As invited media, Disney provided WDWNT with a gift card for food and beverages, so some of the following coverage was hosted. As always, WDWNT will still provide our honest thoughts on all below.
From sloppy joes to tacos, we’ve tried everything at the 2025 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. Here are the worst 7 and best 7 items at the festival.
The Worst 7
#7 – Sloppy Joe Slider featuring Impossible Beef (California Craft Brews)
This is a miss. The seasonings and bun weren’t good. It might be an okay option for vegetarians who want a Sloppy Joe.
#6 – SoCal Corn Dog (Corn Dog Castle)
The batter of this corn dog was off and the hot dog was flavorless. The accompaniments weren’t bad but it’s a weird dish. Just get a regular corn dog.
#5 – Huarache (Paradise Garden Grill)
A returning dish, the Huarache includes soy-based chorizo beans, seasoned steak tips, lettuce, cheese, avocado crema, tomatillo salsa, Spanish rice, refried beans, and nopales pico de gallo. The dough is dense and tough. The avocado crema overwhelms the other toppings. It’s nice to have such a hearty plant-based meal but there are better plant-based options in the park.
#4 – Western BBQ Burger Bao (LA Style)
This dish is overpowered by the tangy, low-quality barbecue sauce. The bacon didn’t add much flavor-wise — just salt. The bao had a strange texture. The ground beef also tasted like cheap quality. And the price of $9.50 is too high for how much you get.
#3 – Salsa Verde Chicharrón Tacos (Studio Catering Co.)
The chicharróns are too hard. The salsa verde was non-existent. It had a nice spice but nothing that could redeem the dish.
#2 – Lemon Pepper Wings (California Craft Brews)
This second California Craft Brews offering is over-seasoned. The wings are juicy and tender but biting into them is like biting a lemon. We didn’t enjoy the garlic ranch sauce either.
#1 – Pescado Zarandeado (Paradise Garden Grill)
This is $29.99 and includes a ton of food: whole grilled fish, corn tortillas, refried beans, Spanish rice, zesty slaw, pickled vegetables, and chips and salsa. We feel like this type of dish doesn’t belong at a counter-service location and the taste was disappointing. The fish was bone-in and had a strong flavor.
The Best 7
#7 – Birria Mac & Cheese (Sonoma Terrace & Mercado de Antojos)
This is the lowest on our top 7 because we didn’t enjoy it during the media preview. When served fresh and hot, however, we loved it. The flavors are complex. The additions of onion-cilantro sauce and tortilla crunch take it to the next level. It has a mild spice. This is a must-try offering.
#6 – Watermelon Cucumber Mojito (Mercado de Antojos)
This mojito isn’t necessarily special but it’s refreshing with perfect flavors. Though it’s returning, it’s at the new Mercado de Antojos, alongside the Birria Mac & Cheese. The booth is an overall winner.
#5 – Coffee Bundt Cake (Cappuccino Cart)
This has a moist, soft cake and a rich, creamy coffee liqueur glaze. It’s filled with chocolate mousse. It’s a decadent and delicious dessert.
#4 – Musubi Fried Rice brought to you by Disney Vacation Club (Golden Dreams)
New to Golden Dreams this year, this dish is made of AULANI Resort-inspired steamed rice with egg, glazed spiced ham, umami mayo, and furikake. It’s a great offering with phenomenal spice and glaze. The musubi and rice were cooked perfectly.
#3 – Shrimp Papas Locas (Peppers Cali-Ente)
The potatoes have a great texture, the cheese sauce complements everything, and the shrimp is perfect. We highly recommend this.
#2 – Chicken Taquitos Ahogados (Paradise Garden Grill)
Paradise Garden Grill has mixed results this year with spots on our 7 worst and 7 best lists. But the Chicken Taquitos Ahogados tasted great and felt like a full meal. The spice, salsa verde, and cheese went great with everything else.
#1 – Strawberry-Caramel Churro (Willie’s Churros at Buena Vista Street)
We typically love everything from Willie’s Churros and this is no exception. It’s the best new churro option and gives breakfast vibes, so it’s perfect for any time of day. It tastes like a strawberry shortcake. It’s cooked perfectly with a great whipped topping. The caramel is not too overpowering.
Read our reviews of all new menu items at the 2025 Food & Wine Festival.
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