Foodie Guide to Iconic Tastes at Disney California Adventure Park

It’s time for the second installment of my Iconic Tastes series, and this time I’m tackling one of my fave Disney parks: Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort! This park is the perfect mix of fun thrills, good vibes, and great food. It’s the perfect place to grab a drink and take a stroll with some friends or to eat your heart out with one of the many incredible bites throughout the park. Here’s a list of the most popular offerings throughout the park that you just HAVE to try if it’s your first time. And if it’s not your first time, well then this Foodie Guide might just make you crave some of your favorite Disney California Adventure snacks!

In addition, be sure to check out the Disneyland App, where you can plan your day with mobile order! Order and pay in advance to skip the line and get straight to the food. Nearly all major quick-service locations and several kiosks offer mobile order. Find out more information and view full menus by downloading the Disneyland App.

CHURROS – CARTS AND KIOSKS

You might start to notice a trend of churros appearing in almost all of these guides. That’s just because they’re AMAZING and one of the most popular snacks throughout all of our parks and resorts, so you can find them nearly everywhere! Similar to Disneyland park you’ll find seasonal flavors at various times throughout the year as well as the classic cinnamon sugar churros at various carts and kiosks located throughout the park.

HAND-DIPPED ICE CREAM BARS FROM CLARABELLE’S HAND-SCOOPED ICE CREAM

While you can always get a classic sundae or a scoop of ice cream, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream is the only location at Disneyland Resort where you can fully customize your own hand-dipped ice cream bars. Choose your flavor of ice cream to get coated in chocolate and then top it with your choice of toppings. You can even choose to get ALL OF THE TOPPINGS (also known as The Whole Herd)!

CHURRO TOFFEE, TAFFY, MEMORY REFRESHERS, AND MORE AT TROLLEY TREATS AND BING BONG’S SWEET STUFF

As you walk down Buena Vista Street you’ll see Trolley Treats, where you can snack on house-made goodies of all sorts like the churro toffee! This treat features our famous English toffee dipped in white chocolate and coated in cinnamon sugar. And if you head on over to Pixar Pier – you definitely need to try Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff. Here you’ll find a variety of sweets including saltwater taffy, rainbow cotton candy, and Memory Refreshers – frozen drinks that come in all colors and flavors.

HOT DOGS, CORN DOGS, AND MORE HOT DOGS

Disney California Adventure Park is home to the best dogs around, and you can find them at one of three locations: Corn Dog Castle near Paradise Gardens, Angry Dogs on Pixar Pier, and Award Wieners in Hollywood Land. From all-beef hot dogs to corn dogs to plant-based hot dogs and even a cheddar cheese stick, there’s a dog for everyone!

FUNNEL CAKE FRIES AT AWARD WIENERS

Located in Hollywood Land, Aware Wieners doesn’t just serve up mouth-watering hot dogs. They’re also known for their warm funnel cake fries, often topped with lots of yummy sweets like fruity cereal, cookies and cream crumbles, whipped cream, sprinkles, and other fun seasonal toppings. You never know what they might be offering, but you’ll always know it’ll be deliciously sweet!

FLAVORED POPCORN AND SAVORY CONES AT THE COZY CONE MOTEL

Drive on over to Cars Land and check into the Cozy Cone Motel to try one of the i-cone-ic snacks offered there! Here you can order several different flavors of popcorn including butter, dill pickle, buffalo ranch, white cheddar, sriracha, pizza, or garlic Parmesan. These flavors are rotated seasonally so you never know which one might be available! You’ll also find a couple bread cone offerings filled with either beef chili and cheddar cheese or creamy bacon mac and cheese. And remember those cheddar bagel twists I mentioned in my last Foodie Guide to Iconic Tastes? Well, you can find those here too! Pair any of these snacks with a themed specialty beverage like Doc’s Wild Grape Tonic, Red’s Apple Freeze, or Ramone’s “Pair of Dice” Soda.

