MASSIVE REVIEW: We Tried EVERY Booth at the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival!

It’s that time of the year — the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival has officially begun!

It’s time for the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival!

The festival runs until November 18th and there is so much to do! We can’t wait to check out the scavenger hunt, the Eat to the Beat concerts, and see the new Muppets addition. However, the festival is really all about the food and we’re trying something at EVERY single booth — check out our reviews and rankings below!

Coastal Eats — 5/5

Coastal Eats

Over at Coastal Eats, you can get the Lump Crab Cake with Aïoli and Vinegar Slaw for $7.  We had this one last year and were excited to try it again! These crab cakes are served with Napa Cabbage Slaw and some lemon for some extra zest. These were delicious! The flavor was great — nice and herby — and the slaw added a nice crunch. The extra crunch was much appreciated because the breading of the cake wasn’t very crispy — but the slaw and the flavor of the cakes made up for it. The lemon added a nice acidity that we enjoyed as well.

Lump Crab Cake

Next up, we grabbed the Oysters Rockefeller for $7.50, which is returning from last year. We were hesitant to try out oysters, but this one surprised us. This dish is DELICIOUS. We gave it a 10/10! The oysters were flavorful, and the breading was crumbly and delicious. The breading also had a nice cheesy flavor which paired well with the spinach.

Oysters Rockefeller

Last but not least, we grabbed the Cape Codder cocktail, which is $8This beverage is a Boyd & Blair Vodka with Cranberry, Pomegranate, and Lime. It tasted like a typical Vodka Cran — with some extra pizazz from the pomegranate and lime. It was very refreshing and delicious!

If you love seafood, Coastal Eats is a MUST-TRY.

Hawai’i Booth — 5/5

Hawai’i

Located near Port of Entry is the Hawaii Booth, which features several returning dishes that we’ve LOVED in the past.

First, we tried the Kalua Pork Sliders for $5.75. This dish features sweet-and-sour DOLE pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise. It has a balance of sweet and smoky flavor, and really, our only complaint is that the bun got soggy at the bottom due to how much meat was loaded onto the bun.

Kalua Pork Slider

Next, we tried the SPAM Sushi for $6. This dish features teriyaki-glazed SPAM, spicy mayonnaise, eel sauce, and nori. We really liked this one! The spicy mayonnaise has a strong flavor, and we also really enjoyed the sweet but smoky flavor of the SPAM.

SPAM Sushi

Finally, we tried the Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Macadamia Nuts for $4.75, and it was a hit as well. It’s thick, creamy, and had a fruity but sweet taste. The macadamia nuts added a nice crunch! We like this every year, and it didn’t fail us this year.

Passionfruit Cheesecake

Overall, we’d recommend this booth to anyone with an adventurous palette that wants to try a Hawaiian take on classic dishes. The first two items are a bit spicy, so keep that in mind!

Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina — 3/5

Located in Morroco, this booth offers up some returning flavors that we were excited to try.

First up, we tried the Grilled Chermoula Chicken Kebab. You can also get the Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Kebab. Both are $5.75. We were so disappointed by this one, y’all. The chicken was so chewy and fatty. That’s the only takeaway we had.

Grilled Chermoula Chicken Kebab

Next up, we tried the Fried Falafel Pita with Tahini Sauce for $5.50. This one was really good! The falafel fell apart in our mouth and was loaded in flavor. The veggies were crisp and offered a good crunch, too. Oh, and did we mention it’s plant based?

Fried Falafel Pita

Next, we tried the Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with Hummus, Chermoula, and Zhoug Dips for $5. The bread here was delicious, but the dips were nothing special. They were super oily and salty. This one is also plant-based, though.

Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with Dips

For dessert, we had the Pistachio Cake with Cinnamon Pastry Cream and Candied Walnuts for $4.79. It was okay — it had a bit of an odd flavor to the actual cake. The walnuts did add some crunch, but other than that it was nothing special. The pastry cream tasted somewhat like buttercream frosting, though.

Pistachio Cake

Next, we got a Cider Flight for $11. We got the Keel Farms Raspberry Citrus Hard Cider, the 3 Daughters Brewing Fig Hard Cider, and a Blackberry Peach Hard Cider. All three were DELICIOUS. They were slightly tart but very refreshing. Our favorite one was the Fig cider!

Hard Cider Flight

Overall, we’d recommend this booth for the ciders and the falafel pita. Everything else is a skip in our opinion!

Connections Cafe & Eatery — 4/5

Connections Cafe

At Connections Cafe & Eatery, you can grab the Remy Liege Waffle for $4.19. This is a Cream Cheese Liege Waffle with Cream Cheese Icing, Graham Cracker Crumbs, and a Remy Chocolate Garnish.

This was a really fun take on the regular Liege Waffle you can get here! It was creamy, a bit sweeter than a regular waffle, and made for a great quick breakfast!

Remy Liege Waffle

If you’re a big fan of waffles and cream cheese and are looking for a cheap festival eat for breakfast, consider stopping by Connections! But keep in mind that you can get waffles here all year long.

Liege Waffle

You can also grab the Black Forest Baumkuchen for $5.99, which is a flaky, dry pastry topped with whipped cream, black cherry, and chocolate.

Black Forest Baumkuchen

We loved this treat! We love Baumkuchen itself, but it’s a pretty dry treat, so the milk chocolate drizzle, black cherry, and whipped cream really helped bring some extra flavor and moisture to the treat.

Look how delicious!

You can also grab the Yucatan Sunset Margarita for $15.50. This drink is Teremana Blanco Tequila, Passion Fruit Syrup, Bol’s Triple Sec 30 proof Liqueur, with Lime and Orange Juices.

We did love this margarita as well and would absolutely get it again, especially considering it was more substantial than other festival drinks.

