Skip That Quick Service Restaurant, Eat Here Instead at Disney’s EPCOT

Restaurants at Walt Disney World are divided into two main categories: table service restaurants, where you’ll be seated at a table and have a server, and quick service restaurants, where you’ll place your order with a cashier or on the My Disney Experience app, pick up your food and choose your own seat, cafeteria-style.  Unsurprisingly, quick service restaurants offer a much better bang for your buck in WDW, and they’re perfect if you just need a quick bite to eat during your day in the Parks.  

But there are so many quick service restaurants scattered throughout the Disney Theme Parks – how is a Guest to know which ones are worthy of your hard-earned money?  Here are a few quick service restaurants you’re bound to love in Disney’s EPCOT Theme Park, along with a few you can skip without missing anything.

Skip: Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe

This one may raise a few eyebrows, since the school bread here enjoys a cult following.  And sure, Norway’s Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe might be a quick service option for a Guest looking for a snack, like rice pudding or cinnamon sugar flatbread, or chocolate chip cookies.  

But there’s very little here for anyone looking for an actual meal (plus, the one time I tried the famous school bread, it was dry and unappealing).  The Scandinavian setting is the best thing about Kringla Bakeri, so consider walking around the Norway Pavilion before or after riding Frozen Ever After to soak up the ambiance, and eat elsewhere.

Eat At: Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie Instead

The very best ice cream on Walt Disney World property, hands-down, is found at L’Artisan des Glaces in EPCOT’s France Pavilion.  But those for whom ice cream does not constitute a meal (gasp) should still head to this pavilion to the quick service restaurant Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.  

Guests will find all things French in this exquisite eatery – whether you’re in the mood for a fresh baguette sandwich or croissant, a cheese quiche or cheese plate, or one of a surprising number of desserts (the macarons come highly recommended), you’ll be glad you stopped by Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.  

France’s gift shop is right here too, so you can do some browsing before or after you eat.  And if you’re still hungry, head next door for some life-changing ice cream!

Skip: Lotus Blossom

It pains me to recommend skipping a restaurant in the China Pavilion, because Nine Dragons is a hidden gem we’ve always had great experiences at.  But China’s quick service restaurant, Lotus Blossom, sadly isn’t quite on par with its table service restaurant.  

The menu here doesn’t boast a lot of variety, and unfortunately, it offers run-of-the-mill Americanized Chinese food that you could easily find in most towns in the USA or Canada.  Dishes include orange chicken, fried rice, and caramel-ginger ice cream.

The only time we’d recommend choosing Lotus Blossom over another quick service restaurant in Disney’s EPCOT Park is if you have a craving that only blandly generic Chinese food will satisfy.  

Eat At: Katsura Grill Instead

The Japan Pavilion in Disney’s EPCOT Theme Park ranks right up there with the Morocco Pavilion as one of the most beautiful spots in the World Showcase.  And that’s part of the reason a meal at the quick service restaurant Katsura Grill is so memorable.  Sitting outside, gazing at the peaceful koi pond, hanging lanterns, and beautifully traditional Japanese rooflines, feels like a blissful escape from a chaotic day in the Parks.  

The menu here offers a variety of Japanese dishes, including sushi rolls, chicken teriyaki, edamame, various items made from green tea, and of course, Sake. Like Lotus Blossom, the food here is somewhat Americanized, but it’s always delicious, and boasts enough variety to appeal to everyone in your party.

Skip: Sommerfest

Located in the Germany Pavilion at Disney’s EPCOT Park, Sommerfest is a small walk-up food stand that features a very specific menu that a Guest will likely either love or hate.  You can order only bratwurst with sauerkraut or jumbo pretzels here (along with German beer and wine).  

If you have a hankering for either of these two items, this will be an ideal quick service option for you!  But because of its very limited menu, and the remote chance that everyone in your party will be happy eating only bratwurst or pretzels, it makes the “skip” list.  

Eat At: Sunshine Seasons Instead

Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion of EPCOT’s World Nature holds a special place in my heart because it’s the very first quick service restaurant I ever ate at in WDW.  But nostalgia aside, this huge restaurant is always a great idea, and offers options for everyone in your party. 

It boasts a ton of seating, and a menu that is surprisingly extensive and features delicious food that is also healthy, from grilled rotisserie chicken to Asian vegetables to noodle salad to a variety of flatbreads.  

Another plus?  Some of the ingredients for meals at Sunshine Seasons are harvested from the greenhouses right here in the Land Pavilion. Hop on the attraction Living With the Land to get a fascinating glimpse into where your food came from!

Bottom Line

There are plenty of quick service restaurants in Disney’s EPCOT Theme Park, especially in the World Showcase, where it’s entirely possible (and even encouraged!) to snack around the world without ever eating at a table service restaurant.  

Keep in mind that many highly recommended snack carts or quick service restaurants that don’t offer full meals (including the ever drool-worthy Karamell-Kuche in the Germany Pavilion) don’t appear on this list, but are nonetheless worth checking out if you’re just looking for a snack.