Disneyland claims to be the happiest place on Earth, but that can’t be true unless its food is good. So, I decided to see for myself and headed to the park to try all of the fan favorites, from Pineapple Dole Whip, to churros, to pickle corn dogs, and even something called Blue Milk. Here’s my ranking from worst to best — and it might surprise you:
Shrimp Po’ Boy and Pirate Parfait
We picked up French food along the New Orleans route, including a shrimp po’ boy. Honestly, it shouldn’t be called a po’ boy — it should be called an “oh boy.” Really, it just shouldn’t be on the menu at all. The shrimp had an odd smell and wasn’t even in the sandwich – it was on the bottom of the to-go box. From the same spot, we tried the Pirate Parfait. It looked great, and I had hoped it might redeem the place. After a taste, I realized I probably would’ve liked it more if I were six years old. This is definitely a snack catered to young kids.
I honestly didn’t hate this. It was just too sweet for me.
Rating: For the po’ boy, based on the smell and appearance alone, I’m giving it a 0.5 out of 10. The Pirate Parfait ranks slightly better than the po’ boy — I’ll give it a 3 out of 10.
Strawberry Lemonade Funnel Cake
This one looked festive and delicious, topped with whipped cream shaped like Mickey Mouse. But to my surprise, it wasn’t real whipped cream — it was Cool Whip, which disappointed me. I wasn’t looking for something I could grab at a grocery store. I came for unique Disney-made treats. What’s even worse is that the oil temperature was way too low. Instead of crisping the funnel cake, the oil soaked into it, leaving it soggy and dense rather than light and airy.
Rating: With all that said, I’m giving it a 1.5 out of 10.
Caramel Apples
Disneyland’s Candy Palace features rows of old-fashioned candy: fudge, toffee, chocolate-covered strawberries — but the Mickey-shaped chocolate-covered caramel apples were the standout to me. I had heard from some of my viewers that they were incredible, and when I saw them, I could see why. It was the largest caramel apple I’ve ever seen — big enough to pass as a full meal.
I went in for what I hoped would be a perfect bite, but I couldn’t even break through the chocolate shell. It took a serious amount of gnawing to get through the layers of chocolate and caramel. This was impossible to eat, unless you’re someone who loves a challenge.
Rating: The flavor was there. The chewability was not — and that’s a dealbreaker. I give it a 2 out of 10.
Pizza and Pasta
I headed to Pizza Planet hoping for a decent slice and maybe some pasta. What I got didn’t look promising. The pizza crust was raw in the middle, and the Hawaiian slice had what felt like an entire pineapple on it. The fettuccine Alfredo, however, was a pleasant surprise. The sauce was simple and well seasoned. Pizza Planet might fall short when it comes to pizza, but their pasta had some potential. I skipped the grilled chicken since it had telltale fake grill marks.
Rating: Pizza — 2 out of 10. Pasta — 4 out of 10.
Corn Dogs
As you can probably tell, this was not one of my favorites.
This was something I had been genuinely excited to try. While Disneyland is known for its classic corn dogs, they’ve also created a social media sensation: a hot dog, stuffed inside a pickle, then put into a corn dog. Unfortunately, they were sold out of the pickle version by the time I arrived. I figured that might happen, but I still had high hopes for the original flavor.
The corn dog looked overcooked — almost burnt. My first bite revealed a distinct baking soda flavor, which made my mouth tingle. That’s a sign the batter had too much leavening. When done right, that reaction shouldn’t happen. That said, the corn dog was surprisingly juicy. I’ll take an overcooked but juicy corn dog over a dry one any day.
Rating: The burnt exterior and baking soda imbalance threw off the flavor. I’ll give it a 4 out of 10.
Blueberry Fritters
As I wandered around searching for popular items, I stumbled upon a spot selling blueberry fritters. These aren’t a particularly famous treat in the Disneyland, but they looked pretty good. They came in perfect bite-sized portions, which made them easy to eat while walking around.
The flavor was similar to a blueberry doughnut, but they were extremely oily. If they had been drained better, I would’ve devoured them. But the grease was just too much to eat. To be fair, the flavor on these fritters was amazing.
Rating: A 5 out of 10. Some people might be able to overlook the oil — I wish I could.
Cotton Candy
Simple and reliable — cotton candy is a classic theme park treat, and Disneyland is no exception. I have a bit of a sweet tooth, and there’s nothing like a fluffy ball of sugar to satisfy that craving.
I grabbed a bag of pink cotton candy. It was perfectly sweet and easy to eat. However, the bag had been sitting in the sun for a while, which made the cotton candy more compact than I would’ve liked. Still, the flavor held up.
Rating: I’m docking a few points for the compression, but overall I’d get it again. A solid 5.5 out of 10.
Mickey Mouse-shaped Beignets
In the New Orleans section of the park, the Mint Julep Bar serves Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets — a Disneyland version of the popular New Orleans dessert. I tried the banana-flavored beignet, and it was pretty good. I did manage to get powdered sugar all over myself while eating it, but that one’s on me.
Rating: It doesn’t compare to a traditional beignet from New Orleans, but for being across the country, it holds up. I give it a 6 out of 10.
