Disney’s California Adventures is a vegan food destination

Disney properties are much more than a collection of theme parks; They offer experiences that bring joy to everyone at any age, making even an ordinary Tuesday seem magical. VegNews had the privilege of attending a vegan tasting as part of one of the many California Adventure Food Celebrations—the annual Food and Wine Festival.

For the first time since the festival’s inception, Disney has dedicated a restaurant entirely to a plant-based menu. From March 3 to April 25, Paradise Garden Grill eschews all animal ingredients and churns out a delicious array of vegan options with flavors spanning the globe.

Although this menu was limited to the duration of the festival, it served as a springboard for more plant-based innovations at the park. California Adventure Park is not only setting itself up as the home of Marvel Campus and the original Soarin’ ride, it’s also positioning itself as a culinary destination for every type of foodie.

From roasted cauliflower buffalo mac and cheese to a scrumptious vegan Ghirardelli sundae, here’s a taste of California Adventure’s promising vegan food scene.

Disney for adults

Before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland and began pouring alcohol into its Blue and Green Milks, California Adventure Park was the first California-based Disney property to serve alcohol outside of Downtown Disney. From frozen margaritas at Rita’s Baja Blender to thoughtfully selected wines at Wine Country Trattoria, park-goers over 21 can amp up that fly-high pixie dust feeling with their libations of choice.

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California Adventure has two fine-dining restaurants—Carthe Circle and Wine Country Trattoria—both of which cater more toward adult guests than families with children. Suburban service, great atmosphere and chef-curated menus tell adults that Disney isn’t just about rides, parades and characters – there are more refined and sophisticated ways to do Disney. And yes, vegan options are available at both of these locations. See below for details.

The annual Food and Wine Festival plays to a more mature audience. From the intricate Impossible Al Pastor tacos to the beer and wine selection across 12 different kiosks, it’s clear that California Adventure is as much a grown-up playground as it is for those still waiting to be tall enough to ride the Incredicoaster.

Tasting Vegan at Paradise Grill

Offering french fries and fruit cups and claiming to have vegan options is no longer acceptable. Plant-based offerings at Disney parks continue to grow, and this year, the company took a leap by creating an all-vegan menu at Paradise Garden Grill for a limited time. And when we say leap, we’re talking a Herculean leap.

Paradise Garden Grill’s five-item food and wine menu features global flavors and an enticing variety of tastes, textures and cooking methods. Two elements unified the meal: a heavy dose of carbohydrates and the presence of dominant impossibility.

Our “one-bite” rule was broken as our hosts chatted about other vegetarian options in the park, devouring the food placed in front of us. First, we tackled the bulgogi fried rice with kimchi, house pickled cucumber, green onion and sesame seeds. It’s a dish we keep coming back to as the others come out, scooping out tender bites of vegan eggs and scooping up well-seasoned, perfectly cooked fried rice.

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Next, we marveled at Tower of Impossible Gyro Fries. Crispy waffle fries were served as a bed for spicy Impossible Grounds, house-made cauliflower cheese sauce, diced tomato and cucumber salad, and a delicious deal-forward vegan tzatziki. It took us a while to discover that all of this rested on a warm, fluffy cake.

A roasted cauliflower buffalo mac and cheese followed, with in-house cauliflower cheese sauce and a delectable salad of shaved carrots and celery. The creamy dish reminds us of Stouffer’s Frozen Mac and Cheese in the best way possible.

To round out the savory options, a thick torta de chilaquiles appeared, or what we later called a chip sandwich. The huge handhold includes freshly made Telera bread stuffed with green chilaquiles, chorizo ​​beans, chipotle crema, pickled onions and plenty of avocado. It needs to be broken up with a fork and knife.

Finally, our bite of the night arrived: dessert in the form of a bubbly peach and blueberry cobbler. Mere crumbs remain.

Unfortunately, these items won’t be featured on Paradise Garden Grill’s permanent menu, but we’re told the kitchen is always innovative and open to menu updates throughout the year.

“The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival is a great opportunity for our team to bring creative new things for our guests to try,” said Chef Kamilah Robinson. “This year, we were tasked with coming up with plant-based food and we’ve created a full menu that appeals to all guests.”

