Your guide to the best Epcot food that doesn’t require a dining reservation!

Epcot has some of the best food of any of the Disney parks. That said, there are still some restaurants to avoid and some that are outstanding!

I love quick service (aka counter service) at Disney because it’s much cheaper than table service meals and I’m not tied down to reservations during my trip.

In this post, I’ll share my picks for the best quick service Epcot restaurants and rank your options from best to worst (in my humble opinion, of course).

Best Quick Service Epcot Restaurants

First, quick service at Disney World means a restaurant where you order your food at a counter, and then either pick it up from a window when it is ready or it is brought to your table.

Ranking the thirteen quick service Epcot restaurants was NOT easy!

There are so many factors to consider, such as food quality, variety, ambiance, and value.

Here are my picks from best to worst and the pavilion in which they are located:

1. La Cantina de San Angel – Mexico 
2. Sunshine Seasons – The Land
3. Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie – France
4. Connections Eatery – World Celebration
5. Katsura Grill – Japan
6. Regal Eagle Smokehouse – American Adventure
7. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar – Italy
8. Crepes A Importer – France
9. Kringla Bakeri Og Cafe – Norway
10. Sommerfest – Germany
11. Yorkshire County Fish Shop – United Kingdom
12. Lotus Blossom Cafe – China

It was difficult to assign an order to the top six locations because I love them all for different reasons. 

Next, I’ll give you an overview of what to expect at each restaurant and an explanation of why it ranked high (or low). 

And if you happen to be visiting Epcot in the fall, be sure to check out all of the additional incredible food at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!

#1: La Cantina de San Angel – Mexico Pavillion

I struggled to pick the best quick service Epcot restaurant, but La Cantina de San Angel in the Mexico pavilion shines for several reasons:

• Consistently excellent food over many visits
• Great setting with water views
• Options that will please most types of eaters
• Awesome alcoholic drinks

The menu features chicken, beef, and fish tacos, chicken with rice and beans, nachos, cheese empanadas, and a Mexican salad. Kids options also include mac and cheese and chicken tenders. 

These fish tacos from La Cantina were seriously the BEST fish tacos I’ve ever had, and possibly the best tacos I’ve ever had. They do not mess around with their tacos. 

I’ve also had the beef nachos and Mexican salad on other occasions and they both were excellent. 

Now let’s talk margaritas. If you have a Disney Dining Plan then you can get any drink on the menu with your meal, including the top-shelf Patron margarita pictured above.

While you won’t catch me paying out of pocket for this drink, I will take it when it is included with my dining plan credit, thank you very much (get my tips and tricks for making the most of the Disney Dining Plan here.)

My margarita was fantastic, and I’d guess the others are just as good. For dessert, you can get a generous portion of churros or paletas (very sweet traditional fruit popsicles).

There is plenty of seating with views of World Showcase lagoon, some of if covered. Be careful to always leave someone guarding your food because there are birds that will fly off with your tacos if you aren’t careful!

Because of the excellent food and prime location at the beginning of World Showcase, there is often a long wait during peak hours at La Cantina. So plan to eat at off-peak hours to avoid long lines. 

#2: Sunshine Seasons – The Land

Sunshine Seasons a large food court-style restaurant located in the Land pavilion. It sees a lot of traffic due to the popularity of the attraction Soarin’ which is located right next to the restaurant.

Sunshine Seasons’ huge number of options, overall great food quality, and ample seating in air conditioning makes it one of the best quick service Epcot restaurants. 

Sunshine Season features rotisserie grilled meats, Asian noodles, soups and salads, sandwiches, and an excellent bakery. I love there is something for ANY kind of eater here, from super hungry carnivore to health-conscious vegetarian.

Plus it is open for all three meals of the day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

I love the Power Salad ($12.99) and I was able to order it without chicken for a few dollars less. It was one of the best salads I’ve ever had.

I also highly recommend the soups – this is a pumpkin soup ($4.69) that had just the right amount of sweetness. 

This is a kids’ portion of the Mongolian Beef ($7.29) and it was way too salty for me. Maybe it was just an off day because I’ve heard that other people love this dish. 

There are a ton of choices for kids here so you should be able to find something for everyone.

