EPCOT is the food Mecca of Walt Disney World. You can eat and drink around the world, out of the galaxy, and sustainably here in Orlando. Here’s the problem with EPCOT… There is so much food and you can only eat so much! Did you know that there are more than 50 places that sell food in EPCOT, and this does not include popcorn carts or festival booths! So let us dig into the best places to eat in Epcot, our ultimate guide to eating in World Showcase.
World Showcase Food and Dining
Sure, there is a lot of food at the front of the park, but let’s be honest with ourselves. If you are planning your stomach space for EPCOT, you’re thinking about World Showcase. EPCOT is famous for its festivals, festivals all about FOOD! And of course, drinks. There is almost always a festival going on with revolving menus based on the season. But did you know that there are almost 50 permanent places to grab a bite in World Showcase? Let’s start in Mexico because let’s face it, Canadian food is really heavy. If you start there, you will be down for the count early!
Mexico
Buckle up and prepare yourself for some of the best tequila-based cocktails of your life! Things can be safe and tame or get downright weird at this pavilion, so let’s start this adventure with our sense of adventure in our front pocket.
Choza de Margarita
This snack stand has a small selection of tacos, empanadas, guacamole and chips on the menu. What else does it have? I’m sure this is a total shock, but Choza de Margarita has a solid selection of margaritas. For being a small snack stand, the options are great for people who are bored with your basic margaritas.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Top Shelf Clasica – $16
This margarita on the rocks features Teremana Blanco Tequila and Gran Gala Orange Liqueur, fresh lime juice, agave, a hint of rose wine, and a BLACK ANT SALT rim!!! I told you it can get weird in the Mexico pavilion. I’m not sure you can get much more interesting than a Black Ant Salt rim. Vaya con díos…
La Cantina de San Angel
This quick-service restaurant is like Choza de Margarita’s big brother. This menu features 8 different traditional style tacos and empanadas, sides of black beans, rice, fried plantains, and nacho cheese, (hey, maybe where you come from nacho cheese is a side dish. We won’t judge.), and a full kid’s menu. You can even get your classic Disney treats here like Churros and a Premium Mickey Bar, but you’re not going to eat those here. You’re in EPCOT! You can get those anywhere.
You will also find a full list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on this menu. Alcoholic drinks range from $10.50 for a draft beer, and has a range of margaritas from classic frozen margaritas (think Applebee’s) at $12.50 to fancy hand-crafted cocktail margaritas with specialty liquors maxing out at $17.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Taco Trio – $14.99
How can you conceive of going to Mexico and not getting tacos? Exactly, you can’t. This dish lets you try one of each of their top tacos, barbacoa beef, chicken, and shrimp. The barbacoa beef taco features shredded beef on top of a homemade corn tortilla topped with red salsa and cilantro. The chicken taco has marinated shredded chicken, red salsa, and cilantro. The simple toppings on these tacos really allow the meat to be the main show. The shrimp taco is a little “extra”. This features homemade corn breaded shrimp on a corn tortilla with cabbage, salsa verde, and mango relish. This place is also served with a side of rice, black beans, and queso fresco.
La Hacienda de San Angel
The Mexico Pavillion is rather confusing as far as all of these “San Angel places”. Really, Disney? You couldn’t pick any other saints to name places after? Guadalupe? Diego? Something to break it up a bit! Alas, the second in the San Angel trio is La Hacienda de San Angel. This is table service dining right on the water of the EPCOT lagoon, AKA a great place to see the fireworks! If you make a reservation for 8:00 or 8:30 PM, be sure to request a fireworks view table.
The vibe here is elevated Mexican food. The menu features lots of bold flavors, marinated meats, and words that we might be embarrassed to try to pronounce. The food is very good, but also quite heavy, especially when visiting multiple pavilions. Funny enough, our favorite item on the menu is a salad!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Ensalada Hacienda – $13
This fresh mixed salad features arugula, watermelon, pumpkin seeds, toasted sesame seeds, queso fresco, and is topped with a lime oregano vinaigrette. The flavors shouldn’t work, but they just do!
