There are over 200 restaurants in Disney World, but only a select few tend to get all the glory like Be Our Guest Restaurant or Cinderella’s Royal Table.
But, there are quite a few under-the-radar restaurants that aren’t talked about much but are still worth checking out! Some are our favorite spots in all of Disney World! Don’t be the Disney guest that just passes by these restaurants — here’s why we think you should make time for them!
Spice Road Table
First up is Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion at EPCOT. Lots of people hear which pavilion this restaurant is located in and choose to stay away because they’re fearful that they won’t like anything on the menu. Moroccan and Mediterranean food are some of the more unique cuisines available in World Showcase. We promise though, there’s nothing to worry about here! The food is fantastic!
Spice Road Table does have some adventurous options (and even those aren’t too wild!), but the majority of the menu isn’t all that crazy. In fact, we’ve had some of our picky eaters eat here and they’ve always been able to find something on the menu that they like! TBH, the majority of this food is relatively healthy and straightforward — meats, veggies, hummus. That sort of thing.
And, if you’re dining with a big group, this can be one of the best restaurants in EPCOT to make a reservation because you can order tapas! This means you can order lots of small plates and share. Everyone gets a few bites of each plate.
Not to mention the drinks here are tip-top! They offer really good house-made sangrias by the glass or pitcher, unique mixed drinks, and more. Not looking for a full-on meal at Spice Road Table? You can walk in and get drinks to go from the bar too!
Plus, the restaurant is located right on World Showcase Lagoon, so you’ll have great views of the water when you dine during the day. And, one of our best tips is to actually make your reservation here for the evening so that you can watch the fireworks show on the lagoon from the patio or a seat inside with a view of the water!
Check Out Our FULL Review of Spice Road Table HERE!
Cape May Cafe
Just outside of EPCOT at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, you can find another hidden gem — Cape May Cafe. This is a spot that, if you didn’t know it was here, you’ve possibly never even heard of it! You can find a beachy-themed character breakfast with Minnie Mouse and pals in the morning, and though Disney characters are not present during dinner, the evening meal serves up something unique, as all-you-can-eat surf-and-turf gets the spotlight, with plenty for landlubbers and seafood fans to enjoy!
Because this spot is lesser known by many Disney goers, you can normally get a reservation here pretty easily. But that’s not to say that the food isn’t amazing — a lot of Disney fans even swear by this restaurant and the Oreo Bon Bons they have from time to time!
Now, there aren’t many places in Disney World that you can find great seafood options, but this is definitely one of them. So, if you’re a seafood fan, this spot is worth checking out! Of course, the menu has some other less adventurous options, so everyone in the family will likely find something they’ll enjoy.
There’s nothing outstanding on the breakfast menu, but you can load up on Mickey and Minnie Waffles, Brioche French Toast, Salted Caramel Bread with Vanilla Sauce, Steak and Egg Scramble, and Crêpe Station! And for dinner, you can get Snow Crab legs for an additional cost ($29).
Read Our FULL Review of Cape May Cafe’s Breakfast HERE!
Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen
It’s no secret that eating at the Magic Kingdom can be a bit of a…struggle. Sure there are a few castles you can eat in, which is cool and all. And there are a decent amount of table service options, but none of them necessarily stand out for their food…except for Skipper Canteen.
This restaurant is tucked away in Adventureland and is themed after the nearby Jungle Cruise ride. Basically, the idea is tourism became so popular that the Jungle Cruise Skippers decided to turn their offices into a restaurant for guests who are visiting to take their riverboat tour. And, of course, there’s a nice serving of punny jokes with your meal here!
Now, the menu is a little adventurous, as it features a lot of dishes with hints of Asian, African, or Indian influences, but you can still find some basic foods like mac & cheese and chicken. And, there’s even a SECRET menu (shhh)! Oh, and we should mention — the food is GOOD, like really good!
The restaurant is also themed to a tee and features fun Disney history and hidden details from the Jungle Cruise story, so Disney history aficionados can have a field day exploring the themed dining areas. If we’re looking for a sit-down meal in Magic Kingdom, you can bet you’ll find us here!
Check Out Our Review of NEW Menu Items at Skipper Canteen HERE!
Plaza Restaurant
Okay, we lied, there is another great dining option in Magic Kingdom that you’re probably skipping! Plaza Restaurant is located just off Main Street, U.S.A., and looks right out at Cinderella Castle. You’ve probably walked right by it and didn’t even know because it is tiiiiiny.
But, we’ve always found this spot to be a real winner! The service is always great and, though the food isn’t fancy by any means, it always tastes great and is priced pretty reasonably.
