You only have time for one meal in Disney World, how are you going to narrow it down? Do you want the MOST Disney experience you can get?

What about something totally unique you’d never find anywhere else? We’ve made the list of the most essential restaurants in Disney World for each type of diner.

Maybe you only have a short trip to Disney World or you’re saving your money for souvenirs rather than a bunch of sit-down meals with the whole family. Maybe you just want to eat at the very best restaurant and ONLY the very best restaurants. We asked our team here at DFB to give us their top recommendations for their number one restaurants in all of Disney World.

We hate to choose just one, but in case YOU need to, this list will help you make that tough decision.

THE Disney Experience — Be Our Guest

Starting off our list, our choice for the one restaurant that serves up THE Disney experience is Be Our Guest found in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland. You cannot beat the atmosphere here — you are literally walking into the Beauty and the Beast film and you will feel like royalty inside the Beast’s castle (and you’ll pay like royalty, too).

The restaurant is made up of three rooms with stunning decor:

• The library features a large music box with Belle and the Beast
• The ballroom features floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the grounds of the Beast’s castle, using animation cells of falling snow from the film itself
• And the west wing has a spooky dark vibe with lighting, the enchanted rose, and a portrait of the Beast that transforms while you dine

Currently, Be Our Guest is only offering a prix fixe meal for lunch and dinner, though the menu is more upscale than many restaurants in Magic Kingdom — so it’s going to fit the bill if you’re looking for something fancy in the park. You’ll pay $67 per adult and $39 per kid at either meal, and while the French influenced food is good, it’s not quite on a par with other Disney World restaurants that offer a more upscale menu and similar price tag.

What you’re paying for here is the experience, and THAT is what Be Our Guest delivers! It’s one of the most immersive dining experiences in Disney World, and that makes it an extremely popular and sought-after reservation — book early if you want to snag a table! While this isn’t officially a character meal, you will get to see the Beast as he strolls through his castle during your meal.

Of course, we have to give an honorable mention to Cinderella’s Royal Table — it doesn’t get more Disney than dining inside the castle at the end of Main Street! While Cinderella’s Royal Table does boast some extravagant decor, it’s not quite as impressive as walking into an animated film set.

But, this restaurant does offer a full character dining experience with several princesses who come around to greet guests.

If you pick either Be Our Guest or Cinderella’s Royal Table you’ll be dining in some serious Disney vibes right in the flagship park — you can’t get much more iconic fairy-tale Disney than these! As one of our editors said, “the atmosphere and the overall experience is so very Disney. No matter your age, you will feel like you’re a character in Beauty and the Beast.”

Here’s Our Full Review of Cinderella’s Royal Table!

Breakfast in the Parks — Crystal Palace

This next restaurant — also in Magic Kingdom — comes with a big caveat from our team! We think this is a great pick because, “It’s right in the middle of Magic Kingdom, the food is decent, you get to see the characters, and it just feels like a very ‘Disney’ experience (without being insanely expensive).”

Now, it’s still Disney World and breakfast is gonna set you back $45 per adult and $25 per kid, though that’s for an all you can eat buffet with dishes like puffed french toast and breakfast lasagna (which, by the way, is the most amazing waffle/pancake casserole hybrid).

The 17 Best Restaurants in Disney World for 2023.

All You Can Eat — Boma

Boma is at the top of our list for All You Care to Enjoy meals in Disney World! Offering breakfast and dinner buffets with an array of food from standard American fare to unique and tasty dishes from over 50 different regions of Africa, this restaurant is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The dinner menu features grilled seafood & roasted meats along with some more exotic flavors; the breakfast buffet features Disney staples like Mickey Waffles, omelettes, along with bobotie — and African egg dish that’s similar to a quiche or frittata.

One of our writers thought the question was if you could only eat at one Disney restaurant for FOREVER (like every single meal for the rest of your life), and she still emphatically picked Boma! Another of our writers said, “Boma 10,000,000% — it’s at a hotel so it’s a little bit out of the way [but it’s] amazingly themed and so beautiful to walk around. And the food at Boma is so unique, flavorful, incredible — and the zebra domes!”

