Though Sebastian, Marlin, and Flounder will probably disagree with what I’m about to say, Disney World serves some pretty tasty seafood. From fresh sushi available at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s Kona Cafe to the good ol’ classic fish and chips over at Disney Spring’s Ragland Road, here is a list of the best seafood at Disney World. Your tastebuds will thank me later!
For this list, I’m only including what I believe to be the best seafood offerings, so though other places might serve seafood, this is why they might not be included. Also, please note that none of this is in a particular ranking.
Best Seafood Magic Kingdom
I figured the most efficient way to organize this list of the best seafood at Disney World is to break it down by location, so first up is Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Though Magic Kingdom offers a ton of quick service locations, they certainly don’t shortchange guests on options, especially when it comes to seafood. Here’s a list of where you can find the best seafood at Magic Kingdom:
I mean, this has got to be at the top of the list, right? Serving an adventurous blend of Asian, African, and Latin cuisine, one of the best seafood dishes available on the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen menu is the Sustainable Fish. Sure, it’s the only seafood option regularly on the menu but THAT’S NOT THE POINT!
Served over a bed of shiitake mushrooms, bell peppers, a ginger-lemon broth, and lotus root, this “Not Piranha” sustainable fish varies depending on the time of year and what kind of fish is considered sustainable, but don’t be surprised if you’re served the head, the tail, the whole…wait that’s a Jaws reference. OH NO, UNIVERSAL!!
Not sure if my skipper jokes are landing, but hey, even if they’re not, you got a great seafood recommendation for the next time you visit the Disney parks. And that’s a helpful tip that you can talk about for Niles and Niles and….
Read more: The Ten Best Jungle Cruise Jokes and More
Columbia Harbour House
Going in the most opposite as possible direction from the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen in Adventureland, we now visit the Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square. Here is where you’ll find the famous Lobster Roll.
Designed to resemble a seafaring restaurant in the heart of a cozy New England town, you’ll certainly find some great seafood, including a robust, affordable menu that includes fish sandwiches, grilled salmon, and a mouth-watering shrimp boil.
But what really takes the cake is the Lobster Roll. Served chilled and with a gentle touch of mayonnaise, this Lobster Roll is so decadent that it will keep you full all day. Plus, best of all, it only costs $16.99, so it’s definitely one of the more affordable seafood options at Disney World.
If you love seafood, then you need to make a lunch or dinner reservation at Columbia Harbour House! I wouldn’t say that the seafood here is out of this world compared to others on this list, but it certainly hits the spot.
Best Seafood EPCOT
EPCOT is really just one massive cornucopia of tasty seafood options, so it’s really hard to rank them all, but I will certainly try to do my best.
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
Hands down, I think I’d have to start off with the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the U.K. pavilion. After all, the U.K. is known for its fish and chips – and that’s exactly what this menu highlights.
Though fish and chips are pretty much your only entree option, outside of some chips and a three-pack of Mandarin oranges as a snack, they are still pretty tasty. Fried in a beer batter, wash these down with a classic Bombardier Amber and it’s easily one of the most satisfying quick-service seafood meals in the World Showcase.
Read more: Best Places to Eat in EPCOT: The Ultimate World Showcase Food Guide
Coral Reef Restaurant
The Coral Reef Restaurant has been a mainstay of EPCOT since it opened in January 1986. For the longest time, this seafood restaurant was met with pretty subpar reviews – and rightfully so. A lot of the food almost had a rubbery texture to it that, as you can imagine, was not very pleasing to my tastebuds. You can check out our review of the Coral Reef Restaurant for photos here.
However, in recent years, the menu has become marginally better, so because of that – plus the fact that you can dine in an actual aquarium – I’m adding it to this list. Though eating seared Verlasso salmon while surrounded by 2,000 of its closest aquatic friends may leave a little to be desired, it’s still a cool experience I recommend trying at least once. It gets high marks for atmosphere though!
Monsieur Paul
If you’re celebrating a special anniversary on your upcoming Disney World trip and love seafood and signature dining, then book a reservation at Monsieur Paul in the France pavilion.
This fine dining location serves a prix fixe menu that includes options such as Cassolette d’escargot à la cressonnière sur une émulsion de pomme de terre, which is a fancy French way of saying escargot casserole, and Coquilles Saint Jacques au potimarron et sirop d’érable, which is another fancy way of saying seared scallops in a maple pumpkin velouté. These are just some of your options, but they’re all chef’s kiss.
