Downtown Disney Expansion Guide- Over Nine NEW Dining Locations Coming Soon!
Downtown Disney has been in the process of a transformation as old restaurants have been replaced by new and more diverse dining opportunities. There are more than seven NEW dining locations in the works at Downtown Disney including a new, permanent location for Earl of Sandwich.
Downtown Disney's expansion and refurbishment have led to the closures of old restaurants (Tortilla Joes, Catal Restaurant, Uva Bar) and these new, diverse dining options will replace the prior locations. The new changes to Downtown Disney also include a stronger emphasis on open air, outdoor dining, live music, and new art sculptures.
We visit Downtown Disney weekly and will be sharing all updates to this new expansion and new dining locations. Keep reading for the full overview of all the Downtown Disney expansion changes along with an updated Downtown Disney map of where we anticipate these new dining spots will be located.
NEW Downtown Disney Dining
Downtown Disney is going through a complete overhaul when it comes to its dining selections. Past restaurants have closed to make room for new dining like Catal Restaurant, Uva Bar, Tortilla Jo's, and La Brea Bakery. These restaurants have all closed permanently and are being replaced with more diverse and trendy options likely to be popular with guests and locals.
Here is the full list of all NEW dining coming soon:
- Parkside Market- Quick Service, marketplace style
- Seoul Sister
- Sip & Sonder
- GG's Chicken Shop
- Second Story Bar
- Paseo – Table Service
- Céntrico- Courtyard Bar and Lounge
- Tiendita – Quick Service Option
- Din Tai Fung- Table Service
- Portos Bakery- Quick Service
- Earl of Sandwich- Quick Service, new location
Let's break down all of these new dining options including our thoughts on where these locations will be located.
When Does the New Downtown Disney Dining Open?
No official opening date has been announced yet for Parkside Market, Porto's Bakery, or the new two-story Earl of Sandwich location. We anticipate that Parkside Market will be the furthest out in the future as these four new restaurants include either a rennovation of the prior ESPN building or an entirely new location. Construction on Parkside Market remains quiet at this stage.
As for Porto's Bakery, once Earl of Sandwich is moved to its new popup location near Star Wars Trading Post construction can begin to renovate the prior La Brea Bakery location to this new popular bakery. Earl of Sandwich will receive a new two-story dining location, likely in the prior Tortilla Jo's, and this opening date is also likely far off on the horizon.
However, we recently shared an opening update for the other new dining locations. No specific opening date has been shared but Disney has revealed that Paseo, Céntrico (likely including Tiendita), and Din Tai Fung will open in 2024. I imagine that Disney is taking this in steps, once these new dining locations are finished, they will turn their attention to the rest of the list.
Where Is The New Downtown Disney Dining Located?
Based on some updates revealed by Disney and our speculation, here is our map of where we expect to see these new dining locations built in Downtown Disney.
The locations of Din Tai Fung, Céntrico, Paseo, and Portos Bakery are all confirmed with construction already taking place on these new dining spots.
As for Parkside Market, we anticipate this will take over the now-closed ESPN building. Earl of Sandwich will be temporarily located as a pop-up new Star Wars: Trading Post until it receives its new two-story dining location which we anticipate will be located in the old Tortilla Jo's.
Parkside Market- Four New Dining Locations
Parkside Market will feature a collection of diverse dining options brought to life by Levy. Levy Foods also manages restaurants in Walt Disney World including Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian. This isn't completely surprising as many restaurants in Downtown Disney are managed by third parties.
The Parkside Market will include four different offerings under one roof in part of the expansion on the west end of Downtown Disney. These new offerings include Seoul Sister, Sip & Sonder, GG's Chicken Shop, and a second-story bar. The announcement from Disney says that Parkside Market will be an expansion of the “west end of Downtown Disney” which leads us to speculate this might be going in the old ESPN Zone building which now sits vacant. This would be a great use of underutilized space in Downtown Disney that does not require too much expansion.
By looking at the concept art, it does look like they plan on an open-air concept which would get rid of the old dungeonous sports bar vibe if they plan to remake the old ESPN building.
Let's break down the four different offerings that will be available at Parkside Market!
Seoul Sister
Seoul Sister is a fast-casual modern eatery with a Korean-inspired menu based on bibimbap (Korean rice bowls) with a Californian twist. The Chef, Kelly Kim, will showcase bold Korean flavors through marinated meats, colorful vegetables, and savory sauces over rice, noodles, or salad. There will also be an Asian-inspired breakfast menu and hand-crafted drinks. It's great to see another breakfast offering added to Downtown Disney!
