For most people traveling to Disneyland, a visit to The Happiest Place on Earth is all about going on rides and seeing Disney characters, and rightly so. However, if you play your cards right, a meal at Disneyland can be just as memorable as one of the attractions – and, thanks to the park’s best quick-service restaurants, you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg or waste a ton of time to make it happen.
From sit-down quality meals at counter-service prices to cheap, portable eats, read on as we break down the best quick-service restaurants Disneyland has to offer.
What Is Quick Service at Disneyland?
Quick-service restaurants, in general, are Disney’s take on fast food. So, rather than table service dining where you’re seated first before having your order taken by a server, expect to place your order either at a counter with a cast member or through the Disneyland app with mobile ordering. Then, once your meal is ready, all you need to do is pick up your tray and find a place to sit.
Worried that counter service meals at Disneyland are all burgers, chicken nuggets and pizza? Luckily, while you can certainly find such kid-friendly fare at fast food outlets around The Happiest Place on Earth, quick-service dining at Disneyland is so much more than just your typical theme park eats. Think decadent lobster rolls, pillowy bread bowls stuffed with soup, addictively crispy fried chicken and so much more.
What Is the Difference Between Quick Service and Counter Service at Disney?
Honestly, not much. When it comes to fast food at Disneyland, we consider the terms “quick service” and counter service” to be largely interchangeable, as both require you to place your order at a counter or through mobile order on the Disneyland app and then take your meal to a table or to be eaten elsewhere.
Really, the only major difference you’ll find is the amount of seating that is provided. While some “ eateries have tons of tables available, including shade and air conditioning, others are solely a counter-service operation with nowhere to sit.
Do You Need Reservations for Counter Service at Disneyland?
Unlike Disneyland’s sit-down restaurants, no reservations are required to dine at one of the many counter service outlets around the park. This makes quick-service dining a convenient choice for folks who prefer to play things by ear and see where the day takes them.
Having said that, a little planning can go a long way in making your counter service experience as simple and speedy as possible. Do you often find yourself fighting the crowds, waiting forever for your food to be ready or struggling to find an empty table? Opt to eat during off-hours, like an early lunch or late dinner, for shorter lines and a stress-free meal.
Alternatively, we also love taking advantage of the Disneyland app’s handy-dandy Mobile Order functionality. Whether you want to place your order early in the day as a pseudo-dining reservation or you’d rather kill two birds with one stone and order while waiting in line for an attraction, it’s an easy way to save some time and avoid the crowds.
How Much Does a Quick-Service Meal Cost at Disneyland?
One of the perks of dining at Disneyland’s quick-service restaurants is the relatively low price of meals compared to the park’s sit-down establishments. For adults, the average quick-service meal cost at Disney is about $11 to $13 for an entrée. However, keep in mind that this can vary quite a bit depending on what restaurant and dish you choose and if you decide to add on a drink or dessert.
The only fast-food dining option that falls far outside this range is the Fantasmic! On-the-Go Package at Hungry Bear Restaurant, clocking in at $35 per adult. Granted, with this dining package, you also get to enjoy reserved seating for arguably the best show in the park. So, tradeoffs?
Can You Get Alcohol from Quick-Service Restaurants at Disneyland?
Sadly, no. Although many quick-service restaurants at Disney’s California Adventure Park offer a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, that isn’t the case at Disneyland Park.
In fact, up until 2019, boozy beverages weren’t really even offered at the iconic theme park, following a decades-old tradition that kept Disneyland dry for most park guests. Today, the only way to do some drinking at Disneyland is to visit Oga’s Cantina, enjoy a sit-down meal at the Blue Bayou Restaurant or secure a coveted visit to the exclusive Club 33.
Why Choose Quick-Service Over Table-Service Restaurants at Disneyland Park?
There’s no denying that there are some downright incredible dining experiences available at the Disneyland Resort, particularly at sit-down restaurants. However, while the food is delicious and the setting is transporting, full-service Disneyland restaurants tend to be expensive, meals are lengthy and time-consuming and, if you don’t book a dining reservation ahead of time, getting a table can be a challenge.
