We talk about delicious food inside the Disney World parks all the time, but that’s not the only place you can find tasty eats in Disney World.

Sure, there are some great options in the parks, from Dole Whips to hot dogs to cheeseburger springs rolls. But, there’s also a TON of great food at the Disney World hotels! So, we’re going to tell you about the places to eat that are worth leaving the theme parks for in Disney World.

We’re going to break down these options by which resort restaurants are close or convenient to the theme park you’re in, which will let you quickly head over to the restaurant for a meal instead of spending a big chunk of your day on a Disney bus.

Food Near Magic Kingdom:

Steakhouse 71

Let’s start things off with one of Disney World’s newest restaurants — Steakhouse 71! Located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, this table service restaurant is just a short walk away from the entrance of Magic Kingdom. Steakhouse 71 serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they also have a bar and lounge area where you can eat.

They’re known for their steak, obviously, but there are a lot of other great options here, too! For breakfast, you can get things like Walt’s Prime Rib Hash, Steak and Eggs, Avocado Toast, Seasonal Pancakes, and more.

Then, for lunch you can get things like French Onion Soup, Lump Crab Cakes, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, the Turkey Club, or their signature and super delicious Stack Burger.

And, for dinner, get items such as the Beef Tenderloin Medallions, Prime Rib, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Chasseur, and more.

There are a lot of different options here and it’s TOTALLY worth leaving Magic Kingdom for — we think the food is a winner compared to many of the options available in the parks.

Click here to see our review of Steakhouse 71 Lunch!

Grand Floridian Café

Grand Floridian Cafe is located in — you guessed it — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! It’s a table service restaurant the serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast and lunch, you can get things like avocado toast, quiche, steak and eggs, chicken and waffles, eggs Benedicts, and more.

Then, for dinner, get items like a grilled romaine market salad, shrimp and grits, the lobster Thermidor burger, or miso glazed salmon, among other things.

The theming in here is consistent with the rest of the Grand Floridian, but it doesn’t feel stuffy at all! And, it’s only a short monorail or boat ride away from Magic Kingdom. It’s super easy to pop by!

Click here to see our review of the Grand Floridian Cafe!

Tambu Lounge

Moving next door to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, let’s talk about Tambu Lounge! This is the bar and lounge outside the entrance of ‘Ohana and serves some small plates as well as cocktails.

You can get things here like Pot Stickers, Big Kahuna’s Hot Wings, Kaikane’s Barbecued Pork Ribs, as well as those famous ‘Ohana noodles. And then you can wash it all down with a Polynesian Mai Tai or Lapu Lapu! This is a nice spot to have a small bite to eat and relax for a little.

Click here to see our review of Tambu Lounge!

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Speaking of places to grab a snack and a cocktail, check out Trader Sam’s! This is almost a hidden bar in the Polynesian, and it’s super popular, so you’ll want to get there early to get on the list. It’s a tiki bar that comes to life depending on what you order!

While the main attraction here might be those tiki drinks, there is also some food available, like the Kahuna Tuna Sushi Roll, Chicken or Tofu Lettuce Cups, Kalua Pork Tacos, and the Thai Chicken Flatbread. This is also a great place to escape the hot temperatures in the parks for a bit!

Click here to learn more about Trader Sam’s!

Geyser Point

Finally for the resort restaurants near Magic Kingdom is Geyser Point. This spot is located over at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, which is a short boat ride away from the front of Magic Kingdom. It’s considered a lounge and is all outdoors, but it’s covered!

There are small bites like the Crispy Salmon Croquettes or Teriyaki Chicken Wings, or bigger entrees, like the Bison Cheeseburger or Smoked Turkey Sandwich. There are also some great cocktails and other drinks here!

Click here to see our review of Geyser Point!

Food Near EPCOT/Hollywood Studios:

Topolino’s Terrace

Moving over to the resorts closest to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, let’s talk about Topolino’s Terrace! This resort is directly on the Disney World Skyliner system, which has stations at both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, so you can jump right on and bop over!

Topolino’s Terrace serves breakfast and dinner, with breakfast being a character meal. You get to see Mickey and Friends while enjoying some higher-end breakfast foods. Dinner has options like the ricotta, rigatoni, veal, and more. This restaurant is also on the top floor and has a terrace outside, making it a great spot to watch some fireworks!

Click here to see our most recent review of Topolino’s Terrace! 

BoardWalk Deli

If you want somewhere to grab a quick bite to eat instead of sitting down for a meal, check out BoardWalk Deli! The BoardWalk is walking distance from both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, or you can hop on a Friendship Boat if you don’t want to walk. This is a new quick service restaurant that has your typical deli classics.

