My happy place is a highly themed restaurant. Give me some tacos, a margarita, and a Mayan temple with a slowly erupting volcano in the background and I am in seventh heaven. I think its something all of us Disney fanatics have in common. As Floridians, we have tried most of the restaurants in EPCOT, and here is a list of our top 9 fun and unique EPCOT restaurants for families to enjoy.
The Biergarten Restaurant – Germany
What better way to take a break from your EPCOT day than with a flight of Riesling, a plate full of Spaetzle, and a polka band show! The Biergarten Restaurant in the Germany Pavilion is one of the funnest family friendly restaurants in Epcot. Upon entry, you are transported to a magical Bavarian village. Long communal tables surround a stage where a German polka band puts on an hourly show.
At the Biergarten Restaurant, families are treated to cow bell competitions, an Alphorn demonstration, and live polka dancing. Servers are dressed in traditional Leiderhosen. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really unique, with a water mill at the side of the stage. Families will feel like they are dining in Germany.
Food is buffet style at the Biergarten Restaurant, making it especially easy for families. There are multiple standard options for picky eaters, but also more unique German staples Sauerkraut, German sausages, Spatzle, and Noodle Gratin. Adults can also indulge in a German beer or wine flight.
In my opinion, the Biergarten Restaurant is definitely one of the best Epcot restaurants for families due to its magical setting, and fun live entertainment.
Pros:
- Fun with live music and a show
- Buffet style, easy with kids
- Amazing interior that is richly themed
Cons:
- You might have to sit with another family (Community style seating)
- Pricey at $49 per adult, $28 per child
Menu: Biergarten Menu
San Angel Inn Restaurante – Mexico
The Mexico pyramid in EPCOT has a magical way of transporting you to another country and another time. If you love the ambience in this building, there is no better place to enjoy a meal than San Angel Inn. Located within the Mexico pavilion, the restaurant is right in front of a giant Mayan pyramid. Boats from the Gran Fiesta ride pass by as you dine, and the volcano slowly erupts in the background.
Aside from the incredible ambience of this restaurant, San Angel Inn has some of the best food I have found in an EPCOT restaurant. My favorites are the Sopa Azteca (rich tortilla soup poured at the table), and the Osso Bucco Mole Negro, perfect for the calories earned from the average 7 miles an EPCOT visitor walks a day! For kids, they have mac and cheese, quesadillas, and chicken tenders. Don’t miss the San Angel Margarita. It’s $24, but worth it!
Overall, the San Angel Inn is a special Epcot restaurant for families looking to enjoy a nice meal in a beautiful and surreal setting. It’s one of our favorite table service restaurants in all of Disney World.
Pros:
- Excellent food (slightly elevated from traditional Mexican fare)
- Kids love watching the boats go by
- Atmosphere is magical
Cons:
- Some people find it a bit dark
Teppan Edo – Japan
Nothing tops off a full day at Walt Disney World with kids than a Hibachi dinner. Teppan Edo is fun, friendly, and serves Hibachi in a way that only Disney can pull off.
Located on the second story of the Japan Pavillion above the Mitsukoshi Department store, the atmosphere at Teppan Edo feels like a busy, bustling Hibachi restaurant. There are shared tables, and the Hibachi chefs are spirited, and put on amazing shows as they cook.
You can start with a sushi appetizer. For the main course, standard proteins are available, but you can upgrade to some pretty interesting items including Japanese Wagyu strip, lobster tail, and spicy calamari. The menu accommodates vegans and vegetarians as well. Kids can choose between shrimp, salmon, and chicken, and picky eaters will enjoy noodles and rice served along with the hibachi meal.
Teppan Edo is lots of fun, and is casual, noisy, and bustling. It’s a great place to take kids to make your Epcot dining experience extra special.
Pros:
- Fun and entertaining
- Unique international dining experience for kids
Cons
- Food is pretty basic, its more about the experience
- Pricey
Menu: Teppan Edo Menu
Nine Dragons – Japan
Nine Dragons Restaurant is one of the most underrated family friendly restaurants in EPCOT. It is beautifully decorated, you can almost always get a table, and the food is really good. If you forgot to make dining reservations, don’t hesitate to drop in and see if they have a table. They often do even if other sit down restaurants are booked up.
Nine Dragons is located in the China pavilion. The restaurant is decorated with ornate wood carvings and Chinese lanterns. The restaurant is elegant and transports you away from the hustle and bustle of the theme park.
With Chinese menu items prepared in an elevated way, the flavors at Nine Dragons are a nice surprise. We recommend the salt and pepper shrimp and the Canton Pepper Beef. Kids have choices of honey chicken nuggets or Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lo Mein.
Nine Dragons is a really nice Epcot restaurant for families. It is more affordable than many others, and you can often get a table at the last minute.
Pros:
- Excellent Food
- Easy to get a reservation
- More affordable than other table service restaurants
Cons
- Other EPCOT restaurants might be more unique
Menu: Nine Dragons Menu
Tutto Italia Restaurant – Italy
Sometimes after a long day of walking at EPCOT, all I want is some charcuterie and a giant bowl of pasta. Tutto Italia fits the bill. The higher end of the two Italian restaurants in EPCOT, you can enjoy a higher end Italian meal in a comfortable setting with the kids along side.
Tutto Italia manages to keep everyone in the family happy, with wine flights for the grown ups and pasta standards for the kids. It’s an easy sell for families, especially if you have spent the day trying more unique foods from around the world.
Kids will love the pizza, but also have the option of spaghetti or chicken tenders.
Tutto Italia is easy, delicious, and one of the best table service restaurants for families. We recommend it for lunch on a long day to give your feet a rest and enjoy some air conditioning.
