Counter service restaurants are important to any Disney trip. Because while the table service restaurants are great, they are an investment of time, and time on a Disney trip is precious. Surely, no one wants to eat three table service meals a day so you have to supplement. The way to supplement is of course hiring a private chef. If you can’t do that, then of course you’ll have to go the counter service route.
But how do you choose the best counter service restaurants with so many options out there? Don’t worry. We’ll help you out. Here’s our DCN Elite 8 for Counter Service Restaurants.
Number 8. Restaurantosaurus at Dinoland USA in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
Restaurantosaurus is on this list, not because of the food which is fine, not great, but fine, but because it’s the best themed counter service restaurant anywhere. If you listened to DCN: This Week last week you heard the amazing backstory of Dinoland USA. Restaurantosaurus is the epicenter of the entire backstory of Dinoland USA. There are so many fun gags, details, and bits of information for you to digest while you dine on the burgers and sandwiches the restaurant has to offer. In fact, bonus bit of trivia for you, it’s the only counter service that serves burgers in Animal Kingdom. So if that’s your thing … then, you know, by all means.
Number 7. Eight Spoon Café at the Discovery Island area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
Eight Spoon Café is the quintessential counter service snack stand. It is open most of the day. Their menu is small but packs a delicious punch. It’s basically a supped up macaroni and cheese stand. Here you can get regular baked macaroni or baked macaroni with pulled pork or backed macaroni with shrimp and sweet chili sauce. They also serve pretzels and chips but that’s it. The macaroni is the real star here and it’s great. Try the pulled pork mac and cheese, it’s a Disney fan favorite, and that distinction is actually rightfully earned – not like some others – yeah, I’m looking at you Dole Whip.
Number 6. Captain Cook’s in the Polynesian Resort.
Captain Cook’s is on the ground floor of the Polynesian resort and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But there’s only one thing you need to know about Captain Cook’s and that is … Tonga Toast. The delicious breakfast item is banana stuffed sourdough bread, battered, deep fried, and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. It tastes like relaxing on the beach in Flavortown! It’s the exact same Tonga Toast that is served upstairs at Kona Café and half the price! This menu item alone makes Captain Cook’s a worthy addition to this list but lunch and dinner packs a little punch with some righteous Asian style options such as Thai Coconut Meatballs, Aloha Pork Sandwich, and Pork Fried Rice. But Tonga Toast is what makes this a can’t miss.
Number 5. Satu’li Canteen at Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
Seems to be a trend here, doesn’t it? And yeah, Animal Kingdom Park has some amazing counter service options. It’s the best park to go to for counter service. Satu’li Canteen makes healthy eating fun and is open for lunch and dinner! Despite being themed after a stupid movie, Satu’li Canteen elevates its food offerings above the boring source material to make some truly delightful creations. The food here has more depth and flavor than any of the characters in the Avatar movies, and it doesn’t want to make you vomit! Here you have a variety of customizable bowls that you can fill with different types of rice and grains, fresh veggies, and perfectly grilled meats such as chicken, beef, and salmon. In addition to some truly killer bao buns! This counter service spot is easily the most unexpected surprise of the new Pandora land and quite possibly the most enticing reason to actually venture into the land.
Number 4. Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion at EPCOT.
Sunshine Seasons is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and during all meals the idea is the generally same – variety, variety, variety. Sunshine Seasons has an amazing variety of options for you to choose from and all of them are prepared well and prepared fresh. The area is cut up into different sections representing different types or styles of food from a noodle bar, a grill, sandwich shop, a bakery, and more. If you have a family or are with a group of friends with wildly different tastes but you all want great food, then Sunshine Seasons is the place for you. If you’re alone, it’s still a great option, too.
Number 3. Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks in the Asia area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
Thirsty River Bar is not only a snack stand, offering everything from popcorn and pretzels to hummus and frozen treats but, perhaps more importantly, it’s an amazing open air full bar that makes incredible adult beverages, or bevvies, if you will, using great liquors, good pours, and fresh ingredients. The location of this walk up bar is unbelievable with Expedition Everest’s snowcapped peaks looming in the distance behind you. If you ever wanted to drink a margarita in the shadow of the Himalayas, which is oddly specific, this is the place for you. The drinks, snacks, and impeccable view make this a spot that you got to get on down to Asia in the Animal Kingdom to try out.
Number 2. The Daily Poutine in Disney Springs.
If you’ve never tried poutine, stop listening right now and go directly to The Daily Poutine and order the classic. Go ahead. Pause the podcast and go. Whatever you have to spend to fly there and get it, it will be worth it. Two thousand, three thousand, sure, no problem. What is poutine you may ask? It is a large pile of hot thick cut French fries loaded with cheddar cheese curds and covered in succulent beef gravy. It’s justifiably called the food of the Gods, by someone, and it was created, believe it or not, by the Canadians. The Daily Poutine makes the number 2 on our list because they have poutine, frankly, and its impeccable quality poutine. The fries are thick and expertly cooked. The curds are the right density. The gravy is smooth and rich. Put this on your Disney bucket list food items, now.
And the number 1 counter service restaurant in Walt Disney World is … Tangerine Café in the Morocco Pavilion in EPCOT.
The Tangerine Café, open for lunch and dinner, serves Moroccan food, as you might expect, which by its nature is always tasty. Chicken shawarma, lamb, kefta, rotisserie chicken, and tabbouleh are just some of the items you can find here. However, the Tangerine Café doesn’t just attempt to put out these foods we know; it strives to elevate them in their preparation, cook, and spices. The flavors here are outstanding and sometimes unexpected for a theme park. Everything is always prepared expertly and crafted with the appropriate care. It has a nice assortment of items, enough to please different palettes. This is a no brainer winner for anyone looking for a high end quick meal in EPCOT. If you haven’t experienced it yet, make time. You definitely won’t regret it. Plus it’s also kinda healthy too, so you know, you can justify over eating and snagging a dessert to end the meal.
And that’s our “Elite 8” of counter services restaurants in Walt Disney World.