Giraffas Brazilian Kitchen & Grill

Last night, we had dinner at Giraffas Brazilian Kitchen & Grill in Mills Park on North Mills Avenue.  Giraffas also has a restaurant on International Drive, and locations throughout Florida.

Giraffas is a fast-casual restaurant that features Brazilian cuisine with a touch of American favorites.  The employee I spoke to told me that all of their salads, and everything from the grill was gluten free.  The only food item she mentioned having gluten were the buns for the burgers, but I did not ask about desserts.  

We started our meal at Giraffas with pao de queijos - warm Brazilian cheese bread made with tapioca flour.  They come in orders of two for $1.  My whole family enjoyed them, and they reminded me of Brazi Bites.  

We ordered four entrees from the grill, which all came with a sauce and three sides.  My favorite was the picanha, a top sirloin cap steak with a thin layer of fat down the side to add extra juiciness.  The steak was tender, and so delicious dipped in chimichurri sauce.  The portion was large, with two pieces of steak, making it easy for my husband and I to share.  For sides, I chose grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes, and brown rice.  I loved the grilled vegetables with the exception of the onion, which was too strong.  I enjoyed my brown rice with a little chimichurri sauce on top, but thought the mashed potatoes were a little odd tasting.  They weren't bad, but I wouldn't order them again.  My girls ate the mashed potatoes I left in my bowl, and thought they were good.  

My husband and I also shared a salmon filet with a side of garlic butter.  I thought the salmon was prepared well, and I loved the garlic butter with fresh herbs and lime.  My husband enjoyed all of his sides - grilled veggies, black-eyed peas (chilled black-eyed peas & cilantro salad), and farofa (toasted manioc flour with scrambled egg, bacon, sauteed onions, green olives & parsley).  

My daughters shared an order of chicken breast filet with black beans simmered in sauteed garlic and bacon, and a double side of white rice.  I tasted their chicken, which was perfectly cooked, and really delicious dipped in garlic butter.  

Nina, our international student, loved her meal of baby back ribs with sides of black beans, mashed potatoes, and grilled vegetables.

Everyone enjoyed their meals so much, we would definitely go back to Giraffas.  The only thing that makes me a little uncomfortable is that they don't have nutritional information on their website or have a gluten free menu.  I did exchange some tweets with Giraffas about gluten free options, and the employee I spoke to, who I assume was their manager, was super knowledgeable.

You can view Giraffas menu on their website here.

What are your favorite gluten free menu items at Giraffas?  

Wolfgang Puck Express - Disney Springs Marketplace

Yesterday, we had lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express in Disney Springs.  Before we moved to Orlando, we dined at Wolfgang Puck Express every year during our annual trip to Disney World.  

Wolfgang Puck Express is a quick service restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and features Wolfgang's most popular dishes.  You can view their full menu here.   

Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC - Disney Springs

If you have missed BabyCakes, you will be happy to know that Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC opened today in Disney Springs.  It is located near Raglan Road, one of my favorite restaurants for gluten free dining at Disney World.  

Everything at Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC is gluten, dairy, egg, soy, and refined sugar free.  Their baked goods are certified kosher, parve, and vegan, and are sweetened with unprocessed, evaporated cane juice, or agave nectar.   

Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC does use coconut oil, and Bob's Red Mill flours (brown rice flour or a garbanzo/fava bean mix), which are packaged on the same equipment as soy, and hazelnut and almond flours.  None of their vendors use peanuts on their equipment, so their baked goods are safe for people with peanut allergies.

Cup4Cup Gluten Free Wholesome Vanilla Cake Mix

On Friday night, my husband and I stopped at the Williams-Sonoma in Winter Park, where I bought Cup4Cup Wholesome Vanilla Cake Mix.  Until Friday, I didn't even know this product existed.  Being a huge fan of Cup4Cup, I had to try it, even though I definitely prefer chocolate or red velvet cupcakes.  

The mix is gluten free, dairy free, and non-GMO.  It is made with Wholesome Cup4Cup Flour, a high fiber blend, which I have used to make Banana Muffins and Mexican Chocolate Banana Muffins.  Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour contains brown rice flour, white rice flour, ground golden flaxseed, rice bran, and xanthan gum.  The vanilla cake mix also contains sugar, baking powder, natural vanilla flavor, baking soda, and salt.  The only allergen warning is that it is processed in a facility that also processes milk.  