Other popular items at Sunshine Seasons include:

• Sesame Crusted Tuna Noodle Salad – $11.29
• Oak-Grilled Rotisserie Chicken with Black Beans and Rice – $12.29
• Slow Roasted Pork Loin with Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and House-Made BBQ Sauce – $13.99

You can view the current lunch/dinner menu at Sunshine Seasons here, but be aware that not everything that is available will be on this menu. 

I also like that whether you are paying out of pocket or are on the Dining Plan, you can get good bang for your buck here. There are plenty of affordable options and some items offer a decent return for a dining plan credit. 

Oh wow and do NOT skip dessert here! Sunshine Seasons has an excellent bakery. I’m sampled more than my fair share of desserts here and my favorite is the Strawberry Shortcake. I *may* have eaten it for breakfast once. 

As far as drinks go, you’ll just find bottled beer and wine for your alcoholic drink choices. You’ll get better adult beverage options at some of the World Showcase dining locations. 

Sunshine Seasons used to be my #1 pick for quick service Epcot dining, but I’ve had a few just okay food items from here lately, so it has slipped to number two for me. 

#3: Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie – France

Located in the far back of the France pavilion, the quick service location most people refer to as “the France bakery” is right up there with the other top counter service locations in Epcot.

Its official name is hard to pronounce unless you took French in school: Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.

Boulangerie means bakery in French and patisserie means pastry, so you get an idea of what you will find here – sandwiches on freshly baked bread and LOTS of pastries!

The sandwiches here are delicious and a bargain as far as Disney goes. The ham and cheese sandwich pictured is only $7.50 so it’s a great deal if you are paying out-of-pocket. 

You can get salads such as a traditional Nicoise salad with tuna, potato, eggs, and beans ($9.25) as well as quiches. The Quiche Florentine with spinach and goat cheese is $7.00.

A freshly-baked bread bowl with potato leek soup is $5.50 which is a great deal anywhere (isn’t Panera Bread more than that??)

As you can see, this place is a fantastic place to grab a quick lunch, but you may have a hard time getting the full value out of a quick service credit here due to the low cost of the food. 

And of course, there are the pastries…. ahh the pastries. Again, I have tried many items here and have never been disappointed. 

Here is the framboise ($5.50), a layered raspberry mousse and chocolate cake dessert. It is one of many items I’d recommend – others include the macaroon, Napolean, and eclair. 

And if you happen to be visiting during the holiday season, you can get an authentic Buche de Noel, the French Christmas cake shaped like a log.

This one was filled with heavenly chocolate mousse. It was almost too pretty to eat. 

As far as drinks go, this is a full-service cafe so you can get a latte to go with your treats. You can also get French wine, beer, or champagne. 

There isn’t a ton of seating here, but it is mostly inside AND you can bring a stroller into the AC here and chill out while you eat.

Some other air-conditioned places in Epcot require that you leave the stroller outside, so this is my go-to stop to cool down in the mid-afternoon. 

Because of the limited menu and the fact that it’s hard to get your money’s worth out of a dining plan credit I’ve ranked the France bakery fourth of the best Epcot food.

But if you are looking for a place to cool down and grab an affordable lunch or snack, this place is a great bet. 

#4: Connections Eatery – World Celebration

Connections Eatery is a new dining option in what was formerly known as Future World in Epcot. 

It occupies half of the large building that is directly behind and to the left of Spaceship Earth. The other half houses the biggest Starbucks I’ve ever seen! 

The Starbucks side of the building is called Connections Cafe and the quick service dining side is called Connections Eatery (continuing the recent Disney trend of similar/confusing names).

You can use Mobile Ordering at Connections eatery or wait in line and order in person. It had just opened when we visited so the line was long but moved pretty quickly. 

One huge plus to this location is seating! There is ample indoor seating and some outdoor seating. Even at a super busy time we were able to find a table indoors. 

The menu is heavy on burgers, which I hope will change as the location is open longer. Menus often change in the first few months based on demand. 

There are four pizzas and two salads available right now as well. The Kids’ Meals are pretty standard, though I was happy to see a Chicken Bao offered and some healthy sides. 

We tried the General Tso Chicken Salad. It was excellent – one of the best salads I’ve had at Disney World!

There were lots of veggies, the chicken and dressing were delicious, and it was the perfect size.

The chicken sandwich with house-made pickles and signature was outstanding. I think it would beat out any famous chicken sandwich in a taste test!

I love quick service food served on real plates with silverware. I hope Disney keeps this up in the future!