Fortunately, that isn’t the case with Disneyland quick-service restaurants. Not only are counter-service dining outlets cheaper, making them ideal for those traveling on a budget, but if you know where to go, you can also enjoy pretty quality food, immersive theming and a nice ambiance.
Best of all, since dishes are made quickly, you can order ahead if you wish, and you aren’t at the mercy of your server, you’re free to eat and leave at a pace that works for you. To top it all off, reservations aren’t necessary, so you have the flexibility to eat wherever and whenever fits into your day.
Eat Cheap & Well at the 14 Best Quick-Service Disneyland Restaurants
No matter what meal you’re having, which cuisine you’re into or how much time you have, you’re sure to find a quick-service restaurant at Disneyland that’s right for you and your group. Here are some of our favorites:
Best for a Fast-Food Meal That Feels and Tastes Like Table Service
Plaza Inn in Main Street, U.S.A.
With a character breakfast in the morning (reservations required) and affordable, character-free quick-service dining in the afternoon and evening, the Plaza Inn is a winner any time of day. Come here for family-friendly favorites like pasta, salmon and the restaurant’s most famous dish: perfectly fried chicken served with creamy mashed potatoes, veggies and a biscuit.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $13.50 to $19 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Fried Chicken, Cobb Salad
Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland
Craving something with a little more spice? Frontierland’s Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante serves up decidedly tasty Mexican-style eats in an atmospheric setting. Tuck into chips and salsa beneath a blanket of bougainvillea by day and romantic patio lights by night.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $10.50 to $15 per adult
Cuisine: American & Mexican
What to Get: Trio of Street Tacos, Red Chile Enchilada Platter, Cauliflower Tacos (plant-based), Crispy Chips con Limón with Salsa
Best for Elevated Flavors and Great Atmosphere
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Honestly, what’s not to like about dining on things like Endorian Tip-Yip (AKA fried chicken) in an out-of-this-world locale? Offering up a palate-pleasing mix of both familiar and global-inspired dishes, as well as a range of indoor and outdoor seating, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is sure to please Star Wars fans of all ages.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $13 to $19 per adult
Cuisine: American & Vegetarian
What to Get: Endorian Fried Chicken Tip-Yip, Felucian Kefta & Hummus Garden Spread (plant-based)
French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square
Let’s set the scene. You’re sitting outside feeling the breeze blow through the patio, sipping on a virgin Mint Julep and noshing on a warming bowl of jambalaya as you listen to the toe-tapping rhythms of a live jazz band. In front of you, a powdery beignet awaits. No, you weren’t just transported to the Big Easy. It’s the French Market Restaurant, an incredible cafeteria-style restaurant in New Orleans Square.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $11.50 to $16.50 per adult
Cuisine: Cajun-Creole
What to Get: New Orleans Mint Julep, Creamy Corn Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl, Jambalaya, Slow-roasted Beef
Best for a Quick Dinner and a Show
Fantasmic! On-the-Go Package at Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country
Hungry Bear Restaurant has a lot going for it. An idyllic location overlooking Rivers of America, a menu filled with Southern-inspired fare, funnel cakes. However, this quaint quick-service eatery also offers the best seats in the house for Disneyland’s epic Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular, all at a wallet-friendly price. Just book your pick-up time, choose your entrée and enjoy your meal (including two sides, dessert and a drink) anywhere you like before heading to the restaurant’s reserved viewing area.
Cost: Fantasmic! On-the-Go Package – $35 per adult, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – $12 to $15.50 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, Impossible Sloppy Joe (plant-based), Seasonal Funnel Cakes
The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland
Now, we’ll admit that the food at this next restaurant is a bit more basic compared to what you’ll find at some of the other suggestions on our list. (Fortunately, they’re also some of the cheapest entrées on our list.) No, the highlight here is the entertainment, a live piano player every hour on the half-hour. Oh, and the ice cream.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $10 to $11 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Fish and Chips, Chicken Tenders, Golden Horseshoe Ice Cream Float, Mickey Ear Hat Bowl
Best for Cozy, Approachable Dishes
Harbour Galley in Critter Country
Nestled between Splash Mountain and the Haunted Mansion along the Rivers of America, Harbour Galley is an unassuming spot for one of Disneyland’s most luxurious quick-service entrees: a decadent Lobster Roll. Munch on your sandwich or warm up with a bowl of soup in a bread bowl as you watch the riverboat float by.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $10.50 to $15 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Lobster Roll, Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl
Jolly Holiday Bakery Café in Main Street, U.S.A.
