Planning a trip to Disneyland and not sure where you should eat while you’re there? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place — we’re here to help!
Here at AllEars, we know all the ins and outs of Disney restaurants — including where you should definitely eat, and where you should skip. We recently stopped by Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland Hotel and are bringing you our FULL review, because it’s not just drinks, there are eats too!
Background
The story behind Trader Sam’s is totally unique, and is part of what makes it so sought after. Legendary explorer Trader Sam was bitten by the bartending bug years ago and he now searches the Amazon, Congo, Mystic Point, Polynesia, and every exotic place in-between for ingredients to mix into his concoctions.
There’s also tons of trinkets and gifts you can find around the bar that he’s grabbed from his travels. Everywhere you look, there’s something exciting to see.
Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.
Atmosphere
Not to mention that this bar isn’t called enchanted for nothing! When you order select drinks, fun things around the bar will happen — storms, special tunes, and everything in between. It’s a great time!
There’s limited seating, especially inside, which is where most of the magic happens, but seating is available outside as well.
But enough about that, what are we eating?!
Food & Drinks
First up, we grabbed the Pupu Platter for $25, which has a little bit of each appetizer available on one plate! Here are our quick thoughts on each one!
- Pork Gyoza: Cooked beautifully — soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside — with very tasty filling
- Tempura battered Green Beans: They pair perfectly with the aioli
- Tempura Shrimp: The breading is perfect, and this pairs super well with the ponzu
- Chili-Orange Glazed Chicken Wings: Great crispy-crunchiness and has a great kick to it!
- Togarashi Aioli: Tangy, creamy, and our personal favorite
- Ponzu Dipping Sauce: A bit salty and sweet with a great flavor
We also tried the Szechuan Cucumber Salad for $17, which is made with Field Greens, Arugula, Pickled Cucumber Sunomono, Red Onion, Chili Crisp Vinaigrette, Edible Violas. There are so many flavors in here it almost border on too much, and it’s a little too salty for us. If you don’t like arugula, this one is definitely not for you! The cucumber sunomono has a great tang and tartness to it though and we wish it could be sold by itself as a side salad.
Our first entree was the Tuna Poke Bowl for $26, which is made with Avocado, cucumber, edamame, Surimi crab, sushi rice, and Togarashi Aioli. This was one of the best poke bowls we’ve ever had! The Togarashi Aioli tastes a lot like the ponzu teriyaki sauce from the Pupu Platter, and the tuna tastes so fresh and just melts in your mouth. The seaweed salad is the perfect texture and pairs well with every bite — consider us impressed!
Next up was the Short Rib Hawaiian Platter for $27, which is served with Steamed Jasmine Rice, Stir-Fried Vegetables, Baby Bok Choy, Sweet Teriyaki Glaze. Unfortunately, this was a total miss for us. The ribs were over cooked and dry. We also found the portions a bit strange — they were perfectly cut rectangles at almost the same size and thickness. The rice was cooked well and had a great flavor, especially with the sauce. The veggies were steamed and still had a good crunch, but we wouldn’t order it again.
Turns out, there’s a secret dessert item on the menu here, which are the Mochi Ice Cream Bars for $9! However, when these were set in front of us, we were confused. There were 2 large cubes of “Mochi” flavor and “Ube” flavor — they looked almost like brownie cubes cut from a pan. The ice cream was served separately and was a small scoop of what tasted like coconut ice cream, which was the only amazing part about this dish. We went to put our fork in the Ube Mochi and it was hard as a rock, and when we took a bite, it felt like we bit into a bar of soap. The “mochi” flavor had the consistency of a waxy hard jelly. We usually get pretty excited about secret menus items, but we can’t recommend this one!
For our drink, we grabbed the Tangaroa Cooler for $49 with the collectible miug, which is Hamilton Pot Still Gold Rum, Tamarindo Syrup, Grapefruit, tropical juice blend. We tasted the rum and the grapefruit over anything else. The tamarindo syrup is subtle, and the tropical juices offer a sweet aftertaste.
We will say though, this drink is dangerous — it’s a fruity drink and the rum will sneak up on you! We loved the souvenir mug for its great quality and pretty blue color.
Magic or Tragic?
This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…
- You’re a more adventurous eater
- You’re looking for some pretty amazing drinks
- It’s a bucket list spot
You should skip this Disney World spot if…
- You want to eat dessert
- You’re a picky eater
- You don’t want a time limit on your meal
This was the first time we had something here that we really didn’t like, and we’re really hoping it doesn’t start a new trend with this beloved spot. We love it here, and want to continue honestly recommending it for years to come!
In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disneyland and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!
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Have you eaten at this Disneyland restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.
I ate and drank there 3 weeks ago. I was lucky to have a seat at the bar as a walk in. This is a fun place, good but expensive drinks, so so food. It’s like being at a party!
I had 2 good maitai’s, and the Hawaiian plate which was one chicken thigh, some rice and baby bok choy for $24. It would have been half that price anywhere else.
I felt the service was a bit rushed, but overall it was a fun experience.