Since 2013, Disney Springs (the marketplace formerly known as Downtown Disney) has undergone a massive overhaul—adding over 100 new tenants, expanded retail space, and multiple parking garages.

What began as a small shopping village in 1975 has transformed into a trendy meeting spot for those looking to enjoy a night out.

One of the most impressive improvements has been the dining options, so our Marketing Manager, Tatjana, and I teamed up with Miami-based content creator, Foody Fetish, to showcase some of our favorite Disney Springs food spots. This is just Part One of our food crawl… check out Part 2 as well.

On the Hunt for the Best Disney Springs Food

You might recognize Foody Fetish (aka Yanni) from his wildly popular Instagram account. His account focuses specifically on drool-worthy food videos and boasts a fanbase of over 3.5 million followers. He’s the real deal when it comes to food so we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with him.

Our Disney Springs Food Crawl with Yanni spanned 3 days and 12 dining locations, from walk-up kiosks to table-service and everything in between.

Let’s recap some of our favorites, in no particular order:

• • Erin McKenna’s Bakery
  • Disney Springs Food Trucks
  • Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co.
  • Sprinkles Cupcakes
  • 4Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck
  • Morimoto Asia

  Erin McKenna’s Bakery

  Erin McKenna’s Bakery is a small counter-service bakery located in The Landing area of Disney Springs. It’s right across from the Havaianas sandal shop and next to the new Orange Bird mural. What makes this bakery so special is that everything inside is gluten-free AND vegan. This is a very popular spot for those with plant-based dietary preferences and food allergies.

  

  Erin McKenna’s Bakery is located in The Landing area of Disney Springs. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Erin McKenna’s Bakery is exclusively vegan and gluten-free. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Erin McKenna’s Bakery first set up shop in NYC. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Erin McKenna’s has a wide selection of cupcake flavors on display. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We were invited into the kitchen area to watch the bakers decorate some of the treats, which was a really cool experience.

  

  A baker shows Tatjana and Yanni how to ice the donuts. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Just look at that icing drip! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The texture of the donuts was a bit too dense for my liking but I’m still impressed that these are vegan.

  

  The completed donuts are ready to eat. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  They bake their cinnamon rolls in a muffin tin to help them hold their shape.

  

  A baker shows us how to ice cinnamon rolls. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  More icing goodness! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Tatjana and I both agree that the cinnamon rolls were our favorite. The texture was much softer than the donut, which was a pleasant surprise, and it had just the right amount of cinnamon.

  Tatjana says:

  The flavor, the texture—it all worked together to create the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever tasted, and it was gluten free! I still can’t believe it.

  

  Who doesn’t love a stack of whoopie pies? Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  My mom used to make homemade whoopie pies when I was a kid so I have a pretty high standard. These chocolate beauties didn’t disappoint and were another favorite among the group. What’s even cooler is the cream inside is made with coconut cream so it’s non-dairy.

  

  The Ice Lemon Teacake is the bakery’s most popular item. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We asked the manager what their most popular item is and without hesitation, she said the Ice Lemon Teacake. After all the chocolatey treats we tried, this was a nice change of pace. The cake itself was a lemon cake with raspberries inside and it was tangy and delicious! I can totally see why it’s their most popular item.

  

  To cap off our trip to Erin McKenna’s, we sampled a few of their fun cupcake flavors. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Erin McKenna’s also has a wide selection of cupcakes with flavors like s’mores, brownie, mint chocolate, lemon raspberry, and more. If you have a food allergy or dietary preference, I highly recommend you stop by Erin McKenna’s Bakery. Even if you DON’T have a restrictive diet, I’d say it’s worth a try!
  

  Disney Springs Food Trucks

  You can find the Disney Springs Food Trucks on the West Side of Disney Springs right next to Starbucks. The area can fit up to three food trucks at a time but the number of trucks you’ll see on a given day can vary. Food truck options include Mac & Cheese, Cookie Dough and Everything Sweet, Springs Street Tacos, Fantasy Fare, and Hot Diggity Dogs.

  The two that were available when we visited were the Mac & Cheese and Cookie Dough trucks.

  

  The two Disney Springs Food Trucks available during our visit were the Mac & Cheese and Cookie Dough food trucks. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The Mac & Cheese food truck is the home to a variety of over-the-top macaroni and cheese toppings like bacon cheeseburger, barbecue brisket, and chicken parmesan.

  

  Close-up of the Mac & Cheese Disney Springs food truck. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  All of those toppings sound AMAZING, but we settled on Chicken Parmesan. Out of everything we tried at either of the food trucks, this was everyone’s favorite. Instead of cheddar, the cheese sauce is made with parmesan, which obviously pairs perfectly with the chicken tenders and marinara sauce on top.

