Downtown Disney is currently in the midst of a transformation that will add several new restaurants to the shopping, dining, and entertainment center. While there have been many announcements made for the area recently, like three highly anticipated restaurants opening in 2024 and a temporary pop-up location added for a popular dining spot, some Downtown Disney locations have had to say goodbye to make room for the new offerings coming.
Catal and Uva Bar were closed last spring to make room for Paseo and Céntrico, which will serve Mexican cuisine by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán. Now, we have news that another longtime Downtown Disney restaurant will be closing soon. Keep reading for more details about which location will be closing as well as our thoughts on the closure. The restaurant closing date has now been extended and a new opening timing for new restaurants have been shared! See details below.
Disney also previously shared that new unique restaurant concepts would be coming to a marketplace that will be located in the former ESPN Zone location.
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Downtown Disney Restaurant Closing Soon—Details!
Tortilla Jo's, the Mexican restaurant and tequila bar in Downtown Disney that serves “authentic south-of-the-border specialties in a vibrant setting,” will be closing soon. The news was shared via an email to customers that begins with “To our Tortilla Jo's familia, thank you for an incredible 20 years!”
We are not too disappointed to see Tortilla Jo's go, as this location always struck us as bland compared to other Mexican quick-service locations in the parks. Compared to some other very popular Downtown Disney restaurants, Tortilla Jo's was never too highly regarded by guests, which was indicated by its reservation availability always being open. On our list of the best Downtown Disney restaurants, we named this one a skippable experience.
Generally Tortilla Jo's always had a large amount of availability for dining reservations when looking in the Disneyland app. We have been saying for quite some time that this restaurant was past its prime and ready to be shuttered.
We suspected that Tortilla Jo's might be on the way out given the upcoming addition of the Mexican restaurants Paseo and Céntrico, which will “offer guests a multi-sensory journey to the heart of Chef Gaytan’s homeland.”
We have received word from a Disney official that many of the Tortilla Jo's employees will be transferring to support the opening of Patina Restaurant Group’s Paseo and Céntrico locations. It hasn't yet been announced what will be filling the Tortilla Jo's space, but more details will be coming soon.
When Will Tortilla Jo's Close?
UPDATE! Tortilla Jo's restaurant will remain open an additional week to allow guests to say goodbye to the restaurant. The closure date is now Sunday, April 7. Reservations can still be made for visits up to April 7 and can be booked on the Disneyland app, subject to availability. Walk-in dining will be available through the final day of service. The restaurant shared that the “restaurant will continue to offer guest favorites and specials to commemorate their legacy at the Downtown Disney District”.
In this release of the information, the restaurant group behind this location and the new locations coming that we discuss below shared a new detail about their opening. They said “fans can look forward to a new era of Mexican food at the Downtown Disney District with the debut of three new restaurant concepts from Chef Carlos Gaytán coming this spring – Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita”. So, we won't have to wait too long for the new locations to bring more Mexican to the area.
Tortilla Jo’s last day of operation in Downtown Disney will be March 31, 2024, while the quick service Taqueria by Tortilla Jo’s will stay open a bit longer until April 13, 2024.
The email from Tortilla Jo's to customers said to “Stay tuned as we share our final specials and more details on our newest Downtown Disney Mexican restaurants coming in 2024.” We assume that the new Mexican restaurants they are referencing are the locations that we described above.
You can see the email from Tortilla Jo's in a tweet by Scott Gustin below:
In an email to customers, Tortilla Jo's at Downtown Disney District announces the restaurant will permanently close on March 31. https://t.co/O7kER2cdsi
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) January 10, 2024
New Additions Coming to Downtown Disney
Several major additions are coming soon to Downtown Disney! In addition to Paseo and Centrico coming to Downtown Disney in 2024 (see the concept art for Paseo above!), it was announced that the world-renowned Din Tai Fung will also be opening this year as well. Din Tai Fung originated in Taiwan and is famous for its delicious soup dumplings and noodles. This is one of our favorite restaurants, so we're really looking forward to seeing this come to Downtown Disney. See our review of dining at another one of Din Tai Fung's locations for an idea of what to expect! See the concept art for the inside of the restaurant below:
Also coming to Downtown Disney is Porto's Bakery & Café, known for its pastries, desserts, and California-Cuban-inspired dishes. This is a highly-anticipated addition, and there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the announcement of Porto's coming to Disneyland at the last D23 Expo. Porto's will eventually be taking the spot of Earl of Sandwich.
Disney also recently announced that a new dining location will be coming to Downtown Disney called Parkside Market as part of the expansion on the west end, and it will have four offerings. The fast-casual modern eatery Seoul Sister will offer a Korean-inspired menu based on bibimbap (Korean rice bowls) with a Californian twist. The Black women-owned brand Sip & Sonder, recognized as one of the best cafés in L.A. by the Los Angeles Times, will offer signature lattes, fresh treats, frozen drinks, and Caribbean-inspired bites. GG’s Chicken Shop will offer a family-friendly menu of chicken sandwiches, salads, and classic dinner table sides. There will also be a second-story bar that will be an al fresco spot, offering signature craft cocktails and mocktails. Drinks will include options like frozen lemonades, frozés, espresso martinis, shareable cocktails, and spirit-free elixirs.
Downtown Disney recently opened a new stage and lawn on the west end of the district for special events, activities, and musical entertainment. This new area features a sculptural tower designed by Nikkolas Smith that pays tribute to the work of pioneering architects of color in Southern California during the mid-20th century.
You can see more details about Downtown Disney in our full guide to the area!
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Disagree with you wholeheartedly. It is a really good place to enjoy tableside guacamole and a reasonable priced plate of tasty Mexican fare. We made special trips to enjoy eating alfresco amidst the DTD atmosphere quite often and are sad to see it go. I’m sure the new Michelin-Star restaurant will be only attainable for those with deep pockets or a blogger who can write it all off.
100%. My go to for a meal which does not include meat.
Totally disagree. When I first started going to Disneyland I ate at Yamabuki with great Sushi. So that closed. Then Downtown Disney opened and I found Tortilla Jo’s and always ate here. Less phony than the others.
Finally! We have tried to eat here 3 times and each time was not good, food was bland and cold. The few people who like this place have not eaten real Mexican food. I’m so glad it’s leaving.
Worked in Mexico City for 2 years so I did have a few meals there. You will not find authentic Mexican in the USA with very very few exceptions. Oaxacan food is my favorite but I guess it is the same reason why authentic foreign food is hard to find in Mexico. Philadelphia Cheese in your California roll anyone?
Never ate at Tortilla Joes, I don’t do anything spicy due to allergies. So they are bringing in more spicy restaurants. And poor Earl of Sandwich, moving again. Can’t wait to see them in a permanent space. (one of the few places I can eat at DTD.) I’d love to see a nice sit down restaurant that isn’t Cajun, Carribean, Mexican, or anything else that doesn’t have at least one dish that isn’t drenched with spice. I’m getting tired of Hot Dogs and Hamburgers in Disneyland.
whats going to happen to Earl of sandwich its probably the only thing left that people can truly afford except maybe Portos. what a shame