[Other] Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

[CAspace]

Since the food at disneyland is getting more expensive and worse tasting it is time to once again compile a list of cheaper and better food options available a short walk from DL.

Please post your off property food ideas here!

Fast food included (since sadly I would say most fast food is better then a great majority of dl eateries)

UPDATING IDEAS TO FIRST POST:
taken from posts; here are some of the suggestions

"Los Sanchez for dinner. It's at Garden Grove and West. Fantastic Mexican food for less than DL"-JustJohn

Mimi's cafe: tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners on Harbor blvd Cross Streets: 1400 S Harbor Blvd, Near the intersection of S Harbor Blvd and S Manchester Ave- H/T Bob Weaver.
(from looking at a satellite map it seems like Mimi's is directly across the street from the Autopia)

"Del Taco is off Manchester/Katella" -Koutesu

"Looking to feed a family? KFC is on Ball just to the west of Anaheim Blvd" -Koutesu

"If you're looking for In-n-Out, take Ball Rd west to Brookhurst and turn right (northbound) and it's at the next light." -Koutesu

Mcdonalds- right across the street from main shuttle drop off area! 1500 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA

Taco Bell." There are two in the area, one at the intersection of Ball and Harbor, and another that's West on Katella, a couple streets past 9th. It's so nice to get a three-taco-meal for $3-$4" -AcmePunched

"El Pollo Loco: 110 W Ball Rd.
1/4 chicken with beans and rice, extra tortillas, is enough for two meals less than 8 dollars." -Jazziered

Coco's "Just down on West and Katella is which is even cheaper but still a couple of notches above fast food. It's a walk, but at least you'll be walking off your meal." 1100 W Katella Ave- Ortizmo2000

IHOP 1560 S Harbor Blvd,

[justjohn]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Not walking distance, but we usually do Los Sanchez for dinner. It's at Garden Grove and West. Fantastic Mexican food for less than DL.

[Bob Weaver]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Mimi's Cafe on Harbor has great food for a chain restaurant, I think. French Onion Soup is great, salads great, and the buttermilk spice muffin alone is worth going there for. They used to have a bananas foster cheesecake which was delicious - not sure if they have that any more but also the bread pudding is good.

[brenden]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Garden Walk has a few places that are pretty good, probably on par with what's inside the park as far as price goes, though.

[AcmePunched]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

My friend and I usually just go to Taco Bell. There are two in the area, actually - one at the intersection of Ball and Harbor, and another that's West on Katella, a couple streets past 9th.

It's so nice to get a three-taco-meal for $3-$4 when you know people in the park are paying at least $7-$9 for their lunch.

[passholder]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

kind of depends where you are staying but last winter we stayed at the Embassy Suites, great free breakfast...good way to start the day with a quality free meal.

[Ortizmo2000]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

A couple of DD's many restaurants have great food, maybe not exactly cheap, but tasty nontheless. You truly get what you pay for. ESPN is probably the most inexpensive of the bunch.

Just down on West and Katella is Coco's which is even cheaper but still a couple of notches above fast food. It's a walk, but at least you'll be walking off your meal. Nice wide menu and breakfast anytime.

[d.N.d.]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

PBJ sandwichs and fruit snacks in my backpack ! Or McDonalds right outside the gate for a quick burger.

[Koutesu]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Del Taco is off Manchester/Katella. We would go there on our last trip since they were close to our hotel (Peacock), open late, and cheap.

Looking to feed a family? KFC is on Ball just to the west of Anaheim Blvd.

If you're looking for In-n-Out, take Ball Rd west to Brookhurst and turn right (northbound) and it's at the next light.

Also on our last trip, we needed to extend our stay one night and couldn't do that with Peacock (I think Shell Vacations is a waste of money). We extended our stay one night at Best Western Cypress, which is off Katella and Knott Ave. $38 for a night during the summer season in July was a steal and we stayed there the year before. They have a good continental breakfast. Aside from your usual breads/pastries/cold cereal, they also have eggs, breakfast meat (either bacon, sausage, or ham), and yogurt. Great breakfast there. It's a little drive to the park, but it's not very far. Plus, Ball and Knott Ave, there is a pretty good mexican food restaurant that's inexpensive and you get full.

