Traveling to a place as gargantuan as Walt Disney World, there are so many dining options that it can be hard to decide where to eat. Often times, guests opt to go to the most popular locations or, if they are frequent visitors, will return their favorite dining spots. With about 140 dining locations, it’s hard to imagine being able to try them all. However, some Disney World restaurants are consistently overlooked despite their consistent deliciousness. Here are just five of those Disney World restaurants that are vastly underrated.
1. Trail’s End
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There are some places that are so good, you just want to keep it to yourself. So it’s difficult to write about Trail’s End and give away such a valued secret but here I am spilling the beans.
Trail’s End is a great little western home-style buffet located at the back of the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds with theming to match. You can access the restaurant in one of two ways. The first option is to park at the campground lot and take the internal bus all the way to the back. The second option is to ferry your way there by boat either on the blue flag launch from Wilderness Lodge or the Contemporary Resort or, if you happen to be at the park, by taking the green flag launch directly from the Magic Kingdom.
Most people who travel this way come for the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue but did you know that Hoop-Dee-Doo and Trail’s End actually share a menu? That’s right! And because it’s a dinner buffet, Trail’s End is an all-you-can-eat delicious smorgasbord of flavor. Some foods you might commonly spot include homemade skillet cornbread, maple smoked salmon, baked chicken, peel-n-eat shrimp, slow-cooked chili, fresh mixed salad, various cobblers, and bread pudding. If you ever get the chance, don’t miss out on the opportunity to dine at Trail’s End. It is a truly wonderful escape.
2. Tangierine Café
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So, you’ve planned a full day in Epcot. You have a reservation later at one of the popular sit down locations but, in the meantime, you want to eat something quick and tasty. This is a situation that most guests face and many will visit their go-to quick service spot such as Les Halles Boulangerie, Sunshine Seasons, Yorkshire County Fish Shop, or Liberty Inn, to name a few. What most don’t know is that they are missing out on a really great experience that can rival even the more popular table service locations by not going to Tangierine Café.
This little carved out restaurant is located on the front edge of the Moroccan pavilion and provides some of the best bang for your buck and best exotic food in Disney World. Though everything on the menu is good, what really shines at Tangierine Café is the shwarma. A typical meal here costs about $13-$15 USD will come not only with the main portion but will be served with a side of couscous, lentil salad, and possibly hummus and/or tabouleh. When you eventually get your plate, you probably won’t be able to see the bottom of it and everything will be worth eating down to the last bite.
3. Olivia’s Café
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Located at the Old Key West Resort, Olivia’s Café is an often-overlooked diner that makes guests feel like they are truly hanging out on a Caribbean island. But what really makes Olivia’s Café such a special restaurant is its unique menu. Nowhere else on Disney property can you get a meal quite like the ones served at Olivia’s Café.
For instance, at breakfast you can order meals such as crab cake eggs benedict, banana bread French toast, poached eggs and hash, or an omelet filled with fresh seafood. Meals later in the day include a special take on Caribbean entrees like sautéed shrimp served with plantains over coconut rice, pork chops in a gouda fondue, and sea scallops and prosciutto on mascarpone polenta.
If this seems like your style, there are two ways to get to Olivia’s Café without driving. If you happen to find yourself at Disney Springs, you can hop aboard the green flag water ferry, which departs every twenty minutes from the West Side dock. From anywhere else on property, Old Key West Resort is accessible by bus. From the check-in building, Olivia’s Café is conveniently located down the walkway on the left. You can’t miss it.
4. Cookes of Dublin
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When you think of fish and chips at Disney World, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely the Yorkshire County Fish Shop or the Rose and Crown in Epcot, but there’s competition in town and it goes by Cookes of Dublin. Centrally located in Disney Springs, this little Irish cafe gets passed by a lot by guests who have their eyes set on newer establishments but if you make it a priority, Cookes of Dublin will not fail you.
This fish shop is serving up battered goodness and at reasonable prices. Their most popular meal, the original fish and chips, will run you just under $11 USD and serves enough to split between two small adults. For those who prefer not to eat seafood, Cookes of Dublin also provides alternatives such as chicken or beef pie, slow roasted pork shoulder, and Irish battered sausages. Also, don’t forget to pair your meal with their specialty Dalkey mustard (or HP sauce, for U.K. guests who may be missing home) as it takes the whole experience up a notch. And, for the adults out there, no Irish meal is complete without a drink from the attached Hole in the Wall bar. Cookes of Dublin really has everything you need for a quick Disney meal.
5. Sanaa
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Hidden deep within the moody basement of Animal Kingdom Resort’s Kidani Village is a delicious secret called Sanaa. Boma, its more popular sister restaurant, seems to get all the love and attention from the general population but if you’re looking for a more relaxing atmosphere, Sanaa is the place to go.
While Boma is out in the open air of the centrally located Jambo House, guests must travel to Kidani Village and wind down stairs to locate tucked away Sanaa. Window tables are coveted at this location, as they provide a direct view onto the savannahs. It is not uncommon to spot a giraffe or zebra while enjoying a meal here, but seclusion and unbeatable views are not the only reasons to come to Sanaa; they also have an amazing assortment of African foods.
The Indian bread service is not to be missed and provides guests with a choice of five breads and three accompaniments including various styles of naan, hummus, chutney, and pickle. For an entrée, you may opt for a Kenya coffee barbeque sandwich, Tandoori chicken or shrimp, or African style seasonal fish. For dessert, guests can try unique offerings like Tanzanian chocolate mousse, lemon lychee tarts, and kulfi; or, if they can’t decide, get a sampler trio of all three. With a combination of flawless theming, breath-taking views, relaxing ambience, and flavorful unique food, Sanaa is definitely vastly underrated and worth a visit.
Which underrated Disney World dining locations do you like to visit? Sound off below!