  

  Chicken Parmesan Mac & Cheese: macaroni and cheese in a creamy parmesan sauce, topped with chicken tenders, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and basil. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  I present to you: the perfect bite.

  

  The perfect bite. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We then moved on to the Cookie Dough food truck, where you’ll find a handful of crazy cookie dough concoctions like dessert tacos, funnel cake, and sundaes.

  

  Close-up of the Cookie Dough Disney Springs food truck. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  This was where we encountered our first disappointment of the night.

  

  Cold Brew Cookie Dough Sundae: cookies ‘n’ cream cold brew cookie dough with chocolate sauce and a mini funnel cake. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Close-up of the Cold Brew Cookie Dough Sundae. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  I wanted to like the Cold Brew Cookie Dough Sundae so badly. I love cold brew coffee. I love cookie dough. I love funnel cakes. Putting them together sounds like the dessert of my dreams. But, sadly, it was not even close. Every bite had a weird burnt flavor that tasted nothing like cold brew.

  

  Springs Candy Taco: monster cookie dough, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Close-up of the Springs Candy Taco. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The Springs Candy Taco was much better. Tatjana wasn’t a fan of how sugary the cookie dough was, but it didn’t bother me. I would get this again but maybe just in a cup instead of the waffle cone.

  Despite our disappointing dessert, I’m actually a big fan of the Disney Springs Food Trucks. When I’m looking for a quick snack, I always check the trucks. Plus, on select nights you can catch live music right in the seating area. It’s a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy the fresh air.
  

  Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co.

  Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. can be found in numerous locations across Walt Disney World, but the main store at Disney Springs is located in The Landing right next to Erin McKenna’s Bakery. I’m a seasoned Joffrey’s customer and go quite often, so I can already tell you that I highly recommend it.

  

  Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. has many locations throughout Walt Disney World. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  You probably recognize the Joffrey’s logo from kiosks around the parks. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  In addition to regular hot and iced coffee, Joffrey’s offers specialty lattes, teas, and donuts. If you’d rather brew at home, they also sell bags of their specialty roasted coffee beans.

  

  You can order coffee, lattes, tea, and more. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  One of the coolest offerings at Joffrey’s is their custom latte art. They have a special machine that can “print” custom artwork on top of your hot latte or nitro cold brew. They have a selection of pre-designed options to choose, or you can submit your own!

  

  Here’s the latte art machine doing its magic. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We thought it would be fun to print the WDW Magazine logo on top!

  

  We put the WDW Magazine logo on a latte! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  And of course, we had to have a little photoshoot with it with our very own Tatjana as the model.

  

  Tatjana poses with her Joffrey’s latte. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Close-up of the Joffrey’s logo. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We also sampled a couple of their specialty lattes: the Mission To S’mores Latte and the Round ‘Em Up Latte.

  Outside of Disney Springs, the Mission To S’mores Latte can only be found at Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland. This is actually my favorite thing to order at Joffrey’s and has been since it debuted a few years ago. It’s surprisingly not too sweet, despite being modeled after a very sugary treat. The flavor of the espresso really shines through.

  

  Mission To S’mores Latte (hot or iced): artisan roasted espresso mixed with chocolate sauce and marshmallow syrup, topped with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and mini marshmallows. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The Round ‘Em Up Latte can also only be found at one location outside Disney Springs and that’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios near the entrance to Toy Story Land. Although I didn’t like this one as much as Mission To S’mores, this was still a really fun and delicious treat. Plus, you can really taste the cookie butter!

  

  Round ‘Em Up Latte (hot or iced): artisan roasted espresso mixed with cookie butter and dulce de leche, topped with whipped cream, animal crackers, and sprinkles. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Joffrey’s Coffee holds a special place in my heart and I will forever sing their praises.
  

  Sprinkles Cupcakes

  Sprinkles Cupcakes is hidden in Town Center, right across from Frontera Cocina. If you’ve ever watched any sort of baking competition show, you’ve probably heard of Sprinkles. Candace Nelson, the founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, is a pastry chef and judge on shows like Cupcake Wars and Sugar Rush. The original Beverly Hills location, which opened in 2005, is credited as the world’s first cupcake bakery.

  

  The original Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills is credited as being the first cupcake bakery. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The very first Cupcake ATM opened in 2012, which introduced a new way of ordering cupcakes on-the-go.

  

  You can order your cupcakes without even going inside thanks to the Cupcake ATM. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Inside there is a window where you can watch the cupcake decorators at work.

  

  Inside the bakery there is a window where you can watch the decorators at work. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  A decorator spreads white chocolate frosting on a raspberry-filled cupcake. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  A decorator adds the finishing touches to a chocolate cupcake. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Now on to the taste test! We ordered a small box of assorted cupcakes so we could try a few flavors. There’s a little patio area outside with plenty of seating and a beautiful view so we decided to eat outside.

