Visiting Epcot this year? Don’t forget the food! You might ask, “Why would I care about park food? Isn’t it just burgers and fries?”
Think again!
Epcot is a culinary epicenter. You can literally eat your way around the globe, visiting 11 nations: Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, the United States, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico, all in one afternoon.
I am always paying attention to the latest restaurant reviews. And I know who accepts the dining plan and with what restrictions. It’s part of my job. How else am I going to know how to help you plan the most awesome Disney vacation ever!
Now, Epcot’s World Showcase is chock full of delicious eats. You know that nothing is cheap in any Disney park, so it’s a good idea to know where you will get the best food for the best Disney price.
Not all of the many Epcot restaurants give you great value for your money. Let me walk you through a few of my most favorite. They have great reviews online and offer excellent deals for your money.
The Best Value: Sit-Down Restaurants
If you want to rest your feet and enjoy a meal, these spots offer the best quality for your dollar.
Budget Tip: The Disney Dining Plan is back! Most of these locations accept it, but remember that reservations open 60 days in advance and fill up fast.
1. Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (Italy)
Best for: Families and groups. This is widely considered the best pizza in any Disney park. They use authentic flour and water imported from Italy, fired in ovens named after Italian volcanoes.
- Price: $15–$35 per adult.
- Why it’s a winner: The “Mezzo Metro” (half-meter) pizza is huge and can be shared among a family, making the cost-per-person much lower than other sit-down spots.
The Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
2. Teppan Edo (Japan)
Best for: Dinner and a show. Chefs prepare your meal right at the table using the Teppanyaki style. It’s high-energy and incredibly fresh.
- Price: $15–$35 per adult.
- Why it’s a winner: It’s a meal and entertainment combined. The steak, scallops, and filet mignon are high-quality, and the service is among the best in the park.
3. Biergarten Restaurant (Germany)
Best for: Big appetites and atmosphere. Travel to a perpetual Oktoberfest! You’ll sit at long communal tables in a Bavarian village while a live Polka band plays.
- Price: $35–$60 per adult (All-you-can-eat buffet).
- Why it’s a winner: Because it is a buffet, it’s a great way to fuel up for the whole day. Save room for the hand-pulled apple strudel!
4. Rose & Crown Dining Room (United Kingdom)
Best for: Waterfront views. This classic British pub serves staples like Fish and Chips and Bangers and Mash.
- Price: $15–$35 per adult.
- Pro-Tip: If you book a late dinner reservation, you might snag a seat on the patio with a perfect view of the nighttime fireworks!
Best Quick-Service (Grab & Go)
Don’t want to spend two hours at a table? These “fast” options still offer “slow-cooked” quality.
- Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (France): My absolute favorite. You can get a full baguette sandwich or a lobster bisque for under $15. It’s the best “cheap” lunch in the park.
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse (USA): Incredible BBQ with a massive seating area. They are also the champions of allergy-friendly menus, covering everything from gluten-free to nut-free options.
- Yorkshire County Fish Shop (UK): Simple and perfect. It’s just Fish and Chips, but it’s crispy, hot, and budget-friendly.
The “Naughty List”: Where to Skip
Not every restaurant at Epcot is worth your hard-earned cash. Based on recent reviews and price-to-value ratios, I’d suggest skipping these:
- Lotus Blossom Café (China): Many guests find this to be standard “mall food court” quality but at Disney prices. You’re better off heading to France or Mexico for more unique flavors.
- Le Cellier Steakhouse (Canada): While the food is good, it is very expensive and the dining room is dark and cramped. For $60+ a steak, I want more “magic” for my money.
- Nine Dragons Restaurant (China): Similar to Lotus Blossom, it’s just a bit “ordinary.” When you’re at Epcot, you want food you can’t get at the local place down the street!
Don’t Forget the Fun: Top 3 Attractions
You can’t just eat; you have to ride! Here is how to handle the “Big Three” using Lightning Lane Multi Pass:
- Soarin’ Around the World: A breathtaking flight over the Swiss Alps and the Great Wall of China. It’s a “must-do” for all ages.
- Spaceship Earth: The “big ball” at the front of the park. It’s a 16-minute slow ride through the history of communication. Perfect for a post-lunch rest!
- Test Track: Design your own concept car and then test it at 65 mph. Note: This is the fastest ride in Disney, so maybe do this before you eat that heavy German bratwurst!
Do You Need Reservations at Epcot Restaurants?
While I really enjoyed sharing some really cool attractions at Epcot, we need to get back to talking about food. After all, Epcot attraction hopping can make you hungry as a bear!
Epcot boasts about having 20+ dine-in restaurants. I touched on a few of them at the beginning of this article. While many of them only recommend reservations, it is always a good plan to make them in advance.
Think about it. You’ve been wandering the park, enjoying a few attractions and now you and your traveling party are starving! So are the thousands of other adventurers inside the park with you.
If we all get hungry at the same time, and we don’t have a dining reservation, it could be a very long wait to eat at a dine-in restaurant. That’s if you get lucky enough that your favorite eatery is allowing walk-ins.
Instead of taking that chance, make an advance reservation. At this time, Disney is accepting advance reservations up to 60 days before your trip.
If you are staying at one of Disney’s resorts, you can book 60 days before your visit plus the length of your stay, up to 10 days. So, if you plan it right (or have me plan it for you ;-)), you can reserve your favorite eateries up to 70 days in advance!
Now you don’t have to worry about getting to eat at your favorite Epcot restaurants.
Everyone will have their own experience at Epcot’s many restaurants. Everyone has different tastes in food. What is delicious to one person is disgusting to another. There is nothing wrong with that.
Explore and enjoy! We only live once. But explore wisely. Reviews are your friend.
Hopefully, the few restaurants I mentioned and the many others that did not make my list are paying attention to these reviews. After all, online reviews are the new “word of mouth.” They can make you or break you in no time.
For now, let me help you plan your magical trip to Disney’s Epcot. I can ravage through recent reviews and network with others in my field. I can help you get the best plan of attack to take on Epcot restaurants.