One of our favorite series we’ve done on Wandering in Disney is ranking the table-service and counter-service restaurants at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This post heads to the east coast, ranking Disney World’s table-service restaurants. This list does include signature restaurants (2-credits on the dining plan). As with the previous posts, I’ll be adding to this list as we go to more and more restaurants. 

These restaurants are from Disney World’s 4 parks, Disney Springs, and the numerous hotels scattered across property. Disney Springs ever-changing dining line-up has us only listing a few here. Along with that, there are some places that we’ve eaten that I won’t list because it’s been too long to give them a fair review/ranking.

Another caveat is that I’m leaving Victoria & Albert’s and the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue off the list. Victoria & Albert’s is so different (and better than most) that I can’t clump it in this list. Hoop-Dee-Doo is a dinner show, making it far different from anything else on the list.

The restaurants are ranked based off food, atmosphere, and value, among other things. If there are restaurants that you love that aren’t on our list then please let us know in the comments and we’ll try to get to them next time. A small caveat – it has been a few years since we’ve been to some of these while others are fresher in our mind. It’s not a perfect ranking because we couldn’t eat at all of them in our trip. I would be very broke and large if I did that. Click on the restaurant name if you want to read the full review (a few don’t have a review). Let’s get to it!

58. Grand Floridian Cafe (Grand Floridian Resort) – I didn’t really want to rate this last. Some of my dislike for the restaurant may have come from too high of expectations. I have certainly had worse meals at Disney World than this, but the combinations of bland food, an underwhelming atmosphere and a limited menu all combine to make this last place for now. Your mileage may vary, I would recommend going for lunch and not dinner like we did.

57. La Hacienda de San Angel (Epcot) – It seems as if the better location a restaurant has in Epcot, the worse the food is. La Hacienda has prime location, sitting right on World Showcase’s Lagoon. The food misses the mark. The Mexican cuisine is no better than your local Azteca and the prices are certainly higher. There’s much better options in World Showcase.

56. Coral Reef Restaurant (Epcot) – Eating at a restaurant that doubles as an aquarium is very cool. Unfortunately, the prices and food here don’t live up to the atmosphere. Skip the restaurant, go to the Seas Pavilion and then get better food elsewhere in Epcot.

55. Tutto Italia Ristorante (Epcot) – I’ve had one good meal here and the other times were very underwhelming. The prices are high and I’d give the food mixed reviews. I like the inside of the restaurant but prefer other places in the Italian Pavilion and throughout World Showcase.

54. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Hollywood Studios) – It’s a cool environment and not a bad place to try if you really like American food. But the burgers were average, the food is incredibly heavy and the prices were pretty high for it essentially being a burger restaurant.

53. Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom) – This restaurant narrowly escapes the bottom three solely because you get to eat inside of the iconic castle. The food is mediocre and the prices are extremely high. I’m happy we went once but I don’t think we’ll be going back anytime soon.

52. Nine Dragons Restaurant (Epcot) – Nine Dragons doesn’t have great food, although there are a few solid items. What the restaurant does offer are counter-service prices in a decent atmosphere. This is one of the best table-service values at WDW if you’re paying out of pocket. But there’s a reason for that as the food just isn’t enticing.

51. Cape May Cafe (Beach Club) – I love seafood and came in with high hopes for Cape May Cafe. Unfortunately, the expectations weren’t met and the food was sadly average. We did like the desserts though and there are worse buffets!

50. Yak & Yeti (Animal Kingdom) – We were excited for our meal at Yak & Yeti but came away underwhelmed. The food wasn’t much better than a chain restaurant, which isn’t surprising considering Yak & Yeti is operated by Landry’s. Fortunately, Yak & Yeti is themed exceptionally and that almost makes it worth the trip by itself.

49. Paddlefish (Disney Springs) – Paddlefish is among the most disappointing meals we’ve had at Disney World. It wasn’t bad, as everything tasted pretty good and the atmosphere is nice enough. But Paddlefish doesn’t take advantage of a great setting and the dishes were pretty bland.

48. Ale & Compass (Yacht Club) – While the restaurant lacks in atmosphere and theme, the menu makes up for, to a degree. This is pretty low on the list, after all. I thoroughly enjoyed the Seafood Pot Pie. Melissa’s dish was much worse and that knocks Ale & Compass down a little bit.

47. Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom) – A charming restaurant in Magic Kingdom’s best land that serves American comfort food. We really enjoyed the restaurant’s commitment to theme. Liberty Tree Tavern doesn’t have the most ambitious menu and the value is better at The Plaza Restaurant but it is a surprisingly solid option.