San Angel Inn Restaurante
Experience classic Mexican food and culture in a beautiful dining experience at San Angel Inn Restaurante. If you were focusing your whole day just in the Mexico pavilion, we would recommend taking a three-course journey. However, assuming you’re snacking your way around the world, we recommend the cheesy goodness that is the appetizer section of the menu. Queso Fundido, Totopos con Queso, Tostadas de Pollo – all you need to know is that they are all covered in cheese! If you have a group, you definitely want to scan this dessert menu for fun that you won’t ever forget.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Chocolate “Fiesta” Pyramid – $34
What’s more fun than a pinata? One where you can eat everything, including the pinata! Be sure to bring friends in on the fun with this one because it is huge! This is a decorated chocolate pyramid filled with Mexican chocolate mousse and toffee on top of a traditional tres leches cake. If that’s not enough, it also comes with ice cream… and a hammer.
La Cava del Tequila (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/cava-del-tequila/menus/ )
This is the creme de la creme of tequila-based cocktails. This tiny, literal hole in the wall is inside the giant pyramid, and is the hottest “secret” of the Mexican pavilion. This is not a very big bar, so it fills up fast. Every drink features top shelf liquors, exotic ingredients, and yup, more ant salt rims! Don’t worry, there are other salt rims.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Blood Orange Margarita – $18.00
This drink features Ambhar blanco tequila, orange liqueur, blood orange juice, hint of rum and vanilla, with a spicy chile lime rim. Who doesn’t love a sweet and spicy concoction!
Norway
The Norway pavilion features a restaurant that has not yet reopened as of 2022. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall was a princess character dining that was almost half the cost of Cinderella’s Royal Table. Snow White, Ariel, Belle, and Aurora used to all parade the halls of Akershus, so for the price point, it was great for all little princesses. Keep watching our page for updates on the final phases of reopening!
Norway is one of the smallest pavilions, but they make up for it Elsa. Frozen fans, the Kingdom of Arendelle was in the heart of Norway, so it is only natural that EPCOT would build Anna and Elsa a summer house. This is where guests can go get an autograph and photo.
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
Getting ready to wait in the long Frozen Fever ride queue? Don’t forget a snack over at the Kringla Bakeri! This snack cafe has a bakery case filled with traditional Norwegian pastries. Flaky, buttery, custard-filled, pillows of happiness. Don’t forget your Joffrey’s Cold Brew to go with it!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Lefse – $3.29
Don’t even ask how to properly pronounce this! However you say it, it is a beautiful blend of simple ingredients and buttery pastry. Lefse is a soft flat bread rolled with cinnamon, sugar, and butter. It’s simple, for sure, but eating around the world, it’s sometimes the basic treats that just hit the right notes.
China
China definitely has one of the prettiest pavilion buildings, but don’t get caught up in architecture and forget the task at hand… FOOD!
Joy of Tea
This may be considered a “snack cart” but its pitiful snack offering of just 1 style of spring rolls is not why you stop here. This place is all about the tea and cocktails. We also consider this place like “Boba for Beginners”.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Tipsy Ducks in Love – $13.00
Yes, it has a funny name, but it’s so good that it’s not funny. This drink is a dangerous mix of black tea, coffee, cream, chocolate and bourbon. With this list of ingredients you would think that the drink is very heavy, but it’s light and delicious.
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Nine Dragons Restaurant is a table service restaurant in the China pavilion. This isn’t like your run-of-the-mill Chinese takeout back home, this is Chinese food, fancy-style. Okay, you will definitely recognize a lot of the menu from your typical takeout like chicken pot stickers, honey sesame chicken, and happy medley family, but it is in a beautiful atmosphere.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Crispy Duck Bao Buns – $13.95
Being that my favorite Pixar short is Bao, and my Turning Red is quickly becoming my favorite Pixar movie, I chose these bao buns. The buns are soft and chewy and the duck inside is so flavorful. A nice slaw really lightens up the dish. Sadly, I did not turn into a red panda or anything after eating, but it was delicious, and something that I have never eaten out of a white cardboard box before.
Lotus Blossom Cafe
Couldn’t get a reservation for Nine Dragons or just didn’t want to take an hour out of your EPCOT day? Panda Express… I mean Lotus Blossom Cafe has your American-style Chinese food. Seriously, this is like every mall food court in America. Of course, it’s delicious, it’s Chinese food! But it is not very interesting, and not really worth your stomach space in Disney.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Orange Chicken Combo – $14.50
This tastes exactly how you expect it to taste and sometimes there is a lot of comfort in that after seeing tiny broken ant bodies on the rim of a margarita back in Mexico… If your group is looking to enjoy something from every pavilion, you won’t be upset with this. The crispy orange chicken also comes with steamed rice, an egg roll, and a vegetable side.
