California Adventure Restaurants, Every Place to Eat in DCA
California Adventure has 36 places to eat, from three sit-down restaurants to beer windows and cookie stands. Carthay Circle Restaurant on Buena Vista Street is the best meal in the park. Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus is the best quick service, and Cocina Cucamonga is the best value.
- Best overallCarthay Circle Restaurant $$$$over $60
- Best quick servicePym Test Kitchen $$$15 to $35
- Best valueCocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill $under $15
- Most famous dishLamplight Lounge Boardwalk Dining $$$15 to $35
- Best dessertGhirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop $$$15 to $35
- Best snack crawlCozy Cone Motel $under $15
The top ten California Adventure restaurants
Ranked on the food, the room and what you pay. The checks run highest first, so the one on top is where we would eat today.
$ under $15$$ $15 to $35$$$ $35 to $60$$$$ over $60
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No. 1 Buena Vista Street
Carthay Circle Restaurant
The upstairs dining room inside the Carthay Circle Theatre is the closest this park gets to a white tablecloth night out. Start with the White Cheddar Parker House Rolls ($16, sharing optional), then the $54 thick cut pork chop. Entrées run $46 to $62, so treat it as the celebration dinner it is.
Order Signature Thick Cut Pork Chop
Table service Price band $$$$over $60Book ahead -
No. 2 Pixar Pier
Lamplight Lounge
A Pixar animators' hangout at the foot of Pixar Pier, with cocktails named for the films. The $28 charbroiled cheddar burger is the safe order, the pork belly bao bun ($20) the fun one. The famous lobster nachos are on the boardwalk menu, not this one.
Order Charbroiled Cheddar Burger
Table service Price band $$about $28 a mealBook ahead -
No. 3 Avengers Campus
Pym Test Kitchen
Ant-Man's test kitchen shrinks and supersizes everything, and the Not so Little Chicken Sandwich ($15.49 to $16.99) is the joke you can eat. Breakfast is a sleeper, with Formulated French Toast at $11.99, and the Quantum Pretzel ($14.49) feeds a whole team.
Order Not so Little Chicken Sandwich
Quick service Price band $$about $17 a mealWalk up -
No. 4 San Fransokyo Square
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
The best value meal in the park. The QuesaBirria ($13.49) is braised beef and cheese tacos with consomé for dipping, and the carne asada tacos are $12.99. Add a classic lime margarita ($18) and lunch is still cheaper than one entrée at Carthay.
Order QuesaBirria
Quick service Price band $about $13 a mealMobile order -
No. 5 Pixar Pier
Lamplight Lounge Boardwalk Dining
The outdoor half of Lamplight Lounge, under light cover on the boardwalk, and the only place to get the Lobster Nachos ($27). Add barbacoa nachos ($25) if the table cannot agree.
Order Lobster Nachos
Lounge Price band $$about $27 a mealWalk-up list -
No. 6 Cars Land
Flo's V8 Cafe
A chrome Route 66 diner with Radiator Springs out the window and the best-themed counter meal in the park. The Winner's Circle Chicken and Waffle ($17.49) beats the burgers, and the Big Dipper Cheeseburger is $15.99 if you insist.
Order Winner's Circle Chicken and Waffle
Quick service Price band $$about $17 a mealMobile order -
No. 7 Golden Vine Winery
Wine Country Trattoria
An Italian terrace restaurant that is usually the easiest sit-down table to land in the park. Entrées run $24 for rigatoni Bolognese to $38 for the bistecca, with chicken Parmesan at $35, and the California Wine Country flight is $25.
Order Chicken Parmesan
Table service Price band $$$15 to $35Walk-up list -
No. 8 Buena Vista Street
Carthay Circle Lounge
The same building and the same Carthay Mai Tai ($23) as the restaurant upstairs, at roughly half the bill. Plates like the miso glazed salmon ($24) and spicy ahi tuna spring roll ($22) make it a real meal, and the patio is the best seat on Buena Vista Street.
Order Spicy Ahi Tuna Spring Roll
Lounge Price band $$about $24 a mealWalk-up list -
No. 9 San Fransokyo Square
Aunt Cass Café
Hiro's aunt runs the soup and sandwich counter, and the San Fransokyo Clam Chowder ($13.99) is the order. Chicken pot pie soup and creamy mac and cheese are the same price, and there is a strawberry soju cocktail ($19.50) for the grown-ups.
Order San Fransokyo Clam Chowder
Quick service Price band $about $14 a mealMobile order -
No. 10 Cars Land
Cozy Cone Motel
Five traffic cones, five menus, one very good snack crawl. Cone 1 has churros, Cone 2 soft serve and the Route Beer Float, Cone 3 the $12.99 Chili Cone Queso and mac and cheese cones, Cone 4 a chimichanga and margaritas, Cone 5 popcorn.
