food IS a theme park
Ever found yourself strolling around World Showcase and felt a little hungry? We’re sure you have! EPCOT can really work up an appetite!
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There are a LOT of options in EPCOT and that can be a bit overwhelming — especially when you’re just wanting to snag a quick lunch. Well, head on over to the Japan Pavilion with us because today we’re REVIEWING Katsura Grill! Should this quick-service spot be your next EPCOT meal? Let’s find out!
Teppan Edo… it’s been a while, my friend!
Too long, I might say. I tend to not visit Teppan Edo in the Japan Pavilion as often as other spots around Epcot’s World Showcase — not because I haven’t enjoyed it in the past (because I have). This is due to the fact that as Epcot’s resident hibachi grill, the menu and experience doesn’t tend to change very much. So from a reviewer’s perspective, there isn’t a hugely revised menu or anything to keep readers posted on.
But from a Disney fan perspective (and Epcot fan. And Japan Pavilion fan. And FOOD fan!), I was rather keen on making a new Advance Dining Reservation here. And when @DininginDisney and her family happened to be going, I was excited to tag along!
So, let’s see how this recent visit went!
Guest Check In for Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining
Check-in for Teppan Edo is located just outside the steps leading up to the restaurant.
Intermission Food Court at All-Star Music
is a pretty stereotypical Disney World resort food court…but we’re excited about a few NEW and unique dishes!
Intermission Food Court sign
OK, I usually really enjoy my meals at Yak and Yeti Restaurant. But this time? I had a blast! No joke; everything was so, so good. Can’t wait to tell you about it!
The colorful and beautifully themed restaurant, located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is a super hidden gem. This one just doesn’t seem to on the radar of many guests, and that’s a shame. Every time I’ve visited the exotic spot, I’ve had great food and service in beautiful surroundings.
But you know the DFB philosophy. We never rely on a place to stay the same, so we’re always revisiting even the best spots to confirm the quality is still there.
Since it had been a while since my last check-in, I decided it was time to pay a visit once more to Arjun and the good people of Anandapur for some of their warm hospitality.
If you’re on a pilgrimage en route from Africa to Mount Everest to conquer the mountain and the dreaded Yeti, you’ll surely see Yak and Yeti Restaurant. While its flat facade tends to blend in, the vibrant purple/periwinkle paint ensures that you’ll notice it.
Yak and Yeti Restaurant
And just in case you’re wondering who the heck Arjun is, he owns this house-turned-restaurant. At least according to Disney’s backstory. Once a wealthy merchant, Arjun has fallen on hard times, and now opens his home to travelers in hopes of making ends meet. The restaurant is filled with treasures that Arjun has gathered along his journeys. [Read more…]
arrived in Disney Springs in late September of 2015.
Even though this Signature Restaurant is still a relatively new spot, at this point it could be considered one of the more established restaurants in the area given the many additions to dining options in Disney Springs since that time.
But Morimoto Asia has still gone through several changes of its own since opening. For instance, Morimoto Asia Street Food has since hit the scene, offering the restaurant’s signature Pan-Asian cuisine in a Quick Service fashion.
Even more recently, they’ve created an option custom-made for all you night owls out there enjoying the newly revived nightlife of Disney Springs with a new Late Night Menu!
And nighttime is an especially good time to visit Morimoto Asia. Because even though it’s a remarkably beautiful restaurant no matter the time of day, it’s especially pretty at night when the script on the outside of the building is brightly illuminated.
Morimoto Asia at Night
The late night menu is available each night starting at 10 PM, and is served exclusively on the second floor of the restaurant. [Read more…]
We are ramping up for another fantastic Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Today, we’re reviewing a fun Special Event from the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
We are heading over to Tokyo Dining in the Japan Pavilion for the Food and Beverage Pairing experience. The light meals feature beverages paired with tasting-sized portions of the restaurant’s cuisine.
I’ve enjoyed dinner at Tokyo Dining as well as lots of fun meals at Teppan Edo, so I was pretty sure I was in for a treat! While we’d done the Morocco food and beverage pairing event, we’d not yet experienced the Japan version. Here we go!
When I arrived for the Food and Beverage Pairing, I checked in at the stand that serves both Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining. The cool, sleek waiting area features simple, modern decor and comfortable low lighting.
Waiting Area Serves Both Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo
This area is also shared by the two restaurants.
Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo Waiting Area from Another Angle
Step into the Tokyo Dining seating area, and the same modern Japanese vibe is prevalent throughout. A sushi show kitchen takes up space along one wall.
