Updated: March 22, 2024

We’re roaming through Disneyland Resort to identify what you need to make plans to check out and budget to eat this year!

From Corn Dogs to fine cuisine, and from longtime favorites to brand new bites, let’s dig in to the BEST FOOD in Disneyland Resort for 2024!

Best Snack Items

Corn Dog at The Little Red Wagon

I’m tellin’ ya… there’s not much that beats a Disneyland signature: the HAND-DIPPED Corn Dog.

 

In Disneyland, you’ll find them at the Little Red Wagon, and in Disney California Adventure, Corn Dog Castle is their home.

Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num at Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums

Let’s make a Pixar Pier stop at Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums for the signature Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num!

Served warm (and that makes all the difference), this thick and ooey-gooey classic pairs perfectly, of course, with the milk you’ll also find on the menu at this little snack stand by the Incredicoaster in Disney California Adventure.

The Oswald Sundae at Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream

If you like ice cream, chocolate, and nostalgia, then this next treat is right up your alley!

The Oswald Sundae at Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream is made with scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream served in a waffle cup and topped with whipped cream, hot fudge, chocolate morsels, cherries, and chocolate-dipped frozen bananas! And yeah, you can even get it in a souvenir Mickey Mouse Ear Hat Bowl or Shorts Bowl!

Salt & Straw

Okay, save a little MORE room for a little MORE ice cream, while you’re at it… because you’ve simply got to try a scoop or two of handmade, small batch ice cream at Salt & Straw!

And fret not… if you’re not in the mood for Turkey Ice Cream or BUG ice cream, there are oodles of other flavors to try, like Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese, and Honey Lavender. (But trust me… don’t knock that Turkey Ice Cream ’til you’ve tried it!)

Beignets at Beignets Expressed

The NEW Beignets Expressed spot specializes in beignets, including fun flavors that will change out every month. The exterior of the snack spot also looks a little different now — it’s very modern with a jazzy look and feel. You’ll also find a few tables outside where you can sit down and enjoy your sugary treats.

You’ll find a variety of beignets here with creative flavors, but you can never go wrong with the classic. The Simply Glazed Beignet is our favorite. It is nice and warm and had a sweet vanilla-flavored glaze that just worked.

Best Items at Quick Service Restaurants

DOLE Whip and Bao Buns at The Tropical Hideaway

We’ve made a lot of fuss over the Specialty DOLE Whips that pop up at The Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland… and with good reason! You can pick your favorite flavor from among the classic Pineapple, Strawberry, or Mango (we’ve also seen Raspberry) or even swirl any two. The Strawberry DOLE Whip Sundae is a new addition — and a total winner!

And the Chile-Mango Whip tops a Pineapple and Mango Swirl with chamoy, mango, and chile-lime seasoning. (Tajin-seasoned DOLE Whip has been a Disneyland fan favorite for years!)

But The Hideaway boasts a unique savory option that has also earned it some bragging rights, and that’s the Bao Bun. Options include the Lime Chicken Bao, Char Siu Bao, and Spiced Vegetable Bao.

Grab an assortment, follow ’em up with your DOLE Whip of choice, and you’ve got yourself a great time in Adventureland, right there.

Ronto Wrap at Ronto Roasters

From our very first visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when it opened in 2019 in Disneyland, there was a dish that stood out then, and still does now. We’ll always travel to a galaxy far, far away to visit Ronto Roasters for a Ronto Wrap!

“Ronto Meat” (that’s grilled pork sausage to us earthlings) is served up in a pita with roasted pork, slaw, and a tasty peppercorn sauce. And the Ronto Morning Wrap (served during breakfast hours) with grilled pork sausage, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and peppercorn sauce, is just as good.

Choco Smash Candy Bar at Pym Test Kitchen

The Choco Smash Cake has quite a few components — layers of brownie, white chocolate peanut butter ganache with crunch pearls, white cake, dark chocolate truffle mousse, and white chocolate caramel bavarian cream, all coated in chocolate ganache and topped with roasted peanuts.

In keeping with its clever theming inspired by Ant-Man and The Wasp in Avengers Campus, the food shrinks and grows in the Pym Test Kitchen, which adds a HUGE (no pun intended) element of fun to the tasty bites! (We also totally dig the  Quantum Pretzel here along with the Not-so-Little Chicken Sandwich.)

Soup in a Bread Bowl and Baymax Bread at Aunt Cass Cafe

Aunt Cass Cafe has made a name for itself with savory soup selections served up in SOURDOUGH BREAD BOWLS, along with adorable sourdough friends.

And you’re not limited to just soups in those delicious bread bowls, you can also get Mac and Cheese and Curry! Just imagine, this is carbs in a carb bowl and all covered in cheese. Sounds like heaven, right?

It’s well worth a stop in San Fransokyo to grab one of these either as a snack or a meal!