The prix fixe menu is really expensive though at $195 a person, but it does include a lot of food. Again, this is best saved for a really special occasion.
Read more: Most Romantic Disney Restaurants
Animal Kingdom Best Seafood
Despite the somewhat limited food options available at Animal Kingdom, they serve up some of the most flavorful (and affordable) seafood options:
Yak & Yeti
When it comes to the best seafood at the Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom gets pretty overlooked but Yak & Yeti, located over in the Asian section of the park, serves some of the best calamari I’ve ever had – and trust me, I’m a calamari fiend!
What makes this calamari for me is that 1.) it’s always cooked right (which #iykyk), and 2.) it’s served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce. This sauce elevates the flavor of the calamari, and for just $15.99 – it’s one of my favorite, affordable appetizer options while visiting the parks.
That being said, Yak & Yeti also serves excellent seared tuna salad, coconut shrimp, and ahi tuna nachos, which can be shared by two people. My husband and I always love to get these and share. They keep us full until dinner and only costs $21.99.
Tiffins
For those who love seafood but want to enjoy something a little different, I recommend heading over to Tiffins located in the Discovery Island portion of the park. For me, this menu elevates traditional seafood dishes, and even non-seafood dishes – for example, the lobster macaroni and cheese.
Prices are a bit higher here, but still reasonable for the amount of flavorful food you’re getting. Plus, the atmosphere is gorgeous! I recommend the Surf & Turf, which includes seared scallops or the charred octopus for an appetizer. It’s topped with really unique flavors like mole rojo, cilantro, pickled onions, and tequila of all things.
Disney World Resorts Best Seafood
Making my way from the Disney theme parks to the Disney resorts, here are my top picks of the Disney World resorts that offer the best seafood dishes.
Sanaa
While we just talked about the restaurants at Animal Kingdom, let’s keep the theme going by heading on over to Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you know me or have followed me on social media, then you already know how obsessed I am with the bread service. But I should also mention that I’m just as equally obsessed with the Samaki Wa Kupaka, aka, the restaurant’s in-season and turmeric-marinated sustainable fish. It’s served with a coconut gravy that is just beyond amazing. Promise me you’ll try it, okay?
While they don’t have the biggest seafood menu, their bold flavors certainly make up for it.
Read more: Sanaa Dining Review
Cape May Cafe
The Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort has always been a tradition for my family, especially because my nephew loves it! Though we make it a point to enjoy their character breakfast, we will try and sneak away for their surf-and-turf dinner as often as we can.
This surf-and-turf dinner is served buffet style, so I always feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. In terms of seafood, they serve everything from traditional steam boils, seafood-infused pasta salad, and snow crab legs (though keep in mind these will cost you an additional $29 per pound on top of the $47 per person base pricing).
They also serve the catch of the day, so chances are you’ll be able to try something new if you visit more than once.
Read more: Best Disney Buffets
Kona Cafe
I’ll be honest with you, outside of the Tonga Toast and ability to get Dole Whip outside of Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom, I feel that a lot of the offerings at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are overhyped. Don’t even get me started on ‘Ohana!
Read more: Official Tonga Toast Recipe from Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village
However, I will fully acknowledge that the Kona Cafe is not overhyped. I think it’s appropriately hyped. And the star of the Kona Cafe (outside of the Tonga Toast served for breakfast) is the fresh sushi they serve for dinner.
There are nine sushi rolls for you to choose from, including Shrimp Tempura, California Rolls, and Spicy Tuna Rolls (among others). Prices range from $16 – $28, with the Surf and Turf and Shrimp Fire Cracker Roll being the most expensive. For the price, you get a pretty large serving of sushi and they’re all incredibly fresh. Highly recommend a visit to the Kona Cafe if you have a hankering for fresh sushi while on vacation.
Read more: Kona Cafe Dining Review
Narcoossee’s
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa does a lot of things well, including its seafood offerings at Narcoossee’s. Delighting in coastal cuisine, guests dining here will not only be able to enjoy stunning waterfront views, but a versatile menu chock full of unique seafood delicacies like Blackened Redfish, Plancha-Seared Scallops, and salmon covered in a Yuzu-Ginger glaze.
My favorite menu item to get with my friends, however, is their Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board. For $28, you get charred octopus, lobster sausage, and ahi tuna pastrami. It’s unlike any charcuterie board I’ve had before.
