Favorite Restaurants in California Adventure

Here are my top picks:

TABLE SERVICE:

Carthay Circle:    This is a fine dining table service restaurant for lunch and dinner that offers a prix fixe menu option to view World of Color in a premium location.   Children are welcome, but it is adult ambiance.   This reproduction of the old iconic Hollywood theater offers fantastic theming and glamour.    For reservations, click here.

Beautiful photographs like this one (Walt Disney with Shirley Temple),  adorn the main dining area on the second floor. 

The World Of Color package is a great value, and the best reserved section to watch the show.  Make sure the show is playing the day you make reservations though.   When we worked out what our meal would cost without the World of Color tickets, it was about the same.  

Ariel’s Grotto:

UPDATE ALERT:   Ariel’s Grotto has been replaced by the Lamplight Lounge, a Pixar themed restaurant and bar.  There is no longer any princess dining available at Disneyland/California Adventure now.    Cast members do not know yet if they will open up a future restaurant with princesses.   My review of Lamplight Lounge will follow this section on the retired Ariel’s Grotto.  

The lunch and breakfast package has princess character dining, and dinner has a World of Color package for premium viewing (make a note that princesses are NOT at dinner)    Your children will get interaction with each princess, and plenty of time to take photos.  Perfect way to avoid those long character lines, and you get longer interaction!      UPDATE:   the food has declined in value recently, and we had a better experience in past years.   Make sure to request a table indoors or you will miss the princesses making their Royal entrance, and the fun theming of the restaurant.

For reservations, click here. 

Lamplight Lounge 

This is the new IT restaurant that replaced Ariel’s Grotto.  It is Pixar themed, and has a very fun drink and appetizer menu.   I recommend the sushi, lobster nachos, and donuts.  Best to skip the kids menu, and have your children share an adult entree or an appetizer.  Try the “Infinity Fizz.”  Your kids will love it!   If you want to eat inside at the main dining section, you will need reservations.  However walk up reservations were easy for me to get.  There are two different lines; one for the bar and one for the outdoor patio.   We chose to eat outside on the patio, and it was nice.  We do miss Ariel’s Grotto, and wish they had created a new Princess Dining restaurant before replacing this one.  But the drink menu here is very creative, and kids can still enjoy the atmosphere.

Infinity Fizz

Lobster Nachos

Walking downstairs to the main dining bar

Reservations needed to sit in this booth or the indoor dining room.  Ask about the secret room!  

Main bar and dining room on lower level

QUICK SERVICE:

Flo’s Cafe:  homestyle quick service comfort food in Cars Land.  The theming is our favorite!   For a more detailed review on this fun restaurant, visit Disney Tourist Blog here. 

Corn Dog Castle:  if you haven’t tried the corn dogs at Disneyland, they are the best we’ve ever had.

An old favorite was the Pacific Wharf Cafe, but they have removed our favorite shrimp Louie salad in the bread bowl and replaced it with a chicken salad.    Odd menu change for a seafood restaurant.  But I would still recommend heading over there for a quick bite to eat for a lower cost.  There are a few good places in that food court of the 

There are many quick counter service places to grab a bite to eat if you head over to the Pacific Wharf.   Visit here for a list of all the counter service dining available at California Adventure.  

DESSERT:

We love the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop.   Our favorite is the Marina raspberry sorbet hot fudge sundae and salted caramel hot cocoa!     Click here for menu. 

If it’s not in the budget to eat at Carthay Circle Restaurant for dinner or lunch, consider a dessert there so you can experience this special place.  The menu changes often, but the mango cheesecake there was one of the best I’ve ever had.   

*A previous #1 favorite that fell OFF my list is the Cozy Cone Motel.  They used to have these incredible churro bites that we had to get each time we visited the park.  They’ve replaced them with regular churros and they aren’t nearly as good but we still stop there for a churro or soft serve ice cream cone.