It’s really not a secret that one of our favorite parts of Disney World is the food! Every park, hotel, and Disney Springs have some amazing eats and unique restaurants.
The spread at Tusker House
But with so many great options and so little time, how do you pick where to eat?? We asked YOU, or readers, on Instagram which Disney World restaurant you’d recommend to a friend if they only had time to eat at ONE. Here’s what you said!
Now, when it comes to Disney World dining, there’s a lot to consider! It’s not always just about the food itself — you have to think about the whole experience, including the location, atmosphere and price! Most of the places that readers recommended had combinations of at least a few of those factors!
‘Ohana
First up and tied for one of the two MOST recommended is ‘Ohana! ‘Ohana is located inside Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which is right across from Disney’s Magic Kingdom! The location — and accompanying view of the Cinderella Castle — was one of the reasons that readers said this is a must-visit restaurant.
‘Ohana
The views are amazing (especially if you’ll be there during a Magic Kingdom fireworks show!), but the food is even better. ‘Ohana has a Polynesian theme, with pineapple coconut breakfast bread, the most amazing noodles ever, and a variety of meats and sides served family-style.
Ohana Appetizers featuring Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings
There’s also some fun entertainment during dinner, like a coconut race for the kids and a performer playing the ukulele! All in all, this restaurant is a perfect blend of great food, a fun and relaxed atmosphere, and some Disney magic right outside the windows!
Read about the reopening of ‘Ohana in Disney world here!
Be Our Guest
If ‘Ohana was still a little too far from the magic, Be Our Guest should do the trick for you! It’s located inside the Magic Kingdom, in the Beast’s Enchanted Castle! The location and decor of the restaurant make it one of the best for an immersive, truly Disney dining experience. One respondent called it the “most amazing experience, not to be missed!”
Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant is a popular choice!
We agree — if you’re looking for a very “Disney” dining experience, can you get much better than dining inside an actual castle? Unfortunately, a lot of people also agreed that the food was really just okay. One respondent said, “the ambiance is everything despite the food being meh.” It also is pretty pricey, although a respondent pointed out a good way around that: they suggested you go “only for breakfast when it won’t break your wallet.”
Be Our Guest Adult Entree
If you’re willing to pay a bit more for the atmosphere rather than for stellar food, Be Our Guest is a great option that’s a one-of-a-kind dining experience! And we’d definitely recommend checking out the West Wing dining area, even if you’re not sitting there to eat!
See if you’re dining WRONG at Be Our Guest restaurant here!
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
The next top pick wasn’t from the Disney parks at all — it’s in Disney Springs! Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ serves Southern food with a Florida twist, including amazing fried chicken and their famous deviled eggs! The portions here are pretty big, but we haven’t had trouble cleaning our plates yet!
One final look because it’s too hard to say goodbye
Homecomin’ offers lunch and dinner every day, as well as a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s located in Disney Springs over the walking bridge and across from Morimoto Asia. It has a homey feel inside the dining room with views of the water and the Springs!
Homecomin’
If you’re planning an evening in the Springs and need a place to pause and grab some delicious, homestyle cooking, Chef Art Smith’s is highly recommended by a lot of our readers!
Read our latest Homecomin’ review here!
California Grill
We mentioned ‘Ohana first, in part because of the awesome views of Magic Kingdom, and California Grill has the same appeal! It’s located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which is right next to the Magic Kingdom! Like ‘Ohana, readers recommended this restaurant especially during a fireworks show, so you can watch the magic while you dine on California-inspired food like sushi, pizza, and beef filets.
A reservation at California Grill could be tougher to grab once fireworks returns to Magic Kingdom!
According to one reader, California Grill is the whole package, with “good food, good atmosphere and GREAT views.” We recently reviewed the food at a newly-reopened California Grill, and we have to say — we agree!! The food is fantastic, but the prices are definitely on the higher end. If you’d rather eat somewhere casual (or cheaper!), this may be one to skip!
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
But we think the atmosphere and amazing views would make it a perfect date night spot. Once fireworks start up again, it’s likely going to be hard to get a reservation here because it’s just magical to see them as you eat, so make sure you grab your reservations quick!
Read our latest California Grill review here!
Via Napoli
Like a LOT of great food in Disney World, Via Napoli is in EPCOT. It’s located in the Italy pavilion, and (as you might expect) it serves delicious pizza and other Italian dishes. A lot of readers recommended this spot because the delicious food is an easy crowd-pleaser, with favorites like pizza, Pollo Parmigiana, and Arancini!