Zebra domes are a hotel specialty at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and they are served every night on the buffet at Boma — these little Amarula liqueur truffles have a big fan following! If you want to try them, and you don’t have a reservation at Boma, you’ll find them sold in a four-pack at The Mara (the hotel’s Quick Service restaurant) or in the gift shop at Kidani Village.

Here’s Our Review of Boma!

The DFB team LOVES to talk about our best culinary experiences at Disney World! We wrote the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining to share all of that insider knowledge with you. We don’t want you to miss a thing!

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Character Meal — Garden Grill

Crystal Palace may get our pick for best breakfast, but best overall character meal is Garden Grill in EPCOT. We talk about Garden Grill a LOT — it is one of our favorite restaurants in Disney World, and the character experience you’re going to get here is so much better than nearly any other character meal in Disney World.

This is a small restaurant, which means Mickey, Pluto, Chip & Dale don’t have an absurd number of tables to visit. So you will see them often and get a lot more one on one time with them The food grown in the greenhouses of Living With the Land are also gonna end up on your plate at Garden Grill! One of our writers picked Garden Grill as her one and only saying it’s, “tasty all you can eat in a classic (even retro) EPCOT location.”

Garden Grill has always served food family style, so you’ll get platters to share with the whole table, featuring tasty (and family friendly) dishes like grilled beef, roast chicken, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. The meal will run you $55 per adult and $36 per kid — but you get characters and endless mac and cheese.

These Are the BEST Restaurants in EPCOT!

Unique Character Meal (if You Don’t Mind Traveling) — Storybook Dining

If you love character meals but you’ve seen enough of Mickey (if that’s possible), we’d suggest heading over to Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White in Wilderness Lodge for something a little more unique. One of our writers said, “The restaurant decor is magical, I think it’s really beautiful there and it’s a great way to escape Magic Kingdom if you need a dinner break. On top of all that, you get to see the characters, including the OG princess [Snow White] and some rare characters like the Evil Queen and Dopey.”

While the food here doesn’t win any awards in book, it is VERY good for a character meal — that same write gives a special shout out to the gnocchi! Everything is presented beautifully from the tiered tree tower for your appetizers and desserts, to the entree plated and the incredible Huntsman’s Gift, which is presented in a box with dry ice to give it some seriously impressive panache.

The Best Character Dining Meals at Disney World, Ranked.

For a Stunning View (with some Disney History) — California Grill

Looking for an elegant, upscale signature dining experience with a gorgeous view? Head over to our pick for the restaurant with the most stunning view — California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The restaurant space has been around since Disney World opened — California Grill was originally named Top of the World restaurant for its 15th floor view of Magic Kingdom.

One DFB writer notes, “There’s variety, the food is awesome, the drinks are bomb, the service is SPECTACULAR, and you get a fireworks view (or just a view of Magic Kingdom).”

The menu features pizza, sushi, the most amazing goat cheese ravioli you’ve ever had, steak, seafood, and an impressive wine list — there’s something for everyone.

Take in views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, Cinderella Castle, and fireworks. Even if you dine earlier in the evening — or snag a no-reservation meal in the restaurant’s lounge — you can come back to watch the fireworks from their viewing platform by showing your receipt.

California Grill is pricey with upscale food, so while kids are more than welcome, this might be more your pick for a nice date night or special occasion meal rather than toting the whole family for dinner after a long day in the parks.

Check Out the Best Restaurants for Fireworks Views at Disney World!

Classic Disney All You Can Eat — ‘Ohana

Boma may have an edge on the all-you-can-eat front with our team for the unique and adventurous menu, but if you want classic Disney with never ending portions we’re sending you to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. ‘Ohana has a huge fan following and for good reason — people dine here trip after trip and keep coming back, so it can be a tough reservation to get.

For a lot of people, this is the perfect meal for arrival day. As one of our editors said, “Looking out the windows, seeing the park and the anticipation that brings is huge.” The Polynesian Village Resort is an original Disney World hotel — it opened with the park, and if you get a window table you can literally see the castle from your seat. You can also see the fireworks from here, which makes it a great choice for dinner!

