If there’s a specific type of food you’re looking for at Disney World, chances are they’ve already got you covered!

From All-American classics to tastes from the Caribbean and Asia, there really are a TON of places to dine around Disney World. And some of them are in spots you just wouldn’t expect! If you’re a fan of Polynesian food and you haven’t exactly found a restaurant to satisfy your craving in Magic Kingdom, there’s a spot you have to check out and it’s just outside of the park!

Atmosphere

Recently, we headed to Capt. Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for a bite, and we want to take you along with us! This restaurant is located on the first floor of the resort’s main building. Here’s a look at the entrance to the restaurant as you come towards it from the main entrance to the resort.

To the left as you enter, you’ll find the first seating area.

To the right of this seating area, here is where you place your orders.

Across from the there, you’ll find a wraparound counter that has everything you need when it comes to condiments, utensils, drinks, etc. You’ll find most of the basic condiments available like ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, and mayo.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Here are the napkins and utensils:

As the counter wraps around, you can find the straws and the fountain drinks.

All of your coffee options.

Whole and Skim milk.

You’ll find plenty of tea options as well.

In the same area that you place your orders, you’ll also find grab-and-go options.

Here’s a look at the second indoor seating area:

There’s even outdoor seating should you want to enjoy your meal outdoors.

Now on to the food!

Menu

Let’s take a look at the menu for Capt. Cook’s! They’re typically open from 7:00AM to 12:00AM. They’re a quick service restaurant that has three (3) different menus depending on the time of day (Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner, and Late Night Dining), all three of which you can get full meals, so not just small plates. You can also Mobile Order food from this spot.

Let’s start with their Breakfast Menu. You’ll find that you can get one of our favorite breakfast options, Tonga Toast, here, too.

They also have plant-based options as well as kids’ meals — and we recently found out they can do a plant-based version of Tonga Toast here on request! You can also order sides of their breakfast potatoes, sausage, and that oh-so-sweet Disney bacon.

Now, have a look at their Lunch/Diner menu.

You’ll find some of the Disney restaurant staples like cheeseburgers and a caesar salad, but they’ve also got great flatbreads.

They also have plant-based options as well as kids’ meals.

And if you’re hungry for another helping of their sides like mac and cheese, you can help yourself to another order of them.

Now, if you’re looking for a bite late, they’ve got flatbreads available until midnight.

Let’s have a look at what’s available all day. First up, here are the bakery options:

And if you just need a snack, here’s what you can pick up:

If you’re looking for a beverage, here’s what they’ve got:

Need a coffee fix? Here are the specialty options they have at Capt. Cook’s:

If you’d like something alcoholic, be it beer or wine, here’s what they have on the menu:

Lastly, you can pick up a Rapid Fill Refillable Mug here anytime when they’re open.

Now that we’ve got the full picture of what’s on the menu, let’s dive into what we ordered!

Eats

Starting out, we got the Pulled Pork Nachos for $10.99. They’re topped with Cheese, Spicy Mayonnaise, Pico de Gallo, and Pineapple Salsa.

We really like these nachos. About the “chips” for these nachos, they are a combination of fried wantons and house-made chips. They’re so crispy. The sweet BBQ and sweet pineapple on top are on point and a great juxtaposition to the crispy and savory chips.

The spicy mayo, however, isn’t very spicy. It’s much more creamy than spicy. Also, the pico de gallo isn’t the most flavorful, but it does add a nice crunch texture to the top. If you’re looking for a “level-up” on your typical chicken strips or cheeseburger, we highly recommend these nachos.

Next, we got the Spicy Korean Chicken Bowl for $12.99. It has Crisp Chicken Strips with Gochujang Sauce, Steamed Rice, and Cucumber Namasu.

It’s got a great Korean Gochujang Sauce, and the Chicken Strips in it are very crispy. The rice and the cucumber definitely balance out this meal. For example, the spice with the chicken gets cooled down by the cucumbers and the rice is a perfect palate cleanser.

Overall, it’s a very solid choice. This particular bowl might be one to two steps above something a picky-eater might enjoy.

Next, we got an order of the Chicken Strips for $10.99 and fries.

These are a solid choice that all eaters would enjoy. We found them to have the perfect balance of juiciness and crispiness. If you need some “comfort” food or just a simple and no-frills option that’ll hit the spot, this is your choice.

Lastly, we got an order of the Pan-Asian Noodles and Vegetables for $10.29. We’ve heard some people say that they’re a different noodle vibe than that of the ‘Ohana noodles and that they prefer them to the ‘Ohana noodles. It might be because they’re a bit more savory whereas the ‘Ohana noodles can be a bit sweeter.

We really enjoyed these and definitely recommend them especially if you’re a fan of the ‘Ohana noodles, but you’re looking for a slightly different experience.

So what did we think of our visit to Capt. Cook’s?

Overall

We really love coming to Capt. Cook’s and grabbing a bite to eat. We always find it to have a chill vibe and tasty eats. You also can’t sleep on the fact that you can order some of the Polynesian Village Resort’s famous bites like the Tonga Toast right here and that you can Mobile Order which makes this spot oh-so-convenient.

Nosh or Not?

You’ll want to dine here if…

• You’re a fan of Polynesian food. If you really appreciate a good bite to eat at a Polynesian restaurant, we definitely think you should check this place out! It’s a quick service restaurant and you can Mobile Order here. What’s not to love?
• You want to try some of the Polynesian’s signature food items. There aren’t a lot of places on the Disney World property to get good Polynesian food, and what makes this spot special is that you can get some signature items right from this QS restaurant.
• You’re going to be at the Polynesian Village Resort and you want to unwind for a minute. This is a perfect stop if you’re doing a Monorail restaurant crawl or you’re visiting the Polynesian Village Resort and just want to unwind with some food and drink.

You’ll want to dine somewhere else if…

• You’re looking for that traditional table service dining experience. If you’re looking for a full-on table service restaurant like Kona Cafe or ‘Ohana, this spot isn’t for you since it’s a quick service with some grab-and-go options.
• If you want a character dining experience. If you’re looking to dine with Lilo and Stitch, well you’ve come to the wrong spot. You’ll have to check out ‘Ohana instead.
• You want a Dole Whip. While they serve a good number of the Polynesian Village Resort basics here, you’re not going to find a Dole Whip on the menu. For that, you’ll want to visit other spots like the Pineapple Lanai.

Stay tuned to DFB for more food reviews from Disney World! We’ve got you covered with the latest.

Click Here to See ALL the Dining Options at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!

Have you ever been to this restaurant? Tell us in the comments!