Best Items at Table Service Restaurants

Plaza Fried Chicken

Plaza. Fried. Chicken. I don’t know if you need me to say much more than that, but allow me to sing the praises of Plaza Inn’s signature dish. Though you’ll find pasta dishes and Pot Roast among the comfort food selections, the Fried Chicken is — and always has been — where it’s at.

I don’t know exactly what’s in those “distinctive herbs and spices” that the Plaza Inn chefs use to season the three golden-fried pieces you receive on your plate (which is also packed with mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, and a buttermilk biscuit), but I’m guessing pixie dust is one of them, because the juicy chicken covered in the crispy batter is about as good as it gets.

River Belle Terrace

BBQ Burnt Ends Pasta. Loaded House Fries. Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. Seasonal Monkey Bread!!!

And now you know why it’s nearly impossible to choose from all of the Southern comfort food — with a twist — at River Belle Terrace. True, this spot has had a few misses, but the good FAR outweighs the not-so-good. And dining within view of the Rivers of America never hurts, either.

New Eats at the New Earl of Sandwich Tavern

Are you an Earl of Sandwich fan? Then you might want to know that you have MORE to love now that the Earl of Sandwich Tavern is open in Downtown Disney!

Now, you can certainly still stop at the quick-service Earl of Sandwich location (currently found at the former spot for La Brea Bakery). But along with sandwiches, the Earl of Sandwich Tavern offers a complete menu of dishes, sides, and salads, AND a full bar!

That Mac-N-Cheese Burger is just one of the items on the expansive menu, and you can see more here.

CrazyShake™ at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes

Save some room — and I do mean some SERIOUS ROOM — for a CrazyShake at Black Tap! Options for these over-the-top concoctions include — but are by no means limited to — Cookies ‘N Cream Supreme, Strawberry Shortcake, The CakeShake, the Bam Bam Shake (with Fruity Pebbles®), the Cotton Candy Shake and MUCH MORE!

You can grab one inside the full Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes restaurant or the spot’s dedicated CrazyShake™ Window!

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar

Okay, we’re talking about the best food in Disneyland, right? Weeeellll… Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar doesn’t exactly boast the best food. It’s not bad, but it’s not great — at least that was the case on our most recent visit.

But what IS great? The fun and flavorful drinks served up in collectible souvenir tiki glasses in an ENCHANTED atmosphere like no other (complete with super fun Skippers — your servers — and great interactive bar gags), so we simply must include it in a Disneyland Dining Must-Do!

Best Distinctly Disneyland Option

Monte Cristo at Café Orleans

You’ve heard it from us before, and you’ll hear it from us again. It’s simply not a “Best Food in Disneyland” list without the Monte Cristo from Café Orleans! This is a Disneyland MUST-DO, as far as we’re concerned.

A touch of sweet (a dusting of powdered sugar and seasonal preserves on the side) meets LOTS o’ savory (sliced turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese) in this battered and fried sammie. In fact, its official name is the Battered & Fried Monte Cristo, leaving no doubt as to what’s in store. Pair it with the included side of Pommes Frites, and it’s pretty much the perfect meal.

P.S. You can get the Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou Restaurant, too (but alas, it’s served with a market fruit salad there, so we always recommend picking it up at Café Orleans to get those fries along with it!)

Best Distinctly Disney California Adventure Option

Lobster Nachos at Lamplight Lounge

We are about to discuss a beloved dish from Lamplight Lounge: the Lobster Nachos. We’re talking about a huge pile of warm lobster with black beans, aged cheddar-Oaxaca cheese sauce, a shredded cheese blend, pico de gallo, sliced Serrano Chiles and chipotle crema. BAM!

And great news! You can order the Lobster Nachos whether you dine downstairs at Lamplight Lounge (which is where you’ll be seated if you make an Advance Dining Reservation) or if you choose the alfresco Boardwalk Dining experience for walk-up guests!

Tiana’s Palace

Tiana’s Palace opened in 2023 in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, and we’ve loved this new addition and its menu!

Disney has shared that the restaurant will serve “authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant.” The house-filled beignets here have a lemon ice box pie filling and are topped with a lemon glaze. These are GREAT.

You can actually watch the chefs make the beignets in the kitchen! And we already know it will be a must-visit, since the beloved Mickey Beignets are available at the Mint Julep Bar!

Okay, we’ve got one more for you… again, remember when I mentioned fine dining in Disneyland earlier? Well, check out this video from our DFBGuide YouTube Channel to learn about a certain $15,000 MEAL in Disneyland!

Click HERE to find our BEST DISNEYLAND SNACKS for 2024!

So, that’s our list of the BEST FOOD in Disneyland in 2024! Which items are going on YOUR list to try?

Is YOUR favorite Disneyland dish on our list? Please let us know with a comment!