cookie at Pooh Corner and how it was far more chewy and wonderful than they expected. We weren’t fans. We didn’t like the sugar sprinkled on top or that it was cold and crumbly instead of chewy.
Pooh Corner is located in Critter Country.
Beignets from Cafe Orleans
Both! We really can’t decide on this one. Ours were cold, and we preferred to feel for the lighter ones in the bag as they weren’t as dense as the others, but then again, if they were hot and fresh I bet we would have enjoyed them more.
Cafe Orleans is going to be featured a few times apparently, so make sure you make reservation. Again, you need a reservation or you’ll be out of luck.
Monte Cristo Sandwich from Cafe Orleans
LOVE IT- for the first time. This is a crazy heavy meal, but it’s an absolute must if you’ve never had a monte cristo sandwich from Cafe Orleans.
I’m going to say this 100 times, but make sure you make a reservation because this place is almost always reservation only. Once you’ve had it you may not want it every time as it’s pretty heavy, but then again, it’s cheesy fried goodness dipped in a berry sauce so how can you resist?!
Cafe Orleans is located in New Orleans Square.
Tigger Tails- Chocolate Covered Marshmallow with Caramel
Love it! But ditch the sugar coated ones. They are cute, but we preferred the chocolate tails. Actually, I’ll be honest with you, I wanted to hate this one. It sounded sickly rich so I wasn’t all that interested but the marshmallow is so soft and wonderful with the caramel and chocolate. Grab a bag to keep leftovers in because you wont be finishing this one in one sitting.
These Tigger Tails can be found in Pooh Corner located in Critter Country behind Splash Mountain.
Disneyland Churro Food Carts
We have to vote twice on this one. Love it for the regular churro, leave it for the oreo. It just wasn’t that churro-y goodness and the oreo gets lost with all of it.
The churro carts can be found pretty much everywhere but this one was from by the Matterhorn.
Oreo Twist from Maurice’s Treats
Leave It! I’ve heard that the pumpkin twist is where it’s at for Maurice’s Treats but we were there 4 days before they started selling it, so I can’t give my review, but as far as the oreo goes, leave it. Usually we love all things oreo but it’s like the churro, gets lost with all of that bread.
Churro Ice Cream Sandwich Downtown Disney
LOVE IT! Cade actually thinks the churro ice cream sandwich from Downtown Disney is, meh, but I love it!! The churro is hot and crisp and sugary and then there’s that creamy, cold ice cream. What’s Cade smokin’, it’s awesome!
Like I said, this is a Downtown Disney treat so make sure you pop over at the end of the night or on a day you aren’t at Disneyland. You don’t need tickets to go through Downtown Disney.
Dole Whip and Dole Whip Floats from the Tiki Juice Bar
Love it! This is a great, refreshing treat for those hot days. The pineapple juice is sweet and lovely with the ice cream but I actually prefer to just go straight dole whip as the juice gets a little too sweet for me after awhile.
Head over to Adventureland to try these from the Tiki Juice Bar and make sure you catch that Enchanted Tiki Room show as well if you have little kids with you. They love those talking birds, especially the toddlers.
French Dip Sandwich from the French Market Restaurant
Leave it! Maybe I’m a little too picky on this one but I’m looking for a good, squishy bun and juicy meat like our French Dip sandwich and homemade Hoagies and this one just didn’t hit that spot for us.
Jolly Holiday Bakery
There are quite a few things people get from the Jolly Holiday like, cinnamon rolls, muffins and macarons. The cinnamon rolls definitely aren’t bad, especially if you need breakfast and can’t get in anywhere, but for some reason we don’t love the rose macaron that everyone raves about. In fact, just leave that one.
The muffins are just basic muffins, but they are great for a quick breakfast and you can get certain muffins warmed up in the morning, sadly not the chocolate though.
Mickey Caramel Apples
Take it Home! There isn’t a love it or leave it with this one. Leave it if you only eat it in the park. They don’t cut the apple for you like they do at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, so it’s pretty difficult to eat. If you are willing to take it home, do it! It’s such a cute way to remember where you were.
