Food is everywhere in the park at Disneyland, and a lot of it is surprisingly good. So obviously I tried a bunch of stuff. My thoughts after the jump.
Churros
You have to get a churro when you go to Disneyland. It’s the law. In fact, I’m almost positive that the first churro I ever had was at a childhood trip to Disneyland. They’re a must-eat Disney food, and there’s a reason for that: they’re delicious. I actually liked this quite a lot better than the various churros I had at the Disney parks in Asia. Those ones were a bit too thin and crunchy (though still quite tasty); this one is slightly thicker, giving it a much more satisfying contrast between the crispy exterior and the cakey interior. Plus, you can’t go wrong with the cinnamon/sugar combo. Top notch.
Dole Whip
Another legendary Disney dessert, Dole Whip is a dairy-free pineapple soft serve. It’s got a nice pineapple flavour, with a good amount of tartness that (almost) balances out how sweet it is. It’s also surprisingly smooth and creamy considering that it’s dairy free. My only real issue with it is that it’s slightly too sweet, but other than that it’s pretty great.
Mickey Beignets from the Mint Julep Bar
Oh man, these were so good. They’re basically just standard dougnnuts in the shape of Mickey’s head, but they’re so well prepared. They’re a little bit crispy on the outside, and soft, fluffy, and a bit chewy on the inside. And all of the sweetness comes from the powdered sugar they’re tossed in, so unlike the Dole Whip, it’s not sugar overload. I should note that the batch I got was still warm from the fryer; obviously the longer they sit out, the less delicious they’ll be.
Fried Chicken from Plaza Inn
Basically every article I read about the best food in Disneyland featured the fried chicken from Plaza Inn. Everyone loves it. But I didn’t want to get the whole meal, which comes with three pieces of chicken, multiple sides, and costs almost twenty dollars. So I asked if I could just get one piece, and yep — that was an option. It was about four bucks, and it was the best four dollars I’ve ever spent. Everyone is totally right about this chicken; it’s outstanding. It’s ultra crispy, incredibly flavourful, and features some seriously tender meat.
Hand-Dipped Corn Dogs from Little Red Wagon
I don’t think I’ve ever had a hand-dipped corn dog before — all I’ve ever had are the frozen, Pogo-esque variety. The difference is night and day. This was the best corn dog I’ve ever had, and it’s not even close. The exterior coating was basically like really good corn bread, but light and fluffy enough that it never feels overwhelming. It’s crispy, moist, and amazing, and its mild sweetness balances out the salty hot dog perfectly. I was shocked at how good this was.
Mickey Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcake from Clarabelle’s
This is actually part of the special menu for the Mickey and Minnie Celebration that was going on in the park when I visited, so it may or may not be on the menu when you go. It’s essentially a cupcake crossed with a chocolate chip cookie. The cake part of the cupcake is a big chocolate chip cookie, and it’s topped with buttercream icing and decorative chocolate ears and a hat (not to mention the macaron-esque cookie). It’s a bit difficult to eat, even with a fork and knife — the cookie base is a bit softer than a standard cookie, but quite a bit more dense than cake. It’s also incredibly sweet. It’s intense. I enjoyed it, but it was my least favourite thing that I ate at the park.