Flying Fish
Located over at Disney’s BoardWalk, the menu at Flying Fish consists mainly of seafood, so if there’s anyone in your party who doesn’t like seafood, let them know that they’ll have limited options for anything else.
But if you love seafood, especially scallops, Chilean sea bass, and red snapper, you’ll adore this restaurant. Outside of the signature dining location mentioned earlier, this is also another pricy dinner spot, with entree prices ranging between $38 and $59. My husband’s favorite aspect of this restaurant, however, is that you can pay extra for enhancements, including seared scallops, sauteed shrimp, and cold water lobster tail.
Best Seafood Disney Springs
In my opinion, Disney Springs is where you will find the very best seafood offerings. Here are some of the top seafood restaurants at Disney Springs you should try next time you visit:
The BOATHOUSE: Great Food, Waterfront Dining, Dream Boats
Gotta start with The BOATHOUSE in the Landing section of Disney Springs. Waterfront dining? Check. Stylish water taxis that go from land to sea? Check. Cute blue drinks that come topped with a bite-size yellow ducky? They’re called the Duck, Duck Razz, and also, check.
The BOATHOUSE checks off all the marks to be considered one of the best seafood restaurants at Disney Springs. They offer a raw bar where you can get items like wild-caught Sea of Cortez shrimp and jumbo lump crab. For dinner, your options include all sorts of market fresh fish including Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper, Gulf of Maine Salmon, and Yellowfin Tuna.
This is a very seafood-heavy dining spot and in my opinion, one of the very best. It’s expensive, but pretty much on par with some of your more fine dining options around the parks. You can expect to probably pay around $100 for two people.
Paddlefish
You know that giant steamboat that’s docked in the Landing? It’s called Paddlefish and it’s a truly iconic, one-of-a-kind dining experience.
Paddlefish serves the best of both worlds when it comes to surf and turf, making it an excellent option for me and my husband when we visit. Though we both like seafood, sometimes we’re just not in the mood, so one of the starters I always make room for is their beef skewers with house steak sauce.
But, of course, this is an article about the best seafood at Disney World, so let me get back on track. I recommend the Peel & Eat Key West Pink Shrimp and Ahi Poke. I also recommend if you’re up for it, adding some shrimp or salmon to your salad for $10 – $12.
Between the prices, atmosphere, and menu selection, Paddlefish is one of the best seafood restaurants not just at Disney Springs but at the Disney World Resort as a whole.
Ragland Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
If you don’t have tickets to EPCOT, you can still savor the flavors of flaky fish and chips by visiting Ragland Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs.
But that’s not all! They serve a variety of great seafood options, not limited to Gnocchi Sea Gnocchi Do, which includes scallops and pork belly, and a creamy Irish seafood chowder that consists of cod, smoked haddock, and salmon. Ragland Road is one of the more unique restaurant offerings at Disney Springs that also comes with live entertainment, so hit it up next time you’re around.
Am I Just Going to Ignore Hollywood Studios?
Does Hollywood Studios serve seafood? Yes. You can find them at The Hollywood Brown Derby, Dockside Diner, and ABC Commissary. Are they any good? In my opinion, no. Well, not good enough to be included on this list.
The shrimp salad roll at Dockside Diner just doesn’t gel with the high Florida humidity. It gets way too warm, too fast and since it’s only served as an outside option, it really loses steam for me. There is, of course, the Hollywood Brown Derby, and I know everyone loves this restaurant, but it just doesn’t do it for me when compared to all these other wonderful options. Like, the Crab Louis and pan-roasted halibut are just average. I think there are better options for seafood elsewhere.
Honestly, if you’re looking for great seafood, your best bets are at these park locations, Disney Springs, and the Disney World resorts – like Narcoossee’s. It’s literally one of the best restaurants I’ve ever dined at. I think I’ll be forever dreaming about that ocean charcuterie board.
Final Thoughts
Of course, these are just my thoughts. What seafood table service restaurant or quick dining location do you think belongs here? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for all the latest Disney tips, tricks, and trivia. Our content is always magical.
As a self-proclaimed Mouseketeer, Courtney Dercqu is a fan of all things Disney. Between decorating her desk with souvenirs from the park, to making unique mouse ears and having a dedicated Disney Instagram, Courtney is a true believer in the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation. Having had more than 200 articles published on various content, Courtney’s excited to share her knowledge and experience with everyone! Be sure to follow her on Instagram for all the Disney magic.