Tokyo Dining Seating and Open Sushi Kitchen
The other side of the restaurant is dominated by [Read more…]
There is so much to love about the parks of Walt Disney World.
What’s the Best Disney World Park for Dining?
The rides and attractions. The sense of history — both in the parks and in the memories that we’ve all made in them. The incredible themeing that greets you at every turn.
But of course, what do we love the most? The FOOD!
I’m serious about eating when I’m in Disney parks. And I know you are, too! But which Disney World park is the best when it comes time for eating?
This is a question I get asked a LOT; and it’s always tough to make a choice. Sure — Epcot has the largest number of fantastic restaurants, but there are some snacks that can’t be beat in Magic Kingdom; and the other parks offer some not-to-be-missed items, too.
There are some seriously awesome, edible reasons to visit each park — and I’m going to share some of my favorites with you today!
Get ready, because I want to hear your point of view, too! What’s your favorite Walt Disney World Park for Dining… and why?
Eating your way through Magic Kingdom seems to me to be one part fantasy food, and one part pure nostalgia. It would be hard to imagine not carving out a few days on my menu for some of my favorite stops here!
Nutella and Fruit Waffle Sandwich at Sleep Hollow
For brunch or lunch, I can never pass up the chance to have a Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. Choose from Nutella (!!!) and Fruit or Spicy Chicken.
Seriously delicious — and enormous. I like to get two and split them among friends for a little variety.
Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich
We can’t go very far in this conversation though without discussing [Read more…]
I get lots of emails and questions about the food I personally love in Disney World, and today I’m sharing some of my favorite Disney Food Kiosks!
You know the ones — those cute little structures that are almost restaurants, but not quite? Here are a few of the BIGGEST TASTES you can get at the smallest places in Disney World! 🙂
I hope you’ll share some of your favorites in the comments, too!
There is no way I could have a list of favorite kiosks without putting Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle right up front! The welcoming little stand, located in Adventureland, is home to one of Disney’s most beloved treats, after all.
Aloha Isle
That’s right — we’re talking Dole Whips!
And whether you like yours in float form, swirled with vanilla, or are you’re a purist, most Disney fans don’t consider their trip complete until they’ve made at least one stop here.
Dole Whip Float! A Must-Eat snack for every Disney guest.
As for me, I prefer about one visit to Aloha Isle for each day I’m at Disney. 🙂 No kidding, even though I’m usually eating non-stop on every Disney trip, this is one snack I never skip.
At the midway point while you’re walking around Epcot’s World Showcase, you’ll encounter another of our favorite stops, Fife and Drum.
This unassuming little stand looks like just another drink stop, but be sure to swing by and check out the menu for some seriously fun eats. Fife and Drum is home to some items you won’t find anyplace else! But there are not-to-be missed classics here as well, like the cult favorite Smoked Turkey Legs.
Fife and Drum Tavern
If you’re a pretzel fan, you have three different varieties to choose from. The stuffed Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel has a great spicy kick! And you’ll also find the sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel (decadent!) and the Mickey Soft Pretzel (cute!) here, too. This is one of the few places in Disney World to find all of these kinds of pretzels sold in one spot.
UPDATE: Please note, you can still find all these pretzels in the American Adventure Pavilion; however, they are now located at the Block and Hans Craft Beer kiosk.
Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel!
There are also some amazingly tasty drinks here as well. We’ve told you about the Jim Beam Red Stag Lemonade, a wonderful little frozen drink with a punch, thanks to black cherry-flavored bourbon.
You can get your root beer float fix here, too, made with vanilla soft serve.
Root Beer Float
But the piece de resistance of slushies can also be found in this humble spot: I give you the American Dream! This incredible frozen drink combines [Read more…]
Ya know those times when you’re just strolling through Epcot and you really need some Miso soup…like, stat?
No?
Well, if you did, this would be the place for you, my friend.
Epcot's Kabuki Cafe
Epcot’s Kabuki Cafe is a quick service kiosk offering varied menu items, from sweet to savory. Located in the Japan pavilion, it replaced the wildly popular Kaki-Gori Stand when it opened. But Kaki-Gori fans can be assured that the sweet, chilly treat is still available here.
The menu varies based on the season — when it’s busy in Walt Disney World, you’ll find a larger variety of savory food offerings. Otherwise, there are just a few items to choose from…
Menu - Click to Enlarge
As you probably know, I love Kaki-Gori, the shave-ice-and-fruit-syrup treat that resembles a sno-cone…without the cone part.
All of the flavors are still here, and so are the [Read more…]
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