When traveling to different theme parks around the world, you probably look into what the best rides are at each. You can always look at the skyline and set out towards the biggest roller coaster. However, you might miss out on a classic or guest favorite attraction, tucked away somewhere out of view.
Along the same line of thought, some of the best places to eat in any given theme park may not be obvious, or even stand out at all, just from a casual visit.
Some locations may have been created to offer an incredible dining atmosphere. Others may have gained their own legendary reputation over the years just because of the dishes that are served. Meanwhile, some have become well-known for their romantic vibe.
In fact, many dining experiences have become so well known that guests seek them out simply for the location, no matter what they choose to eat.
So with all that in mind, I’ve put together a list of the 12 most popular theme park dining experiences.
12) The Chocolatier at Hersheypark – Pennsylvania, US
This is one of the newest dining experiences on the list. It opened in 2021 as part of a complete renovation and expansion of Hersheypark’s entrance plaza. This resulted in the creation of the new Chocolatetown-themed area, which also featured the park’s new signature Candymonuium hypercoaster.
The interesting thing about the Chocolatier restaurant is that it is actually located just outside the park entrance. This makes it accessible to everyone, not just park guests.
The decor inside pays homage to classic Hersheypark theme park attractions. Lighting resembles the tracks from the park’s roller coasters, and dining booths are modeled after some classic Hersheypark ride vehicles. If you dine on the outdoor patio, you can even enjoy a view of many of the attractions, including Candymonium.
The menu itself features many interesting dishes that have been enhanced with a touch of Hershey’s chocolate magic. For instance, Reese’s Peanut Butter Crunch Burger, Cocoa Rubbed Filet Mignon, and Hershey’s Chocolate BBQ Chicken Wings. If you can’t decide, a sampler of appetizers comes to your table served on a miniature Ferris wheel.
As for the desserts… let’s just say that they’ve got something for whatever your sweet tooth desires.
11) Sharks Underwater Grill & Bar at SeaWorld Orlando – Florida, US
This one features one of the most unique dining locations of them all. It places guests under the water with a view into the park’s gigantic Shark Encounter exhibit. Here, they can dine eye to eye with the ocean’s legendary eating machines.
The family-friendly restaurant that features a full bar and a more upscale menu, with a price tag to match. While I can’t comment on the quality of the food itself, it would be hard to find another location quite like this one.
10) FoodLoop at Europa-Park (Rust, Germany)
The idea behind FoodLoop inside Europa-Park allows diners to be seated at a table within a high-ceiling restaurant room filled with miniature roller coaster tracks that run from the kitchen to each individual table.
The diners can scan through each restaurant’s menu on a touch screen at their table. When they select and pay for their food order, it is then electronically sent to the kitchen.
Upon being prepared, the food is loaded into unique covered dishes that are then carefully seated into the miniature roller coaster cars. These are then loaded onto the correct lift to be delivered right to your table, after taking itself on a grand tour of the restaurant via the sprawling network of interwoven tracks. Some will even send your food through an inversion before coming to your table.
A few other restaurants have also copied this interesting dining experience design. For example, Roller Coaster Restaurant at Alton Towers (UK), Rogo’s Restaurant at Yas Island Mall (Abu Dhabi) and Space Loop at Futuroscope (France).
9) Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Florida, US
While the menu options are more akin to typical theme park fast food options, heavily featuring options like chicken, burgers, fries, onion rings and wings, it is the setting that really sets this restaurant apart.
While you are definitely indoors, your group will be escorted “outside” to what looks like a classic 1950s Drive-In Movie Theater under the twilight sky. The setting is complete with an assortment of colorful convertible cars parked facing a giant movie screen.
Slide on in and get comfy, because these cars have been modified to serve as your dining table. They position everyone with a great view of the big screen, where you are entertained by a never-ending loop of classic Sci-Fi movie trailers mixed in with some fun Drive-In style food promotions.
This one is sort of a hidden gem at Walt Disney World. It far too often goes unnoticed by the average guest passing by the Soundstage-themed exterior building on their way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
8) Aunt Granny’s Restaurant at Dollywood – Tennessee, US
Set up to feel like you’ve stopped by your Granny’s house in the middle of the Smoky Mountains, the offerings here are unique from most other restaurants, starting with the price.
Aunt Granny’s at Dollywood offers an all-you-can-eat meal for a single set price per person, served family-style at each table. This means that diners can select up to three main dishes to be served to the entire table, up to four side dishes, plus bread, a beverage and a single dessert per person.
These are classic country-style dishes such as Southern Fried Chicken, Pot Roast, Fried Catfish, Baked Chicken and more. And, if you run out of anything at the table, you can ask for another plate to be brought out.
7) Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios – California & Florida, US
For many, it isn’t enough to walk into a living and breathing recreation of the Star Wars universe. They also want to know precisely what delicacies have been brought from a galaxy far, far away. While there are stands to try out some fun snacks, Galaxy’s Edge has a few different restaurants to try.