46. Whispering Canyon Cafe (Wilderness Lodge) – This restaurant probably has the widest variance of any on our list. There are some that absolutely adore Whispering Canyon Cafe and it’s easy to see why – endless barbecue, an entertaining atmosphere that’s unique in WDW, and family nostalgia. But this place just isn’t for Melissa and I, we thought the food was middling and prefer other environments. This might be worth a try for some of you though!

45. Akershus Banquet Hall (Epcot) – My opinion on Akershus worsens over time and the restaurant continues to fall in our rankings. The food is somewhat interesting, especially compared to other character dining locations. If meeting the princesses is a priority then going here is a decent choice otherwise I’d recommend elsewhere.

44. La Crêperie de Paris – Epcot’s latest restaurant is an affordable and solid addition, offering a nice prix-fixe meal of crepes. The positives here include a quiet place to eat and a unique menu that is executed well. The issue is that there is a counter-service window right outside of the restaurant that offers crepes that are very similar and nearly half the price!

43. Kona Cafe (Polynesian Village Resort) – We have only tried breakfast at Kona Cafe but came away happy with the meal but not blown away. Kona doesn’t offer much in the way of atmosphere but the value is strong and the food pretty good. The menu is interesting for all meals and Kona Cafe could rise up this list in due time.

42. Be Our Guest Restaurant (Magic Kingdom) – The atmosphere here beats most of Magic Kingdom’s other offerings. My praise basically ends there though. The food is good but not great and the prices are especially high now that the menu has changed to a prix-fixe dinner (and 2 credits on the Disney Dining Plan). I think most would enjoy dinner here but it’s not worth the headache of trying to get a reservation and doesn’t measure up to the hype.

41. Tusker House (Animal Kingdom) – Tusker House is a solid restaurant all the way around. The food is good for a buffet. Meeting Mickey and his friends in their safari outfits is great. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and themed well. Tusker House isn’t exceptional in any area but it’s not bad in any area either.

40. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya – The changes this restaurant have made since Tokyo Dining were positive, especially when it comes to the menu. There are a variety of Japanese options and the we enjoyed the sushi here. Atmosphere is more of a mixed bag but this restaurant is a fun option and a great place to share some dishes with friends.

39. Space 220 (Epcot) – The show and initial impression at Space 220 deserve much better than the ranking we give them. It’s truly incredible, one of the most jaw-dropping restaurant moments at Disney World. After the novelty wore off, we thought the food was just average and the environment could have used a little more depth. Those critiques don’t overshadow the initial impression though.

38. Teppan Edo (Epcot) – Teppan Edo has good food and the chefs are very entertaining. The prices are fairly high and there isn’t anything that makes this place stand out above the typical Teppanyaki restaurant.

37. Raglan Road (Disney Springs) – Raglan Road has a lot of defenders and rightfully so! The prices are manageable, the atmosphere is one of Disney World’s most festive and the food is safe but good. All of that amounted to a fun but somewhat forgettable experience for me. I see how this becomes people’s favorite over time though and I’d be more than happy to go back!

36. San Angel Inn (Epcot) – Eating inside of the Mexican Pavilion, across from a boat ride and little volcano, makes for one of the best atmospheres in Disney World. I think the food here is decent too, albeit inconsistent. I liked the seafood dish I had and thought the prices were fairly reasonable.

35. Trattoria al Forno (Boardwalk Resort) – A very good option for breakfast, even without the character dining now. Trattoria also has an interesting dinner menu, serving mostly Italian fare. The prices aren’t bad, the location is great and the food is good. The environment is largely unthemed but looks nice.

34. Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom) – Who knew that Shrimp & Grits and meeting Pooh Bear would be a winning combo! Not me, but those are the two things that I remember most fondly about Crystal Palace. The setting is beautiful and the buffet here is more than adequate, at least in terms of buffets. There are a few character dining spots ranked slightly higher than this one but this is a decent option and should jump if you’re especially fond of the Winnie the Pooh characters.

33. Rose & Crown Dining Room (Epcot) – A restaurant that harkens back to a hole-in-the-wall pub in the UK. There are some delicious options here and the pub is fun. If you can land a spot on the patio when the weather isn’t overbearing then this is even higher on this list.

32. Frontera Cocina (Disney Springs) –  Frontera Cocina serves some of the best Mexican food at Walt Disney World. The Carne Asada is excellent and the restaurant has a modern but tasteful design. Unfortunately, the best Mexican food at WDW prize isn’t a high bar. It’s good but not great and the same goes for the value.

31. Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen (Magic Kingdom) – Like the Jungle Cruise attraction it’s inspired by, Skipper Canteen is a boatload of fun.  The menu is surprisingly diverse and the items we tried were all pretty good.  The prices aren’t through the roof.  More than anything, the atmosphere shines through and makes it one of the best table-service restaurants in Magic Kingdom.