Sip & Sonder
Sip & Sonder is a Black women-owned brand founded by Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas and has been recognized as one of the best cafés in L.A. by the Los Angeles Times. This new café will feature Sip & Sonder’s signature lattes plus fresh treats, frozen drinks, and Caribbean-inspired bites.
GG’s Chicken Shop
GG’s Chicken Shop, from Boka Restaurant Group, was founded by James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, alongside Michelin Star Chef Partner Lee Wolen. This location will serve a family-friendly menu of chicken sandwiches, salads, and classic dinner table sides. This will be the first location on the West Coast, the first GG's Chicken Shop opened earlier this year in Chicago.
Second Story Bar
Parkside Market will also feature a second-story bar that will be an “al fresco spot” offering great views to sip craft cocktails and mocktails with local ingredients. Selections will include frozen lemonades, frozés, espresso martinis, shareable cocktails, and spirit-free elixirs.
Earl of Sandwich NEW Location
Earl of Sandwich is receiving its own brand new, two-story location in Downtown Disney with a quick-service Earl of Sandwich on the ground level and a table-service gastropub upstairs. This is such exciting news since Earl of Sandwich is such a popular dining option in Downtown Disney! We anticipate this new dining location will take over the previous Tortilla Jo's.
In the meantime, guests can soon find a new Earl of Sandwich pop-up located near Star Wars Trading Post as it relocates from its current location to make room for the new Porto's Bakery.
Paseo and Céntrico- NEW Mexican Dining Option
Currently under construction now, Paseo and Céntrico have replaced the previous Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar.
This dining location will also receive its own quick-service option called Tiendita. Tiendita will join the new Paseo and Céntrico with menus created by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán. Paseo will be the upstairs dining room and the first floor will be the location of the new Céntrico courtyard bar and restaurant.
The menu is inspired from traditional Mexican flavors while also offering a modern take on classic dishes. Highlights include esquites, a beloved street food made with roasted corn, and tacos al pastor, which includes thin slices of flavorful pork, pineapple juices and is topped with roasted onions, cilantro and salsa. For dessert, Tiendita will offer creamy arroz con leche featuring aromatic flavors of cinnamon and vanilla and topped with raisins. This dessert option is an elevated twist on this nostalgic treat from Chef Gaytán’s childhood.
Tiendita will offer Chef Gaytán’s Mexican heritage flavors on the go next door as a new quick service location. This new dining location is set to open later this Spring.
Din Tai Fung- Famous Chinese Restaurant Coming SOON
Din Tai Fung is a world-famous Tawain restaurant currently being built on the west end of Downtown Disney. Din Tai Fung is famous for its Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) and noodles and has been named one of the top ten gourmet restaurants in the world by the New York Times. Out of all the new dining locations coming to Downtown Disney, this is the most upscale.
Porto's Bakery Replaces La Brea Bakery
The incredibly popular Porto's Bakery has replaced La Brea Bakery with construction underway soon. Earl of Sandwich has temporarily occupied this space but is moving to a new pop-up spot near Star Wars Trading Post so work can begin on Porto's Bakery. The news of Porto's Bakery was met with a huge positive response when it was first announced at the last D23 Convention.
Porto's Bakery and Cafe will be offering items like their signature Cheese Rolls, Refugiados (Guava and Cheese Strudels), Potato Balls, and more.
The Ally- Splitsville Expansion
Splitsville Luxury Lanes also underwent its own expansion with the addition of The Ally. The courtyard next to Splitsville Luxury Lanes was transformed into a new space called The Ally. This area features interactive games, live music, lounge areas, and seating. This new addition to Splitsville is now complete.
Downtown Disney Live Stage Complete
Along with new dining, Disney has added a brand new stage and lawn for special events, musical entertainment, and more on the west side of Downtown Disney. There is also a new sculptural tower designed by Nikkolas Smith that pays tribute to the work of Southern California architects of color during the mid-20th century. The new sculpture features unique geometric patterns that will evoke the famed mid-century buildings they created.
This new area is now complete and just needs the restaurants that will be nearby, like the Disneyland Din Tai Fung location to be completed. See a guide to all Downtown Disney shopping and dining options for a breakdown of its current offerings and see our ranking of the current best Downtown Disney restaurants here.
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