House of Good Fortune
You walk up to this location and notice rather quickly, this is not a restaurant. No, it is not. It is a department store. However, it carries authentic Chinese snacks that are much more interesting and fun than Chinese takeout! This is also the location where you can see the cotton candy artist create those gigantic cotton candy flowers. Be sure to check your times’ guide when you enter the park!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Lays Potato Chips
These aren’t at all like the chips that we sell here in the United States. I thought the most interesting chip ever was pickle, but boy was I wrong. Here is the selection on our last visit: chestnut, italian red meat flavor (is this trying to say meatball?), roasted chicken wing, numb and spicy pot, grilled squid, lotus blossom, cucumber and fried crab. This could be a really fun take home! I must say, I am intrigued by the cherry blossom. Which would you choose?
Germany
Fun Fact: Be sure to check out the train set in the Germany pavilion! While many people just breeze by, you should look a little closer. Imagineers redecorate the little town every few months to match the current festival in EPCOT. Seriously, look at the little banners on the light posts!
Karamell-Küche
As soon as you start making your way towards Germany you can smell it, the smell of sweet caramel. Smell faintly familiar? That’s because this booth is sponsored by Werther’s, so all of the caramel will bring back memories of stealing candy out of Grandma’s purse. If you are looking for Carmel corn in Disney World, be sure to get it fresh from this pavilion. Other items include caramel apples, caramel bars, and candies.
WARNING: There is a 4 pack of boozy caramels… Even the cast member said don’t try them. I didn’t listen. They. Were. Disgusting. Laughably disgusting. While we realize everyone has different tastes, and typically doesn’t want to trash any snacks or restaurants, trust us with this one.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Gingerbread Salted Caramel Buttercream Cookie Sandwich – $5.99
The title is a mouthful but so worth it! Two big rich gingerbread cookies smash together some sweet buttercream, and topped with a drizzle of salted caramel, yes please! This treat is normally a Christmastime seasonal treat, but as of April 2022, it has been added to the permanent menu! This is insanely sweet, so this is perfect to take bites through the day, or try it and bring it back to your hotel with you for a little midnight snack.
Biergarten Restaurant
Great food, great time, and an easy reservation to snag! Biergarten is perfect for someone who has always dreamed of going to Germany for Oktoberfest. Here, it is always Oktoberfest! Break out your lederhosen for traditional German entertainment and all the delicious (and heavy) German food you can eat! This is a modified buffet featuring schnitzel, rotisserie chicken, potatoes, sauerkraut, traditional sausages, and more!
MUST HAVE ITEM: German Beer Flight – $15
It would be criminal to take you to a traditional Oktoberfest-style German restaurant and not recommend you to try the beer! With a flight you can try a 5 oz. sampling of various types of beer so you don’t have to choose just one! The 4 beers featured are Beck’s Pilsner, Warsteiner Dunkel, König Ludwig Weissbier, and Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen. I wonder if they make you say them outloud, or if we can just point…
Sommerfest
For when you’re not hungry hungry, but you want snacks the size of your face, you come to Sommerfest. They are most famous for a strong draft list and a German pretzel the size of your face. What’s fun about this booth is that you can order your beer with a souvenir stein and it is still the same cost of a basic EPCOT cocktail ($14.50).
MUST HAVE ITEM: Pretzel Bread Pudding – $4.79
It’s salty, it’s sweet, it’s warm, gooey, and hits in all the feels! This dessert features soft pretzels soaked in custard and baked with cinnamon, and drizzled with icing. This may be cheating a bit but… Pro Tip: Take this while it’s still hot over to the France pavilion at L’Artisan de Glaces and buy a scoop of that fresh ice cream to go over top. Break out the stretchy pants for this one! It’s worth it!
Italy
This pavilion is beautiful. I may never get to see the architecture of Rome, but this pavilion makes me feel like you’re there!
