Best Disneyland Food to Eat 2024 RANKED. We Constantly Try All! (2024)

Eating at Disneyland has evolved quite a bit. Disneyland foods no longer consist of just corn dogs and popcorn. Those great items are still there, but now the best food items at Disneyland have been joined by more authentic flavors from international and regional cultures. Previously it was difficult to find “spicy” food at Disneyland but now there are real spices used in some of Disney’s newest menu items.

Over the past year Disneyland introduced a few new food spots – Tiana’s Palace themed to Princess and the Frog in Disneyland and the collection of counter service food options in San Fransokyo Square themed to Big Hero 6 in Disney California Adventure are both now open. Add these new locations in with the new food items constantly being rotated into favorite locations and the festivals like Disneyland Lunar New Year and Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival and you have a set of food items at Disneyland that has changed dramatically.

We visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure weekly (sometimes even more) and have quite a set of opinions on the best Disneyland foods. Unlike other food magazine sites that parachute into Disneyland for the day from Los Angeles and check off a list of top favorites, we are constantly trying the foods that we recommend here and keep this list up to date based on our most recent 2024 visits. You’ll find some hidden gems here that you won’t see listed on those other best foods lists. Today we are going to dive into that list of food items that you should consider enjoying on your next visit. Note that you can see our ranking of the best Disneyland restaurants here that focuses on restaurant locations. This post focuses on individual food items to try.

Ranking Best Disneyland Food Items to Try

As we alluded to above, there are so many different categories of food items at Disneyland that are worth your consideration. I have tried to break up the different best Disneyland eats below into helpful categories rather than just listing all of them in a massive dump of things you should try. That said, all of these Disneyland foods are a great addition for your trip and worth considering.

Now, let’s dive into our top 2024 Disneyland eats. Some remain perennial favorites and others are totally new. We organized the foods into categories of classic Disneyland best foods, meal-worthy food items, and sweet treats. The below photos are all our own. Looking back in my camera roll there are many food items here that I have multiple shots of from different angles months and years apart. Just goes to show that the favorites stand the test of time. We love our Disneyland food and have the experience to share the best with you.

Classic Best Disneyland Foods

Dole Whip at Tropical Hideaway

The Dole Whip is the quintessential Disneyland snack. First invented for Walt Disney World as a snack that didn’t require refrigeration, this snack has evolved over the years to not only be offered as pineapple flavored but also in other flavors including strawberry and mango. There are also now interesting toppings and options for swirls.

Disneyland Pickle at Stands

The Disneyland pickle has become a new-age classic. People love these slightly bitter dill pickles. They are a great crisp snack. The pickle has become so much of a “thing” that there is now a special award tied to getting the first pickle at Disneyland each day. Pro tip! You can mobile order your pickle along with lunch at Bengal BBQ.

Mickey Mouse Beignet at Mint Julep Bar

The Mickey Mouse beignets continue to reign supreme even as other locations add in their own attempts at the dish. There are the classic Mickey Mouse beignets offered at the Mint Julep Stand but there are also special flavored beignets offered throughout the year. Candy Cane beignets as part of the Disneyland Christmas foods offerings? Yes, please. The grape flavor they tried out? I don’t think so.

Then, there are new beignet offerings at Disneyland including at Tiana’s Palace Restaurant, Ralph Brennan’s in Downtown Disney, and the new Palm Breeze Bar at the Disneyland Hotel. None of these compare to the originals.

Disneyland Pretzel at Pym Test Kitchen and Around the Park

Sure, you could have a normal Mickey-shaped Disneyland Pretzel, but we prefer the massive fresh pretzel from Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus. The beer cheese that comes with as a dipping sauce is the best part and this is a great filling snack!

However, sometimes you might just want that traditional Mickey pretzel which you can find all over the park. They come with that theme park “plastic cheese” that appeals greatly to kids and well, some adults. Also, consider the cream cheese-filled pretzel.

Mickey Waffles

It’s no secret that everything tastes better in Mickey shape which is why Mickey waffles are so popular at Disneyland. You can find Mickey waffles at most of the hotel breakfast options and the .

Disneyland Popcorn Throughout the Parks

Disneyland popcorn remains a favorite snack for many on our Mickey Visit team. I still don’t know if they love it because of the food or because of the many Disney popcorn buckets offered for purchase with the popcorn throughout the year.

Disneyland Churro Throughout the Parks

The crispy and sweet Disneyland churro is also a must for this list. We love the size, the pure delight in people’s eyes who take their first bite, and the warm feeling after eating them. I am a churro purist and prefer the snack without any of the toppings or dipping sauces that have been added as options in recent years.

But if you have a sweet tooth, there’s so many seasonal options for churros that turn this snack (which is truly better in its original form) into a full dessert option. What about another variation of churro at Disneyland? You have to try the churro toffee that’s available in the Disneyland confectionary cases where they sell hand-made sweets.

Best Meal-Worthy Food Items

Skewers at Bengal BBQ

There are too many great Bengal BBQ options. This stand located in Adventureland is one of our favorite lunchtime Disneyland foods. As you can see here, the food is not very photogenic but the skewers are delicious. You can also opt for a Bengal Rice Plate that features rice and citrus-miso slaw. Here’s a look at that plate.