You can make two 8" rounds or 18 -24 cupcakes with Cup4Cup's vanilla cake mix.  The directions are very simple - whisk together 4 large eggs, 1 cup of milk or dairy alternative, and 3/4 cup of oil (canola or coconut oil); add the pouch of cake mix, and whisk until well incorporated.  I used lowfat milk and Spectrum organic canola oil, and decided to make 18 cupcakes, which baked in 18 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  

I allowed them to cool in my cupcake pans before frosting them with a vanilla buttercream that I added some crushed raspberries to.  For the vanilla buttercream, I mixed 3 cups of powdered sugar with 1 stick of unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons of milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of kosher salt.  I beat the ingredients in my mixer, using my flat beater, for about 3 minutes, until the frosting was fluffy.  This frosting recipe is from the back of a discontinued gluten free vanilla cupcake mix from Williams-Sonoma.  I stirred in some crushed raspberries before frosting my cupcakes last night.  My whole family was impressed by the cake mix, which made moist and flavorful cupcakes, and they made for a fun dessert on Fat Tuesday.  

I wasn't initially crazy about my frosting choice, but it was so much better today after I allowed it to set in the refrigerator.  I always store leftover cupcakes in the fridge in an airtight container.  Sometimes I allow them to come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving, but I ate one right out of the fridge today for lunch, and it was just perfect.  The frosting had set nicely, and the cake was still moist, even though it was cold.  Next time, I am thinking about making chocolate ganache to go with my cupcakes.

Both my husband and I thought the unfrosted cupcakes tasted a little bit like muffins, because of the texture the wholesome flour lends to the cake mix.  Overall, we were really impressed by Cup4Cup's Wholesome Vanilla Cake Mix, and would buy it again.  The mix can be purchased locally at the Williams-Sonoma stores in Winter Park or the Mall at Millenia, or it can be ordered online here.

What are your favorite Cup4Cup products?  

Yogen Früz

On Presidents Day, we stopped at the newly opened yogen früz in Baldwin Park.  

Yogen früz has over 1,400 stores in 42 countries, and can be found locally in Baldwin Park, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Lake Cay Commons on Universal Boulevard, and in Downtown Disney at the AMC Downtown Disney 24.  Yogen früz will be opening stores soon in College Park, and Artegon Mall on International Drive.  You can view their store locator here.  

I ordered a small cup of the Nutella low fat frozen yogurt, and immediately regretted it.  It was so good, I should have ordered the largest size they had.  It was smooth and creamy, and not overly sweet.  My daughter Katie loved it too.



Mitch and Emma ordered from the mix it frozen yogurt menu.  First, you select your size, then you choose low fat vanilla, non fat vanilla, low fat chocolate, non fat no sugar added vanilla frozen yogurt, or non dairy sorbet.  You then select your mix in - frozen bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, kiwi, mango, peaches, pineapple, raspberries, papaya, oranges, or strawberries.  Everything on the mix it frozen yogurt menu is gluten free, so no need to worry about cross contamination with the machine that blends the fruit and yogurt.

Mitch enjoyed his blend of low fat vanilla yogurt and frozen mango, and Emma loved her mix of low fat chocolate and frozen bananas.  

You can view nutritional data for yogen früz here, including the gluten free status of their menu items.  I noticed that they have the typical allergy disclaimer in their stores and on their website to protect themselves from liability.  Even Disney has a disclaimer in small print on their gluten free menus.  

We hope to stop at the yogen früz in Baldwin Park at least once a week, and support one of our local businesses.  I also want to check out the yogen früz in Downtown Disney the next time I am there. 

What are your favorite menu items at yogen früz?  

T-Rex Cafe- Downtown Disney

Yesterday, we had lunch at T-REX at Downtown Disney.  T-Rex Cafe is a Landry's restaurant, like Rainforest Cafe and Yak & Yeti.  

In the 6 1/2 years we have lived in Orlando, we have never dined at T-REX, because my daughters were scared of the roaring dinosaurs.  Now that my girls are older, and after hearing some great reviews from blog readers and Pam from I'm a Celiac, I decided to make reservations for President's Day.  