One of the most popular stops is Oga’s Cantina, which until very recently was on an advanced reservation policy only. This is where you can try a plethora of fancy themed beverages (cocktails and mocktails). Yet the space here is very limited. A table is going to be hard to come by if you wish to try something a little more substantial.
The atmosphere here is solid for anyone who has dreamed of what it would be like to hang out in a classic Star Wars location like the Mos Eisley Cantina in the original Star Wars.
Those who are just dying for a heavy meal would be better off seeking out interesting options from Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo in the city or seeking out Ronto Roasters. Here, you’ll find a giant podracer engine working to keep the fire blazing in the BBQ pit.
6) Pym Test Kitchen at Disney California Adventure and the Pym Kitchen at Walt Disney Studios Paris – California, US, and Paris, France
The overall theme of these two locations is essentially the same. You will dine in an experimental lab-style environment where various food items have been sized up or down through the use of Ant-Man and The Wasp’s PYM Particle technology.
The California version operates as a quick-service restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here, you can eat the Not so Little Chicken Sandwich (a gigantic fried chicken breast served within a micro-sized bun), or munch on the Quantum Pretzel (a massive pretzel the size of a frisbee with dipping cheese and sauce). There is also an assortment of other oddities.
By contrast, the Pym Kitchen experience at the Paris Resort is a pay-one-price buffet experience that recommends reservations. It also offers cocktails and mocktails to enjoy for an upcharge. The food offerings share a similar concept with the California version. However, the menu here is much broader and perhaps a little more appealing to European taste buds.
5) Mythos at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – Florida, US
When Universal’s design team was busy creating what would become the Islands of Adventure theme park that opened in 1999, they designed one restaurant in particular to stand out as the park’s signature dining experience.
Set within the Lost Continent area of the park, Mythos was created, appearing as if it had been carved out of a giant stone mountain, full of carvings of mystical building features, god-like beings, and waterfalls trickling down its surface.
The interior of the restaurant maintains a cave-like atmosphere. It features a full-service restaurant that won an award for being the “Best Theme Park Restaurant” for several years.
4) The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World – Florida, US
I’m going to cheat here a little bit. Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park features several very popular dining options that a lot of people feel strongly about. This is often based on their memories of past visits or a long-time desire to dine at one of these locations on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Amongst the most popular options is Liberty Tree Tavern. This offers a one-price all-you-can-eat family-style meal experience similar to Dollywood’s Aunt Granny’s, but in a Colonial America setting. For those seeking a little adventure with their meal, there is the relatively new Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen eatery just inside Adventureland.
If you have the desire to feel like royalty, you can dine within the park’s iconic castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table (one price for all). Or, in the heart of Fantasyland, there is the one-price Beauty & the Beast themed Be Our Guest Restaurant. This does indeed serve “The Grey Stuff”.
Advanced reservations are recommended if you want to dine at most of these locations.
3) Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World – Florida, US
Much like at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, there are several popular restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.
The first of two top table-service experiences, however, would be the Yak & Yeti Restaurant, in the shadow of Expedition Everest. This offers pan-Asian flavored dishes within a dining hall that appears to be filled with various artifacts found on exploration trips.
On the other side of the park, just before you cross the bridge into Pandora: The World of Avatar you will find Tiffins Restaurant. This is earmarked as the park’s true fine dining experience. It features an eccentric menu of dishes and flavors curated from around the world.
Options range from Korean BBQ, Moroccan Short Ribs, Oaxacan Pork, South African Shrimp & Grits, along with an assortment of seafood dishes from around the world.
2) Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland – California, US and Tokyo, Japan
The original Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland may be considered the grandfather of themed dining. The unique New Orleans bayou-themed restaurant was built as part of the park’s world-famous Pirates of the Caribbean dark flume ride.
Guests dine along the water of the bayou as the current pushes boat after boat of theme park riders by, passing further into the swampy wilderness on their way to “Seeking adventure and salty old pirates.”
Both the ride and the restaurant at Disneyland opened in the Spring of 1967. This was one of the last additions overseen by Walt Disney himself, along with the nearby Haunted Mansion that opened in 1969. While the menu has slightly changed over the years, some classics remain. For instance, Creole/Cajun-flavored chicken, prime rib, fish, and my personal favorite over the years, the Monte Cristo sandwich.
When Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, that theme park too wanted a copy of the Blue Bayou Restaurant for dining options, along with their own Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
Other Pirates-themed restaurants
It is also worth mentioning that the concept was copied again later at Disneyland Paris. Here it has a tropical Caribbean theme, and is now known as Captain Jack’s – Restaurant des Pirates.
Another version of the tropical concept was also built, Shanghai Disneyland’s Barbossa’s Bounty. This is located within the Treasure Cove land of the park. It features different pirate-themed dining rooms. There is even one set inside the Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Sunken Treasure attraction itself.