Dessert was the only bummer at Connections. The only options were this Leige Waffle or a milkshake. 

I wasn’t impressed with the waffle, unfortunately. I’d read good things about it but it felt average for a waffle and below average for a Disney dessert. 

I think they can do a lot better with dessert here and expect to see some changes. 

Click here for the current Connections Eatery menu.

The entrees we had were excellent as was the setting. Though it doesn’t have the theming of some of the World Showcase restaurants, I think Connections is a great choice for grabbing a quick bite to eat in Epcot.

#5: Katsura Grill – Japan

Since it’s a little bit hidden on a hill on the left side of the pavilion, you could easily miss Japan’s quick service restaurant, Katsura Grill. But don’t miss it!

Katsura Grill has a small menu that includes noodle dishes, pre-made sushi, and other entrees such as garlic shrimp, teriyaki, and a chicken cutlet curry. 

There is seating both inside and outside and the setting has great Japanese details. You will feel transported to another place even just for your quick service lunch!

The food is a good value when you aren’t on the Dining Plan, My daughter and I split this Beef Udon ($11.00) and side of Edamame ($4.00) and had plenty for a light lunch. 

We’ve also had sushi and desserts from here and everything was excellent. I particularly love the Green Tea Ice Cream ($4.00) on a hot day. 

If you are blessed with some mild weather in Florida, I suggest eating in the garden area outside. You couldn’t ask for a more lovely setting, and I like that is set up away from the hustle and bustle of World Showcase. 

Katsura Grill is another great option for a quick service lunch or dinner in Epcot.

#6: Regal Eagle Smokehouse

To be honest, I did not expect the new quick service dining at the American Adventure pavilion to be this high on my list. 

The old dining was uninspired – think typical theme park fare of burgers and fries. 

But the Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which opened in February 2020, serves up excellent barbecue with ample seating indoors and out. 

The menu is “American Barbecue”, so naturally it is meat-focused. 

Having eaten barbecue all around the country, I can attest that the menu is authentic and represents the regions well. 

Since I’m from North Carolina and am a barbecue lover, I figured the best test of the quality would be to order what I know. 

I had the NC Chopped Smoked Pork Butt Platter and it was spot on. It could hold it’s own against the best NC barbecue I’ve had.

I like the variety of the menu, especially in regards to the sides. 

Another plus is the ample seating both indoor and out. The air conditioning is a huge plus in the warmer months. 

Here is the outdoor seating area. It is shared with the Regal Eagle Outdoor Bar, which serves up signature cocktails, beer, wine, and cider. 

A cast member accidentally put a draft beer on my tray, so instead of doing the right thing and giving it back, I took it away quickly and drank it. 

It was A Fat Tire Amber Ale, which is one of my favorites. Another win!

Overall I’d recommend the food and seating at Regal Eagle. Granted you can get this type of food other places, but the quality was excellent.

It also has awesome drink selections and great options for sitting down and cooling off. 

#7: Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar

Now this entry might not technically be considered quick service dining, but instead more of a hybrid lounge/quick service location. It is one of Epcot’s hidden gems in my opinion so I had to include it on my list of the best quick service Epcot dining!

Tutto Gusto offers small plates of authentic Italian cuisine and a huge selection of wine, beer, and other drinks. It is NOT on the Disney Dining Plan so you, unfortunately, can’t use your dining credits here. 

But if you are paying out-of-pocket and want some incredible Italian small plates for a light lunch or dinner, this is your place.

There are no reservations required (or available) for this location, and the price per person for a light meal here is about the same as other quick service restaurants, so I threw it into the mix. 

You can get a slice of “Pizza Rustica” for $2.50 to start. Then there are four different sampler plates for two people which run between $24 – $29. You can take a look at everything before you order in deli-style cases. 

I like their panini the best – you get two small different sandwiches to try plus a side salad for only $12. The options include:

• Proscuitto di Parma
• Fior de Latte Mozzarella & Pomodoro
• Carciofi and Fontina
• Gorgonzola Cremificato
• Fontina and Salametto 

There are wine flights, desserts, and you can even order some entrees off of the menu at the neighboring Tutto Italia table service restaurant if you are really hungry. I’ve tried to take good pictures of everything we’ve eaten here but the lighting is so bad (it is actually like a cellar in there) that nothing turned out. 

