REVIEW: Is This Iconic Disneyland Restaurant Still Worth A Visit After 70 Years?

Is a classic Disneyland restaurant still worth visiting?

Open on Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. since 1955, Carnation Cafe has been an icon at Disneyland Park for decades. Home to Walt’s Chili, this spot is historic and an absolute fan favorite… but does it still hold up? We found out!

Background

An opening-day restaurant, Carnation Cafe was once called Carnation Cafe Ice Cream Parlor.

In 1997, Nestlé — the owner of the Carnation brand — stopped sponsoring the sponsoring restaurant but Disney was allowed to keep the name.

The restaurant’s ice cream parlor became the Blue Ribbon Bakery, limiting Carnation Cafe to just outdoor seating. However, in 2012, Carnation Cafe took back the space and has occupied it since.

Atmosphere

Reservations are recommended here as it is a popular dining spot for locals and tourists alike. Fortunately, this restaurant has ample seating with options inside on outside under umbrellas.

Carnation Cafe is decorated to embody Americana and the early 20th-Century, serving as a bit of a time machine! The tables even feature carnations — a super cute touch.

Carnation Cafe offers American comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and we tried quite a few items!

Food & Drinks

First up, we grabbed the famous Walt’s Chili for $12. This Disneyland classic is made with hearty chili topped with cheese, sour cream, chives and cornbread crisps.

It’s hard to skip Walt’s favorite when eating here! This truly is a classic hearty bowl of chili with a little bit of a kick to it. Unfortunately, we really couldn’t taste the corn bread crisps as the chili soaked it up pretty good (maybe Fritos would’ve been the better option!). Still, we highly recommend this dish, as it’s super meaty with some really nice flavor.

Next up, we tried the Chicken-fried Chicken for $22. This meal is served with herbed mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and country gravy.

The country gravy added a savory, almost bacon-y flavor to the fried chicken and the skin absorbed the gravy flavor, which was complimented nicely by the other herby and buttermilk flavors. As for the cook, our chicken was super tender. Our only complaint was that the fried skin had a pretty thick layer versus the amount of meat.

Our vegetables were peppered green beans that had a little light spice and the potatoes had hints of herb and vegetable flavors. Overall, a very solid dish.

For dessert, we got the Peach Pie a la Mode for $10. This treat is a warm peach pie served with vanilla ice cream.

This was such a sweet and fresh dessert! All of the ingredients went perfectly together, and the ice cream fresh, rich, and creamy. The peaches also tasted fresh with no artificial flavoring at all! The pie was sweet and buttery with a flaky texture. Two big thumbs up, for sure!

Of note, we also tried the Guacamole Burger for $22, but noticed it’s not on the menu right now. It could return at some point, however. This burger is served with a side of fresh fruit or seasoned fries and is made with an Angus chuck patty, Monterey jack, house-made guacamole, grilled onion, and lettuce on a brioche bun.

This was a little messy but really good! The guacamole soaks the top bun, but the burger was cooked to a perfect medium and was leagues better than other Disneyland quick service burgers.

The burger had a bit of a peppery kick, and the grilled onions had a sweetness that complemented everything. The fries were extra special and probably our favorite, as they were very crispy with a light Cajun seasoning. So good, and we hope to see this item return!

Magic or Tragic?

Head over to this historic Disneyland restaurant if…

• YOU’RE CRAVING CLASSIC AMERICAN CUISINE. Featuring a healthy balance between some adventurous choices and definitely safe picks, this spot has something for everyone.
• YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY. The Disney Parks change constantly, and it’s rare to be able to dine at an original Disneyland opening day restaurant!
• YOU HAVE AN APPETITE. There are some hearty options here that are sure keep your belly full.

You should skip Carnation Cafe if…

• YOU WANT A MORE ECLECTIC MENU. This is American cuisine — so not exactly rare if you dine frequently in the States. Fortunately, Disneyland offers all kinds of cusine throughout its many restaurant that can satiate any appetite, such as Bengal Barbecue and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo!
• YOU’RE IN A HURRY. This is a table service restaurant, meaning you’ll sit and take your time. Opt for a quick service location if you’re in a hurry.
• YOU’RE ON A BUDGET. Carnation Cafe isn’t exactly expensive with entrees in the $20 range, but it falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to pricing. There are cheaper options around the park, albeit you probably won’t get as much food or as good of quality.

Overall, Carnation Cafe is still a winner 70 years later and we definitely recommend dining here at least once if you never have. Eat good food surrounded by Disney history!

We’ll continue to deliver all the latest Disneyland restaurant reviews so stay tuned right here at AllEars to stay in the know!

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Have you dined at Carnation Cafe? Share your review in the comments below!

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