Looking for Good and Unique Counter Service Meals

hollieandjake

New Member
Original Poster
We are going to Disney around the end of December till the New Year. We are looking for the best counter service meals that are unique because hamburger is a hamburger wherever you go in Disney. We just want something that tastes good and has a variety.
 

GoochDSA

Well-Known Member
MK- Columbia Harbor House (sit upstairs... it's as relaxing as a CS can get)
AK- Flame Tree has the best CS food there (but there is no inside seating and there are birds)
EC- Sunshine Seasons has good food and good variety
DHS- Do either Sci-Fi or 50's for a TS lunch. Not a fan of any CS there.

Check out the menus: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

With a little research and planning you could go to WDW for quite a long time, eat nothing but CS and not have to eat a single burger, fry, slice of pizza or chicken nugget.
 

Mr_Incredible

Well-Known Member
I also like Cosmic Rays, and Peco Bills is a birger, but with their toppings bar it amps it up big time. (Both at MK)

Sunshine seasons, QS at Rose n crown, Norway bakery (EPCOT)

Flame tree BBQ, Pizzafari, and Yak and Yetti at AK

Studio catering and pizza planet at DHS
 

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
Another vote for Sunshine Seasons.


Most of the Countires in EPCOT have non-burger Counter Service - except of course America, which has burgers. :rolleyes:
 

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
Magic Kingdom- Columbia Harbor House (variety of seafood/salad choices) , Be our Guest(lunch), and Cosmic Rays(has other stuff than the burgers they serve)

HS- Fairfax Fare (Truffle Mac and cheese hot dog on a big special kinda bun need I say more! Lol. 10x better than Casey's! IMO) a hidden gem :)

Epcot- Sunshine Seasons (must get the Strawberry Shortcake for desert!, and love the turkey chipotle Sandwhich)

AK- Pizzafari , Flame Tree Barbecue (watch out for those pesky birds! Lol)

Downtown Disney- Wolfgang Puck Express (the one not attached to the restaurant forgot which side it's on), Earl of Sandwhich
 

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
I have just two places that stand out to me:

At Epcot: Tangeriene Cafe (Morocco)! It has tabbouleh, shawarma platters, homemade baklava, etc. It was easily one of the best meals (counter or table service) my family had on our last trip, and has a whole different flavor profile from anything else you'll find outside of the Morocco pavilion. Sunshine Seasons (recommended by many above) is certainly very good, with fresh food and excellent variety, but the dishes there (salads, sandwiches, noodle bowls) are not what I'd call "unique."

At Animal Kingdom: Tamu Tamu (Africa) has a spicy pulled beef pita with mint cucumber dressing that we absolutely love and as far as I know, can't get anywhere else. Flame Tree (recommended by previous posters) is very good and a good value, but not too dissimilar from the BBQ you find elsewhere in Disney World.
 

Philhar-Fanatic

Active Member
Resorts: Poly...Captain Cooks adult grilled cheese, aloha pork nachos, and dole whip for dessert!
Wilderness Lodge...love their sandwiches w/ homemade chips and chili is good too!
Wolfgang Puck Express DTD...EVERYTHING ON THE MENU!!!
Earl of Sandwich DTD...GOOD CHEAP SANDWICHES...follow up w Goofy's Candy Co. cookies!
MK: Columbia Harbour House for fried shrimp.
Cosmic Rays for half a roasted chicken and ribs w/ gr beans and mashed potatoes.
Epcot: Sunshine Seasons also for roasted chicken, salmon, and I hear the pork chop is good. Strawberry Shortcake for dessert!

HS: Starring Rolls for a sandwich and out of this world cupcakes but my fav is the fruit tart!

AK: Flame Tree is a must for BBQ also their turkey swch is SSOOO good!
Yak and Yeti CS only for egg rolls and ckn fried rice and a Safari Amber!
 

NiarrNDisney

Well-Known Member
Here's a small list:

MK - Be our Guest, Columbia Harbour House, Tortuga Tavern

Epcot - Boulangerie Pattiserrie, Katsura Grill, La Cantina de Sna Angel Sunshine Seasons, Tangierine Cafe

DHS - Starring Rolls, Studio Catering Co.

