Menu Monday: A Pescetarian Guide to Disney World

Even spell-check does not know what a pescetarian is, so allow me to explain: a pescetarian diet is similar to a vegetarian diet, with the addition of fish. Reasons for eating pescetarian range from the health conscious to the animal loving. My family and I have been pescetarians for the past eight years–minus one stubbornly carnivorous brother. We have traveled throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks finding counter service restaurants that offer a variety of pescetarian, vegetarian, and vegan options. So whether you’re a pescetarian yourself or you ride The Seas with Nemo and Friends and think “them’s good eatins,” this pescetarian guide to Disney World is for you.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom’s counter service dining has vastly improved in recent years, and that improvement has included adding many pescetarian and vegetarian options.

Pescetarian Pick: When I mentioned to my fellow Cast Members that I was working on this article, Columbia Harbor House was the first restaurant mentioned by every single person. Options range from the classic fried fish and French fries to grilled salmon with couscous and broccoli. The fried selections are essentially the same as you’ll find anywhere else on property, but the Anchors Aweigh and Lighthouse sandwiches are unique selections It’s also home to my favorite kid’s meal: tuna salad sandwich on goldfish-shaped bread for only $5.99. While seafood and veggie-lovers have a great variety to choose from, pickings are relatively slim for classic carnivores. I’m also happy to see that TouringPlans.com users agree with unfailing support of the restaurant, with 93% of users giving Columbia Harbor House a positive review.

Honorable Mentions: If you can manage to get in the restaurant, Be Our Guest’s tuna Nicoise salad is yummy and you can’t beat the atmosphere. I never thought I would ever say this in my life about a restaurant in Fantasyland, but Pinocchio Village Haus actually has pretty good flatbread pizza. However, there is no reason not to walk to Columbia Harbor House no matter where you are in Magic Kingdom, considering how superior the selection is to anywhere else.

Epcot

The two main themes of Epcot are both conducive to a pescetarian diet: more environmentally-friendly fish is often used as a substitute for other meats and many cultures around the world have seafood-heavy diets. You’re never far from a delicious pescetarian meal in Epcot.

Pescetarian Pick: My mother plans her entire Disney World vacations around the number of times she can eat at Sunshine Seasons. She likes to get the oak-grilled sustainable-choice fish with green beans and potatoes, while my sister and I are partial to the togarashi seared tuna noodle salad. Each of the four stations offers a pescetarian or vegetarian option. TouringPlans readers rate it as one of the best counter service restaurants in Epcot, with a 92% approval rating and a quality rating of excellent.

Honorable Mentions: It can seem counterintuitive to eat in Future World when food from around the world is available right across Epcot. The United Kingdom pavilion serves authentic fish and chips at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop. The falafel platter at Tangerine Café in Morocco is a great value for a vegetarian option. While the sushi available at the kiosk at the Japan pavilion is not especially authentic, it’s fairly filling.

Hollywood Studios

Like Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studio has also seen improvement in counter service dining recently. On past visits, my pescetarian family completely refused to eat there, packing PB&Js to hold us over until lunch at the hotel. These days, many more options have been added to the parks.

Pescetarian Pick: The ABC Commissary is not particularly life-changing as far is theming goes. However, recent additions to the menu make it a great pescetarian option. The fish and shrimp platter are the same as offered elsewhere in the theme parks. Unique to the Commissary are the couscous, quinoa and arugula salad and the Asian salad, which are available with salmon or chicken. The salads are tossed to order, so special orders subtracting any ingredients can be accommodated.

Honorable Mentions: The Backlot Express has a grilled vegetable sandwich that was once the only vegetarian option to be found in all of Hollywood Studios. Sushi is available at the Starring Rolls Café.

Animal Kingdom

For a theme park based on animals, the Animal Kingdom seems to be very supportive of eating animals. Literally no counter service restaurants in all of Animal Kingdom sell seafood-based meals.

Pescetarian Pick: Tamu Tamu Refreshments used to offer a tuna sandwich, but the menu has since been changed. It remains my pescetarian pick because of the quinoa salad offered. I wish it had the option to add salmon, like at ABC Commissary, but the salad is still filling.

Honorable Mention: The only other counter service vegetarian options are pizza at Pizzafari and the roasted vegetable couscous wrap at Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes. I’ve never tried the couscous wrap, so please add your review in the comments. The Bradley Falls kiosk has samosas and a falafel sandwich.

Please share in the comments: What are your favorite seafood counter service meals in Disney World? Are you a pescetarian in Disney World and what has your experience been?