Tutto Italia Ristorante
Hello, date night! This table service restaurant screams romance and fine dining! This restaurant is better suited for a meal where you plan on spending a few hours and multiple courses than a day eating around the world. The portions are huge and heavy. Those are two H-words to avoid in place as hot as the devil’s front porch.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Lasagne alla Bolognese – $29
It’s filling, rustic, classic Italian food that feeds the body and the soul. And when it feeds the body, it feeds it for a week. Kidding… but really.
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar
Attached to Tutto Italia Ristorante, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar is the lounge where you can get a few bites and taste, sample, and buy imported wines like a fancy person. Here you will find a lot of plates that are also featured on the main restaurant’s menu, and a lot of desserts that are not on the main restaurant menu. Which would you rather nibble on with wine? Spaghetti or cannolis? Exactly.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Pick a flight, any flight – $17
This lounge features 3 different wine flights, Under a Tuscan Sun, From the Hills of Piemonte, and Crisp Italian Whites. You better hope you go with a few friends, because how can you choose?
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
This restaurant features classic Italian pasta dishes and wood-fired pizzas, sure to make everyone happy! Be warned, however, this is not like your neighborhood pizzeria. These are massive pizzas that are delicious but will cost as much as $50. You can opt for a smaller, individual size for half the price. Mangia!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Carciofi Pizza – $25-$50
This pizza combines traditional flavors with some new flavors without being too weird. Carciofi pizza is a white pizza with artichoke, fontina, mozzarella, and truffle oil. Anything with truffle oil feels fancy, doesn’t it?
Gelateria Toscana
Phew! After all of these heavy savory Italian foods, it’s time to focus on something sweet and refreshing! This stop has decadent gelato, sweet sorbets, fresh waffle cones, and coffee! Now, this is how you do Italy.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Affogato Espresso Gelato – $11.75
Fresh Italian espresso poured over vanilla gelato with Amaretto cookies… Have you ever heard of anything more beautiful?
America
Land of the free and the home of the…animatronic that walks up the stairs?? Take a break from the heat and get a lesson in American history from Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain at the American Adventure. Be sure to check out the American artifacts within the American pavilion, too!
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Crafts, Drafts & Barbeque
Get your wet wipes ready! This menu boasts all the best parts of BBQ, like chicken, ribs, brisket, and smoked pork butt. There are also burgers on the menu, but come one, if you get a cheeseburger at a barbeque smokehouse, we can’t be friends… Vegan? The Regal Eagle didn’t forget about you! There is even a BBQ jackfruit burger on the menu!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Sliced Beef Brisket Sandwich – 13.49
This slow-cooked beef brisket has been rubbed with secret spices and put on top of garlic toast and served with one side. Our suggestion: get slaw as your side and put it on top of the sandwich to add crunch and lighten up the flavors. Perfection!
Fife & Drum Tavern
Fife and Drum sounds better than the party pooper snack stand. In and amongst all of these worldly flavors, Fife & Drum has your basic theme park fare of popcorn, souvenir popcorn buckets, turkey legs, Mickey pretzels, draft beer, and slushies. A great tip for parents: Keep your kids full and happy with $2 popcorn refills when you buy any Disney popcorn buckets. Fun fact: You can use popcorn buckets from previous trips!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Frozen Red Stag Lemonade – $15
It’s hot in Florida. Hotter than the surface of the sun, hot, and EPCOT is almost full sun. This drink will cool you off inside and out with frozen lemonade mixed with Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon.
Block & Hans
This walk up drink stand is all about the ales. Different craft brews from all over the United States are here on draft to cool you down. Block & Hans typically has some different brews on tap than you would see at other places. What do you think of mango? Now imagine it as a nice wheat ale.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Beer Flight – $10.75
I’m no good at making decisions, so whenever I can skirt choices and just select D. All the Above, I’m here for it! A beer flight includes 4 choices.
Funnel Cake
I know it’s hard to imagine but this snack stand sells…funnel cake. You can get funnel cake with powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, ice cream, or ice cream with oreos. While a basic funnel cake is always appreciated, this stand offers a specialty funnel cake depending on the season / festival. Last year’s flower and garden festival took the cake, (get it?!), with a lemon blueberry cheesecake funnel cake! Last Christmas even saw a red velvet funnel cake.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Strawberry Cheesecake Funnel Cake – $13.50
This is the current special during the 2022 Flower and Garden Festival. It’s no brick of lemon cheesecake ice cream from last year’s lemon blueberry, but it still hits it out of the park! This funnel cake is topped with strawberry ice cream, cheesecake crumbles, strawberry drizzle, and topped with whipped cream. Can you think of anything better to eat while watching a concert on the World Showcase stage?