Greece — 3.5/5

Greece

At the Greece Booth, you can grab a variety of returning items and one NEW one. First up, we’ve got the Spanakopita — a pastry with a spinach and cheese filling. It’s priced at $4.75. Let’s go over the good and the bad. For the good, the pastry was wonderfully flaky. For the bad, the filling was very spinach-heavy, so we really feel like it would have been MUCH better if it had been cheesier! It was also a little drier than we hoped.

Spanakopita

Next, we have the Griddled Cheese with pistachios and honey. This is $5 and is part of Emile’s Fromage Montage (the cheese crawl). This has been a hotly debated item in the past, with some loving it and others not. For us, it was pretty good this year! The cheese (a goat cheese) was rich, the honey paired with it nicely, and the pistachios added a nutty flavor and satisfying crunch.

Griddled Cheese

Then it was time for the Lamb Gyro. This has shaved lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and tzatziki on warm flatbread and is $6.75. On the good side, the lamb wasn’t too gamey. But, on the bad side, there was not nearly enough tzatziki sauce on here for us! We really would have liked more sauce, especially because the flatbread was on the drier side.

Gyro

Finally, for food, we have the NEW Plant-based IMPOSSIBLE Moussaka, priced at $5.50.This was surprisingly good! Think of it sort of like a mini casserole with eggplant, Impossible meat, and some other ingredients. The bechamel sauce on top (which there was plenty of) was really nice (creamy!), the Impossible meat didn’t throw off the flavors at all, and the ingredients blended well together. It’s hearty, comforting, and a great plant-based option at the Festival this year.

Moussaka

Finally, we have the Wine Flight. This is $7.50 and comes with glasses of Mylonas Winery Assyrtiko White Wine ($6.50 for an individual glass), Skouras ‘Zoe’ Rosé ($6 for an individual glass), and the Kir-Yianni Naoussa Xinomavro Dry Red ($6.50 for an individual glass). This was…fine. The white wine was drier than the red, but the red was actually our favorite of the group. If you’re looking for something slightly sweet, the Rose is the way to go.

Wine Flight

Overall, we really liked the plant-based Moussaka, and the griddled cheese was good (but can be controversial depending on your taste buds). We wish the spanakopita had more cheese and that the lamb had more sauce. The booth as a whole might not be anything you’d write home about, but its dishes are fairly solid.

The Fry Basket — 4.5/5

Fry Basket

First up: the Fry Flight! This flight comes with Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar FriesBBQ Bacon Fries with smoked aïoli, and Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with candied pecans, toasted marshmallow cream, and maple bourbon glaze. Hot tip — you can order individual fry flavors here by request, so if you enjoy one type of fries best or don’t want all three different flavors, you can ask the Cast Member for the specific fries you’d like. The flight is $7.50.

If we had to rank all three fries in the flight from best to worst, we’d do it like this:

  1. Sweet Potato Casserole Fries
  2.  BBQ Bacon Fries
  3. Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar Fries

Honestly, the Sweet Potato Casserole Fries were the runaway winners here. They were perfectly soft and sweet and reminded us of a real Sweet Potato Casserole. The BBQ Bacon Fries had a nice flavor but weren’t our top pick, while the Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar Fries were just plain boring (and lacking in vinegar flavor!).

Yucca time!

Next on the agenda is the Adobo Yuca Fries with garlic-cilantro aïoli. We LOVE these fries — in fact, they’re the best thing at the booth! You can get them for $5.50. If you like thick, potato-y fries with a strong garlic flavor, these are IT!

The haul

Finally, we tried the new Pickle Fries with dill ranch! Get them for $5.50. To be honest, these are basically just fried pickles with some dill ranch sauce drizzled on top. They didn’t knock our socks off, but as fried pickle lovers, they were a solid addition to the festival booth. Just use caution with that first bite: these suckers are HOT!

This booth did not disappoint — there’s something for just about everyone here, and you can’t go wrong with garlic, pickles, and sweet potato fries. Give it a try!

India– 3/5

India 2023

We tried all the food options here and one of the non-alcoholic drinks so let’s dig in!

Full Spread

First up, we tried the Curry-Spiced Crispy Cheese with Mango-Curry Ketchup for $5.25. These were heavy in the curry flavor and we found the cheese to be really dense. The Mango-Curry Ketchup added a lot to this dish though.

Curry-Spiced Crispy Cheese with Mango-Curry Ketchup

Next, Potato and Pea Samosa with Coriander-Lime Cream for $5.50. These were salty and they packed a punch with the spice. While the pastry was light and flaky, the peas on the inside could give a weird texture.

Potato and Pea Samosa with Coriander-Lime Cream

For our final dish, we grabbed Chicken Tikka Masala with Fennel-Spiced Yogurt and Naan Bread for $6.25. This was very salty and spicy. The chicken and naan were tender, but the spice level was high on these. We loved that the yogurt sauce helped cool it down. But we wish there was more.

Chicken Tikka Masala with Fennel-Spiced Yogurt and Naan Bread

To drink, we grabbed the Mango Lassi (non-alcoholic) for $5. We loved this drink and it really helped cool things down after all that spice. It was surprisingly light for a milk-based drink and we loved the freshness of the mango chunks inside.

Mango Lassi (non-alcoholic)

There are some solid choices in India, but be prepared for the salty and spice levels with these dishes!

Refreshment Port — 4.5/5

Refreshment Port

First up, we grabbed the Braised Beef Poutine for $10. This one is made of French Fries with braised beef, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese sauce, cheese curds, crumbled Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, and gherkin relish. The meat is so tender and falls apart, and the flavor combined with the cheesy, herby Boursin cheese is incredible. The fries do tend to get soggier the longer they sit!

Braised Beef Poutine

You can also grab the Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Peach for $11. This was so refreshing! It was fruity which was a nice break from the savory flavors of the poutine we had. You can also get the Boulevard Brewing Co. Quirk Pineapple Orange Whip Hard Seltzer for $11.25. 