You can get both breakfast, lunch, and dinner here, so it’s a great place to stop by on your way into the parks or if you just want to grab something in the middle of the day. In the morning, you can get things like the Bagel Breakfast Sandwich, Mickey Cinnamon Roll, Everything Bagel with Smoked Salmon, and more.

Then, for lunch and dinner, grab items like a Warm Pastrami Reuben, Italian Sub, Chicken Salad Wrap, or a Mixed Berry Salad. There are also plant-based options available for all meals.

Click here to see our review of Lunch at BoardWalk Deli

Il Mulino

If you want some Italian food and either 1) couldn’t get a reservation in EPCOT’s Italy pavilion or 2) want Italian food that’s better than the options in EPCOT’s Italy pavilion, check out Il Mulino in the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. This is in the BoardWalk area, so it’s also walking distance or a short boat ride away from the park.

There’s a bar and lounge area in here as well where you can get the full menu, so it’s a good option if you forgot to make a reservation for dinner. They’re only open for dinner and serve things like pizza and pasta, as well as family-style meals.

Click here to see our latest review of Il Mulino

Kimonos

If you want some great sushi while you’re in Disney World, head on over to Kimonos in the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. Sure, you can get sushi in the Japan pavilion at EPCOT, but those reservations can get booked up, and this is really the only other option in the EPCOT resort area.

Plus, Kimonos has some great sushi. The restaurant has a lounge vibe about it and is even open late night sometimes with fun things like Karaoke! They’re also only open for dinner. But, on those nights when they’re open until 1AM, it’s a great place to grab food after your day in the parks.

Click here for our review of Kimonos

Yachtsman Steakhouse or Shula’s Steak House

Listen, we love eating at Le Cellier in EPCOT’s Canada Pavilion, but those reservations can book up QUICKLY. It’s a very popular place, so if you can’t get in and you’re still craving a steak, head on over to either Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, or Shula’s Steak House in the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel.

Both of these are great options for a steak and are open for dinner only. They are also easily walkable from EPCOT or you can take a boat from EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. The menu at both spots is pretty traditional for a steak house, so think steak, salads, pork chops, chicken, and indulgent sides like potatoes or macaroni and cheese.

Click here to see our review of Yachtsman Steakhouse!

Beaches & Cream

If you want some dessert, try Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort! There is normal food here, too, but we wouldn’t really recommend you leaving the parks for it, as it’s just average. The desserts, however, are awesome! From milkshakes to sundaes to literally the whole kitchen sink, there are a ton of sweet options.

And, you can also grab desserts from the to-go window instead of going inside and sitting down at a table. It’s a great place to pop by and get a sweet treat at the end of the day, or for your lunch — we’re not judging you!

Click here to see our review of a new dessert at Beaches & Cream!

Food Near Animal Kingdom:

Jiko

Now, let’s talk about the spots near Animal Kingdom. The only resort that’s super close to Animal Kingdom is Animal Kingdom Lodge, but luckily, there’s some AMAZING food here. Starting with Jiko, the sit down spot serves dinner and is the fanciest of the 3 places we’re going to talk about.

It has unique dishes like Botswanan Seswaa Short, Bobotie Mac & Cheese, and Braaied Wild Boar Tenderloin. They also have a HUGE collection of South African wines. If you want to spend your time after visiting Animal Kingdom in the day with a nice meal, Jiko is a great spot.

Click here to see our review of Jiko!

Boma

Next, we have Boma, which is open for breakfast and lunch. This is a buffet so you can help yourself to as much as you want for a flat rate. Breakfast has things like Turkey Bobotie, Omelets, Cinnamon Rolls, Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon, and more.

Then, dinner has Tunisian Couscous and Shrimp Salad, Sweet Corn Pudding, Durban Chicken, African Spiced Beef Striploin and more. So, there’s a good mix of adventurous and familiar dishes here, and it’s truly one of the tastiest buffets on Disney World property.

Click here to see our review of dinner at Boma!

Sanaa

Finally, let’s talk about Sanaa. This is another sit down restaurant inside Animal Kingdom Lodge that serves lunch and dinner at the moment, but has also previously served breakfast. The Indian Style Bread service is iconic here, and there are other delicious dishes like Zanzibari Vegetable Curry with Shrimp and Tandoori Chicken.

But, one of the biggest appeals of this place is that you can see the animals right outside of the window! So, if you don’t want to wait in line for Kilimanjaro Safaris or just can’t get enough of those animals, this is a great place for a meal and a cool environment.

Click here to see our review of Sanaa!

There you have it — those are a bunch of restaurants that are worth leaving the theme parks for to have a meal! We hope this has helped expand your potential options for your upcoming trips.

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2022 at checkout for 25% off!

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips, news, and info!

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The post The Big Reason You Should STOP Eating in Disney World Parks first appeared on the disney food blog.