Churros
The first thing I ate at the park was a churro from the Crispy and Sweet cart. It is definitely the longest churro I’ve ever seen — so long that my cameraman Manny and I could bite each end and still have considerable distance between us.
The taste was almost identical to Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad… but that is probably good to most people. It did leave a slightly strange aftertaste — one I don’t typically associate with churros.
Rating: It wasn’t the best churro I’ve ever had, but it was solid. I’m giving it a 6.2 out of 10.
Lobster Roll
As a native New Englander, I like to think I know a thing or two about lobster rolls. At Harbor Gallery Restaurant, lobster rolls are the specialty, and it was up to me to find out if they could measure up to a classic New England version.
The smell was convincing — not fishy or off-putting at all. It was clear this wasn’t fresh lobster, but the seasoning helped make up for that. It had a bit of Cajun spice to it, which you wouldn’t normally find back home.
Rating: I surprisingly enjoyed this. I give it a solid 7 out of 10.
Barbecue Skewers
I’d heard great things about the barbecue skewers in the park. They’re cooked to order and smelled amazing on the grill. The key to a great skewer is meat that’s tender and easy to pull off the stick. The beef skewer was incredibly tender — though slightly too peppery for my taste. Honestly, it was comparable to some of the wagyu I’ve cooked before, and I’ve cooked a lot.
The chicken skewer, however, was really dry and overcooked. I was surprised that it wasn’t good considering I just ate one of the best beef skewers of my life from the same spot. I definitely recommend sticking with the beef skewers when visiting the park. I’m still dreaming about them.
Rating: Beef skewer — 8 out of 10. Chicken skewer — 3 out of 10.
Summer Strawberry Float
After a string of heavier snacks, I needed something to wash it all down. Enter the Summer Strawberry Float — essentially a cup of Sprite topped with strawberry ice cream. It tasted like strawberries and cream, and when you stir it up, it becomes smooth, foamy and extra refreshing.
Rating: Unexpectedly one of the best bites of the day. I’m giving it an 8 out of 10.
Dole Whip
Perhaps the most famous food in all of Disneyland is the Dole Whip — a pineapple-flavored soft-serve treat. With all the hype surrounding it, I went in with sky-high expectations. Even the person serving it told me it was the most popular item in the park.
On a hot California day, this was exactly what I needed. I expected it to taste artificial, but it surprisingly delivered a fresh blend of cream and real pineapple flavor. While I couldn’t say it was the best food in Disneyland before trying everything else, I already knew it would at least be in my top three.
Rating: An easy 8 out of 10 — leaving two points worth of room in case something managed to top it. Spoiler alert, something did.
Birria Grilled Cheese
Jolly Holiday serves up a birria grilled cheese sandwich that I was genuinely excited to try. When it arrived, it looked amazing. The bread was perfectly toasted, stuffed with generous amounts of cheese and meat, and it came with not one, but two outstanding sauces for dipping. It was love at first bite.
Rating: An overwhelming 9.5 out of 10. I might buy a Disneyland ticket just to eat this again… and maybe follow it up with a Dole Whip for dessert.
Turkey Leg
The Disneyland turkey leg has legendary status — it’s been around for years and has a cult following. I had never tried one until now. I knew it would be good when I saw it dripping through the packaging — a juicy turkey is something you rarely see on Thanksgiving. The smell alone was incredible.
One bite in, the perfectly seasoned meat was falling off the bone. It was huge — probably one to two pounds worth of meat — enough to keep me full all day. That said, I don’t understand why you’d eat something this heavy right before getting on a roller coaster. Seems like a risky choice… but hey, to each their own.
Rating: This turkey leg is a 10 out of 10. I have zero notes. I wish I could have it on Thanksgiving — and honestly, on every other day of the year, too.
Blue Milk
I had been waiting all day to try the famous Blue Milk from Star Wars. It’s often hyped-up, and apparently for good reason. One of my favorite drinks is horchata — rice milk flavored with cinnamon and sugar. This reminded me of that, but even better. It tasted like creamy Italian ice and was the perfect refreshment on a hot day.
Rating: Easily a 10 out of 10. My expectations were already high — and they were completely exceeded.
Monte Cristo
Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for! The best food at Disneyland was a complete surprise to me. The must-try item is the Monte Cristo — basically a deep-fried ham and cheese sandwich. It smelled amazing, and I hoped it would taste even better. It did. In fact, it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. The restaurant that serves it has experienced a three-month waitlist, and it quickly became clear to me why.
Rating: The Monte Cristo is even better than the turkey leg — and that got a 10 out of 10 — so I’m giving this one an 11.
Parting Thoughts
Theme park food can be hit or miss — and Disneyland is no exception. As a chef, I’m naturally looking for the best of the best, but this adventure was about more than just finding the perfect bite. It was about having fun, embracing the surprises, and seeing what all the hype was about.
Some of these snacks blew me away (looking at you, Monte Cristo), while others… well, let’s just say they made the ride lines feel even longer. But that’s part of the magic — not knowing what you’ll get until you try it.
If you’re planning a trip, I recommend grabbing a few of these iconic eats and making your own list. Your favorite might be one I gave a low score, and that’s totally fair. Food is personal.
And if you enjoyed this breakdown, check out my video to see all of what Disneyland had to offer: