26 Best Restaurants in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

This complex of three restaurants is a haven of authentic Italian served up by two internationally known chefs (though the Disney "story" tells of an immigrant Italian couple who convert the Disney Springs Air Terminal into the eateries). Maria & Enzo's offers fine Italian cuisine in a sophisticated setting; neighboring Pizza Ponte has pizza by the slice, Italian pastries, and belly-filling sandwiches; Enzo's Hideaway, set in a former cast-access tunnel, serves classic dishes seldom seen in Florida, like fried artichokes and house-cured antipasti.

If an authentic Irish pub—actually transported from the Old Country plank by plank—is your thing, Raglan Road is the place. In addition to excellent fish-and-chips and shepherd's pie, the inventive chefs twist Irish cuisine to include dishes like Gulf shrimp and risotto with buffalo mozzarella and fresh peas. The entertainment alone makes this place worth the visit. "Trad" bands play nightly, and a troupe of Irish dancers performs several times on weeknights and on weekends between 10 am and 3 pm during the Rollicking Raglan Brunch. Musicians also play outside for guests dining alfresco. A store called Shop for Ireland sells Irish merchandise. Around the corner, the Raglan-affiliated Cooke's of Dublin offers fast-take fish-and-chips, pies, and deep-fried "battered burgers."

If you grew up in Middle America in the 1950s—or you're just a fan of classic TV series like I Love Lucy and The Donna Reed Show—you'll appreciate the vintage atmosphere and diner-classic menu here. At tables with Formica tops, you can feast on meat loaf, pot roast, or fried chicken accompanied by a malted milk shake, a root-beer float, or a bottle of wine or a cocktail from the Tune-In Lounge next door. The place also offers lighter dishes like a grilled salmon salad. If you're not feeling totally wholesome, go for Dad's Electric Lemonade (vodka, blue curaçao, sweet-and-sour mix, and Sprite). Just like Mother, the menu admonishes, "Keep your elbows off the table."  If you're a party of two looking for a way to eat here without a reservation, grab a seat at the bar in the attached Tune-In Lounge. The entire menu is offered here, and the bartenders are some of the best on Disney property.

This eatery re-creates a downtown Los Angeles corner pub, serving California wines and craft beers. Charcuterie boards featuring California cheeses and Bavarian pretzels with fondue are snackable highlights.

Located riverside at Disney's Port Orleans Resort, this very impressive, handcrafted dining hall looks like the interior of a wooden sailing ship, complete with an inverted hull on the ceiling and weathered shipbuilding tools. True to the N'awlins theme is a menu of tasty bayou dishes ranging from Louisiana étouffée to crawfish bisque to andouille-stuffed catfish. Decadent desserts include the likes of gooey St. Louis butter cake and Bourbon Street pecan tarts. The River Roost Lounge, a full bar with entertainment, is a great stop before or after dinner.

Superstar chef Art Smith, recognized by foodies for having worked for Oprah and cooked for heads of state, incorporates ingredients from nearby farms, ranches, and fisheries in this tribute to down-home Southern cooking. Having been a part of Disney's College program (the native of Jasper, Florida, started his career with a culinary internship here), he's returned to present dishes like his famous fried chicken, deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, pork chops, fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and Southern slaw. The portions are enormous, and the flavors are bold. Try the Jasper Board sampler—smoked fish dip, pimento cheese, Tasso hams, bread-and-butter pickles, candied pecans, and buttermilk crackers—for a taste of everything. Save room for the Moonshine Mash (there's a long list of cocktails) and Smith's signature hummingbird cake.

This plush, bustling brasserie remains true to the spirit and the vision of Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenôtre, and Roger Vergé, three of France's most famous chefs (Bocuse's son, Jerome, continues to run the restaurant). Classic escargots, a good starter, are prepared in a casserole with garlic butter; you might follow up with salmon marinated in white wine and lemon and served in a champagne sauce or grilled beef tenderloin with green peppercorn sauce; naturally, ratatouille is available, as is the occasional three-course, prix-fixe meal. Finish with your pick of a Parisian dessert.

With stunning views of the 5.7-million-gallon aquarium, dining at Coral Reef is as entertaining as it is delicious. As you watch marine life—and sometimes scuba divers—swim by, enjoy dishes from a seasonal menu that's heavy on seafood offerings. Options might include shrimp and grits or seared mahi-mahi in a coconut and cilantro-lime sauce. This is a great option for those wanting to try upscale dining with younger kids, as they'll be able to either test new items such as lobster bisque or play it safe with grilled chicken. Plus, the aquarium is a great distraction while waiting for the food to arrive!