Sparkling Peach Wine

If you’re looking for an upgraded take on poutine and some refreshing drinks, make sure you head over to Refreshment Port. It’s technically not even a festival booth, but it is consistently one of our favorite stops at the Food & Wine Festival!

France — 3.5/5

France Booth

The Beignet aux Trois Fromages is a Warm Beignet filled with Three Cheese Blend for $6.95. Fair warning, though — the cheese inside this pastry is more liquid than you might be prepared for. It’s almost like a gravy or bechamel sauce — but it is oh so cheesy and rich.

Beignet aux Trois Fromages

The Croissant aux Escargots — Escargot Croissant with Garlic and Parsley is $7.50. We know what you’re thinking — snails? At a theme park? But this is consistently one of our favorite dishes at the festival! We only had a few snails, which meant we got more delicious garlic, parsley, and croissant flavors.

Escargots

We grabbed the Boeuf Bourguignon, Pomme Dauphine: Braised Short Ribs in Cabernet with Puffed Potatoes for $7.75. This wasn’t quite as flavorful as we’ve had in years past, but we still thought it was a pretty solid option. The meat didn’t have an overwhelming flavor, instead, the pearl onions were the star of the show. While we liked the flavor of the pomme dauphine, we wish they hadn’t been so soggy!

It’s not the France booth without dessert, and we had the Crème Brûlée Vanille à la Confiture de Fraises: Vanilla Crème Brûlée with House-Made Strawberry Jam for $5.95. The strawberry jam inside is absolutely the star of the show here — we just wish the topping on ours hadn’t been so torched.

Creme Brulee

You’ll also find a new drink here — the Parisian Cosmo Slush made with Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice for $14.95. This reminded us of a pretty standard cranberry martini, but it did melt incredibly fast. There was a heavy cranberry flavor!

Parisian Cosmo Slush

The France booth is one we always come back to — and for good reason. While the beignet may be controversial on our team, it is cheesy, carby, and full of flavor. The adventurous eaters might be interested in the escargot, and you can’t beat a frozen cosmo slush!

Flavors of America — 3/5

Flavors of America

Over at Flavors of America, you can get Italian Hot Beef Sandwich with Shaved Beef, Spicy Giardiniera, and Au Jus on a French Roll for $6.25.  First we were surprised this wasn’t as heavy of a meal as we thought it would be. However, it was light and juicy, which we loved. We also loved dipping it into the au jus, although that made the bread soggy, but in a good way.

Italian Hot Beef

Our second dish was the Cioppino, which is a Seafood Stew with Saffron-infused Tomato-Fennel Broth and Sourdough Crostini for $7.50So this was pretty flavorful, although the heaviest flavor was of tomatoes. We were also disappointed that the shrimp didn’t seem to be seasoned, so they seemed flavorless to us.

Seafood Cioppino

The Chilaquiles, which are Corn Tortilla Chips tossed in Salsa Verde with Ranchero Chicken, Queso Fresco, Cilantro-Lime Crema and a Soft-Poached Egg for $6.75 is where this booth really fell apart for us. These tasted like something you’d get at a knock-off chain Tex Mex restaurant. We were hoping for something that tasted more authentic, but this wasn’t it.

Chilaquiles

We got some serious fall vibes from the Freshly Baked Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing for $4.50, which tasted more like a Spice Cake than a Carrot Cake (but we’re not complaining). The cream cheese frosting added the perfect sweet balance to the cake and we think we might order this again once fall actually arrives.

When it comes to the Beer Flight for $10, we clearly had a favorite.

Beer Flight

The Rogue Dreamland American Lager was very dry and very bitter. We’re not really into that, so this one was not a win for us.

Rogue Dreamland Beer

The Left Hand Brewing Sawtooth Amber Ale is a bit lighter, though, especially with the first sip, but then it feels heavier in the mouth after that.

Left Hand Breweing Beer

The Goose Island Beer Co. Neon Beer Hug is named correctly because it was clearly a BIG beer hug and our favorite of the three. It’s got some sweetness to it that we really liked.

Goose Island

Overall, the Italian Hot Beef is something we’d highly recommend at Flavors of America, and if you’re looking for some relatively inexpensive beer, $10 for a flight isn’t bad.

Kenya — 2/5

We started with the Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potato-Corn Mealie Pap and Kachumbari Slaw for $6.50. We’ll be honest — this didn’t impress us. It’s an adventurous dish, but the flavors just weren’t really there for us. Also, the meat wasn’t all cooked the same: some was tender, while other parts were dry.

Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Beef Tenderloin

The Peri-Peri Skewered Shrimp with Citrus-Flavored Couscous for $7 also disappointed us this year. It could have been an exciting dish, but it was really just okay. We were also unimpressed with how small thee shrimp in it was. The couscous was dry and the veggies were salty.

Peri Peri Skewered Shrimp

We would say that if you skip this booth at the festival, you probably won’t be missing out on much. If you are an adventurous eater, the offerings here are unique, but in the end, they disappointed us.

Flavors from Fire — 4/5

One popular booth at the Food & Wine Festival the past few years has been Flavors from Fire!

Flavors from Fire

We stopped by to try out a LOT of eats from the menu, including some old favorites (hello Corned Beef!), some new treats, and an item that moved from a completely different booth.

Flavors from Fire spread

First up we’ve got The IMPOSSIBLE Burger Slider with wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw on a sesame seed bun for $6. This was an old menu staple at Earth Eats, but since that booth didn’t return this year, you can find it here instead.

This was definitely more spicy than we expected — that wasabi cream is putting in WORK. It’s a pretty decent portion for the price, but it’s probably not going to be the absolute best plant-based item that you eat at the festival this year.