[CAspace]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Fantastic information so far!! Now I do not have to be suckered into paying for expensive bad food!!!!

[vfire]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

I usually don't like bland chain restaurants, but Mimi's is a cut above the rest.

[Jazziered]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

El Pollo Loco: 110 W Ball Rd.

This is my favorite... So yummy... I get the 1/4 chicken with beans and rice, extra tortillas, and it is enough for two meals for me.. And it is less than 8 dollars..

[CAspace]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Fantastic! Keep 'em coming. Perhaps you know of a good vegetarian food place or a special little coffee shop near the park as well. I am updating all the entries to the first post (for as long as I am still able to edit it at least )

[Sorcerer's Apprentice]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

PBJ sandwichs and fruit snacks in my backpack !

Yep, that's what we do. We stock up at the grocery store a couple miles away (near the
Taco Bell) and spend 13 bucks on a cab back to the hotel with a few bags of groceries - lasts us all week long for lunch and snacks.

[Drifter]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

When we went for my birthday in June, we ate at the ESPN zone twice one because to us the food was great, im a steak and potato guy my girlfriend likes all kinds of weird stuff though and they had plenty to keep her happy, plus whats better than a couple drinks and bunch of games to keep you busy while you wait to eat or be seated. And two the walk is not bad and theres a monorail station pretty close although when we ate both times the monorail was down, still never rode that thing

[Grandicorney]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

One of my favorite stops on the way into the park is the Costco at Harbor & Orangethorpe in Fullerton. The food court is on the outside of the building so I don't think you even have to be a member to eat there. ( they've never asked to see my card ) They have a great hot dog & drink combo for like a buck-fifty. You're not going to beat that anywhere. They also have pizza for $2 for 2 slices, chicken bakes and turkey wraps & a caesar salad frozen yogurt & ice cream.

There is an In-N-Out in the same shopping center and the character warehouse of discounted Disney stuff is just on the other side of Orangethorpe.

I go to the park via the 57 fwy and Ball ave. so there are lots of fast food places along the way. Carls jr on State College just north of Ball is another regular stop. There's also another McDonalds on Ball before you get to Harbor, it seems less crowded and cheaper than the one on Harbor.

If you're interested in some other restaurant or fast food place just go to their website and check out their location finder. Enter 1313 Harbor blvd Anaheim as your start address and you're all set. The ZIP is 92803 if the site gets picky. Denny's and Hometown Buffet both have locations not far from DL.

It's definitely worth the drive for some decent food.

[DisneyHat]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Costco is not far away and is great for a large family like mine. Cheapest pizza I know of.

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

You don't need to be a member of Costco to eat there. I work in the Irvine Spectrum and the Costco there is just down the street. And their food stand is in the inside of it. Many of my coworkers who aren't members go inside just for lunch. And they let them do it without proof of membership. I think they just tell the person at the door - if they happen to ask.

[d1mex]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

IHOP anyone?

[Pretzel]

Re: Save money: eat cheap & better food off Disney property

Portillo's Hot Dogs
8390 La Palma Ave
Buena Park, CA 90620-3208

For those of us coming from the north, it's a very easy detour off the 91 east bound just before coming to the I-5. Just get off Beach Blvd, turn left on La Palma, stop in at Portillos (or do drive through), then continue along La Palma until you hit Magnolia and turn north to get on the I-5 and continue on your way to Disneyland Drive.

I personally like the Chopped Salad. It's got a nice mix of salad greens, bacon, chicken, blue cheese, macaroni, and comes with a lemon poppyseed muffin which isn't too sweet. It's a classic Chicago hotdog place and it's great for kids.

The traditional hot dog is good if you like it, but I personally substitute the raw onions with grilled onions.