The Best Restaurants At Disneyland Park, Ranked

Disneyland has no shortage of places to grab a bite to eat, and we're not just talking about all of the theme park's famous Mickey-shaped snacks. There are more than 45 dining options at Disneyland, including snack carts, quick service (where you order at the counter and take your food to your own table on a tray) options and table-service establishments. And some restaurants — like Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe — can be hard to nab a table at unless you book them when reservations open up 60 days in advance. If you're not a seasoned pro, it can be hard to know the best places for you and your family to eat. So, to help you plan your culinary tour of Disneyland Park, we've tracked down the 20 best sit-down restaurants and ranked them.

Sometimes all you want is a classic cheeseburger, chicken tenders and fries. At Disneyland, that means you'll be eating at the Galactic Grill, located on a patio in Tomorrowland with lovely views of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, the Matterhorn and Autopia. The food here is serviceable and better than your typical theme park fare. The burgers (especially the rotating selection of seasonal burgers) are cooked well, and this outpost also has seasonal coffees and drinks that are worth seeking out. With every menu item coming in at under $15, Galactic Grill is a solid option for families with picky eaters who enjoy people watching.

The Golden Horseshoe has been a staple in Disneyland's Frontierland since 1955. Today, this quick-service location serves fried foods and snacks like chicken wings, fish and chips and potato skins. The savory foods are all right; the wings are big and juicy but the sauce lacks any zip. The real reason to come to The Golden Horseshoe is the ice cream. Big scoops of ice cream are drizzled with caramel sauce, chocolate sauce and other sugary confections. The second reason to come to the Golden Horseshoe is for entertainment. Though there have been various performers here over the years, today, dueling pianos take the stage playing songs inspired by the Old West. Settle in and enjoy the show.

What could be a better fit for the all-American Main Street, U.S.A. than a hot dog joint? At Disneyland, you can grab a hot dog, chili cheese dog or mac and cheese dog at Refreshment Corner. These frankfurters are plump and juicy, but if you like your hot dog with a snappy skin (like some of the best hot dogs in America have), you won't get that here. These dogs are salty, enormous and satisfying, though. The cream cheese-filled pretzels are also a great snack to grab and eat on the go. (Tip: get the jalapeño cheese pretzel.) This spot has ample outdoor seating on Main Street, which makes for some prime people and parade watching.

Themed after "Beauty and the Beast" and located in Fantasyland near Casey Jr. Circus Train, Red Rose Taverne serves flatbreads, burgers, chicken sandwiches and fries. But this typical theme park fare is amplified with French-inspired twists. Beast's Forbidden Pastrami Burger, for instance, is topped with pastrami, Swiss-American cheese, a sliced pickle and spicy mustard. The waffle fries are transformed into slow-cooked beef poutine with beef so tender it practically melts in your mouth. You pay more for these items — the Beast-inspired burger is $16.49 whereas a standard cheeseburger at Disneyland is $11.79 at Galactic Grill — but they're more interesting, and we appreciate that.

The interior of River Belle Terrace, a table-service restaurant in Frontierland, may be light and airy, but the food will surely stick to your ribs. Hearty American fare like Southern fried game hen or beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables are certainly a good deal at less than $30, but the cooking can be inconsistent. If you want a safe and scrumptious bet, we're big fans of the skillet mac & cheese with pimento, manchego and provolone cheeses, fried onions and brisket. It has a sweet and savory barbecue flavor and tons of cheese while the fried onions add a much-needed crunch.

If you're pulled away from another spin on Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge by the alluring smell of roasting pork, don't fight it. Ronto Roasters, one of the newest eateries at Disneyland, is also among the park's best. The signature menu item, the Ronto Wrap, is a twist on a hot dog: grilled pork sausage wrapped in a pita and topped with roasted pork, peppercorn sauce and a crunchy, tamely tangy slaw. But if you don't eat pork or meat, you are not missing out: Disneyland launched the plant-based Ronto-less Garden Wrap, and we're obsessed. The plant-based sausage has a nice texture and spicing that reminded us a bit of falafel; the kimchi slaw and Gochujang spread also add a kick without being overwhelming.

You can find corn dogs all over the Disneyland Resort, but the Little Red Wagon right off Main Street, U.S.A. deserves special mention. This cart doesn't sell much: just hand-dipped corn dogs served with a bag of chips or a side of apple slices, dipping sauces and sodas. These corn dogs are massive and served piping hot with a frank that's snappy and salty and a coating that's fluffy and slightly sweet. These corn dogs are the perfect way to fuel an afternoon of running around the park when you want to eat on the go. But if you want to sit awhile, there are a few hidden tables around the corner.

Comforting soups served in a bread bowl are something of a Disneyland staple, and you'll find few finer than the slow-roasted Louisiana beef stew at the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square. The melt-in-your-mouth beef is served in a thick broth and joined by carrots, mushrooms and potatoes. You're going to literally want to tear the bowl apart to eat every last bite. Other menu highlights include the French Market Chicken and seafood, sausage and chicken jambalaya over rice. Like many Disneyland restaurants, you sit outside on a semi-covered patio, so there is prime seating to watch people dash from the Haunted Mansion to Pirates of the Caribbean. If you're lucky, the atmosphere here is jazzed up even more with live musicians.

There are two items you cannot miss at Cafe Orleans. Start every order with pommes frites. These thin, super-crispy french fries are covered in garlic for days and ample amounts of parsley and parmesan. They're so satisfying, you could eat an entire basket on your own. That, however, would be a mistake because you'd be missing out on a Disneyland classic: the Monte Cristo. The ham and cheese combination is salty and indulgent, but sweet berry jam and powdered sugar helps to balance things out. If you're a vegetarian (or just don't love ham), don't worry — Cafe Orleans also offers a three-cheese version of this sandwich, which some say is better than the original.

The atmosphere at Blue Bayou is unlike any other at Disneyland. This restaurant is located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in New Orleans Square and you dine in twilight as riders coast by in their boats. You're going to pay for this atmosphere, though: Dinner entrees range from $30 for vegetable pasta to $52 for surf and turf. The food is good, though, thankfully. Bone-in ribeye and herb-crusted rack of lamb are cooked exactly to the requested temperature and seasoned nicely, while appetizers such as calamari, seafood hush puppies and golden beet salad are satisfying yet light enough that you'll have room for more.