Impossible Slider

Next up is a dish that’s coming back for a victory lap at Flavors from Fire — the Smoked Corned Beef with house-made potato chips, cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue. It’s $6.50 and it’s part of Emile’s Fromage Montage. Listen up, y’all — this is probably one of the best things you’ll eat at the festival, and it’s all due to that CHEESE. There’s a great mix of salty and savory flavors here but what makes it a winner is the rich, delicious cheese on top. We’d get this again and again!

Smoked Corned Beef with Potato Chips

Our first new item at this booth is the Chimichurri Marinated Skirt Steak Taco with crushed avocado, grilled corn salsa, pickled red onions, queso fresco, and cilantro-lime cream. It’s $6.50 and we generally liked it, but we think it would’ve been better if the tortilla were served warm. Also, our meat was just a little overdone.

Chimichurri-marinated Skirt Steak Taco

And finally, it’s time for dessert! We’ve got the new Spiced Chocolate Tart with BBQ potato chip crust, salted whisky-caramel, and smoked sea salt for $4.75. This was rich and chocolate-forward, with a little spiced kick at the bottom. It didn’t really have any heat, just a bit of spice. If you’re into adventurous desserts, try it out!

Spiced Chocolate Tart

Last but not least, we had a returning drink — the Swine Brine. This is $11 and made with Jim Beam Bourbon. This was…not our favorite. It tastes like a cocktail at first, but then immediately changes to become mostly chicken broth flavored. If that’s your cup of tea, go for it, but we might stay away!

Swine Brine

If you’re in the mood for some heavy and satisfying eats, this might be your spot! We didn’t really dislike anything except the Swine Brine, and we might’ve just ended up with a rogue taco. We’d be willing to try it again!

Mexico — 3/5

Now it’s time to head to Mexico! This booth has been a favorite in the past, so how does it stack up this year?

Mexico

All three of the food items here are new, and we’ve got two drinks to try out. Let’s dive in!

Mexico Spread

First up, we’re trying the Tostada de Carnitas. It’s made with braised pork on a fried corn tortilla with black beans, avocado mousse, queso fresco, and chives. You can get it for $7.75. We thought the tortilla was nice and crispy and the ingredients all blended well together, with a mix of savory and fresh flavors. The only downside is that after a few minutes, the black beans started to make the tortilla a little soggy.

Tostada de Carnitas

Also new is the Taco de Costilla, which is made with slow-braised beef short rib on a corn tortilla with salsa de chile Morita, avocado mousse and spring onions for $8. This one is a bit pricey for the size, but it was our favorite thing we ate in Mexico. It’s a nice combination of salty and savory flavors, and the avocado makes it creamy and light. The tortilla was soft and perfect.

Taco de Costilla

And for dessert, we got the Pastel Impossible for $6. It’s made with layers of traditional Mexican flan and tres leches with guava and Cajeta. One of us liked this while the other didn’t — the textures were a little confusing with the mushy tres leches and the gooey gelatin at the bottom. The flavors were sweet and creamy though.

Pastel Impossible

The Fly Away Margarita has Nocheluna Sotol, pineapple-ginger juice, Chile Ancho Verde Liqueur, and Tequila with a sweet dried chili salt rim. It’s $13, and we didn’t really love it. It burns going down and leaves you with an uncomfortable aftertaste.

Fly Away Margarita

The Trouble in Paradise Margarita is much easier to stomach. It’s Ilegal Mezcal, Watermelon Liqueur, Rosé Wine, lime juice, and agave with a chili-lime powder rim for $12.50. It’s pretty much a basic watermelon margarita — sweet, but nothing too exciting. We’d recommend skipping this for more interesting drinks.

Trouble in Paradise Margarita

Those are all our thoughts on Mexico — not quite as impressive as years past, but we’d happily go back for the taco and the tostada.

Refreshment Outpost — 4/5

Refreshment Outpost

You might be thinking “wait a minute, isn’t Refreshment Outpost available all year long in EPCOT?” It is — but during the Food & Wine Festival it gets some special eats and drinks, and there are some items here you will NOT want to miss.

In terms of food, the main item is the returning Spicy Githeri with White Beans, Pigeon Peas, Curried BEN’S ORIGINAL™ Long Grain & Wild Rice, and Kachumbari Slaw. It is a plant-based item and is priced at $5. This was actually one of the BEST things we had in the entire Festival. The rice was nicely cooked and had a lot of flavor, plus the veggies in the dish burst with flavor when we bit into them. Couple that with the crunchiness of the greens, and the spicy kick to the dish and you’ve got a winner. Just be warned — that spice creeps up on you, so start slow!

Spicy Githeri

Another dish you can get here is the classic DOLE Whip, so you can opt for one of those if you want to! In terms of drinks, there are 3 new selections here:

  • Gulf Stream Brewing Co. Cloud 9 Watermelon Hibiscus Lager (New) – $11.25
  • Ciderboys Mango Tango Hard Cider (New) – $11.25
  • North Coast Brewing Co. PranQster Golden Ale (New) – $11.25

We tried the Watermelon Hibiscus one during our visit and were pleasantly surprised by it! The drink was light, refreshing, and overall really good. The watermelon taste wasn’t all that present, unfortunately, but we did pick up that hibiscus flavor. Even if you’re not a big beer drinker, we think this is one you might enjoy.

Watermelon Hibiscus Beer

Overall, the beer was a great choice (despite it not having a strong watermelon flavor), and we REALLY enjoyed the Githeri.

This spot might fly under the radar for most since it’s not a traditional Festival booth, but we recommend giving it a try — you might be surprised.

Ireland — 3/5

Ireland Booth 2023

We grabbed the Fisherman’s Seafood Pie for $7. The potato top was soft and the inside of the pie was creamy. This was heavy on the scallop flavor but we felt that it was overall bland.

