The Best Things to Eat at Disneyland and California Adventures

When you go to Disneyland, you have to have a plan. Knowing which areas of the park to hit first, which rides to FastPass, and which characters to see and where can make for a truly magical experience. But one aspect of Disneyland you should not overlook is the food.

Disneyland offers up an impressive selection of food choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any snack in between. How do I know? Because on my most recent trip I went on a Disneyland and California Adventures food journey. That’s right, I ate my way through Disneyland with my husband. We were provided with Park Hoppers for our food experiment but every dime we spent on food was worth it!

Granted, that may not be the first thing you think about when it comes to Disneyland, but why not? Having done it, I can tell you it made the experience exciting and new. We tasted foods we would never try at home, and found new favorites.

But, wait, isn’t theme park food super expensive? Well, sure you’re going to pay a higher premium for food purchased in the park compared to food you bring in. But if you compare it to going out to eat, and particularly going out for a special treat, the pricing isn’t too bad.

If you’re looking to splurge, a food journey isn’t a bad way to do it. If you’re trying to be budget conscious, the key is choosing a handful of items to try. Treat it like the grown-up version of the souvenirs your kids will lobby you for.

Regardless of whether you’re planning on eating your way through the park or looking for a special treat, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite things to eat at Disneyland and California Adventures. I’ve broken this up into two different sections:

• Food you don’t see on everyone’s list
• Classic must-have items

Each item will tell you where you can find it, what meal it’s ideal for, and approximate pricing. I don’t include exact pricing as that may change without Disney consulting me. Rude, I know.

Pricing goes as follows:
$ = <$10
$$ = >$10

Things you don’t see on everybody’s list

There are a slew of lists available that highlight what to eat at Disneyland. And the reality is most of them concentrate on the same few items. Part of that is justified. There are some really amazing staples, and I cover some of those below.

But if you’re looking for things that are a little lesser known, here are some of my favorites:

Cheddar Garlic Bagel Twist

Disneyland | Fantasyland | Maurice’s Treats | Snack | $
This is the *perfect* snack food and provides some of the best bang for the buck. The twist is savory and filling. And it’s cheese and bread. Could you ask for much better? It’s also great snack for a couple people to share. I recommend getting one between lunch and dinner when the mid-afternoon hunger pains kick in. The cart can be a little tricky to find, but it’s to the front and left of the castle.

Boysen Apple Freeze

Disneyland | Fantasyland | Maurice’s Treats | Drink/Snack | $
While you enjoy a garlic cheddar twist, why not wash it down with a cool and refreshing boysenapple freeze. It was a rather hot day when we picked up this drink and it quickly re-energized us. It’s a respectable size and will easily satisfy one person.

Funnel Cake Fries

California Adventures | Hollywood Land | Award Wieners | Dessert/Snack | $
Funnel cakes are a theme park staple, but they can be unwieldy in size and can sit heavy. Not so with funnel cake fries. It’s basically a funnel cake that keeps the strands separate rather than allowing them to merge together. Topped with whipped cream and Fruity Pebbles, this treat is sweet and light. It was our favorite dessert. Fair warning, this may be a limited-time offering as it was included on a Pixar Fest menu card instead of the main menu. So get it while you can!

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Skewer

Disneyland | Adventureland | Bengal Barbecue | Lunch/Snack | $
Located across the way from the Indiana Jones ride is this little eatery that offers up skewers of all types. While a meaty option may be your first inclination, take a step back and consider the bacon-wrapped asparagus skewer. That’s right, BACON! This was one my favorite new things I tried.

Salted Carmel Brioche French Toast

California Adventures | Cars Land | Flo’s V8 Cafe | Breakfast | $
If you’re looking to start your day off right, try eating breakfast in the park. My favorite ride in California Adventures is hands-down the Cars ride. I make a bee-line to the Fast Pass line because those passes go fast. So while you’re waiting for your FastPass, stop by for some breakfast and pick up some salted carmel brioche French toast. This is a rich breakfast and may be too much for one person, but it’s delicious. It’s a nice mixture of flavors and textures.

Shrimp Po’ Boy Sandwich

Disneyland | New Orleans Square | French Market Restaurant | Lunch/Dinner | $$
When it comes time for a good lunch or dinner, your kids will likely lobby for pizza or burgers. While that may work for one meal, it quickly gets old. Go for a more grown-up option with a shrimp poboy. This is real food. The bun has a nice crunch on the outside and is soft on the inside. A po’ boy is a simple sandwich, but it just works. Plus, you get to eat this under a trellis—yay for shade—and can listen to the live jazz band.

Toasted Cheese and Soup

Disneyland | Main Street | Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe | Lunch/Dinner | $$
Have kids who are picky eaters? Or looking for something familiar? Then you can’t really go wrong with grilled cheese and tomato soup. This is one cheesy sandwich and the soup hits the spot. It’s a kid-friendly item that’s different from the typical fast food choices.

Flatbread

Disneyland | Fantasyland | Red Rose Taverne | Lunch | $$
You may not even know this restaurant exists, as it’s tucked away back by the Casey Jr. ride, but it has some seriously interesting food selections. If you’re hungry, this is a good place. One of the lighter items on the menu is this flatbread. It’s a basic and familiar recipe, but it works. It’s light, satisfying, and something even kids will enjoy. And after you’re done, be sure to try the gray stuff—it’s delicious! More on that below.

