A few years ago, I was coaching my daughter’s Little League team during dangerously hot on-field heat index temps of 110-115 degrees. So, our focus was on keeping the girls hydrated and cool for game time.
About five minutes before game time, I looked down the bench to see my starting pitcher wolfing down a pair of chili dogs.
“Zayle!” I said. “What are you doing?”
“What?” she said. “I missed lunch and got hungry.”
She downed those dogs and went out and pitched a full six innings in that heat. Reader, I would not have survived.
So, I wouldn’t dream of ordering a heavy lunch in the middle of EPCOT in the sweltering summer heat. But Zayle? She could handle a pile of spaghetti and run laps around the World Showcase Lagoon, grinning the whole time.
We are all different.
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How authentic is the food at EPCOT?
On the whole, I think the best restaurants in EPCOT and Walt Disney World strive for a balance between authenticity and authentic adjacent dining for guests who want to expand their horizons but not too much.
I feel like the food in the France Pavilion – especially in Chefs De France – is reasonably authentic to at least a tourist’s experience in France.
I’m not a massive fish and chips guy, but my wife Leslie loves them. I don’t think she’d tell you the EPCOT version in the United Kingdom Pavilion is AS good as the shops in London, but I think she’d tell you they’re well done.
But how authentic is the food in the Morocco Pavilion? Or the Germany Pavilion? Or the Mexico Pavilion? I can’t speak to it with 100 percent accuracy, but I can say it’s good.
Also, I will say the Japan Pavilion seems more like an Americanized version than what I’ve seen on travel shows and the like.
Also, I want to reiterate. The dining options at EPCOT are excellent.
However, I’m not one to recommend much in the Norway Pavilion, but that’s more my fault than theirs. I just don’t have a Scandinavian palette.
Where are the best places to eat lunch in EPCOT?
So, let’s talk logistics. What are looking for in a Disney lunch? Is it quick service so you can eat and get on with the day? Is it a reservation at a table service restaurant with a dining room and serious wait staff?
Can I – as another quick aside – say how much I enjoy it when we get a clearly top-grade waiter or waitress at one of the major Disney restaurants? I enjoy interacting with people who are great at what they do, and the best waiters and waitresses are artists.
For us, if we’re going to have a heavier lunch, we try to plan it for later in the afternoon, making it a lupper or lunner – the afternoon version of brunch – and just snack later in the day.
Still, for this exercise, we’re going to assume a certain level of lightness is desired in the lunch.
Sure, you can get lunch reservations for character dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and go heavy on the buffet as you meet princesses like Belle and Cinderella and Snow White, but I don’t consider that a typical lunch.
So without further ado, here are the best EPCOT restaurants for a good lunch.
22. La Cava del Tequila
Mexico Pavilion
People don’t only come to EPCOT to eat their way around the world.
Sometimes, it’s a liquid lunch that’s necessary. They’ll even bring some queso or guac and chips just so you can have the appearance of eating lunch with food like a real adult.
In other words, this is more of a snack and drink spot, but sometimes that’s all a quick lunch requires.
21. Garden Grill Restaurant
World Nature
This character dining outpost is somewhat lacking in personality and also in flavor.
Sure, the Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast has barbecue-roasted chicken with sweet and tangy barbecue sauce and grilled beef with chimichurri.
However, in a park filled with interesting and delicious dining options, the Garden Grill feels a little safe to me.
20. Connections Cafe
World Celebration
Sometimes you just want to keep it simple. For example, the Connections Cafe offers burgers, chicken and pizza. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
19. Le Cellier Steakhouse
Canada Pavilion
I don’t know of anyone in the world who wants a quick or light lunch from a classic steakhouse.
So, this is an option if you’re looking for a more substantial meal.
Even the appetizers are heavy. Sure, I could have a meal of the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup, which has Moosehead pale ale and Nueske’s Applewood-Smoked Bacon.
You could order the Jumbo Chilled Shrimp with cocktail sauce and Espelette pepper cream for a light lunch too – but you wouldn’t want to miss out on the other great entrées.
18. Biergarten Restaurant
Germany Pavilion
The Germans are not known for their light cuisine, but you could do a lot worse for lunch than a couple of brats and a Warsteiner Dunkel.
This is, however, a sit-down buffet, so if you want your money’s worth you’re going to have to dig into the schnitzel. It’s a great place, I consider this more of a dinner option.
17. Rose & Crown
United Kingdom Pavilion
English food gets a bad reputation, in my opinion. I had a shepherd’s pie in Statford-Upon-Avon that still brings a tear to my eye.
But do I want bangers and mash for lunch – maybe with a nice Scotch egg – before taking a proper stroll through the blistering Florida heat? I do not. There are better lunch options at EPCOT.
16. Yorkshire County Fish Shop
United Kingdom Pavilion
Wait. EPCOT has two fish and chips shops essentially next to each other? Yep.
In fact, this quick service shop is designed for you to get your lunch – possibly with a side of cuties – and beer and go as God and the King of England intended.
15. Sunshine Seasons
World Nature
Another of EPCOT’s restaurants serviced by the Greenhouses of the Land Pavilion, Sunshine Seasons is a bit of a grab bag with plenty of options designed for those less adventurous guests.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything here to recommend. The Mongolian Beef is fine, and the Birria Tacos are good as well.
Would I choose to dine here over the China Pavilion or the Mexico Pavilion? Probably not. But this is a good place to target if your family has a picky eater or two.
14. Coral Reef Restaurant
World Nature
Why do so many seafood places come with an aquarium or built next to an aquarium?
You’d never build a steakhouse next to a cow pasture. Is it for practical purposes?
