Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree is a counter-service restaurant in Disneyland’s Bayou Country. This slightly updated version of the original Hungry Bear Restaurant has some loose theming around the Country Bears while overlooking Rivers of America. Serving barbecue fare, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. In this post, we’ll review Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree’s atmosphere, cuisine and value.

Hungry Bear Restaurant was always a point of contention for me. The outdoor spot sitting along Disneyland’s iconic river was gorgeous and natural, but there was no reason to visit outside of that. I love funnel cakes and fried green tomato sandwiches as much as anyone but the offerings there paled in comparison to other top spots in Disneyland. When it was announced that the restaurant would be getting a makeover that included a new menu, I was naturally excited. When that makeover included a nod to my beloved Country Bears, I was ecstatic!

Calling Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree a makeover instead of a new restaurant is accurate. Much of the old Hungry Bear Restaurant looks the same. There’s a fresh paint job and some new bunting but the atmosphere gets by based on the lovely outdoor views up amongst the trees. That’s more than enough to make the restaurant one of the best spots in Disneyland to have a meal.

There are a few Country Bear Jamboree touches throughout. Framed photos of nearly all of the characters line the walls of the restaurant, facing the seating area. The frames are a little glossy, so it’s hard to see the wonderful photos of Henry, Big Al and the gang. But that’s a minor nitpick, as it’s nice to see my favorite Disney characters back in Disneyland even in a reflective case!

Obviously, I’d rather there be a huge Country Bear presence at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. Give me Romeo McGrowl roaming around or a Big Al animatronic cutting diners off mid bite singing about blood. But in a fleeting moment of self-awareness, I realize that I’m probably in the minority here. This restaurant is a nice nod to loyal Disneyland fans who love the bears without alienating anybody who has no idea who the heck Teddi Barra is.

In walking that line, Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree retains it’s relaxing, scenic atmosphere. There were a few songs played from Magic Kingdom’s recent Country Bear Musical Jamboree over the speakers, along with some Princess and the Frog tunes if my ears didn’t trick me. They were quiet but it’s a nice little touch. Adding some classic Bears tunes to that loop would be great but we’ll see if that happens. Either way, this restaurant offers a unique counter-service atmosphere.

Moving to the food, here’s a look at the new menu. The prices range from about $14-$22 for the entrees which focus largely on barbecue. Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree does accept a Magic Key and DVC discount.

My favorite item of the three entrees we tried was the Smoked Angus Beef Burger with Pulled Pork. Along with those ingredients, the dish included American Cheese, Golden Aïoli, Pickled Red Onions, B & B Pickles and Crispy Onions and served with Beer-battered Fries. I did not expect this to be as good as it was, as Disney Parks generally aren’t known for having a good burger. But the patty here was surprisingly good, especially mixed with all of the other ingredients. There was a nice smokiness to the burger overall, which came through on both the patty and the pulled pork.

Speaking of, the pulled pork was juicy without much fat. The two meats worked well with each other, although it was a heavy meal! The Golden Aïoli was another standout, adding a zest to the otherwise very meaty option. I’ll be curious if this sandwich will maintain the quality after the initial opening but as for now, it’s one of the best burgers on property! That’s before even bringing in the Beer-battered Fries, which were much better than usual Disney Parks fries. That’s not saying much but these were surprisingly good and made fresh! At $18.49, this is a pretty expensive sandwich but at least you might not need to eat again for 2 days?

We also tried the Smoked Barbecue Combo Platter. This includes a selection of House-smoked Meats, with Baked Beans, Coleslaw, White Bread and Pickled Vegetables. Select 2: Pork Spareribs, Pulled Pork, Sausage Link, or Beef Brisket. Having already tried the Pulled Pork in the sandwich, I went with the Brisket and Sausage Link. Unfortunately, the Brisket was the worst item I tried at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. It was dry and lacked flavor. To be fair, I got this at dinner and wonder if something like the Brisket may be better earlier in the day. With that slab in mind though, I’d recommend going with a different option.

That’s the bad news, the good news is the rest of platter was delicious. The Sausage Link had a little bit of spice and sweetness. I’d happily get that option again, especially mixed with the Golden Barbecue Sauce that the restaurant offered in the fixins’ station. The Coleslaw and Baked Beans also had a little bit of heat to them. I really liked the latter but could take or leave the former. At $21.49, I didn’t think the value here was as good as other options on the menu. But if you’re looking to try a few different things then this is a good way to go!

The plant-based options is the Corn Ribs Plate. This is essentially corn on the cob cut into the shape of ribs, but it tastes very similar to street corn. On top of the corn is Chile-Lime Aïoli, Parmesan, Crispy Onions, Cilantro and Scallions. This was absolutely delicious and a fun idea to incorporate some barbecue, finger-licking feeling into the plant-based option. The value ($14.99) might not be there, but this is the most repeatable option at the restaurant. I would go back for the pulled pork burger but I’m afraid it might kill me! The Corn Ribs Plate is served with fries and coleslaw.

Finally, the piece de resistance: Banana Pudding. This includes Bananas, Whipped Cream, Crushed Wafer Cookies, Dulce de Leche and Toffee. I should say that I’m a sucker for Banana Pudding almost all of the time. This was exceptional though, as the Dulce de Leche and Toffee took it to another level. The other ingredients are pretty standard banana pudding fare but the other two ingredients elevate it so much that Melissa and I both fell for this dessert. It’s maybe a little overpriced at $7.29 but it is fantastic!

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree also has a few drinks that are sure to be social media sensations. That includes a Sparkling Strawberry Pickle Lemonade and a Strawberry Shortcake Lemonade. We didn’t get either of them because Melissa is allergic to strawberries but they looked like fun. We did try the Lemonade Iced Tea and Melissa liked it alright and I thought it was terrible, being an overly sweet Arnold Palmer. All this to say, your mileage may vary on the drinks!

I came away impressed with Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. There are some faults but between the atmosphere, a couple of Country Bear nods and some fantastic menu additions, the makeover is a big upgrade over the former restaurant. There’s a reason to go have a meal there now and I’m sure I’ll do that plenty. Find me under the Big Al poster!

Overall Rating – 8/10

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