Japan
Like China, Japan has an awesome department store selling items from its country. Here you can get crazy flavors of Kit Kat bars like Wasabi or Banana, (Kit Kats are wildly popular in Japan), and even Samurai swords!
Kabuki Cafe
This oddball little cart features shaved ice, sushi, and Japanese wines. You know, people typically warn you off buying sushi where you can get a slushy, but this is the exception. That being said, the sushi isn’t exactly anything to write home about. They are typical beginner sushi like California rolls or Spicy Tuna. The star of the show here is the shaved ice, believe it or not.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Sake Mist – $ 10.00
Who knew shaved ice could also be alcoholic?! The Sake Mist in Blood Orange, Coconut Pineapple, or Blackberry. Want to add a little fun? Ask the Cast Member to add a drizzle of the sweet milk topping (sweetened condensed milk).
Katsura Grill
Katsura Grill is a quick service dining in the Japanese pavilion that offers smaller tasting plates of Japanese fare as opposed to a full hibachi style meal at Teppan Edo. Here you will find things like ramen, miso soup, chicken and pork teriyaki, and of course, sushi.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Yuzu Miso Wings – $12.00
Who doesn’t love some wings? These are saucy, crispy, and full of flavor. This 6 piece wing snack is the perfect size to share with a friend. Remember, as delicious as they are, the more you share, the more you get to try!
Teppan Edo
Have you ever been to a hibachi before, like Benihana? You will have a similar experience at Teppan Edo. This table service restaurant is both dinner and a show, as your chef cooks right in front of you with a few Disney-style tricks up his sleeve. This menu features sushi and typical hibachi entrees, such as filet mignon and teriyaki chicken, but the menu also includes “enhancements” for your meals. Be ready to spend a long time at your meal, as hibachi-style meals can take around 90 minutes.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Japanese Wagyu Strip – $90.00
If you really want to create the ultimate meal of a lifetime, go ahead and order Wagyu beef for an additional $90! This 4 oz cut of beef is claimed to be the most tender style of beef ever sold. Wagyu cattle are pampered during their lives with strict healthy diets and constant massages. That’s right. That cow has probably had more spa treatments than you. And they made it delicious.
Tokyo Dining
Tokyo Dining gives you the chance to experience traditional Japanese dining and culture in a beautiful, sleek and contemporary restaurant. This is a great restaurant for a date night, as the clean lines and classy decor give a more romantic vibe than theme park. This menu feels more authentic than the offerings at Teppan Edo, and many of the dishes are listed in Japanese.
Be sure to ask your server about any dishes you have questions on. This menu is strong in the seafood game, but don’t worry, there are also some chicken and steak dishes listed as well. #RIPflotsam #RIPjetsam (A little mermaid reference here since there is eel on the menu).
MUST HAVE ITEM: Yuzu Mousse Cake – $18
It’s about time we recommend something sweet over here in Japan! This cake features yuzu mousse, kinako crumb bottom, topped with gold flakes, matcha cream, chocolate rocks, and sparkling yuzu sauce. These flavors are very light and unique, plus the gold flakes make the whole dessert feel much fancier.
Morocco
Morocco has been said to be the most beautiful pavilion in all of the World Showcase. Did you know that the prince of Morocco actually sent some of Morocco’s best artisans to work on the pavilion to ensure that Moroccan had the best possible representation at Disney World? Not only is it beautiful, the Moroccan pavilion is one of the prime locations to view the new nighttime spectacular, Harmonious. Note that Restaurant Marrakesh is still closed since Disney took over the operations of the Morocco pavilion in 2020.
Oasis Sweets & Sips
Get your sweet tooth satisfied at this Mediterranean bakery. Baklava, anymore? It is important to note that while most of the World Showcase opens at 11:00 AM, Oasis Sweets & Sips opens at 9:30! You can also get a nice TGI Fridays style daiquiri in the morning. It’s vacation, we won’t judge!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Pastry Assortment 5 pack – $11.00
One pastry is just not enough, and 7 is too many. Pastry options can vary, but the menu currently has listed Saragli, Ghriba-Kourabiedes, Pistachio Baklava, Almond Crescent Cookie, Flogeres, Sesame Koulouria, Melomakarona, Marble Koulouria, Ergolavos, Anise Fekkas, Kataifi, Almond Briwat. Don’t worry, we don’t know what those words mean either, but what we do know is that they contain buttery pastries, almond, chocolate, honey, and all of the other goodies that make pastries great.
