If you’re doing a cheeseburger crawl of Disneyland and California Adventure, you is perhaps disenchanted. Despite the traditional all-beef entree being a staple of counter service menus, there are solely a handful of them which are really good-to-great. This checklist covers that concern, highlighting the very best & worst burgers in Disneyland Resort’s parks, motels, Downtown Disney, and past.
Burgers are my ardour; cheeseburgers are my calling–spreading the great phrase is maybe my life’s mission. If it weren’t for my physician being a complete buzzkill, I’d eat burgers for 4 meals per day. I get pleasure from consuming adventurously and making an attempt new delicacies, however nothing hits the spot like a great burger. It is the proper meals and is nearly irresistible to me once I spot an intriguing one on a restaurant menu. To that time, I’ve a variety of expertise with burgers at Disneyland Resort, and taste-tested all of it: good, unhealthy, and ugly.
In reality, this put up has been “in progress” for ages now. The unique draft really predates the pandemic, and a part of the rationale I’ve been holding off on publishing the previous few years was as a result of a number of one-time favorites have but to return. At this level, it’s appears more and more unlikely that they are going to. So right here we’re, with a sadly quick and restricted checklist.
On a optimistic be aware, I’ll proceed to taste-test burgers at Disneyland, revisiting acquainted favorites to substantiate their excellence and evaluating newcomers to find out whether or not they’re worthy, all for the sake of crucial analysis. As Walt Disney famously stated, this checklist of the very best burgers at “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
With that in thoughts, I do need to begin with an necessary caveat. This checklist shouldn’t be practically as lengthy or helpful as its counterpart for Walt Disney World. It’s not as lengthy as a result of, fairly merely, there aren’t as many standout burgers at Disneyland. It’s not as helpful as a result of the eating places with the very best burgers at Disneyland additionally typically produce other menu gadgets which are implausible. By distinction, the highest burgers at Walt Disney World are very often among the many prime few menu gadgets.
Just value preserving that in thoughts as we dig into this checklist of the very best burgers at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Hotels of Disneyland Resort…
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes – Perhaps the preferred restaurant in Downtown Disney, there’s an nearly perpetual line to order at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes. Honestly, I believe it’s a bit overrated, however Black Tap continues to be superb.
Black Tap’s declare to fame is the award-winning Greg Norman, which consists of a 1/2 lb Wagyu Beef Burger, House Buttermilk-Dill, Blue Cheese, and Arugula. That and the Wagyu Steakhouse Burger and Truffle Burger are the preferred choices, and so they’re all good. But actually, I believe the Pizza Burger or Mexico City is perhaps the very best burgers on the menu at Black Tap.
Carnation Cafe – This iconic spot on Main Street in Disneyland is residence to two iconic burgers (or burger-adjacent meals merchandise), the Parmesan Toasted Patty Melt and the Carnation Café Cheeseburger. Both function the identical mouth-watering Angus Chuck Patty, and are worthy of inclusion on this checklist.
If I may solely order one, it’s gotta be the Parmesan Toasted Patty Melt. It is pure perfection, the quintessential greasy spoon entree. The patties, grilled onions, cheese, and home sauce come collectively to kind a juicy and scrumptious burger, and one which assessments the boundaries of the Toasted Parmesan Sourdough Bread.
It passes with flying colours, holding up underneath the burden of all that whereas including its personal flavors and textures. The Carnation Café Cheeseburger is extra simple–a traditional diner burger, however lacks the addictively scrumptious and distinctive flavors of the Patty Melt.
Lamplight Lounge – The well-liked desk service spot overlooking Pixar Pier is residence to quite a lot of beloved gadgets, and it’s tough to deviate from the enduring Lobster Nachos throughout a standard meal. Fortunately(?), these aren’t accessible on Lamplight Lounge’s brunch menu. There are nonetheless quite a lot of nice choices that may make selecting tough, however at the least the Brunch Burger has a preventing likelihood right here.
The Brunch Burger consists of a Grilled Custom Burger Blend with American Cheese, One Egg-up, Hash Brown Patty, Roasted Green Chile, Lettuce, Caramelized Onions and Paprika Aïoli on a toasted Amish Bun with Fresh Fruit. Now that’s what I name a brunch burger!