DAK - Bradley Falls, Flame Tree Barbecue, Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes

DTD - Cookes of Dublin, Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgang Puck Express
 

Mr_Incredible

Well-Known Member
Resorts: Poly...Captain Cooks adult grilled cheese, aloha pork nachos, and dole whip for dessert!
Wilderness Lodge...love their sandwiches w/ homemade chips and chili is good too!
Wolfgang Puck Express DTD...EVERYTHING ON THE MENU!!!
Earl of Sandwich DTD...GOOD CHEAP SANDWICHES...follow up w Goofy's Candy Co. cookies!
MK: Columbia Harbour House for fried shrimp.
Cosmic Rays for half a roasted chicken and ribs w/ gr beans and mashed potatoes.
Epcot: Sunshine Seasons also for roasted chicken, salmon, and I hear the pork chop is good. Strawberry Shortcake for dessert!

HS: Starring Rolls for a sandwich and out of this world cupcakes but my fav is the fruit tart!

AK: Flame Tree is a must for BBQ also their turkey swch is SSOOO good!
Yak and Yeti CS only for egg rolls and ckn fried rice and a Safari Amber!

Have to agree with Earl of Sandwich!!! Can get a soup and amazing sandwich for 8-9$
 

awoogala

Well-Known Member
Tangierine Café in Morocco in EPCOT..
Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT
Never had a decent qs in MK yet, but I haven't tried them all!
HS... I think the best QS option is a Turkey leg. (I know they aren't good, but everything else has been so awful- least of bad choices)
YMMV.
People tell me Columbia is good, but we've eaten there twice, and it's always been rancid oil tasting to me.
 

disneygirl1

Well-Known Member
We like Wolf Gang Puck at DTD the best! Any of the QS locations at Epcot in World Showcase, minus the American Pavillion will give you unique food options. Sunshine Seasons is another great spot.
 

Matt_Black

Well-Known Member
Landscape of Flavors at the Art of Animation resort has a nice rotating selection. While you can get American staples like Burgers and Pizza, they also have selections like Tandoori Sausage (I had that, it's great. Rice on the side... Mmmm...)

And everyone's mentioned Sunshine Seasons, and I'll second that. Lot of variety, and much (if not all) the produce is grown in the greenhouses at the Land Pavilion, so you can taste the freshness.
 

jw24

Well-Known Member
I'd go with Sunshine Seasons and Flame Tree BBQ for something different and unique. BBQ can be easily distguished if it's good or bad. I got the ribs and they were very tasty with the spices from the dry rub, I didn't need extra sauce. Sunshine Seasons offers a lot of variety. I'd recommend the pork chop, salmon or the Mongolian beef. Outside the parks, I'd go with the Mara at AKL. They have typical staples like nuggets and pizza but they offer products that you can't get at hotel food courts like their African stew and falafel pita.
 

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
Chicken & ribs at Cosmic Rays in MK; Sunshine Seasons, Tangierene Cafe, or Yorkshire Pub at EPCOT; Hotdog Pretzel at Min & Bill's Dockside Diner (DHS)
 

allgiggles

Well-Known Member
It's not difficult at all (in my opinion) to find a lot of "non-burger" choices at CS restaurants. We do 99% CS restaurants when we're at Disney and my husband won't touch a burger and my son is a vegetarian. We have no problem finding places to eat that offer unique and non-burger items. Our favorites are:

MK: Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bills (though the non-standard options are limited there), and while we've never eaten at Columbia Harbor House (yet) -- I'm sure that will become a favorite as well as I've heard many good reports about it.

EP: Sunshine Seasons

DHS: Pizza Planet -- the kids love it and the salads and pizza are tolerable. Plus it's indoors and air conditioned.

AK: Flame Tree Barbeque

DTD: Wolfgang Puck Express -- probably our favorite CS restaurant overall.

Like a PP mentioned, go to allearsnet and look at the menus. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding plenty of options.
 

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