Fishermen’s Seafood Pie

Next, Roasted Irish Sausage with Colcannon Potatoes and Onion Gravy for $5.75. This dish was just OK for us. The potatoes were very flour heavy and while the sausage was flavorful, the overall flavor here was mild. We were wanting it to pack more of a punch and it didn’t.

Roasted Irish Sausage with Colcannon Potatoes and Onion Gravy

But it wasn’t all disappointing. The Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard for $4.75 stole the show. This cake was moist, rich, and delicious. It was fudgy and chocolatey and the Irish Cream Liqueur sauce added a subtle note of booze to it. We LOVED it!

Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard

Finally, we tried the Guinness Baileys Coffee Shake for $12. This was very thin for a milkshake and while we did enjoy it, we feel like it will be better in the cooler months.

Spain — 2/5

Spain 2023

First up, we grabbed the Charcuterie, which is a selection of imported Spanish Meats, Cheeses, Olives, and an Herbed Serrano Vinaigrette for $6.50. This dish is very popular and we actually had to wait a while for it. The olives were bitter, the spice was very mild and the sausage had a kick. This is a good go-to snack.

Charcuterie

Next, Paella with Saffron Rice, Chorizo, and Shrimp for $6.75. Rice was seasoned just enough but was mild. The shrimp was really bland and chewy. The sausage is what was very bold in flavor.

Paella

We also tried the Seafood Salad with Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Mussels, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar, and Smoked Paprika for $6.25. This was oily & very rubbery. Mostly bland with some pepper flavor.

Seafood Salad

To drink, we tried the Sangria Flight for $13. The Viña Borgia Macabeo White Sangria was like a watered-down juice. It was sweet and fruity. The Viña Borgia Rosé Sangria was fuller and more flavorful. It was actually more fruity than the white. Finally, Viña Borgia Garnacha Red Sangria was not sweet and even had a spicey flavor to it. It was heavy.

Sangria Flight

Overall, Spain left us a little disappointed. We were hoping for some big and bold flavors here that we just did not taste.

Overall, the food is heavy here and besides the cake, we were left wanting more flavor. Luckily, if you’re looking for sweet treats covered in Baileys, this is your booth.

Funnel Cake Stand — 2/5

Funnel Cake Stand

The only item at this booth this year is the Candied Bacon Funnel Cake for $10.50. This is a Funnel Cake topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, Candied Bacon, and Maple Syrup Drizzle, and while we enjoyed the funnel cake itself, this treat is VERY sweet with the ice cream, maple syrup and fried dough. Instead of balancing the sweetness, the bacon actually throws a wrench in the whole thing, so we weren’t super impressed.

Candied Bacon Funnel Cake

Italy — 3/5

Italy

The first item we grabbed is the Focaccia Ripiena for $9. This is made of Freshly Baked Focaccia, Beef Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, and Burrata Cheese, and it very much reminded us of a meatball sub on a crouton. It’s a cheesy, solid snack, but nothing extraordinary.

Focaccia Ripiena

The Cavatelli with Sweet Sausage Ragout and Crispy Applewood-Smoked Baconis also available for $10. While it doesn’t look overly appetizing, it reminds us a lot of chicken alfredo parmesan! The dish is super creamy, but the bacon gives it a nice crunch.

Cavatelli

For dessert, we grabbed the Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake with Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Compote for $8. We love how fluffy the ricotta makes this one, and the cheesecake itself then cuts through the tartness of the cheese. While the strawberries are a nice garnish for flavor, it doesn’t change the texture too much.

Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake

We also grabbed the Italian Sangria for $12, which comes with Red or White Wine. This drink wasn’t super memorable — it almost tasted like a fruit punch with an alcoholic kick to it.

Italian Sangria

Australia — 4/5

Australia booth

G’Day mate! We’re heading to Australia to try the Grilled Sweet-and-Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pepper, Onion, Snap Peas and Coconut-Chili Sauce for $6.75. We thought the shrimp was perfectly cooked — not too rubbery, and it had a great flavor thanks to the berry aspect. The snap peas were our favorite part though, we especially loved the coconut-chili sauce.

Shrimp

We also had the Roasted Lamb Chop with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies for $8.75. This has been a festival favorite of ours, and this year it is too! It’s incredibly tender and flavorful, and the mint pesto is such an interesting flavor combination with the meat. It makes it taste almost refreshing — but can be pretty minty at times. We were thoroughly impressed!

Lamp chop

Also at this booth is the Lamington — a Yellow Cake with Raspberry Filling with Chocolate and Coconut for $4.50. This is a super moist cake, though it is a bit on the denser side! The icing was super light, and our reporter who reviewed it typically doesn’t even like chocolate, coconut, or icing at all. The raspberry filling was a nice, light portion as well.

Lamington

You can also grab the Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Viognier, South Australia for $6.50, or the Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia for $6. 

Quincy and the Australia eats

We loved everything we tried at the Australia booth this year. The lamb was certainly the star of the show, but we’d definitely get the shrimp again too. And that cake? Forget about it.

China — 3.5/5

Welcome to China! We’re trying out several eats and drinks here. Let’s go!

China Booth

The first item on our list is the Pan-Fried Chicken Dumplings with house-made sweet-and-spicy sauce for $5.25. These were pretty good, but nothing stood out about them in particular. They were just decent dumplings with a fair amount of filling.

Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings

The Crispy Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce is a new addition to the menu this year! It’s $8.25 and was one of the best things we ate all day! The duck was very tender, and the bao had the perfect, slightly chewy texture. We highly recommend this.

Crispy Duck Bao Bun

The third food item is the returning Dandan Noodles for $8.25. They’re made with spicy pork, Sichuan Sauce, peanut butter, and sesame. The noodles were on the softer side and the strongest flavor here is peanut butter. These weren’t as spicy as they were in the past.

