I got a little obsessed hunting for local food options in the Anaheim Resort District (where the Disney Theme Parks and Anaheim Convention Center are located) ahead of Star Wars Celebration last year.
I talked to frequent Disneyland-goers about their favorite spots, exchanged emails with the Anaheim Convention Center and their concessions-provider Aramark, and even tried sorting through online business license records.
Once I was in Anaheim, I walked into restaurants I hadn’t been able to find information for to ask questions and pick up take-out menus.
In the end, I had this list of restaurants that are some combination of unique to the area, highly recommended, and/or offering something local, as well as being walking-distance from the Disney Parks and Anaheim Convention Center – without requiring admission.
So here it is, updated with current information and grouped geographically. I marked up a map to help you visualize it all.
1. Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels
Located between – but outside of – the Parks, Downtown Disney includes shopping, restaurants, and live music.
While this is not the place to find indie eateries, there are plenty of unique spots that are true to their location in Mickey’s backyard. (I mean, it’s not like every city has an Enchanted Tiki Bar.)
- Catal Restaurant – frequently recommended as one of the best restaurants in Downtown Disney.
- Earl of Sandwich – for a quick bite.
- Napa Rose Lounge (at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa) – for seasonal small plates. Full dinner menu available in the main Napa Rose dining room (reservations recommended).
- Tangaroa Terrace (at Disneyland Hotel)
- Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (at Disneyland Hotel) – for drinks.
Find character dining, menus, accessibility, hours, etc. on Disneyland Resort’s site.
2. East of Disney
We walked by a lot of the places listed below en route from our hotel to the convention last year. We tried a few and liked breakfast at Chambers (and were guests of Hotel Indigo Anaheim), lunch at Tanor, late-night take-out from Sabrosada/Alertos.
We ran out of time to try the Pizza Press while we were in Anaheim, but the Pasadena location hosted us for lunch on our more recent trip. Summary of the upcoming review: it was super good!
- Pizza Press build-your-own-pizza concept (similar to Fired Pie here in Phoenix). They’ve expanded to 6 Southern California locations.
- Chambers Bar & Bistro at Hotel Indigo Anaheim – breakfast, sandwiches, flatbread, local produce, and seasonal desserts. While it appears the chilaquiles are off the menu (sad trombone), we also enjoyed their breakfast burritos.
- Gandhi Palace – Indian restaurant recommended by Whitney Drake on last year’s BlogHer post.
Anaheim Resort Centre
In another post, I called this “Anaheim’s Local Food Corner,” because one unimpressive-looking strip mall contained 5 different non-chain restaurants.
- California Pizza Place (menu) – narrow dining room with walls crammed with retro paraphernalia serving pizza, burgers, and pancakes. Delivery is also available.
- Tanor Mediterranean Grill (menu) – Mediterranean/Persian food with delicious chicken shawarma.
- Star Burger (menu) – fusion of burgers, kimchi, and bulkogi (Korean-style grilled beef).
- Sabrosada (menu) – formerly known as Alertos Mexican Food, family-owned taqueria with five Southern California locations. We liked the al pastor and pollo asado mini tacos.
- Panda Kitchen (menu) – American Chinese food. You can call ahead to pick up your order or dine in.
Anaheim GardenWalk
This is a bigger, newer shopping center populated mostly by chains, including the Cheesecake Factory that the German Big Bang Theory fans we met last year were so excited to visit.
- Kip Barry’s Cabaret – Cafe, magic gift shop, and performance venue. Formerly Houdini’s Hideaway.
- House of Blues – Restaurant and music venue, opening at the GardenWalk this fall. (Moving from their previous location at Downtown Disney, which has already closed.)
3. Anaheim Convention Center
The Anaheim Convention Center is across the street from the Disneyland Resort. I was pleasantly surprised to learn they are serious about sourcing local and sustainable food and beverages. If you’re attending a conference or convention there, you can check out ecoGrounds / Java City Fair Trade coffee in the lobby. They may also have the Hearst Ranch Grill open with all-beef hamburgers from the Convention Center’s own herd of free-range, grass-fed cattle.
If you don’t have an event badge or just want to get out of the crowded Convention Center halls for a minute, here’s what’s right next door:
- Anaheim Marriott on southwest side of Convention Center has a bar/restaurant called nFuse that serves local craft beers and seasonal microbrews. There is also a nice lobby with lots of seating. I believe there is also wifi and outlets. (Otherwise, there’s also a large Starbucks off the lobby. They handled the extra long line like it was child’s play.)
- Hilton Anaheim on west side of Convention Center. In the food court…
- Just Grillin’ Express – Burgers, salads, and fries (spicy or not) made from ingredients delivered daily. Based in Alhambra, California.
- Submarina – a Southern California based sub sandwich chain.
– More info –
- Disneyland Restaurants Guide (Disney Food Blog) – information on restaurants throughout the Disneyland Resort, including inside the Parks.
- Disneyland Resort Beer List (Beers and Ears)
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A big thanks to Sarah Woloski of the Skywalking through Neverland podcast, Genevieve Eldred, Paul Barrie of the Window to the Magic podcast, and Whitney Drake for sharing their favorite spots!
The map is a screenshot from Apple Maps I modified in Skitch. Other photos by Phillip and me.