My Favorite Table Service Restaurants at Disney - 2015

Last year, I wrote a blog post called My Disney Top 10 - Table Service about my favorite table service restaurants at Disney World.  Instead of revising it, I have decided to create a 2015 version.  I am going to start with our favorite restaurants in the theme parks and Downtown Disney, then list the best restaurants for gluten free dining at the Disney Resorts.  Click on the links in this post to read full reviews of each restaurant.



1.  The Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom (lunch/dinner)

If I had to choose just one table service restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, I have to give a slight edge to the Crystal Palace over my second favorite, The Plaza Restaurant.  Yes, The Plaza has Chef Ken and those amazing milkshakes, but the Crystal Palace has so many dishes that I love, and I get to enjoy them all, because it's an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet.  Their fire roasted corn spoonbread is one of my favorite gluten free dishes at Disney, and the chefs make a delicious house made brownie.  At the Crystal Palace, Winnie the Pooh and friends will stop by your table as you dine.

2.  Coral Reef Restaurant - Epcot

Before last July, we had never dined at Coral Reef Restaurant.  After dining there twice, it has achieved a spot on this list for a couple of reasons.  Their seared rainbow trout with a warm salad of white beans, arugula, tomatoes, crispy bacon, aged balsamic vinegar, and brown butter is one of the best fish dishes I have ever had in a restaurant.  They also have a delicious chocolate lava cake, and every table has a view of The Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium, so you get to watch turtles, sharks, stingrays, a variety of fish, and even some humans swim by as you dine.  

3.  La Hacienda de San Angel - Epcot 

At La Hacienda de San Angel, almost everything on the menu is naturally gluten free, or can be made gluten free, and their food is consistently amazing.  Some of my personal favorites are the beef short ribs, grilled tilapia, Pollo al Pastor (achiote marinated chicken), and the corn ice cream and chocolate mousse for dessert.  My only complaint about La Hacienda de San Angel is that they are only open for dinner.  Thankfully, if we are craving Mexican food for lunch, we can head inside the Mexico Pavilion to eat at San Angel Inn, our second favorite Mexican restaurant in Orlando.

4.  Tusker House Restaurant - Animal Kingdom

Tusker House Restaurant is one of my favorite character meals at Disney World, and they have delicious gluten free options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  They even have a gluten free station at breakfast, where you can order Mickey Waffles made with Namaste Waffle & Pancake Mix.  Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy, dressed in safari gear, will visit your table while you enjoy a variety of different gluten free dishes from the buffet, that features African and American cuisine.  We like to make reservations for the last breakfast seating, so we can eat beef bobotie, Mickey waffles, and other breakfast favorites, then stay until all the lunch dishes are out.  

5.  Raglan Road - Downtown Disney

Raglan Road is my top pick for Downtown Disney, because they do such an amazing job with special diets, plus how many restaurants do you know of that offer gluten free dishes like fish & chips, fried shrimp, garlic parmesan & truffle oil skinny chips (fries), onion rings, Shepherd's Pie, and strawberry apple crumble.  You can find brunch, lunch, and dinner reviews for Raglan Road on my blog.  

6.  Sanaa - Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas 

Sanaa is one of the best restaurants at Disney World for special diets, and features African cooking with Indian flavors.  They have gluten free and dairy free menus, and an incredible team of chefs who make gluten free naan  (the best gluten free bread in Orlando), lamb shank, and slow-cooked dishes like beef short ribs and butter chicken.  Sanaa, which might be my favorite restaurant at Disney World, is open for lunch and dinner.

7.  Boma - Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma - Flavors of Africa has been a family favorite of ours for over a decade.  Boma features African dishes at an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet at both breakfast and dinner.  I love their wide selection of gluten free meats, vegetables, soups, salads, and desserts at dinner.  Boma is one of my favorite Disney restaurants for breakfast, mainly because of their incredible Mickey waffles with sides of bananas foster and pecan praline sauce.

8.  Trattoria al Forno - Disney's BoardWalk

Trattoria al Forno opened in December on Disney's BoardWalk, and after eating there twice, I am happy to say that I love their breakfast options as much as I loved the food at Kouzzina, the restaurant they replaced.   Our favorites include gluten free Mickey waffles with espresso mascarpone cream, which taste like tiramisu, and the scrambled eggs with tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella, served with breakfast potatoes, bacon, and Udi's gluten free toast.  Trattoria al Forno also has a wide variety of gluten free options for dinner, including fried calamari, chicken parmesan, pasta, and gelato.  They only use gluten free breadcrumbs in the restaurant, so all of their fried items and meatballs are safe for gluten free diners.