Spice Road Table
Spice Road Table is a Mediterranean lounge that overlooks the water of World Showcase Lagoon. The menu boasts small plates, think the Mediterranean version of tapas, so you can share with friends and try things a little outside of your comfort zone. If you are a chicken finger and fries gal like me, the entire menu is out of your comfort zone.
This big draw for Spice Road Table is that you can purchase a Fireworks View Dining Package as a prixe fixe of $72 per adult and $31, plus tax and gratuity. This package includes two small plates, a dessert platter, and unlimited beverages. Unlimited beverages. This can include unlimited alcoholic beverages. You must have an advanced reservation to enjoy this dining package. You can reserve as early as 60 days prior to your vacation.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Naan Spreads – $10.00
A simple, but authentic small plate of naan bread and things to spread on it is the perfect way to start your Mediterranean experience. The naan is served with fresh hummus, chermoula (traditional herb sauce), marinated olives, and za’atar (Arabic spice mixture).
Tangerine Cafe
Tangerine Cafe is a kebab snack stand stand that also includes hard ciders, mead, and ales. The menu only has two food items, one grilled kebab and stone baked Moroccan bread with hummus.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Grilled Kebab with Couscous, Tomato/Onion Salad, with Garlic Aioli
This kebab is a serious “when in Rome” snack. Okay, I’m using the term snack loosely here. This grilled kebab includes lemon-garlic chicken, Moroccan spiced lamb, harissa-marinated beef tenderloin tips.
France
France is the go-to pavilion for the best food and drinks. As of 2021, the France pavilion not only has a sing-a-long Beauty and the Beast movie, it also has Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure in a newly built section. Fun fact: the Eiffel Tower in EPCOT is built using forced perspective, much like Cinderella’s castle. However, the illusion is much more extreme. Should a bird land on top, the bird would look like King Kong of Paris, which is why Disney utilizes bird repellent in the France pavilion.
Les Vins de Chefs de France
Les Vins in French means wine, and this wine stand means business! There are nine types of wine available, two champagnes, and one beer. Don’t be fooled though, everyone goes to this stand for the slushes! These are no 7-11 slushies…
MUST HAVE ITEM: Orange Slush – $14.50
Let your inner child and grown woman meet right in one drink glass! This drink is a fun, frozen blend of Grand Marnier, rum, Grey Goose orange, and orange juice.
Chef de France
French food may be snooty, but this table service restaurant is family-friendly and casual French nouveau. If you have ever dreamed of trying escargot, here’s your chance!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Ratatouille sur Quinoa – $24.99
Ratatouille over quinoa and kale. Is there a more perfect dish after riding the brand new Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure? I think not! The only thing that would make this better is to change the name of the restaurant to Gusteau’s.
L’Artisan des Glaces
You can smell the vanilla when you walk up to it… the ultimate ice cream shop! Sure, there are basic flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, but there are also more adventurous ones like yogurt & blueberry, coconut white chocolate, and caramel fleur del sel ice cream, to name a few. To be fair, the vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry aren’t exactly basic, they are done exceptionally well.
Basically, I feel like this ice cream shop can let you live your ice cream dreams to have a waffle bowl of ice cream, or something that feels so French you feel the need to say it with a bad French accent. “Excusez-moi, monsieur… Je voudrais un macaron avec des glaces, s’il vous plaît.” I know you recognize one word there… MACARON! And you can make it a macaron ice cream sandwich, yes please. How do you take a childhood treat and turn it into an adult treat of your dreams? Turn it into a martini! Yup, at this location you can make a martini out of ice cream.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Croque Glacé – $9.50
This shouldn’t be good, but it is delicious! They take a fresh brioche bun, cut it in half, and fill it with a scoop of any ice cream and sauce and press it warm so it makes a warm ice cream sandwich. This is more than a must have for this shop. This is a must have for the whole France pavilion. In fact, this is a must have for any EPCOT day!!