A massive brick structure that, according to Disney lore, was the original power plant for the town of Disney Springs, houses this entertainment arena of more than a half-dozen distinct and richly themed rooms where food and drink mingle with palm readers, aerialists, contortionists, and other sideshow acts. The steampunk decor includes a massive clock in the main lobby and a dramatic, working steam engine. The daytime menu reinvents bar food like signature burgers, hawker-style lamb balls, and the whimsical candied bacon strips hung on a miniature clothesline. After 10 pm, a dress code goes in effect as the space becomes an over-21 club with dancers and a live band powering up the power plant.

In addition the wide-ranging musical soundtrack that's equal parts groovy, funky, and soulful, the House of Blues has a menu that offers everything from ribs to shrimp and grits to a tasty chicken Caesar salad. Consider trying the Juicy Lucy, a bacon cheeseburger with jalapeño and chipotle mayo; the pulled-pork sandwiches and the cornbread are also delicious. A worthy dessert is the bourbon-white-chocolate-banana-bread pudding. Consistently popular is the Gospel Sunday Brunch, where an elaborate Southern buffet (chicken and waffles, made-to-order omelets, shrimp and crawfish étouffée, bourbon bread pudding, etc.) is served with a side of live gospel music. For a faster meal, visit the quick-service barbecue counter The Smokehouse.

Jaleo (pronounced huh-lay-oh) means "revelry," and in this contemporary and spacious setting, diners celebrate with authentic paellas cooked over a wood fire, as well as chef and humanitarian José Andrés's signature gambas al ajillo (shrimp sautéed with garlic and chili) or croquetas de pollo (Spanish chicken fritters). The extensive tapas options are perfect for taste-driving a variety of items—the Jaleo Experience prix fixe includes traditional and modern tapas, or go Jose's Way, with a larger and more elaborate selection of the chef's favorites. And remember: when you hear the bell, it’s paella time! Entire pans of paella are available for parties of eight or more with advance notice. Pick up a container of beautiful gazpacho next door at Pepe, a stationary food truck offering grab-and-go items.

Knife-wielding chefs prepare world-class sushi and sashimi, as well as other Japanese treats like soups and salads, at this sleek sushi bar, where bamboo-style floor tiles and dark teakwood furnishings set the scene. Popular items include the Dragon Roll (giant shrimp and tuna), Banzai Roll (spicy tuna, avocado, and krab), and Bagel Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber). Cocktails are a draw, too, along with entertainment in the form of nightly karaoke.

Open only for dinner, this restaurant combines authentic Mexican entrées with a perfect location to view the fireworks. The alambre de res (flank steak with bacon in poblano and bell peppers) is delicious, while the chiles rellenos is an excellent vegetarian dish. Be sure to order a hand-crafted margarita, such as the orange-mango fire that includes a tajin powder rim, or the wild one, mixed with mango-passion fruit puree.

At this tropical-themed chain restaurant your meal will be accompanied by singing birds (of the Audio-Animatronic type), aquariums full of fish (real), and an occasional thunderstorm (artificial). The menu features seafood, beef, chicken, and pasta dishes, as well as burgers prepared in a variety of ways, with a selection of seasonings. Kids can choose from a more limited selection, but everyone can share in the Sparkling Volcano, a towering chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped toppings. Delighting adults is the Lava Lounge, an impressive serpentine bar with a wide selection of beers, wines, and specialty cocktails.

If you're an Anglophile and you love a beer so thick you could stand a spoon up in your mug, head here—not only to soak up the suds but also to enjoy the British pub culture and feast on the best fish-and-chips in town. Other traditional English fare includes Scotch eggs, shepherd's pie, and, at times, bangers and mash (sausage over mashed potatoes); vegetarians can always find an adapted item, such as a savory hot pot. For dessert, try the sticky toffee pudding. A dinner package is available to enjoy a meal and one of the best fireworks-viewing seats at EPCOT.

Most of the flavors are from India, yet Sanaa is really a celebration of the Spice Islands—locales off the coast of Africa that, for centuries, enticed traders from the world's far corners. Exotic yet approachable lunches and dinners make it a true find on the outer edges of the Disney empire; views of zebras and giraffes on the savanna right out the picture windows are another draw. Potato-pea samosas are good starters. For the main course, try the tandoori chicken or the potjie-inspired meal, a bowl with a mix of a protein and unique base. This is the only sit-down restaurant open for lunch at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. 

