2024 Awards: Best of Disney World Dining

2024 is wrapping up, and that means that we have lots of data to review, and lots of recommendations to make for those of you considering 2025 Walt Disney World vacations. Yesterday we looked at resort scores, and today we’re turning our attention to one of my favorite subjects … food!

This serves as your obligatory reminder that the accuracy of these results fully depends on the number of people that are willing to fill out post-visit surveys after their Walt Disney World vacations. Make sure to submit your thoughts after your WDW vacations so that we can continue providing meaningful insights!

Overall Dining Satisfaction

Which dining locations have the highest satisfaction overall, across all parks and location types? We have almost 20,000 unique dining ratings to work with, so we can get a pretty good idea. (This number is only about 40% of what we received in 2023 – a survey redesign inadvertently made it more difficult to enter dining reviews.) Each of these responses rates a dining location with either a thumbs up or a thumbs down. I can pretty easily get an average of thumbs up responses to get an idea of overall satisfaction. Using that methodology and filtering to locations with at least 25 surveys, the big winners for 2024 are:

1. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya – 100%
2. Pineapple Lanai – 100%
3. Bar Riva – 100%
4. eet by Maneet Chauhan – 100%
5. Le Petit Cafe – 100%

Last year there were no 100% satisfaction dining location once I narrowed things down to 50 or more surveys. I lowered the bar this year because of the lower number of surveys overall. But even still, Shiki-Sai and Pineapple Lanai both would’ve qualified with more than 50 surveys.

Interestingly, none of the top 5 from our 2023 list (found here) repeat in 2024. Instead, the top dining location overall is relative new-comer Shiki-Sai in EPCOT. In-park dining doesn’t usually score this high. But we had 60 different ratings throughout 2024 and they were all a thumbs-up. I’m personally a big fan of Shiki-Sai, and I’m really happy to see it doing well. It has a great combination of newbie-friendly menu (with pictures of everything!), stellar service, and incredible food.

Pineapple Lanai was the top spot on our 2022, so it’s not a big shock to see it back this year. If some combination of Dole Whip, pineapple juice, and/or rum sounds good to you, this is the spot to go at the Polyneisan Resort.

Another one of my personal favorites comes in 3rd place – Bar Riva has been moving up the charts as it hones its menu. If I’m visiting Hollywood Studios, I’m more likely to eat at Bar Riva than anywhere in the park. It’s worth the Skyliner ride, especially if you can take advantage of the open-air dining area in nice weather.

eet by Maneet Chauhan is found at Disney Springs. There’s a pretty good history of Disney Springs restaurants rating highly, but eet is a new addition. This is another example of unique food choices made approachable thanks to turning them into dishes most people are more familiar with. If you want an introduction to Indian cuisine, I think this is a great one. It’s also quieter than many other Disney Springs restaurants because the food is more “adventurous”.

Fresh cookies, coffee, and pastries plus alcoholic beverages. A big recipe for success at places like Les Halles for many years. But if you want that same success without the big long lines, and with more convenient seating … Le Petit Cafe is the place. Riviera is making a strong showing with two out of the top five dining locations overall.

Best Dining by Restaurant Type

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Bar Riva – 100%
2. BaseLine Tap House – 97.9%
3. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – 97.7%
4. Three Bridges Bar & Grill – 97.2%
5. La Cava de Tequila – 97.1%

In general, bars and lounges are rated even higher than table service or quick service restaurants overall. This is the toughest category for getting into the top 5.

We’ve already discussed the top option here, since it was also the overall winner. So let’s mosey on along to BaseLine Tap House in Hollywood Studios, with its large pretzels and beef puffs, decent beer selections, and other drinks and cocktails. Mostly its excellent people-watching. BaseLine is the only repeat bar/lounge in the top 5 from last year too.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto rocketed up the list compared to last year. Lines have somewhat calmed down thanks to lower crowds at WDW overall this year, and most negative comments from last year were about the long wait. If you can get in, treat yourself to some snacks and a drink in a tiki mug or some other fun vessel.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill is over at Coronado Springs, and it’s probably most well-known for hosting Sangria University. You know, for those seeking a higher education while on vacation. Service here is especially friendly and well-rated.

Rounding things out is La Cava de Tequila. I had my first La Cava visit this year, and I get it. I get the hype. The cast members here are tequila and margarita experts. You can’t go wrong. The few thumbs-down ratings that came through once again mentioned the wait to get in. Be smart and join the La Cava Rope Drop club.

As an example of how competitive and excellent most bars and lounges are at WDW, one of my favorites, Nomad Lounge, is all the way down in 8th place this year, still with well over 95% satisfaction.

Best Counter Service

1. Pineapple Lanai – 100%
2. eet by Maneet Chauhan – 100%
3. Le Petit Cafe – 100%
4. Aloha Isle – 98.4%
5. Plaza Ice Cream Parlor – 98.1%

We’ve already talked about our top three counter service options since they made it into the top five overall. All three are solid Disney dining choices, even if it means going out of your way.

The 4th and 5th options are both found in Magic Kingdom and both serve ice cream. With Pineapple Lanai, Aloha Isle (Dole Whips) and Plaza Ice Cream, I think we have a very clear theme. People like ice cream. And they rate it highly, especially in the middle of hot days.