Dandan Noodles

The Fiery Dream was our favorite drink, made with Citrus Vodka, Triple Sec, guava nectar, and spicy hot honey syrup for $13.75. It was incredibly refreshing with a little bit of spice at the end — a very unique beverage!

Fiery Dream

We also tried the Fireworks, made with Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, Citrus Vodka, orange juice, and mango syrup. It’s $14 and a little bit heavy on the alcohol, so don’t get this if you don’t want a STRONG drink. Not our favorite item on the menu here.

Fireworks

Last but not least is the ByJoe Punch, which is Chinese BaiJiu Spirit, Piña Colada Mix, lychee syrup, and sparkling water for $13. It’s very fruity and tropical, and definitely a sweeter drink. It was fun!

ByJoe Punch

All in all, China was pretty good, but if you stop there at all, you HAVE to get that Duck Bao Bun! We also really loved the Fiery Punch, so try that out while you’re at it.

Japan — 5/5

Next up on our list is Japan, and we’re excited!

Japan Menu

There’s a new sushi dish here — the Fire Taiko Roll! It’s a sushi roll with spicy tuna, cucumber, and pickled Daikon Radish served with spicy sauce for $8. It packed a little bit of a punch with the spicy tuna but the textures of the roll worked really well together. We liked the addition of the crunchy cucumber a lot as it brought some balance overall.

Fire Taiko Roll

Next up, we had the Teriyaki Chicken Bun, which is a returning favorite. It’s made with chicken, vegetables, and teriyaki sauce for $7.50. We see why this is loved so much! It was a great ratio of chicken to bun, and the teriyaki sauce’s sweetness matched really well with the sweetness of the bun.

Teriyaki Chicken Bun

The Beef Wa-Gyu Don is a new addition with American Wagyu Beef over steamed white rice for $9.75. The beef was hearty and satisfying, while the veggie elements added freshness. The quail’s egg didn’t have much flavor, but was interesting nonetheless.

Beef Wa Gyu Don

And finally, there was the Sake Passion Cocktail for $8.75. It’s made with sake and passion fruit, but we got more hints of mango flavoring. This is a great and refreshing drink for any adults who don’t like the taste of alcohol, because it was hiding in there really well!

Sake Passion Cocktail

Overall, we thought the Japan booth was one of the best booths for a full meal! The elements of the different items blended well together and we left feeling like we got our money’s worth out of the experience! We highly recommend this booth — it might even be the BEST.

The Alps — 4/5

The Alps

Greetings from The Alps! We tried the Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and a Baguette here, and boy, we have some thoughts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cornichons were the star of the show, the saving grace, and the welcome addition to this warm, chees-filled dish. We loved the combination of the zingy vinegar cornichons with the hearty potatoes and mild cheese. You can get this one for $5.25.

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and a Baguette

The Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Alpine Ham, Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and a Baguette is pretty much the same as the snack above, but with HAM! Oh, and this one is $5.75. We liked the ham version better; the ham went well with the Swiss cheese and potatoes. This is a Food and Wine classic, and we’re still a fan of the Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese.

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Alpine Ham, Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and a Baguette

NEW this year is the Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake, and Meringues for $5.50.

Note:  Disney previously described this as plant-based (and some Disney menus might still have that language). But, we have confirmed with a Cast Member that the dessert is NOT plant-based. Please keep this in mind if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.

 

 

 

We LOVED this dessert! The Dark Chocolate Fondue was rich and indulgent; it tasted like high-quality chocolate that wasn’t too sweet or sugary. This was one of our favorite treats of the festival — do yourself a favor and order this.

Plant-based Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake, and Meringues

We’ll be honest: the Frozen Rosé for $9 didn’t knock our socks off. It wasn’t bad, though; it had a nice balance of sweet and dry flavors like most standard Rosé drinks.

Frozen Rosé

Finally, we tried the Stiegl Brewery Key Lime Radler for $5.50. If you don’t like any sort of sweetness in your beer, you might not like this one. That said, we picked up on floral notes more than fruity notes, so if you like Key Lime-inspired drinks, give this one a try!

Stiegl Brewery Key Lime Radler Beer

Brazil — 3/5

Brazil

Let’s start with the Feijoada, which you can get for$6.25. It consists of black beans with pork belly, Brazil nut pesto, and Ben’s Original long grain white rice.

 

 

 

Honestly, the pork belly let us down here; it was dry and a little tough. While we didn’t mind the rice and beans, it wasn’t exactly the best rice and beans we’ve ever had. Fingers crossed the pork belly is a little better next time; maybe this was a fluke!

Feijoada

Now, let’s talk about the Pão de Queijo, which is Brazilian cheese bread, for $5. This dish is part of Emile’s Fromage Montage (A.K.A. the cheese crawl). We’ve loved this snack in the past, but this year, the cheese was hardened by the time we took our first bite. If we had eaten this dish when it was warm, we would’ve been able to really appreciate the cheese bread the way it was intended.

Pão de Queijo

Germany — 3.75/5

Germany

At the Germany booth this year we got some serious hits and a few sort of misses. Let’s go through it all! To start things off, we picked up the Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham, Onions, and Cheese for $5. This has been a big favorite of ours in the past, but this year it didn’t leave us as impressed as we would have hoped.

The portion size was smaller than last year, the pasta was a little greasy, the ham flavor didn’t really come through unless we got a piece of ham in our bite (and there weren’t all that many in the dish), and there really wasn’t a lot of onion flavor here either. It wasn’t bad by any means, and if you like mac ‘n’ cheese we think it’s a safe dish you’ll enjoy, but it wasn’t a favorite of ours in 2023.

Schinkennudeln

Next, let’s talk about the Bratwurst on the Pretzel Roll with Mustard. This is $6 and is another okay dish. The mustard sauce added a nice flavor, but the portion size was small and the bratwurst tasted more like a breakfast sausage. Again, it wasn’t bad but it might not be quite what you might expect or want in a bratwurst.