Order Chili Cone Queso
Snacks Price band $under $15Walk up
When to eat at California Adventure
Lines at California Adventure usually peak around 7 PM, at about 30 minutes across the park. Sit down to eat then, and ride around 9 AM, when the typical wait drops to about 15 minutes.
Minutes of typical posted wait across California Adventure rides, by hour. See every ride's best time.
Calmest days to book a table, next 30 days
- crowd1of 10, light
- crowd1of 10, light
- crowd1of 10, light
Every place to eat at California Adventure
All 36, in walking order from the front gate. The stamp says how to get in, the total line is Disney's price band per adult before tax and tip.
Showing all 36
Buena Vista StreetThe 1920s Los Angeles main street inside the gate, with the Carthay Circle Theatre standing at the far end.
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Table service Check 01
Carthay Circle Restaurant
Order Signature Thick Cut Pork Chop
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$$over $60Book ahead -
Lounge Check 02
Carthay Circle Lounge
Order Spicy Ahi Tuna Spring Roll
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $24 a mealWalk-up list -
Quick service Check 03
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café
The Starbucks of California Adventure, dressed as a 1920s cafe named for the Three Little Pigs. Breakfast sandwiches top out around $6.49 and the cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing is $7.49, so this is the cheapest real breakfast in the park.
Order Signature Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese Icing
Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up -
Snacks Check 04
Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
Hand-scooped ice cream and hand-dipped bars a few steps inside the gate. A single scoop in a dipped waffle cone is $8.49, and the grown-up move is the Mango Hard Float ($18.50).
Order Dipped Waffle Cone
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $under $15Mobile order -
Snacks Check 05
Trolley Treats
An old-fashioned candy shop with an open kitchen, so you can watch the fudge and candy apples get made before you buy. The churro toffee square ($9.49) is the sleeper pick for the walk to the car.
Order A character candy apple
Mobile order Menu and hours Price band $under $15Mobile order -
Snacks Check 06
Mortimers Market
The fruit stand closest to the front gate, with whole fruit, chips and a $4.99 pickle. Small, fast and the healthiest thing on Buena Vista Street.
Order A pickle
Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up
Hollywood LandStudio backlot streets to the left of Carthay Circle, home of hot dogs, smoothies and an open-air bar.
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Quick service Check 07
Award Wieners
Hot dogs with a showbiz marquee, most of them $10.79 to $11.99. The Uptown Chili Dog ($11.79) is the one to get, and Asada Fries ($13.49) turn it into dinner for two.
Order Uptown Chili Dog
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $about $12 a mealMobile order -
Snacks Check 08
Fairfax Market
An open-air fruit stand on the backlot with whole fruit, pickles and chicharrones with hot sauce and lime ($5.49). It is a snack, not a meal, but a good one.
Order Chicharrones
Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up -
Snacks Check 09
Schmoozies!
Smoothies, shakes and espresso in Hollywood Land. The Mangonada Smoothie ($9.99) is the cult order, and grown-ups can add liquor to it for $21.50.
Order Mangonada Smoothie
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up -
Lounge Check 10
Hollywood Lounge
An outdoor backlot bar with beer, margaritas and a $18.50 Backlot Michelada. The only food is chicharrones, so treat it as a stop between rides.
Order Backlot Michelada
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Walk up
Avengers CampusThe Marvel campus past Hollywood Land, where Pym Test Kitchen plays games with the size of your lunch.
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Quick service Check 11
Pym Test Kitchen
Order Not so Little Chicken Sandwich
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $17 a mealWalk up -
Lounge Check 12
Pym Tasting Lab
The lab's bar next door, with Marvel-themed cocktails like the Liberty Punch ($20.50) and craft beer. Food is mini pretzels with spicy nacho cheese ($7.50), so eat at the Test Kitchen first.
Order Liberty Punch
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Walk up -
Snacks Check 13
Shawarma Palace
Yes, the shawarma from the end credits. The chicken shawarma wrap with garlic hummus and tzatziki is $14.49, and the City of Heroes hazy IPA ($17.25) is the only beer that fits the bit.
Order New York's Tastiest chicken shawarma wrap
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up
Cars LandRadiator Springs on one neon main drag, with Flo's V8 Cafe at one end and the Cozy Cone Motel in the middle.