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
Les Halles is the gem of EPCOT. Sorry, not sorry, every other location in this park. This shop is open at 9:00 AM, so as soon as you hop off of Remi’s you can stroll on over to get a fresh croissant. This is a full bakery that has simple baked goods, sandwiches and desserts.
What is the best part? The cost! Les Halles is… dare I say… CHEAP! Not just cheap for Disney World, but cheap for normal life. You can get a fresh baguette for $2.25, chocolate croissant for $3.80, or creme brulee for only $4.95. They also have a section of sandwiches, cheeses, and desserts. Don’t forget the wine! This is France, after all.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Macarons Collection $11.95
Here I am again, can’t make decisions so this collection is perfect! You get 6 macarons, (that’s only $2 per macaron… That’s cheaper than Publix!), in different traditional French flavors. Flavors on our last visit were vanilla, pistachio, chocolate, raspberry, black berry, and orange hazelnut.
Crêpes à Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris
This is another must visit booth in the France pavilion! The biggest decision you have to face is sweet or savory. You tend to think sweet immediately when you think crepes… but a savory crepe? That is worth looking into.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Bechamel Cheese and Ham Galette – $10.95
My head says stick to what you know is delicious and get the nutella dessert crepe, but remember, we’re in EPCOT! Let’s get interesting. This savory crepe is made with buckwheat flour so it doesn’t have the same natural sweetness that the dessert crepes have, and ham and cheese is always a winning combo!
La Crêperie de Paris
If the little snack cart outside of the restaurant isn’t enough to fulfill your French inspired dreams, make reservations for La Crêperie de Paris! You can order crepes a la carte, or get a three course meal at a prix fixe price. The prix fixe even comes with hard cider!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Prix Fixe – $34.95
This includes either a soup or salad, one savory crepe with hard cider, and one dessert crepe. I would choose a salad with the savoyarde galette (fancy ham and cheese) and nutella dessert crepe. You can add whipped cream and ice cream for an additional charge.
United Kingdom
Welcome to the United Kingdom! The first two things that go through your mind and as you cross the pond to the UK is I want a cup of tea and I want some fish and chips. Luckily for you, your wishes can be granted.
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
One of two places in the UK to fulfill your fish and chip needs, Yorkshire County is the walk up window option. This stand is now on Mobile Order, saving you even more time. There is sparse seating on the terrace overlooking the water. Don’t forget to grab an imported ale. Here comes a big decision for the day – United Kingdom Ale or Ireland?
MUST HAVE ITEM: Fish and Chips – $12.99
Surprised? Not only is it basically required to get fish and chips while visiting the U.K., but it is also great fish! These fish filets are huge, and you can grab unlimited malt vinegar and tartar sauce. I’m all about the condiments.
Rose & Crown Dining Room and Rose & Crown Pub
The U.K. (the real one) is filled with old cobblestone pubs that have stood the test of time. Fun fact: Did you know that the oldest operating pub in the U.K. opened its doors in the year 793 AD. Remember that the United States was established in 1776… almost 1,000 years later. Wrap your head around that.
Okay! Now that the history lesson is over, let’s talk Rose & Crown! You can either book a reservation for a full meal in the Rose & Crown Dining room, or if you’re having a more relaxed day, you can take a load off at the bar in the Rose & Crown Pub. Though this pub and restaurant isn’t hundreds of years old, the imagineers did an excellent job bringing the same vibe. This pub is built of stone, sits on the water, and boasts a menu of simple, classic, and hearty English fare, like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and if you’re an adventurous traveler, a Scotch egg. (You may or may not want to read about what that is before you try it.)
Now, this wouldn’t be a “pub” if you couldn’t grab a pint! Naturally, Rose & Crown features a large selection of ales, drafts, and stouts. What is unique about the Rose & Crown, is that you can enjoy “Pub Blends”, which is a blend of different drafts for a unique beverage. For example, many of the options are a blend of a heavy stout like Guinness with a light ale. Feeling like something a little more high brow? Check out their selection of scotch and cognacs.
Fireworks Dining
Bonus for Rose & Crown: Just like Spice Road Table in Morocco, you can reserve a Fireworks dining package. You will be given exclusive seating on the patio overlooking the lagoon, so you will have a front row seat to EPCOT’s fireworks show, Harmonious.