If you don't mind zombies leering at you while you eat, then head to this enclosed faux drive-in, where you can sit in a booth that looks like a candy-color, 1950s convertible while watching clips from classics like Attack of the Fifty-Foot Woman and Teenagers from Outer Space. The menu includes a variety of burgers, from barbecue to classic, as well as pan-seared chicken pasta and chicken-salad sandwiches. End with a hot-fudge sundae or plant-based cookie shake.

To accommodate the clamor for more fireworks dining, this restaurant was built along World Showcase Lagoon, and it's a great place to catch a meal and watch the 9 pm display. Here you'll find the cuisine to be more Moroccan-American, so amid the rice-stuffed grape leaves and the tiropitakia, you'll find house-made hummus fries and spicy fried calamari. Book the Fireworks Dining Package for the best views.

Traveling back 65 million years requires just a short walk through the Marketplace and into this large restaurant, which is set beneath a towering brachiosaurus skeleton and is filled with primordial special effects and animated prehistoric creatures such as the restaurant's menacing namesake—a 15-foot T-rex. The dinosaur theme continues on the menu where the rib, chicken, pasta, and seafood dishes have names like Mes-O-Bones, Megasaurus, and Supersaurus Sampler. In the Paleo Zone area, kids can focus less on food and more on fossils as they dig for hidden bones and gems.

Above the Mitsukoshi department store is this teppanyaki steak house, where chefs do performance cooking at 20 grills. Standouts include filet mignon and Tori chicken breast, but the restaurant also has a small sushi selection, as well as a kids' menu with Teppan-style chicken or shrimp with rice and veggies. Be sure to save room for green tea ice cream, though! Kids will enjoy watching the talented chefs while parents relax with some sake.

Under the guidance of James Beard Award–winner and Top Chef master Tony Mantuano, Terralina brings sophistication and southern Italian cuisine to Disney Springs. Meticulously planned to look like a resort in Italy's Lake District, Terralina's open design and wood-fired grills provide a stylish atmosphere and some of the best recipes Mantuano can create, including wood-fired, hand-tossed pizzas along with salads and sandwiches. The antipasti tower is a starting course eye-opener, and steaks and seafood delight.

Inspired by the animated classic Lady and the Tramp, Tony's offers everything from spaghetti with meatballs (meat and plant-based) to shrimp scampi with linguine. Wine and beer are available, including Italian lagers and an extensive selection of Italian wines. The most tempting dessert is the espresso-soaked tiramisu. If you can't get a table right away, you can watch Lady and the Tramp in the waiting area.

This restaurant melds old and new, with the cozy decor of a traditional Italian home and a menu of Italian-American dishes refreshed for today's tastes. Share a pizza topped with prosciutto, sausage, and capicola, or indulge in wood-fired swordfish salmoriglio. Other entrées include veal osso buco, chicken parmigiana, and truffle gnocchi. All the wines are from Italy, and you can finish your meal with a tiramisu.

It's sometimes difficult to shake off the illusion that this is a restaurant in Venice or Rome; the service and food are that good. Offerings include calamari fritti, grilled salmon in herb sauce, and traditional spaghetti or fettuccine. Desserts include gelato and cannoli. Be sure to make reservations well in advance. Outdoor seating is available.  An adjacent cavernous wine cellar, Tutto Gusto, has a limited menu and 200 wine options, and is often a faster way to get fed. Since they do not accept reservations, it is a good place to try on a busy day.

Loud, mad, bustling, and chaotic, this casual, family-friendly restaurant features authentic, thin-crust, Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in massive ovens named after Italian volcanoes. Toppings include an array of cheeses, spicy Italian sausage, truffle oil, prosciutto—even melon. Particularly good is the seasonal and very authentic carciofi (artichoke) white pizza. The menu also has a large selection of southern Italian favorites; the tortellini is an outstanding pizza alternative. Adults will appreciate the selection of Italian beer, wine, and cocktails.  You're very close to neighboring diners here, so make friends.

This two-story, 250-seat restaurant offers everything from noodles, curries, and wok dishes to Korean barbecue, with standout entrées that include seared miso salmon or roasted duck with plum barbecue sauce (an occasional prix-fixe menu is offered as well). The decor is pleasantly faux-Asian, with cracked plaster walls, wood carvings, and tile mosaic tabletops, and the adjacent bar is a surprisingly intimate place to escape from the crowds and grab a drink while the kids are getting wet at Kali River Rapids.