Tangierine Cafe Review
Epcot is the home of so much good food, that often times, great things get overlooked. I know among all the friends I have that head down, one of the last places we talk about is Tangierine Café in the Morocco pavilion in World Showcase. That’s a shame, because it’s one of the best counter service restaurants in all of Walt Disney World for quality and value.
The Morocco pavilion is not one that most people will visit at length during their World Showcase stroll, because there is no attraction there, but I try to stop every time to visit Tangierine Café. Most people who I’ve talked to are concerned over the types of food served there, but if you’ve had a shawarma platter at home, or enjoy hummus, baklava and good beers, there’s something for you in the Tangierine Café.
The restaurant is a counter service establishment just off the main walkway of World Showcase. You walk into an elaborately decorated open area with lines that can form to the left or the right. Most times I have been in, however, the line goes to the left, with samples of the menu to the right. The menu is mostly made up of typical shawarma platters, with chicken or lamb. In case you’re not familiar with shawarma, it refers to a roasted meat that has been placed on a spit and then shaved off into a sandwich. It also refers to yummy food.
The Tangierine Café offers their shawarma platters with chicken, lamb or both accompanied by hummus, tabbouleh, Moroccan bread and lentil salad. The prices for the shawarma platters start at $11.99 and go to $13.99, but you get a ton of food for that price. I’ve easily shared the portions almost every time I go.
If you’re not in the mood for shawarma, though, they also offer smaller portions, with wrap sandwiches or vegetarian options like falafel ranging from $8.99 to $9.99. There are also specialties, such as the Mediterranean sliders, Kefta sandwich or vegetable platter which includes hummus, tabbouleh, lentil salad, olives and more. These range from $9.99 to $14.99, but again they include tons of food.
On my last visit, I went with the chicken and lamb shawarma platter, but I’ve had everything on the menu, and it’s all good. The chicken and lamb were very hot, the hummus is extremely smooth, not gritty like many others I’ve had at home, and the tabbouleh, lentil salad and Moroccan bread were extremely fresh.
But I can’t talk about the Tangierine Café without mentioning my favorite beer in all of World Showcase, the Casa Beer available here. It’s a lager that is brewed and bottled in Casablanca, Morocco (hence the name) and I adore it. At $5.95 for a bottle, it’s cheaper than most restaurants. If you enjoy beer, try this out when at Morocco.
There’s also dessert here. Oh, is there ever. To the left of the registers there is a case full of pastries and coffee. You can bypass the main course and head straight here for some of the best baklava you will ever taste. The flaky pastry layers are amazing, the honey is sticky, sweet and delicious and the nuts are fresh and crunchy.
For the amount of food that you get, Tangierine Café is probably the best counter service value in World Showcase. Light eaters could definitely split a shawarma platter, two drinks and some baklava. Grab your meal, head outside and catch Mo Rockin’, the band that plays right across the walkway. It’s a recipe for an amazing time in World Showcase.
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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Tangierine Cafe! We always make a point to be around Morocco around lunchtime!
I can’t tell you how many times I have tried to time my stroll through World Showcase to be in position to grab food and a drink from Morocco in time to camp out for IllumiNations. 🙂
This is my favorite counter service in WDW! I always tell people about Tangierine Cafe when I hear complaints about the food at WDW (“it’s all burgers, pizza, hot dogs, and fries”). Morocco pavilion is one of the best in World Showcase.
Me, too! I get so sick of the “burgers and fries” complaint that I often show people the first picture in this article.
My favorite counter service in WDW. My wife and I share a chicken platter almost every trip. The rest of the pavlion is great for just a quiet wander around with a camera. There are so many colors and textures, so much craftwork in the buildings.
Very true. Lots of great picture opportunities in this pavilion. I saw where someone had a wedding there a few years ago, and the pictures were amazing.
This is the one restaurant we never miss. HUGE portions of great food. LOVE IT!!
Such a great value, too! For that price, it is cheaper than Liberty Inn or other counter service locations in World Showcase.
I’ve been to a lot of the “real” countries featured in WS, Morocco included, and the Morocco showcase feels the most like the real thing (minus the 10 year old boys that run after you peddling their wares). In addition to its authentic architecture and atmosphere, its counter service food is my favorite in Epcot. I also don’t think a lot of people realize that “Tangierine” is a word play on the Moroccan city of “Tangiers” and has nothing to do with actual fruit.
That’s great info, Betsy. I did not know that it was a play on Tangiers. Morocco always felt authentic to me, but it’s good to know that that’s the case.
I love this Pavilion and I eat at the Tangierine cafe at least once each trip. I finally got my husband to try it last trip and he loved it, of course. Even on days when I’m not having a meal here, I will still grab some baklava.
I try to visit Tangierine Cafe on every trip, if for nothing else to grab a Casa. It’s my favorite beer in World Showcase.
So glad to see there are at least two people who share my love of the Moroccan pavilion! The Marrakesh is my favorite restaurant, and I love stopping to get some coffee at the Tangierine Cafe. Thank you for your review. This pavilion needs a whole lot more love than it gets.
Totally agree. Morocco is quite underrated.
I LOVE the Moroccan pavilion! We’ve not tried the quick serve, but Restaurant Marakesh is one of our all time favorites. Not only is the food amazing, but the staff is about the friendliest you will find anywhere, the entertainment is top notch, and the building itself is breathtakingly beautiful! We love to watch MoRockin also, and tucked away near the lagoon is an outstanding henna artist. My daughter and I have gotten several of her designs and she is very talented. I’ve seen henna designs done locally and they are nowhere near as good. So you are truly missing a gem of EPCOT if anyone skips Morocco. It truly is one of my favorite places there even without an “attraction.”. Thank you for this wonderful review of the Tangierine Cafe. We’ll be sure to try it next time we visit.
I have not been to Marrakesh in quite some time, but I’m thinking I need to make time to visit it soon. I do love Mo Rockin. It’s one of my most relaxing things to do at WDW – grab a drink and sit and watch the band.
For some reason it is so upsetting to me when people think that the whole pavilion is the quick service, the fountain, and the small shop by the henna stand. There is so much more!
So true. Wandering the back streets through the pavilion is quite fun, and there’s so much to look at.