9.  Kona Cafe - Polynesian Village Resort

In the last year, Kona Cafe has become one of my family's favorite restaurants at Disney.  My daughters love to go to Kona for lunch and dinner, because of their Pan-Asian noodles, and the banana and chocolate creme brulee.  I prefer to go for lunch, when they serve their amazing grilled teriyaki steak with pineapple salsa.  Kona also happens to have the best chocolate lava cake at Disney World.  For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Kona Cafe has gluten free menus with plenty of great options, though we prefer to eat there for lunch and dinner.  For a table service breakfast, I recommend Boma, Trattoria al Forno, or Tusker House.  

10.  California Grill - Contemporary Resort

California Grill and Flying Fish Cafe are my two favorite signature dining restaurants at Disney World, and round out this list, tied at #10. My husband and I loved the oak-fired filet of beef with Zellwood sweet corn risotto, tomato butter, grilled corn relish, and popcorn shoots we had there on our 13th anniversary.  California Grill, at the top of the Contemporary Resort, is the best fireworks dining experience at Disney World, and the food is amazing.  If you have been craving sushi, be sure to check out their special diets sushi menu.

10.  Flying Fish Cafe - Disney's BoardWalk

The Flying Fish Cafe on Disney's BoardWalk has long been one of my parents' favorite restaurants, so I was excited to hear that they had introduced a gluten free menu last year.  Their crispy calamari and rock shrimp appetizer is reason alone to pay the Flying Fish Cafe a visit, but there are plenty of other great options on their gluten free menu.

You may have noticed that there are no restaurants on this list at Hollywood Studios.  We have had good meals at The Hollywood Brown Derby, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, 50's Prime Time Cafe, and Mama Melrose's (my family's favorite), but I prefer the restaurants I chose for this list for gluten free dining.

What are your favorite table-service restaurants at Disney World?  

Breakfast Mug Cake

This morning, I decided to change up my weekday breakfast routine a bit.  I usually eat Bakery on Main blueberry scone or maple multigrain muffin oatmeal, or Erewhon Buckwheat & Hemp Cereal.  I have made healthy muffins in a mug before for breakfast, but found them to be dry and unexciting.  After seeing a recipe for Paleo Breakfast Mug Cake on the blog Well Belly, I decided to make a breakfast mug cake with ingredients I had in the house.     

I was really happy with how it turned out.  The cake was nice and moist, with the perfect level of sweetness.  I ate most of it with some strawberries, and tried a couple of bites with maple syrup.  It was great both ways.

Breakfast Mug Cake

Ingredients

1 large egg
2 T unsweetened apple sauce
1 T almond flour
1 T gluten free oat flour
1 T flaxseed meal
2 tsp maple syrup
Optional - 2 tsp mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a large mug.  Stir with a fork until well combined.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Recipe Notes

I used organic grade A medium amber maple syrup, and Bob's Red Mill oat flour, golden flaxseed meal, and finely ground almond meal/flour.  I pushed the almond meal and oat flour into my tablespoon measurer pretty well when scooping it out.

You may have to adjust the cooking time, depending on the strength of your microwave.

Update - Here's a picture of my second attempt at making a breakfast mug cake with the addition of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.  I stirred them in after mixing the rest of the ingredients.  

This recipe was inspired by a recipe for Paleo Breakfast Mug Cake on Well Belly.  

Riverside Mill Food Court Breakfast - Port Orleans Riverside

This morning, I had breakfast at Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside.  I have eaten lunch at this quick service restaurant before, but this was my first time dining there for breakfast.

I ordered gluten free Mickey waffles with bananas foster and bacon, and a side of breakfast potatoes.  Port Orleans uses Cup4Cup Pancake & Waffle Mix at both Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory and Riverside Mill Food Court.  You can read more about Mickey waffles made with Cup4Cup here.  The chefs at Port Orleans also have Namaste Waffle & Pancake Mix on hand for guests that need a mix that is free of gluten and dairy.

Since trying Mickey waffles with bananas foster at Boma, I have been obsessed with the combination.  My kids love them too, but prefer to get them at Roaring Fork, a quick service restaurant at Disney's Wilderness Lodge.  Of the three restaurants I have had Mickey waffles with bananas foster at, Boma reigns supreme for me because their bananas foster has that rich buttery brown sugar taste without being too sweet. Riverside Mill serves up a tasty version as well, with quick service prices.  