Pros:
- Pastas are Delicious
- Foods are familiar to both adults and kids
- Setting is relaxing and easy with kids
Cons:
- Not as exciting as other restaurants in EPCOT
Menu: Tutto Italia Restaurant
The Coral Reef Restaurant – Living Seas Pavillion
The Coral Reef has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was a kid. As a child I remember the excitement of enjoying a meal while spotting sharks, turtles, and sting rays. It hasn’t changed much in the past 30 years, but that’s what makes Coral Reef Restaurant an icon! It is one of the most unique EPCOT restaurants for families, and can make a dining experience that your kids won’t forget.
You enter an elegant restaurant decorated in blues and greens. Tables at the Coral Reef Restaurant all face a giant salt water tank which contains over 2,000 sea creatures and more than 60 species – one of the largest man-made ocean environments in the country.
Food at the Coral Reef Restaurant changes with the season, but is elegant, and usually features several different proteins. The kids menu has seafood options, as well as basic pasta with cream sauce or grilled chicken.
If your family loves the ocean, the Coral Reef Restaurant is a really fun dining experience that transports you out of Walt Disney World and into a magical underwater experience.
Pros:
- Watch sharks, turtles and rays while you dine!
- Pretty restaurant in an elegant setting
Cons
- Food is basic, you pay for the experience
- Location is a bit out of the way, and might make your day planning more complex.
Menu: Coral Reef Menu
Space 220
The hottest new restaurant in Walt Disney World, Space 220 is an immersive dining experience that takes you right out into the abyss. The meal at Space 220 is completely immersive, and transports you into outer space to a space station where you will dine looking out over Earth.
Meals at Space 220 start by being transported in an elaborate space elevator. Tables look out onto outer space with views of the earth below.
Meals at Space 220 are Prix Fixe, and the food is space themed. Cost is a hefty $79 for adults, and $29 for kids for dinner. Appetizers include Starry Calamari and Blue Moon Cauliflower. Dinner is high end, and includes choices like Filet Mignon and Glazed Duck Breast.
At Space 220, kids have multiple options including Mission Macaroni and Cosmic Chicken.
If you can manage to get a reservation at Space 220, I hear its definitely worth a visit. While expensive, it is a completely immersive experience, and its a meal your family won’t quickly forget.
Pros:
- One of a kind immersive theming
- High end food
- Unique space themed drinks
Cons:
- Hard to get a reservation
- Hefty Price Tag
Menu: Space 220 Menu
The Garden Grill Restaurant – Land Pavilion
The Garden Grill Restaurant combines character dining with a unique atmosphere, making it one of the best kid friendly Epcot restaurants. Located in the Land Pavilion, The Garden Grill is a rotating restaurant, and spins slowly 360 degrees taking you through the different climate environments that are featured on the Living with the Land boat ride.
In addition to the desert, prairie, and rainforest scenes, kids will love seeing familiar characters. Pluto, Chip, and Dale are featured at the Garden Grill, and often Mickey Mouse makes an appearance!
The food at the Garden Grill is all you can eat family style. A skillet is delivered to your table for each meal. Meals includes barbecue chicken, steak with chimichurri, macaroni and cheese, and southern style spoon bread. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the flavorful and hassle free meal.
The Garden Grill is a great character meal if you are taking kids to Walt Disney World. (For a list of all character dining restaurants in Disney, visit our Disney World Guide for Beginners.)
It combines a cool environment with fun meet and greets, and gives adults a chance to kick back and enjoy a drink and hearty food. We definitely recommend the Garden Grill as one of the best Epcot restaurants for families.
Pros:
- Rotating restaurant, who doesn’t love that?!
- Cool scenery, with jungle, desert and prairie scenes from the Land ride
- Character Dining! Meet Pluto, Chip and Dale!
Cons:
- Family style food with limited options
- Price $55 for adults, $36 for kids
Menu: Garden Grill Menu
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Norway
The Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a must for all little kids who love princesses. It is the ultimate character dining for families in Epcot. (For a list of all character dining experiences in Disney World, visit our Disney World Guide for Beginners.)
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is in the Norway pavilion. It is decorated like a medieval castle, and families will be greeted by several of the Disney princesses from Belle, to Jasmine – Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas, Mulan, Cinderella, Ariel, Alice, or Mary Poppins.
The meal at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is family style, with a fixed menu. They serve traditional Norwegian meatballs, grilled salmon with herb butter, Norwegian chicken and dumplings, and desert is Chocolate Roulade with Lingonberry cream. Mac and cheese is also served for the kids.
While expensive ($63 for adults, $41 for kids), Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a must do if your little ones want to see multiple princesses in one place. The character experience and decent food make Akershus Royal Banquet Hall one of the best kid-friendly Epcot restaurants.
Pros:
- Character Dining with multiple princesses in one place!
- Totally kid friendly
Cons:
- Expensive Restaurant
- Food is Average
Menu: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Menu
Disney Dining Tips
Now more than ever it is hard to get reservations at Disney World. Advanced dining reservations open 60 days prior to the day you are visiting a park. We recommend you mark the date and get on the Disney reservation website right at 7 AM EST that day to book your preferences. Even then, it might be hard to get some of the most popular restaurants like Space 220.
If you are staying on site, you have the ability to book for your whole trip 60 days prior to your first day. This gives you an advantage over folks that are staying off site and must book one date at a time.
Whatever you do, definitely make advanced dining reservations. You will want to have at least a few table service restaurants to rest your weary legs, and some of the experiences are really memorable for families.
For more tips on Disney Dining and Reservations, visit our Disney World for Beginners Guide.