Via Napoli in the Italy Pavilion
The food here is a bit pricey as well, but the dishes give you big portions, so a lot of it is very shareable! We love the appetizers here especially!
Arancini at Via Napoli
If you’re trying to please picky kids while still enjoying amazing food, Via Napoli is a good place to try! It has a comfortable, casual atmosphere, but the service can be a little slow, so keep that in mind and plan enough time for it in your busy EPCOT day!
Read our latest Via Napoli review here!
Sanaa
Sanaa is located at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village and has some awesome views to match its location. Just outside the big windows found in the restaurant is a Savannah habitat that holds giraffes, Ankole cattle, and other animals you can watch while you eat! Sometimes the cranes come up to the windows to say hello!
Sanaa Dining Room
Two words are key when it comes to dining at Sanaa: BREAD. SERVICE. One reader said, “the bread service is too good to pass up!” And they weren’t the only ones to mention that the bread service is the main reason to come here! The Indian-style Bread Service is an appetizer that comes with five different kinds of bread and NINE sauces — including different flavors of hummus, chutney, and more — to try!
Sanaa Bread Service
Seriously, the bread service alone is worth a trip to Sanaa, but the environment and views are also huge pluses! One reader said it’s the “perfect combo of unique atmosphere, theming, and fantastic food.”
Read our latest Sanaa review here!
Le Cellier
We’re heading back to EPCOT for this one — it’s Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion! This upscale restaurant is themed to look like you’re dining in a wine cellar in Canada. It’s a cozy, pretty romantic restaurant if you’re looking for a good date spot! (But be aware that it has prices to match!)
Le Cellier
It’s got some amazing classics in terms of food, like the Canadian Beer Cheese Soup, which really is a must-try in Disney World. The best part, though? The steak! It’s tasty and tender and, if you’re a big fan of steak, worth the $50+ price tag!
New York Strip Steak
With higher prices and not very “Disney” ish dining, this might not be the perfect spot if you’re bringing young kids, but we think it makes for a very romantic (and super tasty!) intimate date!
We ate a Beef Fat CANDLE — read our full Le Cellier review here!
Yak and Yeti
Yak and Yeti is the first restaurant from Disney’s Animal Kingdom on this list! It’s been a fan-favorite for a while now, in large part because of the super unique and interesting theming inside the dining room! It showcases some beautiful artifacts from Asia, so we’d really recommend walking around to see all the beautiful decor.
Decor in Yak and Yeti
The food isn’t something to scoff about, though! One reader said, “the ahi tuna nachos are the best thing I’ve ever had at Disney.” That’s a strong recommendation! Yak and Yeti has mostly Asian fusion food, like pork potstickers and firecracker shrimp! A lot of things on the menu here are unique flavors (we’re looking at you, Bang Bang Calamari!), so it’s not the best pick if you have picky eaters in your group!
Ahi Tuna NACHOS!
But if you’re in search of a sit-down restaurant in Animal Kingdom with lower prices than Tiffins or Tusker House, this is a great option for you!
Check out our latest Yak and Yeti review here!
50’s Prime Time Cafe
Comfort food meets a super fun atmosphere at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! The dining room is themed to look like a 50’s home, complete with black-and-white televisions showing old TV shows! What makes the atmosphere truly unique from any other Disney restaurant is the servers, who refer to themselves as your aunt, uncle, or cousin!
50’s Prime Time Cafe
These servers are famous for poking fun at guests and reminding them to eat their veggies and keep their elbows off the table — just like you were at a family reunion! But you don’t have to worry too much about being told off for not finishing your food, because the meals here are delicious! It’s mostly home cooking classics, like fried chicken, pot roast, and meatloaf!
Sampling of Mom’s Favorites
Or, if you can’t decide between those, just get a sampling of all three! This is a really fun spot, especially for kids, if you don’t mind a little bit of good-natured heckling from your server!
See our latest 50s Prime Time review here!
Garden Grill
We’re hopping back to EPCOT for the Garden Grill! This restaurant is located in Future World, in the same building as Soarin‘. The food is served as an all-you-can-eat, family-style meal, with classics like salad, mac ‘n’ cheese, turkey, beef, mashed potatoes, and seasonal veggies.