  

  There’s a patio area right outside with plenty of seating and a beautiful view. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Here’s a list of the cupcakes we tried:

  • White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake: raspberry cake filled with raspberry compote, topped with raspberry white chocolate frosting.
  • Sprinkle Cupcake: birthday cake topped with vanilla buttercream and nonpareil sprinkles
  • Black & White Cupcake: Belgian dark chocolate cake topped with creamy vanilla frosting
  • Cookie Cupcake: chocolate-chip studded yellow cake lined with a cookie crust, topped with brown sugar frosting and dusted with cookie crumbs
  

  A peek inside our box of assorted cupcakes. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  All four of these were fantastic. This was my first time visiting Sprinkles and I was blown away at how soft the texture of the cake was. I’m a frosting lover so of course I enjoyed the frosting, but I wasn’t expecting to love the cake part as much as I did. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d pick the Cookie Cupcake.

  

  Here’s what we tried: Black & White, Raspberry White Chocolate, Sprinkle, Cookie. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Sprinkles might not be the most cost-effective place to grab a cupcake at Walt Disney World, but I would definitely recommend giving it a chance if you’re looking for a nice indulgence.
  

  4Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck

  The 4Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck is stationed in The Marketplace in between World of Disney and Basin. If you’re a Florida local, you probably associate 4Rivers with barbecue. This is the company’s first foray into Mexican cuisine, inspired by the founder’s culinary adventures in Mexico City.

  

  4Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck was inspired by the founder’s culinary adventures in Mexico City. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  This is where you will find the famous Taco Cone that took social media by storm when the truck first opened in 2018.

  

  Taco Cone: choice of filling, shredded lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, queso, cilantro, jalapeño, and a lime wedge, stuffed inside a cone-shaped tortilla. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The Taco Cone took social media by storm when the truck first opened in 2018. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  You can choose from a variety of different fillings like brisket barbacoa, chicken tinga, and tri-tip steak. We chose the barbacoa for our cone.

  

  We chose to fill our Taco Cone with barbacoa. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  This is definitely something you need a fork for! The portion is huge and it’s easily shareable. We split it between four people and still had some left over.

  Tatjana says:

  I loved how loaded with meat the Taco Cone was! I was expecting a lot of “fillers” to be in there, but they really stuffed that crispy shell with a hefty helping of meat.

  

  Nachos: tortilla chips topped with your choice of filling, black beans, queso, pico de gallo, salsa verde, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeño, and cilantro. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We also tried the nachos, but this time we chose the chicken as our filling.

  

  We chose to top our nachos with chicken. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  I personally liked the flavor of the chicken better than the barbacoa. The salsa verde on top elevated the flavor to the next level. It was tangy without being too spicy.

  

  Another perfect bite. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  No matter what you get here, you can’t go wrong. I love that you can customize your meal with different fillings. Definitely adding this to my Disney Springs favorites!
  

  Morimoto Asia

  This is the final stop for part one of our Disney Springs Food Crawl, and it’s a big one!

  

  Our final stop for today is Morimoto Asia. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Morimoto Asia is housed in the giant Springs Bottling Co. building located in The Landing, near Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ and Raglan Road. You can’t miss it!

• Unlike the other places we visited, this is a signature dining restaurant. It’s an experience that you might need to budget for, but it’s well worth it.
  

  The restaurant is so large that it spans two floors. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The interior decor is abundant with cherry blossoms. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The interior of the restaurant is elegantly decorated with cascading chandeliers and delicate cherry blossoms. It is so large that it spans two floors. The main dining room is located on the first floor with additional seating upstairs. The second floor is home to a cocktail lounge for late-night dining and a private sushi bar.

  

  The second floor is home to a private sushi bar. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Morimoto Asia was created by Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who you may recognize from Food Network’s Iron Chef America. The menu features Pan-Asian cuisine and showcases Chef Morimoto’s unique interpretation of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food. Although Chef Morimoto isn’t physically there, he is present throughout the restaurant in many ways.

  

  Chef Morimoto even has his own brand of sake. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Easy Cup is for those who want sake on-the-go. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  A surprise Chef Morimoto photo is hiding inside the Easy Cup label. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  First we tried the Chinese Caesar Salad, which was prepared tableside inside a Chinese takeout box. Although it sounds boring, it was actually a refreshing start to the meal. The salad wasn’t topped with your typical caesar dressing, but with a roasted sesame dressing. And it ROCKED. I would buy an entire bottle of it if I could.

  

  Chinese Caesar Salad: prepared tableside with chopped lettuce, roasted sesame dressing, parmesan cheese, crispy shallots, and fried wontons. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Close-up of the ingredients for the Chinese Caesar Salad. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The Chinese Caesar Salad is prepared tableside in a Chinese takeout box. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Next, we tried a few seafood items, including sushi and toro tartare.

