EPCOT has so many food options to try — how could you possibly narrow down your choices?!

Between riding rides like Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, checking out the EPCOT festivals throughout the year, and seeing the concerts and fireworks at night, it can be hard to fit in time to sit and enjoy a table service meal, so we’re checking out a popular counter-service restaurant today!

La Cantina de San Angel is the first counter service location you will pass by if you “go left” as you’re entering the World Showcase. This restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and is moderately priced by Disney World standards. The menu includes an array of Mexican-inspired dishes, and we recently grabbed a few to try!

Atmosphere

La Cantina de San Angel’s location allows you to eat overlooking the World Showcase lagoon.

There are multiple seating areas, but because of its popularity, you may have to find somewhere nearby to sit and eat — or scout a table if you’re not one of the first to order at the lunch opening.

Evenings can be quite busy here, too…because the huge draw is the great view of the EPCOT fireworks and lagoon show. Sitting out here, over the water, with a taco platter and a margarita is basically the perfect EPCOT evening experience — and it’s cheap. But guess what. Everybody else knows it, too. So if you want your perfect seat for the fireworks, get here early!

There are a few condiment stations around the outdoor seating areas.

This is where you will pick up your cutlery, napkins, and your choice of salsas.

There’s currently a choice of mild Salsa Verde or hot Chipotle salsa.

As you walk up to the restaurant, there will be several stations to order your food from a cast member. La Cantina de San Angel does not currently offer mobile ordering.

Menu

Let’s take a look at all there is to eat (and drink) here! Chicken and rice, tacos with a variety of proteins, and nachos are on the menu here, along with side items like rice, black beans, and fried plantains.

And here’s a look at the drinks menu, which includes margaritas and sangria because  — hey, we’re in Mexico!

There are a few different choices of flavors in margaritas here with options in both “on the rocks” and “frozen”.

If you’ve found yourself lined up to eat here, you’ll probably encounter a few of these signs. These are posted right beside the line before you order, so you can be prepared when you get to the window. There are also a few offerings for Kid’s meals like Emapadas con Queso, Chicken Tenders, Chicken Tacos, and Macaroni and Cheese. You can also get churros and ice cream here — we recently tried the Churro Sundae!

Eats

Now let’s get to eating! First up, we tried the Guacamole with Totopos.

Don’t those look yummy? Well, they were as great as they look! The nacho chips were crisp, and the guacamole was fresh, creamy, and smooth with just a few bits of avocado — and you could taste a hint of lime flavor.

This is a large portion , so if you’re looking to order it, come with an empty stomach or enlist the help of a friend because it is easily a shareable snack. Our only complaint on this one is there are so many tortilla chips with not enough guac  — so you may run out of guac before you run out of chips. We grabbed this from the menu for $10!

Next up we tried the Empanadas con Queso.

This one is offered as an adult meal with 3 empanadas or as a kid’s meal with fewer. It’s served with sides of rice and black beans topped with queso fresco. The empanadas are housemade flour tortillas with cheese inside of them. They are drizzled with cilantro-based salsa.

Here’s an inside look at what’s offered in the empanadas, and, well, it’s not much. There truly is only cheese on the inside. This is definitely a dish best served warm, because as soon as it gets colder, the cheese started to meld together to form one big, rubbery blob. For the quantity of the meal, though, we thought it was a decent value at $13.75!

Last up, to round out our review we tried the Taco Trio.

This sampling of tacos offered one of each in Barbacoa, Pollo (chicken), and Camaron (shrimp), served with sides of rice and queso fresco-topped black beans. We snagged this dish for $14.99.

Here’s a look at the Barabacoa taco.

The meat was fresh and easily pulled apart and had a distinct flavor that was different from the other two tacos. The meat was packed together and yummy, but not too full that the taco fell apart. The complimentary salsas from the condiment station really helped give it an extra kick with either the mild or hot.

Here’s a look at the Pollo or chicken taco. This was also one that was meat filled but not overly packed into the taco to break it apart. The chicken was grilled and fresh, and was cut into strips. We were surprised that it wasn’t a pulled, stringy version of chicken. This was another one we really enjoyed, because the grill gave the chicken another layer of flavor that really contributed to the overall taste.

Let’s talk about this Camaron taco! There’s a lot to offer here between the breaded Camaron (shrimp) and its toppings. The breading was light but crispy, and the shrimp had a fresh snap to them when you bit into them. This is also filled with veggie and fruit toppings that added an extra crunch to it all. This was a welcomed addition to the trio paired against two richer meat options. We’ve noted before that the Taco Trio is a good option to split with someone else if you aren’t famished, and you can see more of our favorite shareble meals here!

Overall

Overall all of these dishes were a win for us, and the added bonus of al fresco dining over the World Showcase lagoon definitely added to our enjoyment of this meal. If you’re looking for something light but filling any of these options would be great to try out on your next visit!

As an added tip if you come to eat in the early lunch hours cast members will offer additional indoor seating inside La Hacienda de San Angel. It’s also a great option to sit and eat during the night just before the nightly fireworks so if that’s on your wish list, we recommend getting your spot early!

Nosh or Not?

You should try La Cantina de San Angel if….

• You’re looking for a great Mexican counter service option.
• You love tacos.
• You’re looking for lighter options to keep snacking around the World Showcase.
• You’re feeling adventurous with flavors.
• You want to dine somewhere that has moderate pricing.

You should pass on La Cantina de San Angel if…

• You’re not a fan of Mexican cuisine.
• You have picky eaters.
• You are looking for a very hearty meal.
• You prefer to dine indoors.

If you’re planning a Disney World trip, we can help! Order our 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! It contains extensive info and reviews on EVERY dining option in Disney World, as well as advice on every aspect of your visit — from choosing a hotel to family activities to budgeting!

Click here to order!

Have we convinced you to try La Cantina de San Angel? Tell us your favorite menu offering here!