#8: Crepes A Importer

The newest quick service dining location is the Creperie that opened along with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in October 2021. 

It is essentially just a window that serves both sweet crepes and savory ones (called galettes) as well as some specialty beverages. 

It is attached to a table service restaurant called La Creperie de Paris which is walk-up only and does not take reservations. 

The menu is pretty limited and consists of three galettes and four crepes, ice cream, and beverages. 

I had the dry French hard cider and Red Berries Crepe.

The cider was fantastic and only $5.95, which is unheard of for alcohol in Disney World. Granted it wasn’t a full pour but it was perfect for me. 

The crepe was good but missing something, which I later decided was whipped cream or ice cream to cut through the tart berries. 

It has real berries in it which was a surprise treat!

We also tried the Ratatouille Galette, which both my friend and I really liked. 

I see this location as more of a snack stop as opposed to a full meal, which is why is it located farther down on the list. 

There is no seating to speak of besides some benches and stand-up tables that line the walkway down to the Remy attraction. 

But the ambiance is lovely back there and you definitely feel like you are not in Orlando anymore!

#9: Yorkshire County Fish Shop – UK

Located in front of the Rose & Crown Pub in the UK pavilion is a window/kiosk that serves up lots of fish and chips (i.e. french fries to Yankees). 

The quality of the fish is great and the price is reasonable for Disney (for two pieces of fish and a serving of chips). The only other entree on the menu is a Chicken & Mushroom Pie which I have not had. 

The only dessert option is the Victoria Sponge Cake and the only adult beverages are two draft beers. 

There is a nice seating area to the right of the ordering window that is right on the water. You could easily miss it if you didn’t know to look for it!

Because of the limited menu and drink options, this place lands pretty low on my list. But if you happen to love Fish & Chips and beer don’t let that stop you!

#10: Kringla Bakeri Og Cafe – Norway

Kringla is the bakery/quick service dining in the busy Norway pavilion. It has some sandwiches but the main attraction are the treats!

This location recently received a much-needed remodel so it is easier to move through the restaurant and place your order. 

You can see some of the sandwiches available in the case in the picture above.

I’ve never had any savory food here and it looks pretty average. 

I’ve had many of the Norwegian specialty desserts here including the school bread, rice cream, berry cream puff, and sweet pretzel with almonds and they were all really good.

I have a bit of a pastry problem, as you’ve likely figured out by now. 

The rice cream is pictured above, along with my daughter enjoying Anna’s Birthday Cupcake ($5.99) with some super-intense chocolate buttercream frosting. 

Since this quick service location has a limited number of entree and drink choices, it falls in the second half of my best quick service Epcot list. 

#11: Sommerfest – Germany

Sommerfest is a tiny quick service location hidden around a corner in the back of the Germany pavilion.

It has a very small menu but what it does have to offer is delicious!

I’m not gonna lie, the main attraction for me here is the Grapefruit Beer.

You can also get it at the beer stand closer to the front of the pavilion but if that line is super long head to Sommerfest instead.

It is light and fruity and perfect for cooling down on a hot day. 

Our favorite items on the menu here are the bratwurst, nudel gratin, and apple strudel with vanilla sauce. This is a great place to grab a quick bite when you aren’t on the dining plan and I think the portions are generous. 

#12: Lotus Blossom Cafe – China

This is like your local mall Chinese food restaurant meets Disney World. Expect the same dishes you’d find there (e.g. orange chicken, shrimp fried rice, egg rolls) but more expensive. The atmosphere is about like your neighborhood Chinese takeout. 

The desserts are the most interesting items on the menu – Lychee Ice Cream and Caramel Ginger Ice Cream. If you have a hankering for some egg rolls (which sometimes happens to me at Disney World) you can get some from the cart in front of the pavilion with less waiting and hassle. 

Well, that will wrap up my rather long best quick service Epcot restaurants post. I hope you got some ideas for what best Epcot food you’d like to eat on your next trip!

If you are looking for ideas on where to eat in the other parks please check out:

• The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Service Restaurants (And The Worst) 
• The Best Animal Kingdom Quick Service Restaurants (& The Worst)
• Best Quick Service Hollywood Studios Restaurants (And The Worst) 

Any comments or questions? Leave them below or join the discussion in The Budget Mouse private Facebook group!

Check out these related Epcot posts:

• Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
• Guide to Epcot Festivals