I really loved the breakfast potatoes at Riverside Mill Food Court, which were seasoned and cooked well.

If you love bananas foster as much as I do, I highly recommend having dinner at Boatwright's next door.  They serve bananas foster with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert.   It is featured in my The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney - Gluten Free Desserts blog post.  

June 10, 2015 Update

Riverside Mill Food Court has adopted a new allergy-friendly menu.  You can view the gluten free options on this menu in my blog post about Disney's Port Orleans Resort Allergy-Friendly Menus.

You can read more about Riverside Mill Food Court, and view their breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Riverside Mill Food Court?  

Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom at Universal's CityWalk

On Saturday, we dined at Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom at Universal's CityWalk.  I didn't even know the restaurant existed until I read my friend Amanda's review on her blog Eating Out...Without.  I took some pictures of the restaurant, which is a replica of Bob Marley's home in Jamaica, but I accidentally deleted them.  

I was really excited to try this restaurant, because they serve Jamaican-influenced cuisine, they have plenty of gluten free options, and because of Amanda's review.  I loved that they were playing Could You Be Loved, my favorite Bob Marley song, when we were seated, but my family thought the music was too loud, which made it hard to talk to each other.  

Best Disney Restaurants without a Park Pass

I am always surprised when my blog readers ask me for restaurant recommendations near Disney.  Nobody handles special diets better than Disney, so when I am near Disney World, that's where I eat.  Even if you do not have a park pass, there are plenty of amazing restaurants to choose from at Downtown Disney and the Disney Resorts.  You do not need to be staying at the resorts or pay for parking to dine at these restaurants.



I am going to start this list with my favorite budget-friendly quick-service restaurants, then move on to table-service options, including my favorite dinner show on Disney property.  I will include plenty of links in this post, so you can read full reviews of the restaurants I have listed.

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory - Port Orleans French Quarter 

Sassagoula is home to one of my favorite treats at Disney World, gluten free beignets.  Chef Tony, Chef Raphael, Chef Paul, and the rest of the team of chefs at Port Orleans do an amazing job with special diets.  There are plenty of gluten free options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Just ask to speak to a chef at one of the food stations when you arrive.  Some of my other favorites at Sassagoula are the gluten free Mickey Waffles, and their cheesesteak sandwich & french fries.

Landscape of Flavors - Art of Animation Resort

Landscape of Flavors at Disney's Art of Animation Resort has a wide variety of gluten free options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Their Little Mermaid themed waffles are some of the best gluten free waffles I have ever had at Disney World, and I love their turkey bacon too.  This quick service restaurant offers both international and American favorites at their various food stations.  My favorite for lunch and dinner is the World of Flavors station, that features gluten free tandoori boneless chicken thigh, tandoori shell-on-shrimp, Mongolian grill fish, Mongolian grill beef stir fry, roasted cauliflower with tomatoes, acorn squash, basmati rice, and roasted potatoes.  I haven't tried it yet, but their dinner menu includes gluten free meatloaf.

The Mara - Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Mara, a quick-service restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, is worth a visit just for their African Stew and gluten free Zebra Domes.  They also offer a variety of salad options, flatbreads on gluten free pizza shells, soups, and mini cupcakes from BabyCakes for lunch and dinner.  The Mara has some great allergy friendly options for breakfast as well.

Raglan Road and Cooke's of Dublin - Downtown Disney

Gluten free fish & chips, onion rings, fried shrimp, garlic & parmesan skinny chips (fries), and fried scallops - need I say more?  All can be enjoyed at both Raglan Road, a table-service restaurant, and Cooke's of Dublin, their quick-service counterpart, in Downtown Disney.  At Raglan Road, most menu items can be modified to meet your dietary needs.  Their strawberry & apple crumble with vanilla ice cream & fresh cream is just one of many reasons I went there for my birthday last year.  They also have a great brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday.  Cooke's of Dublin recently added a gluten free cupcake to their menu.  Sit back and relax at Raglan Road and Cooke's of Dublin, where the servers and chefs do an incredible job accommodating people with special diets.  