The meals here are served family style, and breakfast features Mickey and Stitch waffles and that famous POG Juice — passion fruit, orange and guava juice — plus you can meet Lilo, Stitch, Pluto, and Mickey.
For dinner, you’ll get a Hawaiian-inspired feast with skewered meats, dumplings, teriyaki noodles and the restaurant’s famous bread pudding.

The Polynesian Village Resort is a quick and easy boat or monorail ride from Magic Kingdom, so it’s pretty convenient to get to.

Here’s Our Complete Guide to Eating at the Polynesian Village Resort.

Unique Experience — Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

For something you can’t likely experience anywhere else, head to Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater in Hollywood Studios. The dining room is built to replicate a drive-in theatre all the way down to the giant black and white movie screen playing clips of old classic films and cartoons during your meal. Your “table” is a retro convertible or a picnic table, and you’re dining under a perpetual nighttime sky (so it’s dark in here — if you have trouble reading menus bring a flashlight).

The food here is pretty simple — burgers and fries, salads, and some pasta dishes. It’s nothing stellar, but that food isn’t the main draw. You’re coming here for the theming and the experience.

The atmosphere alone makes this restaurant worth it, and the food isn’t too bad, either, plus it comes in at a pretty decent price for Disney standards. If you have a group of foodies that need to be impressed, this isn’t the pick for them. But if you’ve got a pack of kids or a movie buff, Sci-Fi Dine-In will fit the bill.

These Are the Best Restaurants in Hollywood Studios!

Upscale in the Parks — Le Cellier Steakhouse

Our team’s choice for an upscale dining experience inside the parks is Le Cellier Steakhouse in EPCOT’s Canada Pavilion. Le Cellier offers fine dining, but not too fancy that you need to go back to your hotel and change before coming here.

Nosh on some classic Canadian poutine or start your meal off with the now iconic Cheddar Cheese Soup Le Cellier is definitely kid friendly — though if you have very picky eaters check that menu first! The price tag might make you think twice about hauling the whole family here, though. As one of Disney’s Signature (read fine dining) restaurants, and because it’s a steakhouse, expect entrees to reach the $50 range.

If the Canadian-style steakhouse doesn’t do it for you and you want something a little more unique, you should probably head back to the hotel and change for, say Takumi-Tei, an upscale and elegant Japanese Dining experience in the Japan Pavilion.

At $150-$250 per person, this is definitely a splurge for those fine-dining seeking parkgoers.

Here’s Our Review of Takumi-Tei.

You Have a LOT of Palates to Please — Yak & Yeti

Where do you go when everyone in your party wants something different? Our team’s pick for the restaurant with the widest variety of options for the most palates to please is Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom.

This beautifully themed dining room with a uniquely extravagant Nepalese-style decor features a pan-Asian menu, as well as classic American options for those less adventurous eaters. This menu is huge — with everything from burgers and fries to ribs and more exotic dishes like curries and seared tuna. You will be able to please a lot of different people in the same restaurant!

This restaurant is one of the few restaurants in the Disney parks owned and operated not by Disney but by an outside company. Yak & Yeti is owned by Landry’s, which also owns T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe. If you sign up for Landry’s loyalty program you’ll get priority seating and a gift card on your birthday.

These Are the Best Restaurants at Animal Kingdom!

The EPCOT Experience — Chefs de France

EPCOT’s World Showcase is all about transporting you to different countries. While there are lots of dining options in the 11 countries that make up this section of the park, if you REALLY want to feel like you’ve been transported somewhere else, you’ve got to eat at Chefs de France.

This classic French Bistro in the France Pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase feels like you’re in a bustling restaurant in the center of Paris from the decor, to the staff, to the food itself. Chefs de France provides a romantic and sophisticated atmosphere in a family-friendly environment at a moderate price.

From Boeuf Bourguignon to Creme Brulee, you can expect classic and expertly executed French cuisine. Chefs de France has been owned and run since it opened in 1982 by Paul and (his son) Jerome Bocuse, both very prominent French chefs.

REVIEW: Lunch at Chefs de France!