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Quick service Check 14
Flo's V8 Cafe
Order Winner's Circle Chicken and Waffle
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $17 a mealMobile order -
Snacks Check 15
Cozy Cone Motel
Order Chili Cone Queso
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up -
Snacks Check 16
Fillmore's Taste-In
Fillmore's geodesic dome at the Cars Land entrance sells fruit, chips and pickles. Pineapple with chamoy is $4.49, the cheapest bright idea in the land.
Order Pineapple with Chamoy
Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up
San Fransokyo SquareThe Big Hero 6 waterfront that used to be Pacific Wharf, now the densest cluster of counters in the park.
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Quick service Check 17
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
Order QuesaBirria
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $about $13 a mealMobile order -
Quick service Check 18
Aunt Cass Café
Order San Fransokyo Clam Chowder
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $about $14 a mealMobile order -
Quick service Check 19
Lucky Fortune Cookery
Asian-inspired bowls on the San Fransokyo waterfront. The Beef Birria Ramen ($15.99) is the most interesting thing on the menu, and the noodle stir-fry with karaage-style chicken ($19.99) is the most filling.
Order Beef Birria Ramen
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $16 a mealMobile order -
Lounge Check 20
Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería
A Karl Strauss beer counter with a dozen pours and a beer flight for $18.75. The pretzel-wrapped hot dog ($11.79) is the food, and it is better than it needs to be.
Order Beer Flight
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Mobile order -
Lounge Check 21
Rita's Turbine Blenders
A margarita window with a rum piña colada and a bag of Japanese peanuts on the side. Rita's Grand Margarita is $19, and kids get a Turbine Twirler slush for $7.79.
Order Rita's Grand Margarita
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Mobile order -
Snacks Check 22
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
The San Francisco chocolate brand's full soda fountain, fifteen sundaes deep. The World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae is $19.50 and built to share, and the Golden Gate Banana Split ($25.50) is for the whole bench.
Order World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae
Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Walk up
Golden Vine WineryA small vineyard courtyard beside San Fransokyo Square, built for a glass of wine and a plate of pasta.
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Table service Check 23
Wine Country Trattoria
Order Chicken Parmesan
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Walk-up list -
Lounge Check 24
Mendocino Terrace
The wine tasting terrace at the Golden Vine Winery, pouring California bottles by the glass like Jordan Chardonnay ($20). The Italian sandwich ($12) makes it a light lunch.
Order A glass of Jordan Chardonnay
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Walk up -
Lounge Check 25
Sonoma Terrace
A beer garden in the Golden Vine Winery with an $8.25 Bavarian pretzel and a cheese cup for $1.50. Good for a sit while the rest of the group rides Soarin'.
Order Bavarian Pretzel
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Mobile order
Grizzly PeakRedwoods, a bear-shaped mountain and an old airfield, with Smokejumpers Grill feeding the Soarin' crowd.
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Quick service Check 26
Smokejumpers Grill
Burgers at a firefighters' base camp near Soarin'. The Chipotle BBQ Bacon Double Cheeseburger ($17.29) is the headliner, and fried pickles ($5.79) are the side to fight over.
Order Chipotle BBQ Bacon Double Cheeseburger
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $17 a mealMobile order
Paradise Gardens ParkThe Victorian seaside garden on Paradise Bay, ringed with pizza, tacos, corn dogs and a pretzel and beer window.
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Quick service Check 27
Paradise Garden Grill
Mexican plates with a view of Paradise Bay. The Tacos Dorados de Camarón ($15.49) are the pick, and the Marigold Margarita ($19) is the drink.
Order Tacos Dorados de Camarón
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $15 a mealMobile order -
Quick service Check 28
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
The family budget saver. A pepperoni slice is $9.99, spaghetti with meatballs is $12.99, and a whole pepperoni pie ($53.99) feeds a crew.
Order Pepperoni Pizza slice
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $about $13 a mealMobile order -
Quick service Check 29
Corn Dog Castle
Corn dogs, a cheddar cheese stick and cold beer, and that is the whole menu. The Hot-Link Corn Dog ($11.49) is the upgrade over the original ($11.29), and the cheddar cheese stick is $10.49.
Order Hot-Link Corn Dog
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $about $11 a mealMobile order -
Lounge Check 30
Bayside Brews
A beer window on the bay with pickle lager micheladas and a cream cheese-filled pretzel ($7.29). The jalapeño cheese version is the same price and twice the attitude.
Order Cream Cheese-filled Pretzel
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$$15 to $35Mobile order
Pixar PierThe boardwalk across Paradise Bay with the Incredicoaster overhead and Lamplight Lounge at the entrance.