Our top skewers are the Banyan Beef Skewer, Outback Vegetable Skewer, Safar Skewer (featuring bacon and asparagus), and the Pork Belly Skewer.

Yaki Udon With Kaarage-Inspired Chicken at Lucky Fortune Cookery

We have eaten A LOT of food from the new San Fransokyo area in Disney California Adventure. Starting at early press previews of the land and many, many, more times since then, we have tried all the different items in this new Big Hero 6 food-themed area.

Our top favorite food item here is the vegetarian Yaki Udon which features a variety of delicious vegetables in a great light broth. We have also really enjoyed the Kaarage-inspired Crispy Chicken Sandwich but it didn’t push the envelope of the food offerings at the resort the way this Yaki Udon does. So, combine the two and get the Yaki Udon with the Kaarage-inspired chicken on top. We hope that they continue to maintain quality high here. It has been a great mid-day meal.

Hot-Link Corn Dog From Corn Dog Castle

Sure, I could recommend the corn dog from the Little Red Wagon Cart on Main Street in Disneyland and we do end up getting that corn dog quite often but the best corn dog packs a juicy, hot-link-style crunch. You’ll find the hot link corn dog at the Corn Dog Castle. You can also find the classic here as well as a cheddar cheese stick version. They also had a fun breakfast version for a while but that is no longer on the menu.

Poke Bowl at Grand Californian Craftsman Bar

Hidden gem alert! Make it a priority to fit a sit-down at the Craftsman Bar outdoor spot into your trip. You won’t regret this perfect escape from the crowds. You can’t go wrong with any food item here, but in particular, we love the poke bowl. This is a perfect example of Disneyland’s push for fresh food in the parks.

Not So Little Chicken Sandwich at Pym’s Test Kitchen

This “sandwich” is more like a piece of chicken schnitzel with a roll and some slaw. The story here is that the pym particles featured in Marvel’s Ant-Man got into the food and transformed some food items small and others big. As we mentioned above, the pretzel is also good here as are the impossible meat dishes. The previously delightful Choco Smash chocolate bar has been replaced by a piece of cake.

Three-Cheese Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans

The three-cheese Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans is our favorite at the resort and a great option for vegetarians. This Monte Cristo comes with brie, swiss, and mozzarella served with seasonal preserves and pommes frites.

Beef-Birria Sandwich at Jolly Holiday

The Jolly Holiday is probably the best place for lunch in Disneyland. The beef-birria sandwich is a seasonal offering here and is very good. It combines a grilled cheese-style sandwich with tender beef.

QuesaBirria Tacos at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

Back in San Franskoyo Square in Disney California Adventure and continuing with the QuesaBirria theme, these great tacos are a must-try Disneyland food item. They are tender and have a delightful dipping sauce. When the menu for this area was redesigned after the area transitioned from Pacific Wharf to San Fransokyo, these favorites stuck around. As the area has gotten even more attendance these delight food babies have gotten even more popular. Be sure to Disneyland mobile order early in the day!

Docking Bay 7 Endorian Fried Chicken Tip-Yip

This is a thanksgiving-style plate of food that is a perfectly cooked piece of crispy chicken over mash with gravy and charred broccolini. A very good option!

Docking Bay 7 is full of great options. If you’re not into chicken, try the Felucian Kefta and Hummus Garden Spread- plant-based meatballs, herb hummus, and relish on pita bread.

Carnation Cafe Veggie Burger

Carnation Cafe offers one of the last veggie burgers at the Disney Parks that has not been converted over to the Impossible brand. This bean-based veggie burger is made in-house and is one of the best veggie burgers I’ve ever had.

Lamplight Lounge Potato Skins

Lamplight Lounge is one of our favorite restaurants at Disneyland offering a full menu of great options. One of our favorites are the Potato Skins served with brown butter-caper yogurt, smoked paprika aïoli and manchego cheese.

For brunch at Lamplight Lounge we also love the Egg White Frittata Bake. The smoked salmon and avocado are a great touch on this egg dish. This is a wonderful location with it’s indoor-outdoor dining room and deck.

Margherita Pizza at Naples Ristorante e Bar in Downtown Disney

There’s not many great pizza options in the theme parks so if you’re looking for the best pizza then you need to visit NaplesRistorante e Bar in Downtown Disney. This is the place to go for pizza lovers with their giant wood fired pizzas with a variety of specialty options.

Tiana’s Palace 7 Greens Gumbo & Mac n Cheese

Tiana’s Palace offers up fantastic quick service food featuring my favorite the 7 Green Gumbo- a vegetarian dish with different greens, white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, and heirloom rice. This is an extremely flavorful dish for a vegetarian item. Take our tip on this location and avoid mobile ordering your meal here – click here to see why!

Mac and cheese fans shouldn’t overlook the kids baked mac and cheese at this spot either. We love this item so much that we’ve spent a few hours in the kitchen trying to copycat the recipe!

All these best Disneyland food items are available in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure along with a few hidden gems at the Disneyland hotels and Downtown Disney. We visit Disneyland weekly and try all the newest foods and all the classics!

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Best Disneyland Food FAQs