5 Easiest-to-Book Disneyland Restaurants That Actually Have Good Food

Easily one of the best parts of a Disneyland vacation is Disneyland's amazing table-service restaurants, which are known for their atmosphere and delicious offerings that appeal to a variety of palettes.

Some of the most easily recognizable Disneyland restaurants like Blue Bayou Restaurant, Lamplight Lounge, Carthay Circle Restaurant, and others may easily jump to mind, but dining reservations are coveted at these locations due to their popularity. Especially during peak crowded seasons at Disneyland, dining reservations can be gone in a flash for most locations.

If you are in the midst of planning a Disneyland trip and find yourself without dining reservations for some of the top Disneyland restaurants but still want to have a sit-down meal, there are thankfully still several great restaurants that are usually much easier to book than the locations we mentioned above. We visit Disneyland frequently and many of these locations have become our favorites that we consider to be some of the best Disneyland restaurants.

Below, we will take you through our top five recommendations for the easiest-to-book Disneyland restaurants that actually have good Disneyland food!

Carnation Cafe

This iconic Disneyland restaurant doesn't book up quite as quickly as some other restaurants that have reservations gone in the blink of an eye. Of course, we don't recommend waiting until the day before to book dining reservations for any of the locations on this list, but in the days leading up to your trip, Carnation Cafe is still likely to have some more availability than other restaurants.

The atmosphere of the outdoor patio next to Main Street U.S.A. is really what makes this location stand out—it's hard not to look at the candy-striped umbrellas as you are walking by and wish you were there! You can even time your reservation around the afternoon parade to soak in the fun atmosphere. Carnation Cafe also has some wonderful menu options, like Walt's Chili which is named in his honor. We think it is so cool that you are able to eat Walt's favorite meal at this location! We also enjoy the veggie burger and fried pickles here as well.

Carnation Cafe is a great option that you should be able to easily secure a reservation for without having to be ready to pounce 60 days in advance.

River Belle Terrace

River Belle Terrace is another restaurant at Disneyland that will often have reservations available while other locations are booked up. This Frontierland restaurant offers views of the Rivers of America and a menu of Southern comfort food, with favorites like the Pimento cheese dip and brisket mac and cheese. This is a good option if your Disneyland trip is coming up and you haven't yet booked a dining reservation, as there will likely still be a selection of open times to choose from and you'll get an easy and satisfying meal with many options that kids will like.

GCH Craftsman Bar

Another great option with reservations that don't book up far in advance is GCH Craftsman Bar at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This is a hidden gem restaurant at the Disneyland Resort that is absolutely worth experiencing! See our review of the GCH Craftsman Bar and why our site's founder Gavin eats there almost every visit.

If you're looking to mix it up from the standard theme park fare, you'll find plenty of fresh and healthy options here. Some standout items here are the poke bowl and seasonal hamburger. The restaurant is poolside and has an idyllic atmosphere that is perfect for unwinding during a break from the crowds of the parks. This is a great option if you haven't made a reservation and worth the trip out of the parks.

You can also choose to do a walk-up at this location as well—you may still have some sort of wait, but you'll be able to get in to eat easily.

READ MORE – Introvert's Top 5 Tips to Actually Enjoy Disney Character Dining Meals

Naples Ristorante e Bar

Another one of the easiest-to-book dining options is located in Downtown Disney. There are several restaurants in Downtown Disney, but this is a particularly great option and one of our favorites. Naples Ristorante e Bar offers a selection of Italian food and is the best place to get pizza if you are craving it! You can choose from a variety of different wood-fired pizzas here or build your own pizza. You'll also find plenty of other options here like pasta, salads, and other entrees. There is both seating indoors and an outdoor patio area you can enjoy at Naples Ristorante e Bar.

If you're already planning on taking a break from the parks to eat, this Downtown Disney location is a great choice and often has reservation availability while other locations will book up much faster. This restaurant is one of our favorites on our list of the best Downtown Disney restaurants.

Storytellers Cafe

Another great dining option with lots of reservation availability is Storytellers Cafe. This restaurant is located at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and during breakfast and brunch is home to one of the best Character Dining experiences, Mickey's Tales of Adventure. If you haven't made a dining reservation for your trip yet and are looking for an extra fun sit-down experience, this is a great option. As we discuss in our full Character Dining guide, this location has a great atmosphere and the best buffet food for a Character Dining meal. It features Mickey as well as other classic characters like Minnie, Chip and Dale, and Pluto.

While Storytellers Cafe doesn't have characters out at dinner, it does still offer a buffet with a variety of options for kids and adults alike. If you're planning on seeing World of Color at Disney California Adventure in the evening, you can also take advantage of the dining package for the show that this location has to offer. You can't make reservations for the package specifically, but you can make a reservation at the restaurant and then let your host or server know you're interested in the package (available on a first-come, first-served basis).

Bonus – Quick Service Restaurants

Wrapping up the list of the top easiest-to-book Disneyland restaurants with great food, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the wealth of incredible quick-service locations across the resort. You need no reservation for these, and they offer some of the best food that you will find at Disneyland!

Some of our favorites include Bengal Barbecue, Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, and Pym Test Kitchen, to name a few. If you're hungry and don't have dining reservations, these will all do the trick for a fast, easy, and filling meal. See some more of our favorite Disneyland quick-service restaurants in our full guide.

If you have your heart set on a certain dining reservation that is booked up, see our top 5 tips for getting Disneyland dining reservations.

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