The primary difference between Barbossa’s Bounty and the other Pirates-themed restaurants is that the Shanghai version is simply a quick-service restaurant and not a table-service dining experience like the rest.
I will also give a well-deserved nod to Europa-Park. They created the Bamboo Baai Restaurant inside their own Pirates-inspired dark flume ride, Pirates in Batavia. Like the Disney versions, diners at the restaurant are seated by a section of the flume ride. They can watch as guests float past on the ride.
Unlike the Disney version, both versions of the Bamboo Baai restaurant (both before and after the attraction was rebuilt from scratch after the fire burned down the original in 2018) are located near the very end of the ride experience, and not at the beginning.
Bamboo Baai, however, is listed as a self-service restaurant experience. It offers a variety of quick noodle, rice and dim sum asian cuisine options.
New & upcoming theme park dining experiences
Before I come to the top location, I should mention several new and upcoming experiences, too.
Disney is opening a new Pirates-themed lounge experience at the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean in Walt Disney World. While this isn’t table-service dining, it will feature more appetiser-style food offerings. There is also a long list of themed beverages (including adult beverages) from this new pirate-themed “Beak & Barrel” lounge.
I would also be remiss if I did not mention all the fantastic themed dining options that were brought to life with the opening of Universal Epic Universe in Orlando.
The options range from unique Viking-themed creations at the How To Train Your Dragon-themed world, video-game-inspired food from Super Nintendo World, magical French cuisine from the Parisian-themed Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the chance to dine in a vampire-inspired steakhouse set inside the Dark Universe.
I excluded Disney’s Club 33 at Disneyland, along with extensions of the Club 33 dining experiences at Walt Disney World. That is because these are exclusive “membership-only” dining clubs and are not accessible to the general public.
So with that in mind, I’m going to cheat big-time here with the top choice:
1) Epcot at Walt Disney World – Florida, US
When I say that I’m cheating, it’s simply because I can’t choose just one top restaurant within Epcot. There are too many!
Virtually every nation represented within the World Showcase section of the park features a top-level themed dining experience. A couple of pavilions within the Future World side of the park offer some extremely themed dining experiences as well.
In essence, Epcot lives up to its reputation as a theme park for adults. Having lived in Orlando for several years, with a Disney annual pass, we would often find ourselves just heading over to Epcot in the evening hours for dinner and the fireworks spectacular. So, we tried out most of the different locations at one time or another.
With that in mind, here are a few of the top-tier dining experiences Epcot has to offer.
The Coral Reef Restaurant at The Living Seas
SeaWorld isn’t the only park in Orlando to offer an underwater dining experience. Diners at the Coral Reef are treated to a view inside the massive aquarium tank that takes up most of the space within the attraction, offering views of fish, sharks, turtles, rays and more.
Space 220 at Mission: Space
Perhaps the newest dining experience on the list. Diners to take a simulated space elevator 220 miles up to a restaurant space themed as an orbital platform. Here, you can dine while looking down upon the rotating Earth itself.
San Angel Inn Restaurante in the Mexico pavilion
Venture deep inside the Mexico pavilion for a restaurant set in eternal night. Guests can dine in the shadow of an ancient temple as the boats from the Gran Fiesta Tour sail by.
If you are thinking that this sounds a lot like the Blue Bayou at Disneyland with Mexican cuisine instead of Pirates, then you would not be wrong at all.
Biergarten Restaurant in the Germany pavilion
If giant mugs of beer, an all-you-can-eat buffet of German-inspired food weren’t enough, you are entertained by a nearly never-ending biergarten-style Polka band who occasionally brings up a volunteer or two.
Be sure to save room for dessert.
Italy pavilion
The Italy pavilion features two very popular restaurants. Via Napoli Ristorante, if you are in the mood for high-end pizza, or make a reservation to get into Tutto Italia Ristorante for some fine Italian-style dining.
Monsieur Paul in the France pavilion
This is where you’ll want to be if you are in the mood for fine French dining with a romantic atmosphere.
I believe it used to offer a more traditional menu with various prices. These days, you can expect to pay a single fixed price of $195 per adult for an entire multi-course meal experience that includes a starter cocktail, Hors d’oeuvres, courses featuring both seafood and regular meat dishes, and a fromage (cheese) course.
And, of course, it ends with dessert and a final cocktail to send you on your way.
The Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room in the UK pavilion
In the UK pavilion, you may want to stop by the Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room. This offers an assortment of British-inspired dishes.
The Rose & Crown is also set on the water. So, a highlight of this location can be found if you reserve a special dining and fireworks viewing package to end your night with a bang.
Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion
Lastly, and one of my personal favourites, would be Le Cellier Steakhouse tucked away from view at the Canadian pavilion. Here you can treat your inner carnivore with a wide selection of steaks and seafood to choose from that are grilled on an open fire.
Themed as if you were dining within a dark but comfy wine cellar, the location is also known for offering some of the finest wines you can get in Epcot (don’t tell France). Plus, there is a great selection of beer.