If you care more about “real food” than ice cream or desserts, maybe you should think about your life choices. But not even Le Petit Cafe will really help you out. For a full meal, the list becomes:

1. eet by Maneet Chauhan – 100%
2. Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza – 97%
3. Sleepy Hollow Refreshments – 96.6%
4. Satul’i Canteen – 96.2%
5. Regal Eagle Smokehouse – 94.9%

Best Table Service

1. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya – 100%
2. Raglan Road – 98.8%
3. Boatwright’s Dining Hall – 96.9%
4. Topolino’s Terrace – 96.7%
5. Spice Road Table – 96.7%

Interestingly, only one table service dining location repeats in the top 5 compared to last year. Congrats to Raglan Road, which took the top spot last year and would have this year too if it wasn’t for Shiki-Sai getting a perfect score. Raglan Road is always popular, and for good reason. Lots of solid menu options, and built-in entertainment.

Boatwright’s Dining Hall is a … head-scratcher. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice spot. And the service is good. But in my experience the kitchen has been unreliable depending on what you order. I’m going to attribute the high score to Port Orleans guests just being grateful they’re not stuck with only a food court. Probably not worth a special trip. But I’ll be making a special trip sometime soon to try to find out what’s up.

Next on the list is Topolino’s Terrace, with a remarkable improvement after its drop last year. The character breakfast here is always excellent, and enough time has passed now since the decision to not allow multiple entrees that people aren’t just thumbs-down-ing out of annoyance. Dinner prices keep going up, but the scores say that visitors don’t mind.

Finishing up the top 5 is Spice Road Table. In a World of high prices for fancy steaks and fish entrees, people are discovering the appeal of getting to order several small plates for similar or lower prices overall. Spice Road Table’s location is also a reason to check it out – enjoy the views of World Showcase from right next to the lagoon.

Best Dining Options in Each Park

Are you headed to a park and just wondering which bars, counter service spots, or table service locations have the highest satisfaction there? I can help with that!

Animal Kingdom

1. Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery (Counter Service) – 96.9%
2. Mr. Kamal’s (Cart) – 96.7%
3. Satul’i Canteen (Counter Service) – 96.2%
4. Nomad Lounge (Bar or Lounge) – 95.4%
5. Flame Tree Barbecue (Counter Service) – 94.8%

Animal Kingdom’s dining locations all rate very high. There aren’t many of them, but overall they have the highest average satisfaction of any park. So what is there is generally high-quality.

Just barely missing the cut-off for inclusion based on low number of surveys was Eight Spoon Cafe, another 100% rating location for its popular mac and cheese. And Dawa Bar also has fewer surveys but 100% overall.

A bunch of other locations also show up as above average, including Tamu Tamu, Yak & Yeti Restaurant, Harambe Market, and Tusker House Restaurant.

EPCOT

1. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya (Table Service) – 100%
2. La Cava del Tequila (Bar or Lounge) – 97.1%
3. Karamell-Kuche (Snacks) – 96.8%
4. Spice Road Table (Table Service) – 96.7%
5. Teppan Edo (Table Service) – 96.4%

Last year, table service restaurants struggled to score well at EPCOT, but this year they’re back with a vengeance. Japan especially is the place to go, with Shiki-Sai and Teppan Edo both showing up in the top 5. Takumi-Tei didn’t get 25 surveys this year, but it also scored above average.

We’ve already discussed everything else on this list, other than Karamell-Kuche. If you like caramel, you will smell this location before you see it. And you will be drawn in and leave with many caramel goodies.

Many, many other locations also come in scoring above average, like: Garden Grill, Kringla Bakeri, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, Yorkshire County Fish Shop, Les Halles, Le Cellier, and Via Napoli.

Hollywood Studios

1. BaseLine Tap House (Bar or Lounge) – 97.9%
2. The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge (Bar or Lounge) – 94.7%
3. 50’s Prime Time Cafe (Table Service) – 93.8%
4. Ronto Roasters (Counter Service) – 93.7%
5. ABC Commissary (Counter Service) – 92%

If only one thing strikes you about this list, it should be that overall the numbers are lower than what you’ll see on any other park-specific list. Hollywood Studios is not a foodie heaven. You’re much better off hopping onto the Skyliner and visiting Riviera for your meals instead. But if you want to stay in the park, these are the least-worst options. Nothing else in the entire park scores above average, beyond these 5 options.

Magic Kingdom

1. Aloha Isle (Counter Service) – 98.4%
2. Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (Counter Service) – 98.1%
3. Sunshine Tree Terrace (Counter Service) – 97.4%
4. Storybook Treats (Counter Service) – 96.8%
5. Spring Roll Cart (Cart) – 96.7%

Want ice cream at Magic Kingdom? You’re in luck. Lots of good options. Want some candy treats or spring rolls? You’ll also get along fine. “Real food” is harder. Your only above-average options are: Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, Liberty Tree Tavern, Casey’s Corner, The Friar’s Nook, and Skipper Canteen.

What Does This Mean For You?

1. A lot of the food and beverages that people enjoy while on WDW vacations don’t come from stereotypical counter service or table service restaurants. Instead, they’re treats like Dole whip, or special beverages served by attentive cast members. So if you can’t get reservations at all of the popular reservations, don’t fret.
2. In general, table service restaurants come with higher price points, and therefore higher expectations. You’ll find the most high-quality table service locations in EPCOT, Disney Springs and at resorts. Counter service performs better in the other parks.
3. If you want the largest selection of dining locations that score above average, look no further than EPCOT, which has 14 different spots. Compare that to the … five at Hollywood Studios and ten at Magic Kingdom. Even better is a resort-hopping day, which gives you 21 different options – 6 of them easily accessible by the Skyliner and 5 on the monorail loop.

Did any of the 2024 winners surprise you? Would you have ranked anything differently? Is there a dining experience you’re most looking forward to experiencing in 2024? Let me know in the comments!