The Best Brunch Ever — Homecomin’

Taking it over to Disney Springs, our pick for the best brunch spot is Homecomin’. This one is probably no surprise to those of you who read DFB regularly. We’re always talking about how amazing Homecomin’ is!

With dishes like Biscuits & Gravy, Fried Chicken & Donuts, and Hush Puppy Benedict, this southern comfort brunch spot in Disney Springs by celebrity chef Art Smith will be sure to leave you nice and full. A former personal chef of Oprah and a Florida local, Art Smith’s menu contains some seriously delicious options from brunch classics, to unique signature dishes, to a full moonshine bar.

Be sure to make a reservation, as this weekend brunch spot is a hit and can fill up quickly — brunch is ONLY offered on Saturday and Sunday. Homecomin’ is a great way to start your morning on a non-park day, or even your last day in Orlando for a great meal before you head to your home.

These are the Best Breakfasts in Disney World.

A Fun Experience — Raglan Road

Sticking with some of our favorite spots in Disney Springs, Raglan Road is a restaurant that is often overlooked but offers a killer menu and a seriously good time. One of our editors said, “Raglan doesn’t get a ton of love but the food is stellar and it’s such a fun ‘get pumped you’re on vacation’ vibe to it with the show each day. That’s quickly becoming a must-do for us.”

Step into an authentic Irish experience with dark wood bar tops and tables, live music, and high energy Irish Step Dancing performances. They have a great brunch on the weekends that honestly rivals Homecomin’, and the lunch and dinner menus have so many good options it can be tough to pick — we’ve really never had a bad meal here.

We highly recommend making a reservation here, but they do accept walk-ins if capacity allows.

Here’s a Recent Review of Raglan Road!

A Meal That Doesn’t Feel Like You’re at Disney — Morimoto Asia

Ok, bear with us on this one — I know a lot of you are saying, why am I going to pick the one meal at Disney World that doesn’t make me feel like I’m at Disney World? Well, sometimes we’re traveling with someone that needs a break from all the Disney stuff, or maybe you’re just looking for a very, very good meal and you don’t mind if you can’t hunt for hidden Mickeys while you eat. If you fall into that category, we recommend Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs.

This Pan Asian restaurant is owned by Iron Chef Morimoto, and has an upscale vibe and menu. With specialty exhibition kitchens, table side presentations, and private lounges, this dining experience is sure to have you and your family saying, “Wait…are we still in Disney World?”

One of our editors said, “It’s seriously some of the most flavorful food I’ve had anywhere, let alone at Walt Disney World. If you looked in there and saw the food and decor, you’d have zero clue you were at Disney World if no one told you. If someone is looking to skip the more theme-parky options and just save up for a stellar meal, I’d pick that.”

We’ve Eaten at Every Disney Springs Restaurant. These Are the BEST!

Dinner & A Show — Hoop Dee Doo Revue

And wrapping up our list, what better way to end than with dinner and a show? If you want a full Disney experience head to Hoop Dee Doo Revue in Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness. It might be a hike to get there, and the food might not be a fitting follow up to talking about Morimoto Asia, but you WILL have a great time.

The Hoop Dee Doo Revue has been around nearly as long as Disney World — it held the title of the longest running stage show before the park closures in 2020. The menu features BBQ classics, like fried chicken, ribs, cornbread, and baked beans, and they come in served cast iron.

With a tiered seating design, you can decide how close you want to be to the action, though I recommend you opt for one of the lower seating levels if you want a good view of the show. Transportation to Pioneer Hall can be a little tricky — we recommend a boat ride from Magic Kingdom, or a ride share that can drop you off right at the restaurant.

Here’s our latest review of Hoop-Dee-Doo!

That’s our list! As you can see, some restaurants in Disney World offer a top notch menu, while others may offer more in terms of atmosphere or entertainment and some just have that all around Disney feeling. Regardless of what you’re looking for, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Keep following DFB for the latest Disney Food News!

We want to hear what your go-to restaurant in Disney World is! Let us know in the comments where YOU would eat if you could only choose one restaurant in Disney World.