Pomme Frittes Cafe Orleans
LOVE IT! Oh, fancy that, we are back at Cafe Orleans. Remember my tip? Book a reservation!! The pomme frittes are my favorite thing at Disneyland. Hands down, favorite. The garlic is not at all overwhelming, and the parmesan cheese just takes it to a whole new level without stealing the show; this is still a dang good, perfectly fried french fry in the truest form. Ask for an extra dipping sauce for sure. It’s not just your regular fry sauce.
Apple Granola Pancakes from Carnation Cafe
LOVE IT! If the pomme frittes were my favorite this apple granola pancake stack from the Carnation Cafe is my second favorite. Everything was perfectly cooked. I mean, perfectly cooked. The soft, fluffy and deliciously perfect pancakes would be good enough with that apple awesomeness on top, but the granola really does take it to a whole new level.
You MUST make a reservation far out in advance for this restaurant. We tried and tried a week before and only got a moment of luck and ended up eating breakfast at 10:30 am.
Keep an eye out for a copycat recipe coming soon!
Mickey Mouse Pancakes Carnation Cafe
Leave it. Our girls thought the waffles were fine, a little on the dry and boring side and they really didn’t like the turkey bacon. I love that Disneyland was trying to create healthier options, but unfortunately it fell a little flat.
Gibson Girl Ice Cream
Leave it. Maybe I’m just not that into ice cream, but this was a no go for me. The strawberry sauce wasn’t fresh, the ice cream was brand you could get at any store and we just weren’t that impressed. Better to get a Dole Whip instead.
Bengal Barbecue Skewers
LOVE IT! This is my go-to spot for a real meal. It’s healthier, there’s a new sit down eating area with lots of tables, and finally, food that isn’t fried! Get any of the meat skewers but don’t skip the veggies, they were perfectly delicious. This photo was taken right before they closed so it was dark and the view was harsh for a photo, but man I had to do it. It’s so good!
Head over to Adventureland and get a super fresh, 10 times cheaper and healthier meal and it all tastes darn good!
Rancho Del Zocalo
Love it! Get the fresh Guacamole and Carne Asada or Half Chicken. Alright, we don’t have a photo of this one because we failed, but the carne asada is another great option versus more pizza, fried food or treats. Plus it’s easier to get into than the other restaurants.
Disneyland Corn Dog
LOVE IT! I mean, come on, it’s a corn dog and you all know my secret love for corn dogs. Cade and the girls don’t care, but I thought it was a quick and easy lunch.
Pizza from Anywhere
Steer Away from Pizza anywhere. Not the greatest pizza, totally edible of course, but with so many yummy options there’s no point in getting it when you could be eating pomme frittes. In fact, I’d say the same about the burgers, unless you’re staying at the Grand Californian, but I’ll leave that for another day.
Krista
Where in DD is the churro ice cream? Thanks!
Sweet Basil
It’s just a little food cart right before you turn the corner to go to the gates of Disneyland it’s not actually in the park it’s in that outside downtown Disney area.
Mindy
Great idea to include food to skip;). Are you planning a separate post for places to eat outside of Disneyland?
Sweet Basil
Yes we are!! I have a totally new list for that one as it seems like people have missed the really good places!
Rachel
Great guide, my daughter and I loved reading it, thank you!
Sweet Basil
Thanks!
Kerri
Those Disneyland corn dogs are what my dreams are made of! Copycat of that one coming? Pleeeeeassseee!! I’m heading straight for the pomme frittes the next time we are there! Those look bomb diggity delicious! Especially that dipping sauce! Thanks for all the food advice! We made reservations at the Blue Bayou last time and it was amazing! The service was impeccable and the food was so tasty! It’s pricey but worth it every once in while and nice when you need a break from crowds! This was pre-kids…probably not super kid-friendly now that I think about it. Send them to the hotel with grandma and enjoy dinner with the hubs! 🙂
Sweet Basil
I love that idea!! And totally, corn dog recipe coming your way!!