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Table service Check 31
Lamplight Lounge
Order Charbroiled Cheddar Burger
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $28 a mealBook ahead -
Lounge Check 32
Lamplight Lounge Boardwalk Dining
Order Lobster Nachos
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $$about $27 a mealWalk-up list -
Snacks Check 33
Angry Dogs
Anger from Inside Out runs a hot dog stand, so the spicy Angry Dog ($10.79) is the obvious order. The milder Slightly Annoyed Dog is $9.79.
Order Angry Dog
Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up -
Snacks Check 34
Poultry Palace
The carnival chicken stand on Pixar Pier, for when a snack needs a handle. The jumbo smoked turkey leg is $14.49, the drumstick box with slaw is $12.49.
Order Jumbo Smoked Turkey Leg
Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up -
Snacks Check 35
Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
The Monsters Inc. frozen treat stand. The flight of lemon, mango and raspberry is $9.19, and the chile-lime mango margarita version is $20 for the adults.
Order It's a Flight!
Mobile order Alcohol Menu and hours Price band $under $15Mobile order -
Snacks Check 36
Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums
Jack-Jack's favorite cookie, $9.50, with chocolate milk ($3.50) to go with it. The IncrediCookie ($8) is the backup when the baby gets the last one.
Order Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num
Menu and hours Price band $under $15Walk up
Nothing on the pad matches all of that.
Menus, hours and prices change. Confirm on Disney's California Adventure dining page before you walk over.
Good to know before you eat at California Adventure
The lobster nachos live outside
Lamplight Lounge runs two menus in one building. The Lobster Nachos ($27) are on the Boardwalk Dining menu outdoors, not the indoor restaurant menu, so book or join the list for Boardwalk Dining if that is the plan.
Bountiful Valley Brews opens this month
A new kiosk near Carthay Circle and the Avengers Campus entrance is set to open in November 2026, with cocktails, craft beer, micheladas and a pepperoni pizza egg roll. No opening day has been announced, so it joins this list once it is serving.
Festival of Holidays booths
The holiday season runs November 13, 2026 through January 6, 2027, and California Adventure adds six festive food marketplaces around the park. They are seasonal booths, not permanent restaurants, so they are not counted here. The Mickey Elf Shake also returns at Schmoozies!
Magic Key Terrace is members only
Magic Key Terrace serves charcuterie, focaccia pizza, beer and California wine, but only to Magic Key holders and their party. Day guests are not admitted, so it is not counted in the 36.
California Adventure restaurant questions
What is the best restaurant in California Adventure?
Carthay Circle Restaurant on Buena Vista Street is the best meal in the park. Entrées run $46 to $62 and reservations are close to essential. For a cheaper sit-down meal, Lamplight Lounge on Pixar Pier has a $28 burger and a view of Paradise Bay.
What is the best quick service in California Adventure?
Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus is the best quick service for food and theming together. Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill in San Fransokyo Square is the best value, with a $13.49 QuesaBirria.
How far ahead can you make dining reservations at California Adventure?
Disneyland Resort dining reservations open 60 days ahead in the Disneyland app or on the website. Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lamplight Lounge fill first, and Wine Country Trattoria sometimes has same-day tables.
Can you drink alcohol in California Adventure?
Yes. Beer, wine and cocktails are sold all over California Adventure, at every sit-down restaurant, most quick service counters and bars like Rita's Turbine Blenders, Bayside Brews and Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería. You must be 21 with ID.
Is there character dining in California Adventure?
No character meal runs inside California Adventure right now. The closest is Storytellers Cafe at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, next to the park. Characters do meet guests around the park, including the heroes in Avengers Campus.
Where do you get the lobster nachos at California Adventure?
Lamplight Lounge Boardwalk Dining on Pixar Pier, the outdoor side of Lamplight Lounge. They are $27 and are not on the indoor Lamplight Lounge menu.
Which California Adventure restaurants have mobile order?
Most quick service counters take mobile order in the Disneyland app, including Cocina Cucamonga, Flo's V8 Cafe, Aunt Cass Café, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Smokejumpers Grill, Award Wieners, Paradise Garden Grill and Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta.
What is the cheapest meal in California Adventure?
A cheese slice at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta is $9.49, the Slightly Annoyed Dog at Angry Dogs on Pixar Pier is $9.79 and the pollo asado at Cocina Cucamonga is $11.99. For breakfast, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café sandwiches run $5.29 to $6.49.
Plan the rest of the California Adventure day
- California Adventure hours in NovemberOpening and closing times for every day this month
- California Adventure crowd calendarA crowd score for every day ahead
- Best day to visit California Adventure in NovemberThe calm days, ranked
- Best times for California Adventure ridesWhen each line is shortest
- California Adventure live wait timesEvery line right now
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