  

  Toro Tartare: fatty tuna served with dashi soy, chive, and wasabi. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Crispy Lobster Roll: tempura Maine lobster, avocado, cucumber, and spicy mayo.

  

  Surf & Turf: shrimp tempura roll with torched kale beef. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Our favorite seafood dish was the Morimoto “Buri-Bop,” which was prepared tableside in a hot clay pot. “Buri-Bop” is Chef Morimoto’s take on the classic Korean dish called bibimbop, which means “mixed rice.” Bibimbop is traditionally topped with beef, but Chef Morimoto wanted to change things up so he replaced the beef with yellowtail.

  

  Morimoto “Buri-Bop”: Korean-style yellowtail rice bowl served in a hot clay pot and prepared tableside. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  This is what the “Buri-Bop” rice looks like after it has been mixed. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  This dish gets two thumbs up from us! The rice was an explosion of flavor and the yellowtail would instantly melt in your mouth.

  During our meal, we also indulged in a couple of drinks. My favorite was the Sake Sangría, but I might be a little biased because sangría is one of my favorite drinks to begin with.

  

  Sake Sangría: sake, light white wine, plum wine, Asian pears, apple, plum, tangerine juice. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Yuzu Collins: Hendrick’s gin and yuzu combine for a new take on this classic cocktail. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Joto Yuzu Sake is the perfect balance of tart and sweet citrus flavors. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The Kung Pao Chicken Dumplings came next and—let me tell you—these are not for the faint of heart. I could only finish one because it was so spicy. Unfortunately for that reason, I was not a fan of these. But at least they look pretty in photos!

  

  Kung Pao Chicken Dumplings: dim sum dumpling filled with chicken, peanuts, and peppers. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  The Beef Lo Mein Noodles, on the other hand, were a group favorite. After much consideration, Tatjana and I both agreed that it was our favorite dish.

  Tatjana says:

  It’s incredibly difficult to pick a favorite dish from Morimoto Asia, but as a lover of noodles I’d have to go with the Beef Lo Mein Noodles. You just can’t go wrong with this classic dish.

  

  Beef Lo Mein Noodles: stir-fried noodles with beef, napa cabbage, carrot, bean sprout, mushroom, scallion. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  We’re now entering beef-lover territory. Why we chose to order so much beef, I have no idea. But I’m not complaining, because it all was delicious and perfectly prepared.

  

  Mongolian Filet Mignon: filet mignon with sautéed scallion and enoki mushroom, served with white rice and a sweet Szechuan sauce poured tableside. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The filet is prepared in the kitchen but the sauce is poured tableside. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  If the skillet is hot enough you’ll get a little sizzle action. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  If you thought the filet looked good, wait until you see what’s next. I’ll give you a hint: it’s more beef.

  

  This beef is so special that you receive a Certificate of Authenticity when you order it. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef is the highest quality Japanese beef available. The grading is determined by a number of factors including marbling, meat color, meat texture, and the quality of the fat. The cattle that the beef is derived from are fed a high-quality diet and live a life of luxury. This is what ensures that the meat is tender, rich, and juicy.

  

  Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef: prepared tableside over an ishiyaki grilling stone and served with a sansho peppercorn sauce. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The grilling stone is greased using the fat from the same cow the beef is from. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The beef is seared table side to the temperature of your choice. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  The finished product! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  I’ve had wagyu beef before but nothing as high quality as this. They’re not kidding when they say it melts in your mouth!

  It’s hard to follow up something as highly regarded as Japanese wagyu, but we couldn’t leave without getting some dessert.

  

  Japanese Cheesecake Soufflé: mini Japanese cheesecake soufflé served with strawberries and a seasonal sorbet. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  

  Churro Fondue: housemade churros served with Nutella and vanilla cream. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

  It’s not every day you see churros on the menu at an Asian restaurant, so we had to give them a try. The outside was crispy, the inside was soft, and you can’t go wrong with a cup of Nutella. By the end of the day we were full beyond comprehension, but still managed to munch away on these churros!

  Phew, we made it! We have finally reached the end of Part One. If you stuck around this long, I salute you. If you’re ready for more, check out 12 Disney Springs Food Spots You Need to Try: Part Two.

  Want to have your own Disney Springs Food Crawl? Click here to download our WDW Outrageous Eats Checklist!

  Did you know that we spotlight a new restaurant every single month inside WDW Magazine? Subscribe to the print edition to get a new magazine delivered to your door each month. Or subscribe to the digital edition to read online.

  Huge thank you to Erin McKenna’s Bakery, Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co., 4Rivers Cantina Barbacoa, and Morimoto Asia for hosting us. While the food at these locations were provided to us free of change, our opinions are our own.