EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival added two kitchens this weekend! Coastal Eats and Gyozas of the Galaxy opened near Creations Shop across from Test Track. One was a clear winner: If you only have the belt loops and budget for one more kitchen when you head to Food & Wine, we’d have to send you into the Galaxy for some pretty great new gyozas. We tried all of the dishes at both booths, so let’s break them down.

Coastal Eats

Peruvian Ceviche | $7.50
with Mahi Mahi, Shrimp, Sweet Potato, Chulpe, Choclo, and Leche de Tigre

The presentation in half a coconut shell is nice, if not loaded with guilt upon discard. The seafood was fresh and the serving size was substantial for the price. Our only complaint, other than the impractical bowl, is that the lime flavor was stronger than everything else. We understand that the citrus is necessary to “cook” the fish, but we’d like to have tasted more of the toasted flavor of the chulpe. The citrus also overpowered any sweetness we were looking for from the fish and shrimp. Overall, this might have to be a skip for us.

Seaside Pot Pie | $7.50
Shrimp, Scallops, Crawfish Tails, and Lobster Bisque topped with Puff Pastry

The pastry is flaky but a tiny bit too salty for us. The filling reads more like a soup than a stew because of the sparse bits of seafood floating around. Another skip.

Lump Crab Cake | $7.50
Cajun-spiced Vinegar Slaw and Rémoulade 

Our first win! The crab cake was crispy on top and not loaded down with filling. We were impressed with the large chunks of crab atop the puckery slaw. This dish is a pretty decent value and is something we’ll come back for during this year’s Festival.

Gyozas of the Galaxy

Street Corn-style Dumplings | $6.00
Chicken Dumplings with Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Street Corn Salad, Cotija Cheese, Lime Crema, and Cilantro

This plate is 100/10 and our most favorite of the six new dishes today. These dumplings would have made our Best $50 of the Festival and Best New Dishes if this kitchen had opened with the festival in August. There are so many big flavors in this small package and we loved them all.

French Onion Soup-style Dumplings | $6.00
Pork and Beef Soup Dumplings with Caramelized Onions, Sherry-Beef Broth, Onion and Gruyère Soubise, Parmesan Cracker, and Micro Chives

This is absolutely what a festival dish should be! Tasty, special, easy to share, and affordable. Most of us probably make French Onion Soup at home and throw together some toasted bread and a bit of Gruyère, but this is elevated beyond anything in our kitchen! Adding the cheese into the onion soubise was a game-changer and made us want to go home to start chopping onions. Even the parmesan crackers were a nutty, salty surprise here. We loved this and think you will too.

Buffalo-style Dumplings | $6.00
Chicken Dumplings with Buffalo Sauce, Celery Root Purée, Blue Cheese Cream, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Shaved Carrot, and Micro Celery

We’re fans of that heavy vinegar, makes-the-back-of-your-ears tingle Buffalo-style sauce, and this just hit the spot. The chicken and sauce have the right flavors and heat to be worthy of a Steelers game day party (Go Steelers!). The celery and carrots are the same crudité lineup you’d expect, just elevated and tastier – especially the Celery Root Purée. This is worth the trip and the money.

Are you heading to Food & Wine this year? Are these gyozas on your must-try list? Let us know in the comments!