And holy cow does the Brunch Burger ship on its description and title. The beef mix is tender and juicy, and never the sort of patty that “needs” to be hid by egg or sauces. To the opposite, these issues right here solely add to and improve the flavour, offering good texture, a light kick–and an enormous mess–to this merchandise.
Don’t order the Brunch Burger if you wish to eat a tidy and correct meal; do order it in order for you one thing implausible and don’t thoughts working to the restroom if you’re completed to scrub your fingers. The solely draw back is that it’s paired with fruit–as if to function a reminder that you just don’t want anything unhealthy–as a substitute of extra breakfast-y deliciousness. (That’s simple sufficient to “overcome” by ordering the Indulgent French Toast for “dessert.”)
Hearthstone Lounge – The “problem” with every of the following two entries is that they’re discovered on two of the deepest menus in all of Disneyland Resort, making it tough to advocate them over the opposite options. However, that’s not an indictment of the burgers themselves. To the opposite, these are two true standouts.
Let’s begin with the Seasonal Burger at Hearthstone Lounge, the Grand Californian Hotel’s foyer bar. This Seasonal Burger presently consists of American Wagyu Patty, Sonoma Sharp White Cheddar, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Bacon-Shallot Jam on a Herb Focaccia Bun.
I don’t know what concerning the Hearthstone burger makes it seasonal–maybe the toppings differ based mostly on what greens are in season? Maybe the wagyu cows put on sweaters within the winter? Does California have a bacon jam season?! (I’m going to really feel actually silly when somebody shares the very apparent rationalization as to why it’s seasonal.)
Regardless, the Seasonal Burger at Hearthstone Lounge is totally implausible. The patty is tender, thick, and juicy with simply the correct amount of fattiness and a deeply wealthy taste. Everything else is simply excellent, with the veritable vegetable backyard of toppings on a thick basis of avocado provides this in any other case indulgent burger a quasi-healthy high quality. The bun additionally works very well, managing to comprise all of these elements with relative ease.
GCH Craftsman Grill & Bar – A stone’s throw from Hearthstone Lounge, you’ll discover the GCH Craftsman Bar (out of doors desk service lounge by the pool) and GCH Craftsman Grill (indoor/out of doors counter service restaurant past the bar). These sister areas are residence to essentially the most stacked menu of any mid-tier restaurant at Disneyland Resort.
One of the numerous highlights right here is the Mediterranean Wagyu Burger. This additionally consists of an American Wagyu Patty, Tzatziki Sauce and Red Onion-Feta Salad on an Herb Bun. This illustrates how one can take the identical basis–an American Wagyu Beef Patty–and switch it into one thing completely completely different.
Even the animating concept is analogous right here to Hearthstone–heavy burger with a deep umami taste, with lighter toppings to offset that. As is the case there, the Mediterranean Wagyu Burger delivers its contrasting ideas. The tzatziki sauce and feta cheese gives a tangy and refreshing high quality that, together with the bun and seasoning, nearly gives an earthy high quality.
Of the 2, that is the extra distinctive burger, nevertheless it’s additionally the extra taste-specific one. By distinction, the Hearthstone providing is a crowd-pleaser that everybody is bound to like. (Well, I suppose it’s attainable some folks don’t like avocado.) Personally, I really like them each. With that stated, the Mediterranean Wagyu Burger continues to be solely my 4th favourite merchandise on the GCH Craftsman menus. (I’ve had it many, many occasions–we eat at GCH Craftsman Grill greater than anyplace at Disneyland Resort.)
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill – The Angus 1/2 lb Hawaiian Cheeseburger has been on the menu at Tangaroa Terrace for so long as I can bear in mind, surviving a number of menu overhauls. Disney has additionally highlighted the ‘recipe’ for the burger on a number of events, so I can solely assume this has a cult following amongst Disneyland followers.
