Hi everyone,

We're driving up to Anaheim tomorrow (from San Diego)... 2 adults and 5 teens... for a day at Disneyland to celebrate my daughter's 17th BD. Anyone have good ideas for cheap eats in Anaheim... some places the kids will like?

We will eat at Disneyland, of course, tomorrow but will spend the night so that we can hang out by the pool at our hotel a little the following day. We'll need a place for breakfast (I guess there is always IHOP?) and a place for a late lunch, before heading home.

I'll be taking my laptop so I'll check this thread while we're there.

Thank you!

By the way... when I say "cheap eats" I still mean good food.... but not fast food. We'd like to go to full service restaurants... a good deli would be OK too... just not over-the-top expensive touristy places. Hopefully something that offers somewhat healthy options?

Thanks again.

I thought the IHOP was a little sad although it was open EARLY.
There's a family style chain Ialian place - Buca Di Beppo after you go past the convention center boulevard. Depending on where you stay you might need a cab. We were staying at a hotel next to the convention center and walked. They serve family size portions. Very busy so get reservations.

Bucca di Beppo?!?

The OP said they want GOOD food.

BdB is AWFUL. AWFUL.

Anaheim is a bit of a culinary wasteland, although Ralph Brennan's in Downtown Disney is pretty good, as is Catal. They're a bit on the pricey side, however.

I would be inclined to get OUT of Anaheim and find someplace good nearer to the coast. Take the 22 over to Seal Beach and dine at Walt's Wharf on Main Street. Take the 55 down into Newport Beach, and you have a treasure trove of good eating. And, of course, hit the Huntington Beach Pier for Ruby's.

I just remembered Taco Surf in Sunset Beach (on PCH). Cheap, great beach Mexican. I know, I know-- "Gee, we NEVER get good Mexican grub in San Diego!" Still....

Bucca may not be to my taste, but teenagers LOVE it!

are the teens into sports - the ESPNZone would be good. Casual food and everything ESPN/sports

or Tortilla Jo's -- both are in Downtown Disney.

BdB is definitely not my favorite - but for a group w/ teenagers it might be a good idea w/ the family style service.

There's a Mimi's directly across from Disneyland on Harbor at Manchester. They're a Frenchified coffee shop chain, but not bad.

(714) 956-2223

Mimi's for breakfast - hands down!
Bubba Gumps or Joe's Crab Shack for dinner.

We stay far, far away from Buca. They're known for their food poisoning!

I vote for Mimi's.

Another vote for Mimi's over IHOP. Prices are similar and M's is much better. And the Italian/ pizza place in downtown Disney would be good.

yeegads, we all enjoyed BdB (about six of us attending a convention) and didn't get food poisoning. Of course, since it was a rare, leisurely sit down meal that week, maybe anything tasted good! Keep in mind OP is feeding FIVE TEENS and is looking for cheap eats.

Thanks everyone!!

Well, my kids like Buca di Beppo but I think they like the festive atmosphere better than the food - ha! We used to go there fairly often in years past, but have grown a bit tired of it.

Thanks for the Mimi's suggestion. That was my #1 choice but when I suggested it this morning they didn't seem that interested (which was a surprise).

The kids liked the Huntington Beach idea so we made plans to go there (around Main St. or the Pier) but then someone said there is a big surf competition there this weekend so we decided we thought we might have trouble parking. Ugh!

Then the concierge at the hotel suggested El Torito for their Sun. buffet and the kids wanted to do that. Now, I'm not an El Torito fan at all, but it was getting late by the time we checked out of the hotel and everyone was starving, so I didn't feel like looking elsewhere. It didn't end up being "cheap eats" either. For that amount of money we could have probably had lunch @ Duke's in H.B. (which I've been trying to get to anyway since we love the one in Waikiki). Oh well, maybe next time we're in O.C..

We arrived back home a couple of hours ago... and after spending the past 36 hours with 5 teens, I'm now going to take a nap!!

Thanks again.

Carole