Let’s be real here…one of the best parts of Disney World is the FOOD and Disney fans have OPINIONS!
People have THOUGHTS about Disney food!
Whether it’s your first time visiting Disney World or your 50th time, you’ve probably heard from all your best Disney friends (like us!) about what restaurants they LOVE and which ones they HATE. There are fan favorites like Le Cellier in EPCOT and Homecomin’ by Chef Art Smith in Disney Springs, and some more under-the-radar spots like Takumi-Tei or Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen. And, this year, when USA Today took to the masses to see which theme park restaurants are the best, TWO Disney World restaurants ranked in the top ten, but they’re likely NOT what you might expect!
Each year, a panel of experts collaborates with USA Today’s 10Best to pick a list of nominees for best theme park restaurants in the U.S. Then, readers are asked to vote on their favorites to narrow down the list to the top 10.
Animal Kingdom
Here are the 2022 results:
- Confisco Grille — Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- Yak and Yeti — Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Trapper’s Smokehouse — Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Aunt Granny’s Restaurant — Dollywood
- Mythos Restaurant — Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- Zambia Smokehouse — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- Das Festhaus — Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Leaky Cauldron — Universal Studios Florida
- Be Our Guest Restaurant — Magic Kingdom
- Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant — Knott’s Berry Farm
Yes, you ARE seeing straight — Yak & Yeti came in at NUMBER 2, and Be Our Guest Restaurant almost entirely missed the list coming in at NUMBER 9!
Yak & Yeti
Now, before you discount the rankings altogether wondering if that many people even know about Yak & Yeti in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, let’s take a look at what we’ve been saying about these two spots all along.
Yak and Yeti Ahi Tuna Nachos, how we love thee.
Located in Animal Kingdom’s Asia section near Expedition Everest, this Table-Service restaurant has offered consistently good food for YEARS. From appetizers like the Dragon Roll Bowl to Ahi Tuna Nachos that we are STILL dreaming about, those looking for some more unique theme park eats can’t go wrong here. Plus, reservations are generally pretty easy to get at Yak & Yeti meaning that you don’t have to stress about securing your spot.
Yak & Yeti spread!
So, maybe it’s the delicious Asian cuisine or maybe it’s the no-stress experience, or maybe it’s BOTH — but, we can certainly see why this spot might rank among the top in Disney World. But, is it the best? Well, we’ve always enjoyed it but found that some other restaurants in the Disney Parks are more suited for a group with a variety of flavor palettes.
Lo Mein Combo at Yak & Yeti
And, it likely comes as no surprise that Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom made the top 10 list. It has historically been difficult to get a reservation here because so many park-goers want to eat inside! After all, you’re basically stepping into a scene from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast making it one of those must-do-at-least-once kind of places.
Grand Ballroom at Be Our Guest Restaurant
When it comes to the food, Be Our Guest is currently serving a prix fixe menu for both lunch and dinner, and in our experience, all the offerings have been good (just not knock your socks off good). In our recent visits, we’ve enjoyed the Center-cut Filet Mignon and their newest brunch offerings, plus it’s one of the ONLY places in Magic Kingdom you can try the Grey Stuff (which you’ll recognize from the movie!).
Center-cut Filet Mignon at Be Our Guest
The big thing to keep in mind here — and what could have put the restaurant a bit lower in voters’ minds — is just how pricey and LONG of a dining experience it is. You’ll need to carve out a nice portion of your park day and budget to dine here.
Inside Be Our Guest Restaurant
So, where do these restaurants rank for you? And, do the restaurants in other theme parks really out-rank so many at Disney World? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! And, we’ll continue to cover ALL Disney World restaurant news, so stay tuned to DFB for more!
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I’ve been to all but one of these Restaurants, my biggest complaint is none of the Busch Restaurants should be on this list, especially now, their food quality has gone way downhill. I agree with Knott’s, Dollywood, Yak and Yeti, and Mythos. Several Epcot restaurants should be on the list IMHO. I also think the LeakyCauldron is good, but Finnegan’s is better at Universal and not sure about Confisco Grille.