To be solely sincere, I’m solely together with it as a result of the checklist is in any other case method too gentle on choices. The contemporary grilled pineapple, candy & spicy sauce, and havarti cheese assist it stand out from a standard counter service burger, however that’s not likely saying a lot. Almost the entire counter service burgers at Disneyland both underneath or overwhelm thanks to boring patties and too many or too few different toppings. This burger is simply effective. The patty is increased high quality than the in-park areas, and these flavors of the toppings complement each other effectively, nevertheless it’s nothing actually particular.
I wouldn’t advocate making a particular journey to Tangaroa Terrace to order it, nevertheless it’s a worthwhile choice when you’re already there and don’t know what to order. (The lunch and dinner menu shouldn’t be practically pretty much as good as breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace.) At the very least, it’s an formidable burger that’s a reduce above counter service requirements. However, this burger completely wouldn’t make the checklist at Walt Disney World.
Honorable Mention: In-N-Out Burger – No checklist of mine regarding the very best burgers at Disneyland could be full with out doing a little completely pointless free promoting for In-N-Out Burger. In case you’ve missed my numerous plugs prior to now, try my Consummate Carnivore’s Guide to In-N-Out Burger for why I really like the place a lot.
Like Disneyland, In-N-Out Burger is a California establishment that may be a must-do on any Disneyland trip. That’s true whether or not you’re venturing past the parks or staying on-site within the Grand Californian Hotel and making an attempt to keep up the “Disney Bubble” to the best extent attainable. It’s value bursting the bubble for In-N-Out. In reality, I’ve a sneaking suspicion that one motive Disneyland doesn’t have a aggressive burger sport is largely as a result of they know there’s no competing with the quick meals of selection for many Californians.
In-N-Out is cheap and scrumptious, with a particular style that you just’ll be yearning for months afterwards. My normal order right here is 2 Double-Doubles Animal Style with uncooked onions along with grilled. All of that can set you again lower than the price of a typical burger at Galactic Grill, which is downright hilarious when you’ve ever eaten something in Tomorrowland. The closest In-N-Out Burger to Disneyland is at 1168 State College Blvd. in Anaheim. It shouldn’t be inside strolling distance, nevertheless it’s completely value the price of an Uber or Lyft to get there and again.
Worst Burgers at Disneyland – On that be aware, we’ll conclude with a fast run-through of the lower than stellar burgers we’ve had at Disneyland just lately. These embrace the next:
- Galactic Grill – Bring again the Oktoberfest Burger. Now that was good. The present choices…not a lot!
- Smokejumpers Grill – This counter service burger spot serves up three completely different double cheeseburgers, none of that are even remotely pretty much as good as they give the impression of being within the Mobile Order inventory photographs.
- Flo’s V8 Cafe – Nothing right here is pretty much as good because it was once. The Spicy Guacamole Bacon Cheeseburger isn’t terrible relative to the remainder of the menu or different burgers, nevertheless it’s not so good as something at Flo’s V8 Cafe again within the day.
Beyond this, there’s the Classic Angus 1/3 lb Cheeseburger that may be discovered on various menus all through Disneyland. There are some variations amongst these, reminiscent of a home sauce, completely different bun, or toppings.
Despite that, they stunning a lot all style the identical, with dry and overcooked patties and primary buns. These mainly need to be drowning in dressing and toppings to overwhelm the meat and style satisfactory. Few accomplish that feat.
Finally, there’s the Potato & Cheddar Cheeseburger at Hungry Bear Restaurant, which is a brand new providing for the Disney100 Anniversary Celebration. I’ve but to do this–it was my deliberate lunch for the return day of the Magic Happens Parade, however the climate forecast had different concepts.
I’m really excited for this one–it sounds just like the Chili Mac & Cheese Burger at Hungry Bear, which was surprisingly good. Sure, it’s a variety of potato, however I believe there’s potential. Either method, I didn’t need to delay this put up even longer, so I’ll report again as soon as I’ve the prospect to strive that burger. Stay tuned!
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Your Thoughts
Have you an superior or terrible burger at Disneyland Resort? What’s your favourite burger within the parks, motels, or Downtown Disney? Any burgers you advocate avoiding? Do you agree or disagree with my greatest burger picks? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!