Garden Grill Restaurant
There are two big draws that make this restaurant a top pick. First off, it’s character-themed dining! One reader said, “with kids: Garden Grill – Great food, best character interaction!” It’s one of the only spots in EPCOT that kids can see Mickey right now! The second big draw: it rotates! No, really! The whole restaurant rotates slowly as you eat, which gives you views into the scenes you see on Living With the Land (the boat ride just below it that takes guests on a tour of EPCOT’s gardens).
Harvest Feast at Garden Grill
The food is served family-style on platters, so you don’t have to get up as your table moves! There’s a variety of food here, so there’s surely something for everyone! Our favorite part? The berry shortcake dessert, of course!
Read our full Garden Grill review here!
There you go — the complete list of our readers’ top picks for if they had to recommend only ONE restaurant in Disney World to a friend. We have to agree with one reader, who said: “I’d recommend they stay longer!” There are so many great places to try in Disney, it’s almost impossible to pick just one!
Keep following DFB for more food reviews and recommendations!
Click Here to See a Review for the Runner Up to this List: Skipper Canteen!
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Via Napoli ??? They are number one on the Worst two credit Table Service in All of Disney World !
Terrible Service, & Food Hands Down !
I have been monitoring lunch/dinner reservations for 6wks in anticipation of being able to make my reservations at the STUPID 60 day mark (bring back the 180 days!!!!) and have not ONCE seen an available opening for Yak & Yeti regardless of the day or time! Crazy!!!
O’hana was a given for best meal on Disney property, but with the recent menu change had dropped it off of my top 10 list. Ye, it is hard to beat the location, ambiance, and view, but the serving of the entre meats on the spit is what really pushed it over the top in as far as presentation, flavor and sheer boldness. Now, everything in a bowl puts it on par with Whispering Canyon for fun family style fare. To bad, I have been going to O’hana for over 30 years, multiple times per year, but now, I doubt I will even go again. This may force me to eat at an Animal Kingdom eatery. Always wanted to, but always got edged out by O’hana. Bad Show… Disney
Ok…Narcossis at the Grand Floridian (in my opinion) is the best! And for Pris, if you get a Landry’s select club card you will be seated within 5 minutes at Yak @ Yeti.
Wish your blog would stop advertising for Ohana’s. Been trying in vain for several years to get a reservation there. Been there only once in seven years and loved it.
Yak and Yeti is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere! The interior is beautifully designed with incredible detail and the themeing is amazingly immersive. I truly feel like I am somewhere else entirely when we dine here. It’s the perfect place to take a break and slow down in the park and the food is great. The ahi tuna nachos are my husband’s favorite dish from ANY restaurant ANYWHERE and one of the best things I’ve eaten in Disney. The menu is interesting and diverse with something for everyone. If you haven’t tried it yet, you have got to go! It is definitely a must do!
we ate at Ohana dinner recently very very disappointed considering the price point
love via napoli
Cali grill is our hands down fav
land my wife loves (i am not married to AJ) me eh i enjoy it but…
Morimota (sp) Asia is now also a fav just awesome it feels like NYC
I agree with almost all of these. But after our experience at California Grill in 2020, it will be a very long time before we go back. The food was mediocre and the service was just awful. I understand that sometimes the kitchen might have an off day, but for the price you pay at a restaurant like that, I expect good service. Our server basically ignored us after taking our order. My water glass was empty for most of the meal, she never came to ask how the food was, etc. Meanwhile, we watched the family at the table next to have a great experience with a different server, which made our experience feel even worse.
We live in FL and are AP and DVC members yet we’ve only been able to eat at Ohana’s once in all these years. Even getting up early in the morning to make the reservations doesn’t do it. Wish those who are so unhappy with Ohana’s would just stop going there so that we can get to go.
I usually travel alone. Which one of these restaurants isn’t going to make me feel out of place or unwelcome as a solo diner? It has happened before.
We’ve done the veranda at Yak & Yeti. Loved it. ‘Ohana has accommodated us for walk-up a couple of times but we’ve not been there in several years. Via Napoli is a standard for us almost every trip. I love Le Cellier, my wife’s not so sure. Except when I get her to go in and she loves the steak. Cali grill? Food ranges from OK to Wow!, but the Grand Marnier flight is to die for. I’d rank Morimoto Asia up at the top of the list.