Vegan Options in California Adventure

Guests can find vegetarian options at nearly every dining establishment on California Adventure, but some are more appealing than others. Below we’ve listed the tried and trusted staples to get you ready for every kind of park experience, from the leisurely magic key holder to the “we have to go on every ride” mad dash. enjoy

Lamplight Lounge

Formerly Ariel’s Grotto, this revamped space got a new look, a new name and a new menu with plenty of plant-based options. Our Disney hosts could not recommend this place more highly. While most fine dining restaurants offer only one vegetarian option, this prime waterfront spot features four: a pastrami-spiced Impossible Burger, a Brussels Caesar, vegan nachos and vegan potato skins (the latter two are off-menu items; ask and you’ll get will accept).

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Lucky Fortune Cookery

Tofu seems impossible to replace at this San Fran-themed eatery. Our hosts pointed out that it can still be found off-menu, but those looking for a more prepared dish can order the vegan Impossible Bun Me. It’s available in kids’ sizes that just need a tasty treat … or for families with real kids.

Shawarma Palace

Those looking for a quick but substantial bite between rides can count on this Marvel Campus kiosk. The stand features two delicious vegan options: a hearty Impossible Breakfast Sha-Warm-Up Wrap and an Impossible Victory Falafel. Both are great to grab and go and devour while you wait upwards of 90 minutes to ride the Radiator Springs Racer.

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

Not in the mood for The Impossible before facing Guardians of the Galaxy? Try the potato-based tacos dorados de papa. They’re crispy, flavorful and not quite as heavy as the park’s vegan meat-based options.

Karthe Circle

If it’s your big birthday or if you’re celebrating another special occasion, make a reservation at Carthay Circle (in advance, by the way). Don’t worry when you don’t see a small green leaf next to a menu option; The kitchen prepares custom off-menu meals upon request. The last time we dined here, we were served a sumptuous tower of vegetables which, while it may sound unappealing, truly wowed our taste buds and left us completely satisfied.

Wine Country Trattoria

On a warm SoCal evening, there’s no better place for us to dine al fresco with a vegan-friendly glass of wine and a generous plate of pasta on this restaurant’s Tuscan-themed patio. Open for lunch and dinner, the plant-based menu includes a light spaghetti aglio olio with seasonal vegetables, a layered tomato salad with house-made vegan ricotta and vegan pastry cream, a delightfully sweet but balanced torta della nonna for dessert made with non-dairy. Whip, nut, and fruit compote. We only require reservations for the torta; You don’t find a vegetarian-made dessert like this every day.

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Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

We’re not really here for the chocolate—even Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate often contains dairy (though 72% Twilight Delight is vegan). We’re here for the ice cream. For a sweet end to a magical night (or to cool off on a hot summer afternoon), order the non-dairy hot fudge sundae. This frosty treat is everything a sundae should be. Layered with two generous scoops of creamy vanilla coconut chocolate chips, vegan hot fudge, thick non-dairy whipped cream, a dark chocolate square and a bright red maraschino cherry.

Fiddler, fifer and practical cafe

Only people under a spell wouldn’t recognize it as Starbucks. No, it’s not innovative or unique to the Disney parks (except for the cute printed cups you won’t find at your local Starbucks), but it’s a very reliable staple when you need something to power through a 12-hour day at the Disney Magic (and probably a lot of miles). (if you’ve got a park hopper). Expect to get your typical vegan Starbucks drinks here, at a slightly higher price.

Refreshments and concessions

Popcorn, frozen treats and the iconic Mickey pretzels are all vegetarian and can be found at various kiosks throughout California Adventure. All kiosks offer fresh popcorn made with coconut or canola oil (it varies) and are vegetarian-friendly. For a sweet treat, especially the caramel popcorn at Buena Vista Street Popcorn Cart is also dairy-free.

The ice cream stand has three fruity vegan options: Olaf Frozen Lemon Strawberry Bar, Outshine Fruit Bar and a Nutty Chocolate Covered Banana.

Want to post a photo with a salty, soft Mickey pretzel? Find them at Bayside Brews and Pacific Wharf Distribution Centers.

Fruits and vegetables

California Adventure’s vegan options go beyond greasy theme park food — but they can still be pretty heavy (speaking from experience, the Incredico Coaster shouldn’t be the first ride after sitting down to a five-item meal at Paradise Garden Grill). For a whole food palate cleanser, visit Taste-In at Mortimer’s Market, Fairfax Market or the Fillmore. Each of these open-air stands sells a variety of fresh fruits and huge pickles. We’re glad these aren’t the only vegetarian options in the park, but we’re also thankful for the choice between carb-on-carb Impossible creations and pure, fresh food.