5 Kid-Approved Table Service Restaurants at the Disneyland Resort (That Adults Will Love Too!)

Just because your kid is a picky eater doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice meal at the Disneyland Resort. As a mom of a toddler, I’ve been through it all trying to find a nice restaurant at Disneyland that appeals to my tastes while also providing something for my finicky son’s eating habits. Luckily, I’ve got the selection narrowed down! Next time you make a table service reservation at Disneyland, include these 5 restaurants on your list. They will be sure to please BOTH the Disney Kid and the Disney Adult in your party.

Lamplight Lounge in DCA

Along the entry to Pixar Pier, you’ll find Lamplight Lounge. The Pixar-themed restaurant is generally seen as a more adult-geared dining location, but I can definitively say that it’s kid-approved. 

Lamplight Lounge has a special “Budding Artists” menu with kid-friendly meals presented with the same engaging artistic plating style as the adult meals. Choose from a PB and J Roll or Cheesy Pasta, both with a choice of two sides. For allergy families, you can choose the Kid’s Burger Slider with an allergy-friendly bun, which is our favorite. 

Adults will love the unique menu with each dish paying homage to a different Pixar film. Try the Lobster Nachos or Salmon PLT… and don’t forget to check out the drink menu—it’s the most creative in the parks! That view of Pixar Pier over the water while sipping on a “Final with a Fix” is worth getting up at 6:00 AM to book your table 60 days out. (Though, there’s generally walk-up availability if you’re willing to wait for a table. You can add your name to a walk-up list in the Disneyland app.)

If you’re around for the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), stop by for brunch and order the Brunch Burger off both the kid and adult menus. It’s a fun experience when your kid gets a mini version of what you’re getting. The adults in your party might also enjoy the Lamplight Chilaquiles paired with a Mimosa Flight. Those Mimosas taste extra delicious when your kid is distracted by the most adorable petite Brunch Burger you’ve ever seen.

Wine Country Trattoria in DCA

Located just off the parade route with a view of the soon-to-be San Fransokyo Square, Wine Country Trattoria is another great option for an upscale alfresco dining experience without being too fussy for kids. 

We love the kid’s menu at this restaurant because it puts your kid in control of their choices with a “Create-Your-Own Entrée” option. Choose from the Chicken Breast, Whole-Grain Pasta with Marinara and Meatballs, Salmon, or Cheese Pizza. Then select two sides: Fresh Fruit, Broccoli, or Roasted Potatoes. 

Favorite entrees from the adult menu include the Roasted Vegetable Lasagna, Spaghetti Bolognese, and the Spaghetti Aglio Olio. This restaurant offers both plant-based and allergy-friendly options well. Gluten-free pasta is available to swap out in most pasta dishes on both the regular and kid’s menu.

For the adults, there are two wine flights available, which is a fun way to sample some of the many specialty wines available in the Wine Country area at DCA. 

Carnation Café in Disneyland

Step into Disney history and feast like Walt Disney himself! This menu is full of comfort foods that were some Walt’s favorites. This is an easy choice for Disney fans of all ages.

The kid’s menu here also has the “Create-Your-Own Entrée” style. Choose from the Hamburger, Mac & Cheese, or Chicken-Fried Chicken. Then select two sides: Seasonal Vegetables, French Fries, Seasonal Fruit, or Mashed Potatoes. Alternatively, you can order the Kids’ Disney Check Meal which is a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich that your kid gets to construct themselves. Our three-year-old son loves feeling like a mini-chef creating his PB&J masterpiece.

For adults, check out Walt’s (famous) Chili, the Fried Pickles, Wedge Salad, and Roasted Turkey Club. All are excellent. Breakfast at Carnation Café is also worth the experience, but we like Lunch and Dinner best at this location. 

Our favorite time to book a table at Carnation Café is during the afternoon showing of the parade (generally 3:30pm). If you request a table outside, you will have a view of the parade from your dining spot. It won’t be the close-up view you get waiting for a front-row spot on the curb, but it’s a nice way to enjoy the parade from a distance with your littles if you like to be away from the crowds while partaking in a tasty lunch.

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in the Disneyland Hotel

Did you know Trader Sam’s was a place you could bring your kids? It’s actually one of our favorite places for our whole family!

Pro parenting tip: order a Dole Whip for your kids while you enjoy one of the many specialty Tiki-themed cocktails. You will discover the rare experience of enjoying your drink in peace while the kids devour their Dole Whip. 

The kid’s menu at this restaurant is one of the best on property. The Kid’s Chicken Teriyaki Bowl and Salmon Teriyaki Bowl are the perfect size to feed either a child or an adult. (Adults, if you want to save your money for your drinks, you can order one of these bowls for yourself.) The traditional kid favorites are also available for your more picky eater with the Kid’s Cheeseburger and Kid’s Chicken Tenders. Trader Sam’s also has excellent allergy-friendly options. Note: after 8:00 PM the inside bar is closed to anyone under 21, but you can still be seated outside with kids.

For the adults out there, if you’re looking for a way to bring Trader Sam’s home, take a look at this recent article for Trader Sam’s-direct recipe for a HippopotoMai-Tai and the latest news:

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

 

Storytellers Café in the Grand Californian Hotel

My final kid-approved table-service restaurant includes a bonus: characters! At the Grand Californian Hotel, Storytellers Café offers a table-service dining experience in addition to the buffet. 

The food in the Breakfast and Brunch Buffet is superior to other character dining spots on property, catering to both the adults and kids in your party. And unlike Plaza Inn (which offers a quick service character breakfast experience), at Storytellers, a waiter will come to your table and take your drink order creating a more relaxed experience for parents. The modified table-service experience makes things much easier without having to worry about small things like drinks or bread service. 

At Breakfast and Brunch you’ll meet Mickey Mouse himself along with his friends Pluto, Minnie Mouse, and the famous duo Chip ‘n Dale. Each character stops to visit every table, making this the perfect time to snap your family photo with Mickey. At Brunch you will find additional offerings added to the regular breakfast buffet such as savory salads and a wider variety of meats at the carving station.

This buffet is one of the best allergy-friendly breakfasts on property. Just let your waiter know you have an allergy and they can whip up allergy-friendly pancakes, waffles, and muffins in the kitchen. It’s a true treat!

 

Let’s Hear From You

There you have it! These are my top 5 recommendations for table-service dining at the Disneyland Resort for kids. What do your kids enjoy eating at Disneyland? Do you have a favorite family restaurant that you frequent when visiting the parks? Share your thoughts below! If you found this list helpful, be sure to follow me on Instagram for more family tips and tricks at Disneyland!

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