The dining package comes with one appetizer, one entree, a dessert platter, and once again, unlimited drinks. Now, we aren’t encouraging anyone to over indulge, or anything, let’s just say, you can definitely get your money’s worth! Cost is $89 per adult and $39 per child.
Is this package worth it? Sure, you want a great seat for the show, but this isn’t the same situation as Magic Kingdom with Main Street being tighter than a sardine can just trying to catch a glimpse. Some spots are definitely better than others, but you can see the show all around the world showcase and further in the front of EPCOT.
If you choose the most expense options on the menu you would get the United Kingdom Cheese Platter ($14) for an appetizer, fish and chips ($26) for an entree, and assuming the value of the dessert is $8.50, based on the other dessert prices, you have consumed $48.50 worth of food. Remember, you have unlimited drinks for your flat price of $89. A cocktail will usually run around $17 each. So if with your hearty feast, you enjoy a couple cocktails, a pint, and finish the evening off with some coffee, you can definitely get your money’s worth.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Sticky Toffee Pudding – $9.00
Everyone is always talking pints and fish when they’re talking about the U.K. pavilion, and desserts are often overlooked. Brits love their sweets and they know how to make what I like to call “happy place” desserts that are warm and are the ultimate in comfort food. This steamed cake dessert with warm caramel sauce and custard just hits the right way.
Canada
Welcome to what is known as the friendliest country, our neighbors to the north, Canada. Have you ever wondered why Canada is on one side of the World Showcase, and Mexico is on the other? That is because while we are here in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A., we are sandwiched between Canada and Mexico. Now let’s learn how many ways we can use maple syrup.
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Le Cellier is one of the hardest reservations to score in EPCOT because it is swanky fine dining in dim, romantic lighting. This steakhouse is most known for two things, and neither of them are steak! Le Cellier is EPCOT famous for its cheddar cheese soup and has become Insta-famous for its edible beef fat candle… More on that later. This restaurant features steak, steak, steak, and more steak, even bison steak! Le Cellier does steak, and they do it well.
Since we are in Canada, let’s play the how many items on the menu include maple syrup game…? Four. Four things on this menu include maple syrup in their descriptions, and only two are on the dessert menu! The maple-whiskey glazed brussel sprouts are out of this world and will make you sing, “Oh, Canada”.
MUST HAVE ITEM: Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Board – $21.00
Why would a glorified adult lunchable make the MUST HAVE list? Because this board is, shall we say, interactive. Included on your board of cheese, crackers, and meats, is a little unassuming candle. How romantic, right? It’s edible! No joke! This candle is made with pure beef fat, so you can scrape some of the melting fat onto a cracker with cheese for salty beef flavor. I have never felt compelled to eat straight fat, but this is an experience that I felt I had to do! Kind of like a food bucket list.
Popcorn in Canada
This list has not included any popcorn carts or Joffrey’s Coffee stands, so why would Canada have a popcorn cart on the list? Because in true Canadian fashion, they offer delicious maple popcorn. The coolest part? Bring in your souvenir popcorn bucket and refill it with the maple popcorn for the same price as regular popcorn!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Maple Popcorn – $6.50
This is exactly what it sounds like. Freshly popped popcorn with a little salty and a lot of sweet with that unique maple taste. Be sure to check out the Canadian-themed cocktails that appear at this cart, as well!
Refreshment Port (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/refreshment-port/menus/)
We will start off by mentioning that you can get chicken nuggets, soft serve ice cream, and a nice draft of Bud Light, but that is not what this cart is all about. As the last stop in Canada, there has to be poutine!
MUST HAVE ITEM: Traditional Poutine – $7.50
Poutine is almost as Canadian as ending a sentence with “eh”. Traditional poutine is french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. I know, if you’ve never had it, it sounds gross, but it is some serious salty comfort food.
I am a mother of three that has refused to grow up. Adulting is for the birds, so I go to Disney World every chance I get for that magical escape from reality. I believe that Haunted Mansion is the best ride in all of the Disney Parks, and I am fervently in team Happily Ever After for fireworks spectaculars, (sorry, not sorry, Enchanted). Finally, I hope I never grow tired of skipping down Main Street, USA, and my dream come true would be “friends with” the Fairy Godmother in my old age.