“Chef, we’re out of the halibut, again.”
“Nobody panic. Somebody tell Johnson to grab the snorkel and a net.”
Generally, the nice thing about a seafood lunch is it’s not very heavy by nature. Sure, you can add pasta or a side potato to weigh things down, but a cup of chowder and some grilled mahi mahi makes for a fine lunch.
We’re deducting some points here because of the lack of crab cake.
13. Fife & Drum Tavern
The American Adventure
I have three words for you: Jumbo turkey leg. For years, I turned my nose up at the turkey leg. It’s unwieldy, messy, and also looks slightly disgusting. Is this Disney World or a Renaissance Faire? But then I tried one, and now I’m a believer.
It’s turkey, but it tastes like pork. It’s magical. Also, I saw a hack where a family brought a loaf of bread into the park, bought a jumbo turkey leg and fed the masses turkey sandwiches. Genius.
Read Also: 14 Best Quick Service Places at Magic Kingdom, Where To Find Them
12. San Angel Inn
Mexico Pavilion
Since its sister restaurant – La Hacienda De San Angel – is only open for dinner service, the San Angel Inn is one of three lunch options in the Mexico Pavilion. I’m not counting the tequila place.
Located inside the Mayan Pyramid, the Inn offers a variety of substantial Mexican dishes. The best “lunch” option might be the Baja Tacos De Pescado, which has beer-battered fried cod, shredded cabbage, chipotle-lime aioli and pineapple relish in flour tortillas.
11. Lotus Blossom Cafe
China Pavilion
The Lotus Blossom Cafe features pot stickers, egg rolls and chicken fried rice. It’s Chinese comfort food.
10. Regal Eagle Smokehouse
The American Adventure
This is perhaps one of the best quick-service restaurants in the park. The Regal Eagle serves as one of the top exhibits for the Disney does barbecue well crowd.
I’m not going to promise a light lunch, though there are a couple of salads on the menu.
But if you can’t handle a Texas Beef Brisket Sandwich or Loaded Burnt-end Fries while you stroll through the World Showcase, then I don’t know what to tell you.
9. Spice Road Table
Morocco Pavilion
Until my beloved restaurant Marrakesh returns, this will have to hold down the fort. Serving a variety of Mediterranean-style small plates, you can create your own perfect lunch.
I’m a big fan of tagine, spicy shrimp and the pomegranate-chili crispy cauliflower.
8. Chefs De France
France Pavilion
French cuisine isn’t really known for being a light lunch kind of situation. And sure, you’re more likely to get a heavy meal at Chefs De France. In fact, I had a magnificent filet mignon there once for dinner.
But for lunch, there are plenty of interesting and relatively light suggestions. Is the French onion soup a light option? With all that cheese? Maybe not, but I love it.
My family stopped in the spur of the moment on our last trip and had a wonderful lunch with soup and ratatouille.
In a traditionally prepared style, ratatouille would be fairly heavy, but the way Chefs De France prepares it, it’s light and flavorful and expertly done.
You might feel a little cliched ordering French onion soup and ratatouille in a Disney French restaurant. But it’s truly great.
7. Choza de Margarita
Mexico Pavilion
At this location, you can choose from a variety of signature margaritas to pair with a small selection of tacos, empanadas or tostadas. It’s a near-perfect vacation lunch spot.
6. Tutto Italia Ristorante
Italy Pavilion
It might not be a bad idea to plan your lunch just on the antipasto menu.
A lunch of Carpaccio di Manzo – which has charred wagyu beef, arugula, parmesan cheese and lemon dressing – isn’t a bad option. Save room for Gelati e Sorbetti.
5. Nine Dragons Restaurant
China Pavilion
This table service restaurant offers a selection of various Chinese food including Cantonese, Mongolian, Szechuan, Hunan and Kiangche-style specialties.
Start with the Crispy Duck Bao Buns and try the Kowloon Spare Ribs, but be prepared to take a digestion break after.
4. Katsura Grill
Japan Pavilion
This is one of the best quick-service restaurants in the entire Disney complex. You can get sushi, tempura noodles or osusume to go.
If you’ve never had a good chicken cutlet curry, it makes for an excellent lunch option.
3. Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Italy Pavilion
Is there a better lunch option than authentic Neapolitan pizza? Well, I ranked it third, so apparently. But also no, there is not. Pizza is always a great choice.
2. Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris
France Pavilion
Why is this creperie ranked second but its big brother – La Crêperie de Paris – is not ranked at all?
Consider this a two-for-one. You can’t go wrong with lunch from either, I picked this quick service version because it’s easier to grab and go. However, you’ll find more options at the sit-down place.
1. La Cantina de San Angel
Mexico Pavilion
Tacos may well be God’s perfect lunch. Wash them down with a margarita or draft beer and your EPCOT lunch is perfect.
Is EPCOT better at night or day?
It depends on your purpose.
If you want to attack EPCOT like you would a typical theme park, then that needs to start early in the day, especially if you have kids.
But EPCOT is a lot of walking and under the Florida sun, that can take a toll. EPCOT in the morning, followed by a break, and then in the evening is a good plan.
For families with older kids – or people traveling without kids – EPCOT at night is the way to go. Since you’ve already acquiesced a large part of the day, there’s not as much pressure to be completed.
A lot of the ride lines for things like Soarin’ and Mission: SPACE are shorter.
You can have a nice dinner, enjoy the park and enjoy the closing show. Left to my own devices where I’m not playing tour guide for my family, I’d say nighttime is the right time.
Read Also: These Are the Best Breakfast Spots at EPCOT, Ranked [2023]
What is your favorite lunch destination at EPCOT? Let us know in the comments!
