Where are the best places to eat at Disneyland on a budget? Don’t worry, I got you!
Planning a trip and actually going to the Disneyland Resort is expensive. There are a ton of ways to cut down on costs, like staying at a good neighbor hotel and walking to the parks each morning.
Another easy way to save money is to eat at some of Disneyland’s more budget-friendly restaurants. These locations are scattered around Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
They offer a good food, large portions, and sometimes free soda refills at a cheaper cost than some of the other restaurants at the theme parks.
These seven budget-friendly restaurants are all considered quick-service restaurants, but that just means you can take your lunch or dinner with you and find the best spots in the park to dine. (Looking at you patio space near Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.)
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1. Alien Pizza Planet at Disneyland Park
If you’re looking for a cheap spot at Disneyland Park consider Alien Pizza Planet. The restaurant is located in Tomorrowland and serves Italian foods like pizza, pasta and salads.
The inside of the restaurant is a little boring so I prefer to take my pizza outside to a table and people watch in Tomorrowland while munching on lunch.
Do not leave Alien Pizza Planet without trying the Alien Macaron, which looks just like the adorable Aliens from the Toy Story movies.
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2. Bengal Barbecue at Disneyland Park
Take the turn into Adventureland at Disneyland Park and you’ll find the fan favorite Bengal Barbecue. The small quick service location serves what’s lovingly known as “jungle skewers” which are meat and vegetables on a stick, like kabobs.
My favorites are the Banyan Beef Skewer, which is a hot and spicy beef, and the bacon-wrapped asparagus Safari Skewer.
To make a complete meal add on a Tiger Tail Breadstick, which is a garlic, herb and cheddar cheese breadstick. Making it one of the best places to eat at Disneyland on a budget!
3. Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Disney California Adventure
Street tacos are the name of the game at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill. The quick service spot at Pacific Wharf allows you to get lunch or dinner for under $15, with dishes like quesabirria tacos, carne aside tacos, or grilled chicken tacos.
For those who are plant-based, or just really like carbs, the crispy potato tacos with tomatillo salsa are also a nice option.
Grab your meal from the window and take a seat as you take in the sights and sounds of Disney California Adventure.
4. Cozy Cone Motel at Disney California Adventure
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is home to the Cozy Cone Motel. The quick service windows that are cleverly designed as large parking cones. Making it one of the best places to eat at Disneyland on a budget!
Each of the five cones serve something different, so you’re going to want to look closely at the menu before deciding what to order.
If it was up to me, I would always start at Cone 3 with a macaroni and cheese bread cone that’s loaded with bacon.
After that, I’d would move to one of the other cones where ice cream and churros are sold to pick up whatever the seasonal offering is.
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5. Flo’s V8 Cafe at Disney California Adventure
Just across the street from the Cozy Cone Motel is Flo’s V8 Cafe. The retro dining spot is inspired by the diners that are found across Route 66, which is the main road in the Cars movies.
The quick-service spot serves lunch and dinner. Many Disneyland fans can’t get enough of the fried chicken with garlic mashed potatoes. Don’t forget to order a classic milkshake.
Take your tray outside to the patio near Radiator Springs Racers and watch the cars race by to feel like you’ve really stepped into the world of Cars.
6. Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe at Disneyland Park
Our absolute favorite spot for a cheap meal at the Disneyland Resort is Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe at Disneyland Park.
The Mary Poppins themed restaurant is at the end of Main Street U.S.A. and offers some of the best cheap meals with fantastic views of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Partners Statue, and the buzz of Main Street U.S.A.
The restaurant specializes in baked goods, sandwiches and soups. Our ideal meal here is the Jolly Holiday Combo, which is a toasted cheese sandwich and a cup of tomato basil soup. To go with this we typically get a coconut Matterhorn Macaroon, or a Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron.
7. Pym Test Kitchen at Disney California Adventure
Pym Test Kitchen is one of the newest restaurants to open at Disney California Adventure as part of the opening of Avengers Campus. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers a variety of options.
For breakfast I love the Ever-expanding Cunna-Pym Toast, which is a French toast with a fried egg and smoked bacon.
When lunch and dinner roll around I’m munching on the Not so Little Chicken Sandwich, which is an oversized fried chicken sandwich with teriyaki and red chili sauce, and pickled cabbage.
This is one of the best places to eat at Disneyland on a budget!
Disneyland Dining Tips
Before you head out to Disneyland for your own foodie tour, let’s go through a few pro tips to make the most of your time:
- Most of these locations offer mobile ordering, so be sure to do that to save time.
- Always ask about discounts like Disneyland annual passes or Disney Vacation Club. It’s another easy way to save money.
- Because all of these are quick service locations you can take your food anywhere. So pick your favorite spot to eat, even if it’s not at the restaurant.
- Create your own foodie tour by making a list of places you want to visit while on your Disneyland vacation. This will allow you to create your very own Food and Wine Festival experience!
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Wrapping Up…
As you can see, there are plenty of options for you to enjoy your Disneyland vacation on a tight budget. These are all of my go-to spots that I know you will surely enjoy!
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Now it’s your turn, what’s your favorite place to eat at the Disneyland Resort? Let me know in the comments section below.
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
About the Author
Megan is a theme park expert and frequent traveler to magical places. She covers all things Disney and Universal and runs marathons for fun.
She thinks you can tell a lot about someone by the name of their signature lipstick, and hers is NARS Dragon Girl.
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(Original Article Date: November 8, 2021/Updated by Editor on May 31, 2022)