It’s time for breakfast in Disneyland — Rancho del Zocalo style!

This beautiful restaurant — and I mean seriously, it’s gorgeous — is situated in Frontierland, where all things rough and rowdy reign supreme. But step into this colorful corner, and you’re surrounded by cheerful warmth and bright colors. And let’s not forget the food!

Rancho del Zocalo has taken on added significance though in the last year. The spot is now home to a significantly traditional breakfast favorite — the Mickey Pancake.

This entree is the stuff of Disney cult legends, and there was a collective gasp when we found out it would be moving from its longtime home at River Belle Terrace to Rancho del Zocalo. After all, River Belle Terrace was one of my favorite places in the entire world to get breakfast — in no small part because it was something Walt Disney himself did as well.

But change is the only thing you can count on in life (especially at Disney). So here we are, embracing the new. Care to join us?

Atmosphere

Little bit of trivia for you — want to know why this restaurant is named Rancho del Zocalo, which translates to “Ranch of the Square?”

The area in front of Frontierland was once named El Zocalo, or The Town Square. Therefore, the name of the restaurant pays homage to a little Disneyland history. Nice. 🙂

And indeed, the whole space feels like you’re wandered into a charming and well-to-do hacienda.

Fountains provide tranquil sounds of running water, and are just pretty. I especially love the iron scrollwork in the arch above this one as well as the pair of love birds playing in the water at the top.

Most of the seating for the restaurant is outdoors, but don’t let that worry you. There’s plenty of shade for those sunny California days, and space heaters keep the patio warm when the mercury dips down.

Bougainvillea grows in abundance all around the terrace. Really, it’s like some kind of wonderful oasis.

Other decorative touches on the patio include these gorgeous hanging lanterns, which are even prettier at night.

Now that we’ve looked around, let’s get to the main reason for visiting — breakfast.

Eats

Rancho del Zocalo began serving breakfast around a year ago, and it seems to have settled into the role nicely. Here, you’ll find a combo of the traditional breakfast options that you previously could enjoy at River Belle Terrace, and some Rancho specialties. Sadly, they still aren’t offering the Cinnamon Roll French Toast that I loved at RBT. But other favorites remain! We’ll look at a few in a moment.

We were also able to snag a shot of the Allergy Friendly Menu, which comes in handy if you’re trying to plan meals for someone with food sensitivities.

Service here is cafeteria style. Start by picking up a tray and utensils, and then off you go to choose your breakfast items.

Pancakes proved to be a popular selection the day we visited. 🙂

A Grab and Go area is stocked with bottled drinks, refillable souvenir mugs, and ready-to-eat items as well as the Rancho desserts.

There are also self-serve fountain drinks if you prefer.

We made our selections and headed out to the terrace to enjoy them. We decided to start with the traditional dishes that made the jump from Belle River Terrace. First up — the Mickey Pancake!

This guy has been around for as long as anyone can remember, and I love that he stands defiantly against any attempt to “gourmet it up.” Ha! He’s so cute, even though he’s basic.

We also had to have some Biscuits and Gravy. The plate — a real plate, a hallmark of most Disneyland counter service dining — was completely filled up. Friends, this is a breakfast that will stick with you All. Day. Long. The eggs are…eggs. But the Biscuits and Gravy are something special! Thick, rich, and super flavorful. And the sausage is delicious and has plenty of flavor without being spicy.

But in the interest of staying true to its Mexican themeing, Rancho del Zocalo also serves menu items inspired by cuisine that you’ll find south of the border. We decided to try all of these as well.

Let’s start with the Chorizo and Egg Burrito, which was served with sides of Beans and Rice.

The Burrito is stuffed full of Scrambled Eggs, Chorizo, Beans, and Salsa Verde. This was probably the favorite of the Mexican breakfast dishes!

Traditional Tamales, also served with a side of Beans and Rice, proved to be tempting as well.

Pretty authentic and delicious!

The Chilaquiles was also a substantial serving of food. I love this dish, which reminds me of a yummy Mexican-themed casserole. In this version, Corn Tortillas are layered with Scrambled Eggs, Refried Beans, and Salsa Verde. The plate is garnished with Queso Fresco, Onions, Sour Cream, and Cilantro.

Finally, we had to try the Fajita Beef Breakfast Platter. It was a work of art, with neatly arranged rows of Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Veggies and Beef, Rice, Refried Beans, and a Flour Tortilla. This was pretty standard, but offers a good, hearty option.

Fully fueled for the day, it was time to head out for some fun, Disneyland-style.

Overall

Rancho del Zocalo had been a favorite of mine for a long time when it came to lunch and dinner. And now I’m very happy to add breakfast to the list as well.

If good food and a lovely group of cast members weren’t enough to woo you through the wrought iron archway, consider how beautiful this place is on top of all that. Really, with filling, delicious dishes that live up to the themeing, plus everything else, I really must insist that you give Rancho del Zocalo a try if you haven’t already.

So now, let me know what you think. Is Rancho del Zocalo one of your favorite stops in Disneyland? Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite meal here is!