One of Disneyland’s best quick-service and grab-and-go restaurants is located in one of the busiest walking paths in the park, so many guests rush right by without realizing what they’re missing. This is my favorite quick-dining spot at Disneyland (see another favorite lunch spot here), and my family never skips eating here on each visit.
This standout location consistently delivers the best, high-quality grab-and-go food in the park that is even better than many of the sit-down restaurants. Here’s why you shouldn’t walk past this Disneyland favorite of mine. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including new Star Wars popcorn buckets just released in theaters and a major rope drop change at Disney California Adventure.
READ MORE – These 10 Disney Rides Have Changed Dramatically Since Their Opening
I Never Skip Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland
Tiana’s Palace is a quick-service restaurant in New Orleans Square inspired by The Princess and the Frog. The theme of this restaurant is named after Tiana’s restaurant in the film, although it is a grab-and-go location. Tiana’s Palace was a complete reimagining of the former French Market Restaurant, and with this new look, it also received an upgraded menu. This is a cafeteria-style location where you slide your tray along and pick out your food before paying.
Disney Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
The location offers a large seating area under an awning that provides great shade in the middle of New Orleans Square.
While I don’t consider this to be a “secret” gem of any kind at Disneyland, I do think the crowds surrounding the restaurant can cause many guests to skip it in favor of sit-down restaurants. But personally, I feel this food is better than most sit-down restaurants in this area of the park and at a far lower cost as well. There is also great live music in the area throughout the day from talented Disneyland musicians.
You can also mobile order to avoid the long lines that tend to happen during peak lunch and dinner times. This is often what my family does because we KNOW we are eating here on day one. We set our mobile order in the morning so it’s ready to go, and we just head over during our pick-up time. This is also how you can get those amazing cold brews in a good-to-go cup to take around the park with you.
Best Quick Service Food in Disneyland
The menu at Tiana’s Palace focuses on New Orleans-inspired comfort food. You can find items here like gumbo, shrimp and grits, Cajun-spiced dishes, and house-made beignets. A meal from this location is as filling as a table service meal without the higher cost and necessity to tip. This is my family’s favorite quick-service location in Disneyland. We look forward to eating here on every trip, and often it’s the place we check off our list on the very first day!
Note that the location is also located right next to the Mint Julep Bar where you can get Mickey Mouse-shaped Beignets. The seating area is a perfect place to enjoy food from both restaurants.
What really stands out for me as a vegetarian is the option to get a vegetarian gumbo called the 7 Greens Gumbo! This vegetarian dish has different types of greens, which is a New Orleans tradition in itself. Along with greens, the dish also includes white beans, okra, yams, sweet potatoes, and heirloom rice. This is such a flavorful dish for a vegetarian item. It is not a spicy item, but it is definitely not boring either. Guests also have the option of adding meat to this dish.
This is one of the best vegetarian options in Disneyland, and I dream of this gumbo in the days counting down to a Disneyland visit. You just can’t find such good grab-and-go vegetarian options anywhere else. Especially now that we’ve lost the popular vegetarian skewers at Bengal BBQ!
Slowly, we are losing many unique vegetarian options to what I like to call the Impossible brand takeover, and I personally am not a fan of those meatless products. Having such diverse vegetarian options like this delicious vegetarian gumbo is a far superior option. And of course, so is the house-made vegetarian burger at Carnation Cafe that hopefully will remain safe from being replaced by Impossible as well.
For the picky eaters, the baked mac and cheese at Tiana’s Palace is heavenly. Baked mac and cheese is my son’s favorite casserole that I make at home, so this is always a favorite of his. We might raise some eyebrows, though, since we’re often ordering three kids’ meals for one person. Just so he can get a serving big enough for a teenager! Maybe that’s a call out for Disneyland to add a teenager upgrade for the kids’ meals for our picky eaters.
The cornbread here is also a great side, which works well for adults and your picky eaters. The cornbread is always light and fluffy.
Oh, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Tiana’s Palace is also my favorite place in Disneyland to get a cold brew. The flavors for the cold brews here change throughout the year but this is often where you can find the best place to get one. Right now, there’s an option for a Joffrey’s Coffee Nitro Cold Brew and a Beignet Flavored Cold Brew. The cold brews here are also not as sweet as other coffee drinks around the resort. In fact, it can be tricky to find a cold brew that doesn’t come with a pile of Cocoa Puffs (looking at you, Galaxy’s Edge!) and tastes like what it is meant to be in the first place…. coffee!
READ MORE – This Is The Coolest Moment of the Day at Disney California Adventure You Won’t Want to Miss
If you haven’t tried Tiana’s Palace, it’s about time to add it to your list. The quick-service food here is superior to all the other locations in this area. While the crowds around it might look overwhelming at peak dining times, set a mobile order and designate your best “table snatcher” in your group to watch for an open table. It’s worth it.
Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News
Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.