Plus, the restaurant got a bit of a menu makeover in 2021. You’ll still find Plaza Loaded Fries (which are basically Figaro Fries!!), as well as a few tweaks on some long-time menu items, and new desserts!
Not only was our meal delicious here, but we were also in and out FAST, which makes this restaurant a great place to visit if you want the Table Service experience but don’t want to take away too much time from the park.
Click HERE to See Our Latest Review of Plaza Restaurant!
Sanaa
Outside of the parks over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Kidani Village you can find animals roaming the savanna during the day and evening (though they’re pretty hard to see in the dark). And, did you know that you actually can dine with a view of them?Â
The hotel features an Indian and African-inspired restaurant called Sanaa! The menu is better suited for adventurous eaters, but if you’re willing to go a little out of your comfort zone for food, this spot is a real winner.
OK, maybe the word is getting out (we’ve definitely been some of its biggest fans for years!). This spot IS getting tougher to score table at, so maybe popularity is growing.
You’ve probably heard us rave about Sanaa Indian-style Bread Service, in the past and this is the spot where you can find it! The appetizer comes with FIVE flatbreads and NINE dipping sauces to pair with the bread (and also with your meal if you save some but like…you won’t. You’ll inhale them all cause each one is SO. GOOD.)! It. is. DELICIOUS.
The rest of the menu also has some standouts. Like we said, in the past, it typically wasn’t too difficult to get a reservation here, but it’s definitely getting more popular if you want to give it a try! We recommend looking for a lunch reservation instead of dinner so that you can see all the animals on the savanna out the window while you eat.
Check Out Why We Think Sanaa is One of the Best Disney World Table Service Restaurants!
Grand Floridian Cafe
And, the last spot that you should quit skipping is the Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This resort is home to some fine dining restaurants (like, the fanciest in all of Disney World, actually!), but Grand Floridian Cafe is a bit more on the casual side.
Like the rest of the resort, it is Victorian-themed and the menu features a lot of variety. We’ve eaten here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and have loved just about everything we’ve tried.
The restaurant also made their secret menu not-so-secret, adding tons of new items to their menu including our beloved Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle! We had been hacking this dish for a while a few years back, but the sweet and savory dish has made its way back to the menu.
The Cast Members here are always super attentive and kind, so you can expect great service and great food!
Click HERE for Our Latest Review of Grand Floridian Cafe!
So, it’s time to stop skipping these restaurants when you visit Disney World! They’re full of delicious menu options, detailed theming, and great service making them SUPER underrated. And, you can check out even more underrated dining spots in Disney World in our video below!
And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel!
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So check out the video and then let us know: What is your favorite restaurant in Disney World?
Check Out the Top Disney World Restaurants for 2021 HERE!
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Rochelle says
Since this was our first (and maybe only) time at WDW, we didn’t skip Be Our Guest. But we were able to get a walk-up reservation to Skipper’s Canteen on another day upon your recommendation.
Ken says
Have not tried Skippers Canteen, looks a little iffy, Cape May you can definitely pass on. Went there for my wife’s birthday and was disappointed. The variety of seafood is lacking, nothing really special that would make me go back. The Morocco restaurant in the back of the pavilion was surprisingly good. I would highly recommend it…interesting food and tastes.. planning to eat at Animal Kingdom, heard lots of good things, but it is so off the beaten track, can’t seem to get there…
Margaret Drayden says
Cape May was always a favorite, but we tried it a couple months ago – it’s not a seafood buffet – and we found it highly disappointing. Because we were celebrating, we ordered the lobster – it was overcooked and rubbery. Also, the lobsters are small, so you won’t get but a few bites.
I love the Plaza Restaurant – but I’m wondering if the milk shakes are still all you can drink? It’s fun to get one because you can change flavors, which is nice – so if you ordered chocolate and want a refill, you can get another flavor. Yum.
One restaurant that’s back is Boma!!! We were there this past Monday and I thought it was pretty good. Loved the soups. My daughter loves macaroni and cheese but it was realllllly bad. And the African cast members aren’t back yet. I think we’ll wait until they are back before we go again. But we definitely like Boma more than Sanaa. That said, Sanaa has that amazing bread service that you dream about. Fabulous!
Bradford Lubell says
I used to love Spice Road table when they made it a more full-service menu, pre-Covid. But since they re-opened, and closed Marrakesh, they downgraded the offerings. Additionally, I was told that new person put in-charge of the Morocco restaurants, was unfamiliar with Moroccon cuisine.
The Cape May Cafe no longer includes crab legs as part of the buffet and is a very expensive extra.
I’ve always enjoyed the Skipper Canteen, both before Covid and now. Likewise, Sanaa has a great bread service. I haven’t eaten there recently but was there just after the hotel re-opened and enjoyed the restaurant. I’m looking forward to Boma.