Bratwurst

Next up was dessert — the Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce — priced at $4.50. Now this was a WINNER. This dessert had it all — a delicious apple filling, a flaky pastry, and an AMAZING vanilla sauce. This is something we’d easily order again and again.

Apple Strudel

When it comes to the drinks, the Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Riesling is the only new choice here and is priced at $6.50. This was another win for us and it might just surprise you! It tasted sort of like how a green grape would if liquified — a little sweet, a touch sour, and overall very delicious.

Spread (You Can See the Riesling to the Left of the Bratwurst)

We also grabbed a beer flight for $10, which was pretty good. We tried the Gaffel Kölsch (hoppy but not as strong as the Festbier), Weihenstephaner Festbier (STRONG hoppy flavor), and Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen (had a sort of pear soda vibe to it).

Beer Flight

Overall this booth was a bit of a mixed bag. Nothing was bad by any means, but some things just weren’t as great as we hoped they would be.

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Carts — 5/5

Joffrey’s Near the American Adventure

Joffrey’s Near American Adventure

Let’s just say we were very impressed with the Nutty Caramel Mocha Cold Brew, which is a Sweet Blend of Caramel Mudslide Cold Brew, Caramel Syrup, Peanut Butter Syrup, and Chocolate Syrup topped with Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce for $6.49You can also get this with Carolans Peanut Butter Irish Cream Liqueur for $14.99. All those flavors worked so well together and it was a lot like drinking our favorite candy bar. If you love sweet dessert-like coffee drinks, GET THIS.

Nutty Caramel Mocha Cold Brew

Joffrey’s in World Showcase

 

Joffrey’s near Disney Traders in World Showcase

Our next drink was the Java Horchata — a Sweet Blend of Espresso and Horchata topped with Whipped Cream and Cinnamon for $6.49. You can also get this one with with Grey Goose Vodka and Kahlúa Liqueur for $14.99. This one was also a big hit with us with its bold cinnamon flavor. This is a coffee drink for coffee lovers, though, because it’s not a super sweet drink.

Java Horchata

Joffrey’s Near Canada

We dove into the  the Frozen Roseberry, which is a Refreshing Blend of Frozen Lemon and Strawberry-Rose Syrup for $6.49. You can also get aversion with Grey Goose Vodka for $14.99. This was so refreshing with both sweet and tart flavors. If you’re worried about the rose, though, it doesn’t really have a big floral flavor.

Frozen Roseberry

Joffrey’s Near Mission: SPACE

We picked up the Amaretto Iced Tea — a Sweet and Nutty Blend of Black Iced Tea and Amaretto Syrup for $6.49. This one is available with Citrónge Orange Liqueur for$14.99. We were surprised at how refreshing this drink was, but we’ll warn you — that amaretto gives this a LOT of flavor.

Amaretto iced Tea

Joffrey’s impressed us with all FOUR of its drinks this year and we would not hesitate to get any of these again. Skip the lines at Starbucks and head straight to Joffrey’s in EPCOT for some unique sips.

Canada — 5/5

It’s time for a festival CLASSIC. We’re heading to Canada!

Canadaaaa

First up on our list is the Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup served with a pretzel roll for $6. This is a returning menu item that has been VERY popular in the past, and we see why! It was creamy and the bacon added some nice saltiness that wasn’t overwhelming. It’s comfort food at its finest! And that pretzel roll was SO soft.

Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup

The other thing we ordered was the Filet Mignon for $9.75. It comes with mushrooms, Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt mashed potatoes, and a Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt butter. The meat was rich and tender, the potatoes were oh-so-buttery, and the mushrooms were earthy. We love the addition of these mashed potatoes this year!

Filet Mignon

Canada is a great stop every year and like usual, it was delicious! We always recommend this spot.

Shimmering Sips — 5/5

Shimmering Sips

Calling all mimosa fans — Shimmering Sips is THE booth you can’t miss at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! We’ll start by talking about the stars of the show here — the mimosas. There are a few different ones to pick from and a flight that’ll let you sample 3.

We opted for the flight, which is $14. The flight came with the Berry Mimosa with Berry Fizz Sparkling Wine and White Cranberry Juice (NEW); the Tropical Mimosa with Sparkling Wine and Minute Maid® Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Juices; and the Blood Orange Mimosa with Sparkling Wine and Blood Orange Juice. Again, you can get these on their own if you’d prefer.

Mimosa Flight

The Berry Mimosa tasted like an elevated mixture of cranberry and grape juice. We didn’t like this one the best out of the 3, but we heard some folks mentioning that this was their favorite.

The Blood Orange Mimosa really had that Blood Orange flavor (great if you love that!), but note that it does have pulp.

Finally, there was the Tropical Mimosa which was basically a POG mimosa, and yes, it was amazing. This was our favorite of the bunch because it combined the fruitiness, tanginess, and refreshing nature of POG juice with champagne.

Mimosa Flight

Another option here is the Beer Mimosa, featuring Boulevard Brewing Co. Berry Noir Sour Ale and Sparkling Wine for $9. If you want a drink that mixes beer and champagne flavors, that’s the way to go.

Finally, let’s talk about the one dessert item at this booth — the Guava Cake with whipped cream and coconut (priced at $4.75). We liked the guava mousse from last year, but this year’s version is very different and…NOT our favorite.

Shimmering Sips

The texture was very dense and almost gummy when eaten, which really gave away its plant-based nature. If you’re a plant-based eater, that texture might be totally fine for you — but it’s something to be aware of. We also didn’t get a strong guava flavor from the treat. For us, the guava cake was NOT something we’d get again.

…Not the Best for Us

Overall, the booth is a MUST-DO for mimosa fans. Grab a flight or grab an individual mimosa of your preferred flavor — both are good options!

Check It Out!