30. Boatwright’s Dining Hall (Port Orleans Riverside) – Melissa and I were surprised at how much we enjoyed our meal at Boatwright’s. Both the Steak and Prime Rib were fantastic and other portions of the meal were great. The atmosphere in the actual restaurant is bland but Riverside is a beautiful resort to walk around after dinner.

29. The Plaza Restaurant (Magic Kingdom) – The Plaza offers one of the best values of any table-service restaurant for those paying out of pocket. No, the menu won’t blow anyone away and there are far more lavish experiences at Disney World. Having said that, The Plaza is quaint and a step back in time with well made food and excellent desserts.

28. 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian) – One of Disney World’s best character dining options offers some fun prince and princesses in a pretty, Victorian setting. The food was decent but not great which is the only thing that keeps this from ranking much higher.

27. Biergarten (Epcot) – One of Epcot’s original restaurants, Biergarten is a bit of an institution at this point. That’s both good and bad. The good – a wonderful atmosphere that’s stood the test of time and has surprisingly good buffet options. The bad – Biergarten feels a little bit old. This is worth trying out with a group, especially if that group likes beer and sausages.

26. Hollywood & Vine (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – This Hollywood Studios character dining restaurant is underrated! Guests can meet the majority of the Fab Five while enjoying a surprisingly good buffet. Perhaps out of nowhere, this is one of the best meals you can get while character dining. That’s not the highest compliment and the décor here leaves something to be desired but it’s worth considering, especially for 1-credit on the Disney Dining Plan.

25. Maya Grill (Coronado Springs Resort) – For being somewhat of an afterthought, even just at its own hotel, Maya Grill is surprisingly good. There was a great complexity shown in a few of the dishes and we thought the flavors were really strong in the entrees. The atmosphere is decent and the biggest drawback in dining here is that Coronado Springs offers so many other excellent options.

24. STK (Disney Springs) – This comes with one giant asterisk by it. STK is in the middle of our rankings because it offers the most affordable lunch at Walt Disney World in the form of a fantastic burger. Go for that! Otherwise, the dinner is maybe the worst value in all of Disney World. In other words, go for lunch and pay out of pocket and you’ll have an exceptional experience!

23. Le Cellier (Epcot) – One of the most popular dining spots in WDW is now slightly overpriced and lacking in atmosphere. The steak is good, although not the best on property. What really stands out though are the Brussel Sprouts! There’s a good value meal to be had here if you pick some of the cheaper options.

22. Jaleo (Disney Springs) – Jaleo is an intriguing option because there isn’t anything quite like it at Disney World. The restaurant specializes in Spanish Cuisine and small plates. We enjoyed most everything we tried at Jaleo but the prices were extremely high and the atmosphere wasn’t our favorite.

21. Via Napoli (Epcot) – The best pizza on property comes inside World Showcase’s Italian Pavilion. There’s plenty of options here, both safe and interesting. This is a perfect place to go and save a few bucks along the way by sharing a pizza. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous. This is my favorite place to eat in World Showcase currently.

20. The Hollywood Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios) – A very good restaurant for being in a theme park. While the looks of the restaurant won’t make your jaw drop, the food is delicious and service is top-notch. I think there’s some value for a signature restaurant and everything I’ve tried here is wonderful.

19. Ohana (Polynesian Resort) – My opinion of Ohana has worsened a little over time. The food is typically very good and unlimited. While the price is high, if you have a big appetite then you can make up for it. The atmosphere is wonderful, especially if you go around firework showtimes. I’ve always come away happy here and the first time I went was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, with each meal after getting worse.

18. Steakhouse 71 (Contemporary Resort) – We prefer breakfast and lunch over dinner at Steakhouse 71 as those two are more of a value play! The prices were affordable and the food, especially the Prime Rib Scramble and burger, was delicious. Dinner wasn’t bad though and this is becoming our go-to spot for a break from Magic Kingdom.

17. Morimoto Asia (Disney Springs) – The only negative here is that the restaurant is unthemed. Disregarding that, the food is outstanding, the décor is very modern and beautiful, and there is certainly value to be had. One of the most impressive meals I’ve had at Disney World.

16. Sebastian’s Bistro (Caribbean Beach Resort) – Our current pick for the most underrated restaurant in Walt Disney World, Sebastian’s Bistro serves a family-style dinner at a relatively low price. The offerings are pretty unique and everything was delicious. While the theme isn’t as immersive as some restaurants, it’s a great place to eat some delicious food!

15. Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge) – I don’t love Sanaa as much as some Disney bloggers but I do think it’s one of the best values on property. Watching the animals wander outside while eating good, moderately priced Indian food is an ideal way to spend an afternoon. I highly recommend the restaurant though I do think there are a few better. Get the bread service!

14. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Disney Springs)– Another Disney Springs restaurant. While Homecomin’ doesn’t have the diverse menu that The Boathouse offers, they do have one of the best menu items in all of Walt Disney World – the Fried Chicken. A Floridian homestyle restaurant, Homecomin’ is relaxing and serves incredible food.

13. Wailulu Bar & Grill (Polynesian) – This restaurant in the new Polynesian DVC tower is nearly enough to redeem the ugly addition to Bay Lake… Nearly. Wailulu has a beautiful view of the water, with Cinderella Castle and other resorts in the distance. The food is delicious and relatively affordable, as well! This is one of our new favorite spots to go on a Magic Kingdom day.

12. Narcoossee’s (Grand Floridian) – There isn’t much value here as you have to pay quite a bit to eat at this signature restaurant. But the seafood here is among the best I’ve found on property. The location is tough to beat, sitting on Seven Seas Lagoon and is a short boat ride away from Magic Kingdom. The lobster here is one of my favorite meals in Disney World.

11. Boma – Flavors of Africa (Animal Kingdom Lodge) – An easy way to try out food that you may be a little afraid of is by going to a buffet. Boma offers that opportunity and has such a wide assortment of food that it is almost overwhelming. Unlike other buffets, everything I’ve had here is fresh and delicious. Not to mention, eating here entails seeing the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge.

10. Chefs de France (Epcot) – I didn’t enjoy my first meal here many years ago but we went again and I was impressed. The atmosphere is festive and bustling with energy. Try to get a seat by the window and enjoy the passersby strolling through World Showcase. There isn’t much value to be had (unless you are on the dining plan) but this is just a good restaurant. I recommend the short ribs.

9. Topolino’s Terrace (Riviera Resort) – Topolino’s offers excellent food in an elegant setting. Offering a mix of French, Italian and American food, the restaurant has some interesting variety and everything we tasted was delicious. We ultimately kept it out of the top five because the atmosphere is nice but there are more inviting places ahead of it on the list. Having said that, it’s an excellent meal and a contender for the top spot.

8. Storybook Dining at Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge) – I came into this meal somewhat disappointed that it took the place of the much more relaxed Artist Point. Instead this quickly became our favorite character dining location in Disney World. The food is ambitious and executed wonderfully, the atmosphere is still beautiful and the characters are diverse. Unfortunately, this has moved to a signature restaurant on the Disney Dining Plan and that knocks it down the list just a little bit.

7. Flying Fish Restaurant (Boardwalk Resort) – A beautiful, upscale restaurant that serves excellent seafood and steak. Flying Fish is modern and trendy but offers an interesting take on the boardwalk theme. All of that is enjoyable but the star of the show is seafood, which is easily the best I’ve had at Disney World.

6. California Grill (Contemporary Resort) – While slightly overpriced, California Grill has an incredible atmosphere, delicious food, and one of the best views in Disney World.  This is one of the restaurants in Disney World I’d describe as a rite of passage. The California Grill brunch is possibly the best meal in all of Walt Disney World but it hasn’t returned since the pandemic.

5. Citricos (Grand Floridian) – Our favorite of the Grand Floridian restaurants, Citricos combines a modern style with the Victorian theme. The menu follows suit, offering fresh takes on a coastal menu. We were thoroughly impressed by the restaurant on every front.

4. The Boathouse (Disney Springs) – Disney World’s most diverse restaurant. The menu is large and offers a nice mix as far as price goes. Seafood and American food are the main options here and everything I tried was delicious. The inside of the restaurant is a little crowded but sitting outside is lovely.

3. Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood (Coronado Springs Resort) – This restaurant sits at the top of the Coronado Springs tower, showing off views and a beautiful atmosphere. The praise doesn’t stop there though because this is one of the best meals and values we’ve found on property. I’m excited to see where this will end up in a few years but, after our first visit, I couldn’t have been more impressed!

2. Tiffins (Animal Kingdom) – One of my favorite restaurants in a theme park, Tiffins serves interesting food and mixes it with great design and theme.  Exploring Imagineers travels, the decor is fascinating.  The beef is some of the best in Disney World and the menu is inspired and interesting.  Tiffins price isn’t too bad, especially if you get discounts, and the service is the best I’ve found in the parks.

1. Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge) – Jiko isn’t just my favorite restaurant in Disney World, it’s among my favorites anywhere. The concept and decor is beautiful, making for a delightful setting. The menu expounds on that thoughtfulness, offering a cohesive but diverse list of food and drinks. Prices are high but this is absolutely worth it.

What are your favorite Walt Disney World restaurants? Let us know, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Disney World? Check out our planning guide to help you along the way! This site has discount tickets for your trip. If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!