Disneyland Resort Chefs Cook Up Tasty Vegetarian Dishes

“But, where can I find vegetarian?” We’re often asked this question, and following a recent visit to the Disneyland Resort, the answer is a resounding, “Everywhere!”

And we don’t mean just table-service restaurants, or fruit and nuts from the street carts. Frankly, we even consider pasta a bit of a creativity cop-out unless it’s really delicious.

So, here, in no particular order, are some of the best-tasting vegetarian dishes we discovered at the Disneyland Resort:

• If you choose to have eggs with your breakfast, we think the kitchen at Ariel’s Grotto in Disney California Adventure park does an admirable job with the tofu scramble, with sautéed seasonal veggies giving the protein a kick (and we added a vegetarian sausage pattie on the side). For a Tex-Mex start to the day, it’s the huevos rancheros at Carnation Café at Disneyland park, a filling meal with corn tortillas, poached eggs, Jack cheese and fire-roasted salsa topped with avocado-black bean pico de gallo. Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa goes lighter with a fluffy California omelet with diced plum tomatoes, fresh basil and baby spinach.

• Little bites: two of our favorites were the chile lime corn at Edelweiss Snacks in Disneyland park, a fresh ear of corn tossed in lime juice, chili powder, cayenne and cumin; and the Portobello Philly dog at Award Wieners at Disney California Adventure park with grilled portobellos and onion and bell peppers sautéed in hefeweizen beer and topped with pepper jack cheese.

• A meal in a bowl: the veggie-tater bake at Flo’s V-8 Cafe at Disney California Adventure park is a hearty mix that includes delish soy crumbles and melted cheese on top for a dish that tastes decadent but is full of good stuff. And it’s hard to resist the corn chowder at the French Market Restaurant in Disneyland park, served in a freshly baked sourdough boule.
• South of the border faves: Rancho del Zocalo in Disneyland park has plenty of choices – soft tacos, burritos and enchiladas that all can be made meat-free. But the generous Caesar salad is our favorite, topped with roasted pepitas and cotija cheese. Sticking with Mexican, we like the chilaquiles at Plaza Inn, with kicky enchilada sauce and Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. At Disney California Adventure park, we favor the substantial veggie burrito at Cocina Cucamonga.

• Meat-free sandwiches: The fried green tomato sandwich at Hungry Bear Restaurant in Disneyland park has plenty of fans who recommend it – what’s not to love, with hot fried green tomatoes, Havarti cheese, remoulade and a side of jicama-mango slaw? We didn’t miss the ham in the Three-Cheese Monte Cristo at Café Orleans in Disneyland park, with Swiss, mozzarella and double-crème Brie standing in. And over at Disney California Adventure park, the roasted veggie panini at Wine Country Trattoria was a winner – a filling stack of zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and a lemon-goat cheese spread on a multigrain panini.

• Honorable mention: We did find a couple of pastas worthy of inclusion – the spinach and ricotta agnolotti at Ariel’s Grotto, with mushroom broth and topped with sautéed spinach, asparagus, onions and sun-dried tomatoes. And whatever pasta is on the menu at Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge at Disney California Adventure park or Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – it changes often, but you can’t go wrong.

Do you have a favorite vegetarian dish at Disneyland Resort?