Belgium — 3.5/5

Belgium

Waffles, beef, beer…the Belgium booth has some sweet AND savory options!

 

 

 

 

We tried the returning Beer-Braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes for $6. The beef was cooked perfectly; it was tender and juicy. The mashed potatoes were soo creamy — they were heavenly!

Beer-Braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes

Next, we got the Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache for $5. These waffles were light and fluffy, with pretty standard (dare we say a little basic) chocolate ganache on top.

Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache

Finally, we got the Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream for $5. WOW, we loved the berry compote in this dessert! The strawberries were so sweet and fresh — they didn’t taste like those old strawberries you can get from a jar.

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Time to move on to our drinks! We got the beer flight for $10. The flight came with Brasserie D’Achouffe Houblon Chouffe IPA (this is new), Delirium Red Fruit Belgian Ale, and Brewery Van Steenberge Gulden Draak Tripel Ale (this is new, too).

Beer Flight

While the Brasserie D’Achouffe Houblon Chouffe IPA was a little too cough syrup-y for our liking, the returning Delirium Red Fruit Belgian Ale was divine! It reminded us of Dr. Pepper, actually. Oh, and heads up: the Brewery Van Steenberge Gulden Draak Tripel Ale packs a serious punch. It is STRONG! Overall, we enjoyed our meal here at the Belgium booth and highly recommend the Beer-Braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes. 

We liked this booth overall!

Brew-Wing — 4/5

Brew-Wing

Let’s start with the newest menu item here — the Orange Cardamom Wings for $7.50! If you are a fan of unique wings, we found your next order. These have a distinctive flavor that is peppery and has a hint of eucalyptus. It reminded us of floral-like Indian food. The sauce looks like the same sauce you would see on Orange Chicken.

Orange Cardamom Wings

Next up, the Traditional Buffalo Wings for $7.50 were nothing to write home about. These are pretty basic and we felt like we could eat these at any sports bar.

Traditional Wings

For the plant-based eaters out there, check out the Impossible Buffalo Chicken Tenders with Plant-Based Blue Cheese for $7.50. The blue cheese is bright and a bit earthy which pairs nicely with the “chicken”. You can tell it’s plant-based if you aren’t usually a plant-based eater, but it’s still a great option for those with that diet.

Impossible Tenders

Spice fans have to check out the Scorching Hot Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings (that’s a mouthful, huh?) with Creamy Cucumber Raita. This dish costs $7.50 and it brought the spice! Our lips were tingling and it was heavy on the curry flavor. The sauce was yogurty which helped cool us down a bit.

These are spicy!

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings are back for $7.50 and we’re glad they are! They have a sticky texture and it’s almost like eating a dessert wing. It’s not for everyone, but it’s another unique option for you at the festival.

PB&J

Garlic Parmesan Wings are what we tried next! This $7.50 dish is very savory. It tastes almost like an Italian dinner turned into a wing — it’s rich but also delicious.

Garlic Parm

Need some veggies with these wings? We also tried the Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Buffalo Sauce for $7.50. There was more buffalo than blue cheese here and the sprouts were very flavorful. Even veggie-haters might want to give this one a try!

Brussels Sprouts

The non-alcoholic Frozen Pomegranate Tea was refreshing! It tasted like we were drinking candy — if Nerds and Snapple had a baby, this would be it. It was enjoyable and only $4.75.

Tea

Onto the most controversial menu item — the Pickle Milkshake for $5.75. If you put a straw in a pickle jar and drank it, but it was the consistency of ice cream, this would be it. You really have to like pickles and the flavor of dill to enjoy this one.

Pickle Milkshake

We also tried this Beer Flight for $10 with Sun King Brewing Caipirinha Lager, Brew Hub French Connection IPA, and 3 Daughters Brewing Old Fashion Porter. All three beers are from Florida which is fun! The lager is light, but we didn’t notice any floral notes. The IPA is very hoppy and floral while the Porter is dark and yeasty.

Beer Flight

There are so many options to choose from at Brew-Wing, so we could see this being a booth that makes an entire family or group happy!

Fry with the spread!

The Noodle Exchange — 4/5

The Noodle Exchange

We started with the new Shaved Beef Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots, and daikon radish, shaved peppers, and a soy egg in citrus-sesame broth for $6.

Shaved Beef Ramen

We thought the beef was cooked perfectly and had a nice chew to it. The flavors in this dish really worked well together. The broth was flavorful and the spice on this was perfect. We definitely recommend this one.

Spoonful

We also tried the Tofu Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots, daikon radish, shaved peppers, and baby bok choy in citrus-sesame broth is another new-ish dish for $5.75.

Tofu Ramen

This one fell short for us. The large bits of tofu were bland and almost bitter. They also had a weird texture and were almost crumbling. The noodles were not fully done so they were chewy.

Tofu Spoon

Next, the Thai Shrimp with rice noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and basil in coconut-curry broth, which we got for $6.50.

Thai Shrimp

While we enjoyed the flavors of this dish, you should be cautious! The shrimp are not peeled so if you bite into them, you’ll be really wishing you had not. You’ll want to peel these before eating them. This is disappointing because they are in the broth so it makes a mess.

Look at those shrimp

Finally, the IMPOSSIBLE Pork Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, baby bok choy, and a soy egg in savory chicken broth. This will cost $5.75.

IMPOSSIBLE Pork Ramen

We really enjoyed this dish. The impossible meat was seasoned well and added a lot of flavor to this dish. The textures were great and it had the right amount of soy flavor.

Delicious

But wait, there’s more! There are a few booths opening later on in the festival:

  • Char & Chop — September 22nd
  • Wine & Wedge — September 22nd
  • Bubbles & Brine — September 22nd
  • Swirled Showcase — September 22nd

We’re covering everything at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, so stay tuned to AllEars for more!

6 Things You Need To Know Before Going to the 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

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