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If you’re doing a cheeseburger crawl of Disneyland and California Adventure, you is likely to be upset. Despite the basic all-beef entree being a staple of counter service menus, there are solely a handful of them which might be really good-to-great. This checklist covers that problem, highlighting the perfect & worst burgers in Disneyland Resort’s parks, accommodations, Downtown Disney, and past.
Burgers are my ardour; cheeseburgers are my calling–spreading the great phrase is probably 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 right 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 submit has been “in progress” for ages now. The authentic draft really predates the pandemic, and a part of the explanation I’ve been holding off on publishing the previous couple of 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 may. So right here we’re, with a sadly brief and restricted checklist.
On a optimistic observe, I’ll proceed to taste-test burgers at Disneyland, revisiting acquainted favorites to verify their excellence and evaluating newcomers to find out whether or not they’re worthy, all for the sake of essential analysis. As Walt Disney famously stated, this checklist of the perfect 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 wish to begin with an vital caveat. This checklist isn’t 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 perfect burgers at Disneyland additionally usually produce other menu gadgets which might be implausible. By distinction, the highest burgers at Walt Disney World are very often among the many prime few menu gadgets.
Just price retaining that in thoughts as we dig into this checklist of the perfect 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 excellent.
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, they usually’re all good. But truthfully, I believe the Pizza Burger or Mexico City is likely to be the perfect burgers on the menu at Black Tap.
Carnation Cafe – This iconic spot on Main Street in Disneyland is house 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 might 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 type a juicy and scrumptious burger, and one which exams the bounds of the Toasted Parmesan Sourdough Bread.
It passes with flying colours, holding up below the burden of all that whereas including its personal flavors and textures. The Carnation Café Cheeseburger is extra simple–a basic diner burger, however lacks the addictively scrumptious and distinctive flavors of the Patty Melt.
Lamplight Lounge – The common desk service spot overlooking Pixar Pier is house to quite a lot of beloved gadgets, and it’s troublesome to deviate from the long-lasting Lobster Nachos throughout a traditional meal. Fortunately(?), these aren’t out there on Lamplight Lounge’s brunch menu. There are nonetheless quite a lot of nice choices that may make selecting troublesome, however not less than 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 identify. The beef mix is tender and juicy, and never the type 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 if you’d like one thing implausible and don’t thoughts working to the restroom whenever you’re completed to clean your palms. The solely draw back is that it’s paired with fruit–as if to function a reminder that you just don’t want the rest unhealthy–as an alternative 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 subsequent two entries is that they’re discovered on two of the deepest menus in all of Disneyland Resort, making it troublesome to suggest them over the opposite alternate 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 at the moment 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 in regards to the Hearthstone burger makes it seasonal–maybe the toppings differ primarily based 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 clarification 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 good, with the veritable vegetable backyard of toppings on a thick basis of avocado offers this in any other case indulgent burger a quasi-healthy high quality. The bun additionally works very well, managing to comprise all of these components with relative ease.
GCH Craftsman Grill & Bar – A stone’s throw from Hearthstone Lounge, you’ll discover the GCH Craftsman Bar (outside desk service lounge by the pool) and GCH Craftsman Grill (indoor/outside counter service restaurant past the bar). These sister areas are house to probably the most stacked menu of any mid-tier restaurant at Disneyland Resort.
One of the various 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 supplies a tangy and refreshing high quality that, together with the bun and seasoning, nearly supplies 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 certain to like. (Well, I suppose it’s attainable some individuals 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 instances–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 keep 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 completely trustworthy, I’m solely together with it as a result of the checklist is in any other case means too mild on choices. The contemporary grilled pineapple, candy & spicy sauce, and havarti cheese assist it stand out from a traditional counter service burger, however that’s not likely saying a lot. Almost all the counter service burgers at Disneyland both below or overwhelm thanks to dull patties and too many or too few different toppings. This burger is simply high quality. The patty is larger high quality than the in-park areas, and these flavors of the toppings complement each other properly, nevertheless it’s nothing actually particular.
I wouldn’t suggest making a particular journey to Tangaroa Terrace to order it, nevertheless it’s a worthwhile possibility in the event you’re already there and don’t know what to order. (The lunch and dinner menu isn’t practically pretty much as good as breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace.) At the very least, it’s an bold 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 perfect burgers at Disneyland could be full with out performing some completely pointless free promoting for In-N-Out Burger. In case you’ve missed my numerous plugs up to now, take a look at 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 take care of the “Disney Bubble” to the best extent attainable. It’s price bursting the bubble for In-N-Out. In reality, I’ve a sneaking suspicion that one cause Disneyland doesn’t have a aggressive burger recreation 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 longing for months afterwards. My commonplace order right here is 2 Double-Doubles Animal Style with uncooked onions along with grilled. All of that may set you again lower than the price of an ordinary burger at Galactic Grill, which is downright hilarious in the event you’ve ever eaten something in Tomorrowland. The closest In-N-Out Burger to Disneyland is at 1168 State College Blvd. in Anaheim. It isn’t inside strolling distance, nevertheless it’s completely price the price of an Uber or Lyft to get there and again.
Worst Burgers at Disneyland – On that observe, we’ll conclude with a fast run-through of the lower than stellar burgers we’ve had at Disneyland 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 appear within the Mobile Order inventory pictures.
- 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 numerous menus all through Disneyland. There are some variations amongst these, equivalent to 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 principally must 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 means, I didn’t wish to delay this submit even longer, so I’ll report again as soon as I’ve the possibility to attempt that burger. Stay tuned!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site accommodations in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Thoughts
Have you an superior or terrible burger at Disneyland Resort? What’s your favourite burger within the parks, accommodations, or Downtown Disney? Any burgers you suggest avoiding? Do you agree or disagree with my finest burger picks? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!