10 of the BEST Places to Eat Lunch at Disneyland

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With 15 trips to Disneyland over the last 8 years we have learned where some of the best places are that you can eat when you head to parks.  While many of the restaurants on this list would also be great for dinner there are some places that we personally like just for lunch.  As an example, Storyteller’s Cafe is a favorite of ours because we prefer the lunch menu over the dinner menu and it’s less expensive at lunch time.

I’m sure there are other restaurants that would be great to add to this list as well.  That is where you come in, I would love to hear about your personal faves (even if they are already on this list).  Make sure you also check out our list of the 10 BEST places to eat breakfast at Disneyland too.  Here are 10 of our personal favorite restaurants for lunch at Disneyland, all of these restaurants are located in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, at the hotels and in Downtown Disney.

Cafe Orleans (Disneyland) – Oh my goodness!  The Monte Cristo and Pomme Frites are a MUST on any Disneyland trip.  So yummy!  We usually share the Monte Cristo and the Pomme Frites between two people.   The sandwich is BIG and a little on the rich side, so 1/2  of a sandwich was perfect for us. Keep that in mind when you order, you may want to share too.  You will need to make reservations in advance for Cafe Orleans.

Plaza Inn (Disneyland) – You will definitely want to try the fried chicken meal, it is yummy!  The meal comes with three pieces of Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes,  a Buttermilk Biscuit, and Green Beans so it is plenty big to share.   One of the best ways we save a little money when we eat out at Disney is by sharing these meals.

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante (Disneyland) – This Mexican restaurant is a great choice for lunch with lots of different options like tacos, enchiladas, burritos and my favorite the Citrus Fire-Grilled Chicken.  YUM!

Lamplight Lounge (Disney California Adventure) – This new restaurant has become on of my faves!  Advance reservations are a MUST if you don’t want to wait in a long line.  They have so many different drink options, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.  The Lobster Nachos are a HUGE hit.  If you don’t like lobster, they also have chicken as an option too.  I highly recommend the Donuts with chocolate and raspberry dipping sauces.  They donuts are one of the best Disney treats I have ever had!  In addition to great food the scenery is great and the decor is wonderful.

Flo’s V8 Cafe (Disney California Adventure) – You can never go wrong with Flo’s V8 cafe!  Breakfast, lunch or dinner it doesn’t matter.  They recently updated their menu, and I am happy to report that Flo’s new menu is still great!  We have eaten here twice since the menu change and we really liked Flo’s Famous Fried Chicken and Ramone’s Low and Slow Club. Make sure you check the menu because they often have seasonal shakes that are worth trying too.

Cozy Cone Motel (Disney California Adventure) – Check out cone number three for yummy meals in bread cones.  You can get the Chili Cone Queso, Slow Burnin’ Mac & Cheese Cone, or Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese. Once you’ve had lunch, I recommend stopping by cone number two for a soft-serve cone with vanilla, chocolate or swirl ice cream. They are perfect for a hot California day.

Pacific Wharf Café (Disney California Adventure) – This is a great place to dine and get some of the world-famous breads by Boudin of San Francisco. Try the soup in a bread bowl, it’s fantastic!

Corn Dog Castle (Disney California Adventure) – If you are looking for a small lunch (I wouldn’t really call this a light lunch) pick up a corn dog at the Corn Dog Castle.  I have yet to have one personally buy my husband and boys say they are fantastic.

Storyteller’s Cafe (Grand Californian Hotel) – Our family loves the Storyteller’s Cafe for lunch for several reasons.  One, it gives us break from the park with a nice sit down meal.  Two, the lunch menu is less expensive than the dinner menu (+ we prefer the items on the lunch menu) and three…the bread!!  They bring bread before your meal and it is warm and delicious.   We sometimes like to have our larger sit down meal at lunch time because the lunch offerings are less expensive than the dinner options.   This is the case at many sit down restaurants.

Earl of Sandwich (Downtown Disney) – The hot sandwiches are the best!  The prices are pretty decent too.  The line here often looks pretty long but it always goes pretty quick.   You will also find soups and salads on the menu as well as some baked goods.  I always seem to stick with the same thing (Earl’s Club), but I have recently had a salad and it was great too.  This location recently closed to make room for the new Disney hotel, but that project has been put on hold so Earl of Sandwich is coming back!!  They say that Earl of Sandwich will only be open for a limited time, so get there while you can.

If you are looking to book a vacation to Disneyland, I highly recommend using Get Away Today for hotel packages and tickets.  I have used them numerous times and have always been pleased with the prices and service.

I was provided (2) one-day Park Hoppers to help facilitate my list.    My opinions and love for Disney (and it’s food) are honest and true.

If you have a Disney trip planned this year make sure you check out all of our other Disney posts:

• • Check out our Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
  • Food recommendations and guide for the Get Your Ears on Celebration
  • Your complete guide to Pixar Pier
  • I share honest reviews of all the hotels we’ve used near Disneyland
  • 10 of the BEST places to eat breakfast at Disneyland
  • Great tips that will help you to do Disneyland (and California Adventure) in a day.
  • Another great way to save on Disneyland package deals is through Costco Travel