FLO’S FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN AT FLO’S V8 CAFÉ

This fried chicken is by FAR the best fried chicken I’ve ever had! It’s crispy, crunchy, tender, and delicious. Right across the street from Cozy Cone Motel is Flo’s V8 Cafe, where Flo is serving up a hot dish of her famous fried chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, and seasonal vegetables. You’ll also find a selection of classic American comfort food as well as classic milkshakes.

COOKIES, LEMON SOFT-SERVE, AND OVEN BAKED CHICKEN ON PIXAR PIER

Head on over to Pixar Pier to try one of the popular snacks like the freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies from Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums, lemon soft-serve from Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats, or the oven-baked chicken drum sticks from Poultry Palace. Not only are these bites super tasty, but they’re perfect on-the-go snacks that are super photogenic. With all the fun photo opportunities on Pixar Pier, you’ll be making some delicious memories with these items.

 FRESHLY-BAKED SOURDOUGH BREAD FROM THE BOUDIN BAKERY AND PACIFIC WHARF CAFÉ 

The sourdough bread that comes out of the Boudin Bakery is absolutely amazing. It’s sold at Pacific Wharf Café in the form of bread bowls served full of warm soups. You can also purchase a loaf of the bread in the shape of Mickey! And if you want a taste, you can take a tour of the bakery and see how our talented team of bakers create the most popular bread on property.

GHIRARDELLI SODA FOUNTAIN AND CHOCOLATE SHOP

For the chocolate lovers out there, the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop is located right next to the bakery on Pacific Wharf. Here you’ll find sundaes, ice cream cones, shakes, and hot drinks all made with premium Ghirardelli Chocolate. One of the current treats you can get is the Magical Sundae with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, hand-made hot fudge, and whipped cream topped with sprinkles and two chocolate-dipped waffle ears.

SCHMOOZIES!

Power up with a delicious fruit smoothie from Schmoozies! in Hollywood Land! From Mango Madness and Strawberry Banana Sensation smoothies to coffees, tea, milkshakes and more, this spot is a great place take a break with a sweet treat.

LOBSTER NACHOS, MINI DONUTS, AND PIXAR-THEMED COCKTAILS AT LAMPLIGHT LOUNGE

Overlooking the lagoon and offering sweeping views of Pixar Pier, Lamplight Lounge is an incredible Pixar-themed dining experience that you just can’t miss out on! The menu features everything from themed cocktails to a tasty menu of shareable bites and even cinnamon sugar donuts with dipping sauces (only available downstairs). And of course, you can’t visit the lounge without trying our famous Lobster Nachos! But remember, this is one of the most popular spots in the park, so be sure to make your reservations today!

CARTHAY SIGNATURE FRIED BISCUITS AT CARTHAY CIRCLE RESTAURANT

Located right at the front of the park are Carthay Circle Restaurant and Carthay Circle Lounge, where you’ll find a menu full of Southern California flavors. One of the must-have items on the menu is the Carthay Signature Fried Biscuits. These little balls of dough are stuffed with white cheddar, bacon, and jalapeño and served with apricot-honey butter, and you just HAVE to try them. In addition, the Pan-roasted Filet Mignon with pine nuts and green peppercorn chimichurri is another dish you can’t go wrong with. You’ll also find an extensive array of wines (including several selections from the Disney Family of Wines) as well as classic signature cocktails and bottled beer. Carthay Circle Restaurant is another incredibly popular destination, so be sure to make your reservations in advance! And if you’re looking for a quicker lounge experience, Carthay Circle Lounge is the perfect spot to visit with seating indoors at the bar and outdoors at the newly-added patio space.

Of course, there are many more amazing restaurants and menu items available throughout to park. Check them all out and find out more info about the offerings listed above by visiting the Disneyland Resort website or calling 714 781-DINE (714-781-3463). And if you’re visiting Disneyland Park, be sure to check out my Foodie Guide to Iconic Tastes at Disneyland Park for all of my yummy snack recommendations!

Happy snacking!