We don’t know about you, but we love comfort food. And seriously, can it get any cozier than tomato soup and grilled cheese? We think not. While the selection at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café may not be huge – that is, unless you’re in the mood for baked goods – their sandwiches make for a simple yet satisfying theme park meal. Be sure to save room for dessert!
Cost: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – $6 to $13.50 per adult
Cuisine: Bakery
What to Get: Jolly Holiday Combo (Tomato Basil Soup with a Toasted Cheese Sandwich), Beef Birria Toasted Cheese, Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron, Matterhorn Macaroon
Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square
For some, no trip to Disneyland would be complete without some steaming soup in a fluffy bread bowl. If that sounds like you, then you won’t want to miss Royal Street Veranda. This simple eatery serves up not one, not two, but three different kinds of the good stuff: clam chowder, steak gumbo and vegetarian gumbo.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $6 to $11.50 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl, Seasonal Fritters
Troubadour Tavern in Fantasyland
While this next spot remains temporarily closed due to the pandemic, we love it so much that we just couldn’t leave it off our list. Fantasyland’s Troubadour Tavern is a bit of a hidden gem, but that doesn’t stop it from having a killer menu of stuffed baked potatoes and the iconic turkey leg.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $$7.50 to $12 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Loaded Baked Potatoes, Turkey Leg
Best for an Easy but Memorable Breakfast (and Dessert)
Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland
Although Red Rose Taverne is open for dining all day long, dishing up approachable favorites like flatbreads and salads for lunch and dinner, morning time is when this counter-service restaurant really shines. Try Beast’s Breakfast Burger, topped with an egg and bacon-orange marmalade, for a hearty start to your day. Or, have cake for breakfast with the Grey Stuff Gâteau. (Don’t worry, we won’t tell.)
Cost: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – $9.50 to $14 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Beast’s Breakfast Burger, Vegetable Quinoa Breakfast Bowl (plant-based), Grey Stuff Gâteau
Best for a Healthy(ish) Lunch or Dinner
Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland
Had your fill of funnel cakes, corn dogs and churros? If you’re trying to keep fit at Disneyland, Bengal Barbecue is a good place to start. Get in touch with your inner caveman as you dine on skewers of grilled meats and veggies. Sadly, at between $5.50 and $8.50 per skewer, consider this either a spendy yet protein-filled snack or, to fill you up, an even more expensive meal.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $5.50 to $18 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Skewers of grilled meats and vegetables, including the Bacon-wrapped Asparagus Safari Skewer; Tiger Tail Breadstick
Best for On-the-Go Eats
Little Red Wagon in Main Street, U.S.A.
More snack stand than restaurant, the Little Red Wagon still cooks up the best corn dogs at Disneyland. Hand-dipped in a golden corn batter and then deep-fried until golden brown, they’re truly the perfect portable meal. Choose from either chips or a Cutie mandarin orange for your side.
Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $10 to $11 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Hand-dipped Corn Dog with Tomatillo Cheese Dipping Sauce
Ronto Roasters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
From meat on a stick to meat (and plant-based “meat”) in a bun. Well, pita bread. If you’re looking for a handheld meal that’s galaxies away from the classic corn dog, you’ll find it at Ronto Roasters. Stop by smoky grilled sausage piled high with slaw – or, if you go in the morning, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese – and slathered with sauce.
Cost: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – $12.50 to $13 per adult
Cuisine: American
What to Get: Ronto Morning Wrap, Ronto Wrap, Rono-less Garden Wrap
Well, Disneyland foodies and fast-food fans, that’s our list of the best quick-service restaurants at Disneyland. Which counter-service spots can’t you get enough of at The Happiest Place on Earth? Are there any places we forgot? Let us know in the comments!
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