The 3 Best Restaurants in EPCOT, Reviewed by Former Cast Members

Our AllEars team is made up of all kinds of Disney fans — including former Disney World Cast Members!

Over the years, we haven’t shied away from relaying our strong thoughts about dining at Disney World — especially our team members who worked at the Disney Parks! EPCOT’s restaurants can be especially controversial, and our team is setting the record straight by picking our favorites.

EPCOT is widely regarded as the foodie park for Disney fans, and there’s really no disputing that claim. However, featuring a wide array of restaurants that cater to different budgets and palates, EPCOT’s restaurants are all but equal. Former Cast Members on the AllEars team are making their voices heard by sharing with you their favorite EPCOT restaurants that they believe are worth your time AND money!

Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya

The Japan pavilion’s Shiki-Sai was brought up quite frequently when going over our favorite EPCOT restaurants! This sushi bar and grill serves up delicious Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner — including sushi that’s made right behind the counter!

This location also offers an authentic izakaya experience, having you select from a variety of izakaya-style delicacies, such as skewers, tempura, sushi rolls, and okonomiyaki. Shiki-Sai also offers seasonal foodie offerings, so keep an eye out for those during your next visit!

One of our team members said, “Shiki-Sai has always been great! Good food, amazing service, reasonable prices, and easy to get into! It’s a restaurant I will never get tired of.”

Another added, “Shiki is amazing. The food knocks me off my feet — it’s so affordable, it has gorgeous views, the staff is amazing, and it’s not talked about a lot, so it’s always convenient [regarding reservations].” 

If you’re into sushi, wagyu beef, noodles, rice, or Japanese cuisine in general, splurge a little and dine here during your next visit. Thank us later.

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

We’re headed over to Italy for our next pick with Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria!

Offering fantastic Italian cuisine, you’ll find no shortage of tasty pastas, salads, and pizzas at Via Napoli. Indulge in Neopolitan wood-fired pizza for lunch or dinner, or try the lasagna napoletana or chicken parmigiana for a hearty meal!

Per Disney:

“The thin-crust pizzas are made with fresh mozzarella cheese, San Marzano tomatoes and real Caputo flour imported from Southern Italy. Water for the dough is even sourced from a spring similar to Italy’s Campania region. Pizzas are then cooked in wood-burning ovens named after the 3 active volcanoes in Italy—Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.

To ensure every detail is perfect, famed restaurateur Nick Valenti spent time in Naples studying the art of dough, crust, sauce and oven temperatures at the famous pizzerias Da Michele and Trianon before creating the menu at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria.”

For dessert, Via Napoli also serves up mouthwatering sweets like tiramisu and gelato. You’ll even find tons of specialty cocktails, Italian wines, and other alcoholic beverages.

One former Cast Member said, “The size of the pizzas and the atmosphere are just so fun. Also, the pizza is seriously delish!!”

Another added, “Via is a must-stop for my family. One pizza and pasta can feed 3-4 of us, and the quality is consistently good every time. I live for the melon pizza!”

If you’re a certified pizza lover, Via Napoli is a spot you should visit at least once!

La Cantina de San Angel

Our last selection is in the Mexico pavilion and is a quick-service restaurant notable for its vegetarian options.

La Cantina de San Angel offers Mexican classics like tacos de barbacoa, empanadas con queso, and more at an affordable cost. Compared to other quick service locations, La Cantina de San Angel gives you some of the best bang for your buck, with most entrées in the $15 range.

This is also a prime spot to get margaritas and Mexican sodas, as well as fun desserts like churros and traditional fruit popsicles.

A former Cast Member and current vegetarian said, “I love La Cantina de San Angel. The view is spectacular, I love me some Mexican food, and the restaurant is always so accommodating when I customize my order. It can be hard to find a seat, though!”

A popular location near the lagoon, this quick-service restaurant is beloved — and for good reason!

Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments and continue to follow us here at AllEars for all the latest Disney World updates, tips, reviews, and more!

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Which EPCOT restaurants are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

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