Mickey/Minnie Cake Pops

Disneyland | Critter Country | Pooh’s Corner | Dessert/Snack | $
Are these adorable or what? It’s a cake pop, not unlike cake pops you can find at your local bakery, but they’re shaped like Mickey and Minnie, so you gotta try them!

Mickey Mouse Sourdough Bread

California Adventures | Pacific Wharf | Pacific Wharf Cafe | Lunch/Snack | $
If you’re looking for something that will fill you up or an item you can snack on throughout the day, the Mickey Mouse sourdough bread is the ideal choice. It’s affordable, large, and perfect to snack on. It’s also easy to store in a bag and won’t go bad during the day. Definitely worth a purchase.

Pulled Pork Sandwich

Disneyland | New Orleans Square | French Market Restaurant | Lunch/Dinner | $$
And now, for the very best new find I found on my trip: the pulled pork sandwich. I know, you’re probably skeptical. What’s so special about pulled pork, after all? The thing that sets this sandwich apart is the pineapple slaw. Most pulled pork sandwiches feature a traditional slaw, but the pineapple slaw on this sandwich adds the perfect combination of sweet and spicy that pairs perfectly with the pork. Add a little extra barbecue sauce (provided with the sandwich) and you’re in for a treat. I’m salivating just thinking about it. Seriously. Get. This. Sandwich.

Classic must-haves

OK, now it’s time to go over some food items that are fairly well known. There’s a reason for that. These stand the test of time. They’re fun, tasty, and part of what makes Disneyland special.

Tigger Tail/Cheshire Tail

Disneyland | Critter Country | Pooh’s Corner | Dessert/Snack | $
It’s hard to describe exactly what these are like, but imagine a Peep that actually tastes good. OK, so that didn’t help either. But these treats are fun. They’re very sweet though so you’ll probably want to share with someone.

Dole Whip

Disneyland | Adventureland | Tiki Juice Bar | Dessert/Snack | $
Of all Disneyland food offerings, perhaps none have received so much attention in recent years as the Dole Whip. And it’s easy to see why. It’s such a satisfying treat on a hot day after standing in line. If you like pineapple, you’ve got to snag a Dole Whip.

Bacon Mac and Cheese Breadcone

California Adventures | Cars Land | Cozy Cone Motel | Lunch/Snack | $
Breadcones are a fun concept. They’re portable and just work. There are a few options available, but I picked the bacon mac and cheese variety. This is a *very* cheesy dish, to the point of being a little too intense. Honestly, whether or not you’ll like this comes down to your cheese preferences. If you’re a fan of nacho cheese or Velveeta, then you’ll probably dig this. If you like a little more refined cheese options, this may not be ideal for you.

Bengal Beef Skewer

Disneyland | Adventureland | Bengal Barbecue | Lunch/Snack | $
This is the more popular skewer than the asparagus skewer mentioned above. It’s beef on a stick and it’s bite-sized. What’s not to love about that? It’s a great snack, or grab a couple and make it a lunch.

Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae

California Adventures | Pier | Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop | Dessert/Snack | $$
This is an ice cream lovers dream! It is so tasty. My husband is only so-so about ice cream and he happily joined in on eating this with me. It’s very rich, but not to the point of turning you off. If you’re looking for a special treat to splurge on, you really can’t go wrong with this one.

Gray Stuff

Disneyland | Fantasyland | Red Rose Taverne | Lunch | $$
It really is gray, and it really is delicious. It’s not too often you come across a gray food that you’re excited to eat, but this bucks the trend. It’s essentially a mousse wrapped around a cake, sitting on top of a shortbread. It’s kind of like three desserts in one. It’s a great dessert to cap off a meal.

Mint Juleps

Disneyland | New Orleans Square | Mint Julep Bar | Drink | $
It’s the famous minty drink. You’ll always find people waiting for this drink, though the line isn’t too bad. Be warned, this drink is extremely minty. So be prepared.

Mickey Beignets

Disneyland | New Orleans Square | Mint Julep Bar | Snack | $
Tiana might have her man-catching beignets, but these Mickey beignets captured my heart and stomach. If you’re not familiar with beignets, it’s basically a powdered sugar covered scone. It’s messy, but so good. This is a fun snack to share.

Raspberry Rose Macaroon

Disneyland | Main Street | Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe | Dessert/Snack | $
Most macaroons are tiny, but not this Mickey-shaped macaroon. It’s huge! And it’s delicious. The cookie is light and airy and the creme contrasts well with the fresh raspberries inside. It’s a sweetness overload. You’ll probably want to share this treat.

Gourmet Donuts

Disneyland | Main Street | Coffee Cart | Breakfast/Snack | $
My family loves donuts, so when we came across a donut cart in Disneyland we had to do it. Sure, one donut costs the same as a half dozen just about anywhere else, but this is a fun gourmet donut. There are multiple donut varieties, but the one that stuck out to me was this chocolate bar topped with Butterfingers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. It is amazing. I’d do it again for sure.

So there you have it! We spent three days between Disneyland and California Adventure trying out these eats and the amazing thing is we just scratched the surface. There are so many food choices at these parks and the food is really quite good.

If you’re planning an upcoming trip to Disneyland or California Adventures, be sure to try a few of these options. And try something that’s not on this list! Part of the child-like spirit Disneyland embodies is being adventurous. Get out there, try something different. You never know what your new favorite treat will be.

 

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