Splitsville Luxury Lanes - Downtown Disney

In 2013, Splitsville in Downtown Disney added 16 gluten free options to their menu, including my personal favorites, the fiesta chicken and steak fajita rice bowls.  We love to meet family and friends for bowling and dining at Splitsville.  If you're not in the mood to bowl, you can just go to enjoy the food.  You can view Splitsville's bowling prices and menu on their website here.  The newest addition to their gluten free menu - a giant gluten free cupcake!

Sanaa - Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas 

Sanaa is one of the best restaurants at Disney World for special diets, and features African cooking with Indian flavors.  They have gluten free and dairy free menus, and an incredible team of chefs who make dishes like gluten free naan  (the best gluten free bread in Orlando), lamb shank, and slow-cooked dishes like beef short ribs and butter chicken.  Sanaa, a table-service restaurant, is open for lunch and dinner.

Boma - Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma - Flavors of Africa has been a family favorite of ours for over a decade.  Boma features African dishes at an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet at both breakfast and dinner.  I love their wide selection of gluten free meats, vegetables, soups, salads, and desserts at dinner.  Boma is one of my favorite Disney restaurants for breakfast, mainly because of their incredible Mickey waffles with sides of bananas foster and pecan praline sauce.  

Boatwright's Dining Hall - Port Orleans Riverside

Like Sanaa, Boatwright's boasts an incredible team of chefs that take great care of people with special diets.  Chef Tony and his team serve up amazing gluten free dishes like chicken & Mickey waffles, Cajun-seasoned crawfish bites, sweet tea brined pork chop, and bananas foster served with vanilla bean ice cream.  If you're in the mood for some New Orleans specialties, you have to pay Boatwright's a visit.



Trattoria al Forno - Disney's BoardWalk

Trattoria al Forno opened in December on Disney's BoardWalk, and after eating there twice, I am happy to say that I love their breakfast options as much as I loved the food at Kouzzina, the restaurant they replaced.   Our favorites include gluten free Mickey waffles with espresso mascarpone cream, which taste like tiramisu, and the scrambled eggs with tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella, served with breakfast potatoes, bacon, and Udi's gluten free toast.  Trattoria al Forno also has a wide variety of gluten free options for dinner, including fried calamari, chicken parmesan, pasta, and gelato.  They only use gluten free breadcrumbs in the restaurant, so all of their fried items and meatballs are safe.  

Kona Cafe - Polynesian Village Resort

Kona Cafe has recently become one of favorite restaurants at Disney.  My daughters love to go to Kona for lunch and dinner, because of their Pan-Asian noodles, and the banana and chocolate creme brulee.  I prefer to go for lunch, when they serve their amazing grilled teriyaki steak with pineapple salsa. Kona also happens to have the best chocolate lava cake at Disney World.  For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Kona Cafe has gluten free menus with plenty of great options.  

'Ohana - Polynesian Village Resort

'Ohana features all-you-can-eat Polynesian specialties like grilled chicken, marinated steak, and spicy grilled peel-n-eat shrimp, that are brought to your table on huge skewers.  Make your advance dining reservations early for 'Ohana, because it is one of the toughest restaurants to get ADRs at for dinner in Disney World.  'Ohana is also open for breakfast, which features character dining with Stitch and friends.



Grand Floridian Cafe - Grand Floridian Resort 

The Grand Floridian burger with butter-poached lobster, red onion marmalade, arugula and house-made chips is reason alone to go to the Grand Floridian Cafe for lunch or dinner, but they also have some of the best Mickey waffles on Disney property, which make it worth visiting for breakfast as well.



Trail's End Restaurant - Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

In the past year, we have enjoyed dining at Trail's End Restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  For breakfast and dinner, they serve American favorites at an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet, which is the most affordable one at Disney World.  There have plenty of gluten free options on their allergy-friendly lunch menu, which is a la carte.  If Chef TJ is around, be sure to ask for one of his famous dessert towers.  When we have the time, and it is not too hot, we love to walk around the grounds of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, which has plenty of walking paths to choose from.



Flying Fish Cafe - Disney's BoardWalk

The Flying Fish Cafe on Disney's BoardWalk has long been one of my extended family's favorite restaurants, so I was excited to hear that they had introduced a gluten free menu last year.  Their crispy calamari and rock shrimp appetizer is reason alone to pay the Flying Fish Cafe a visit, but there are plenty of other great options on their gluten free menu.



California Grill - Contemporary Resort

California Grill and Flying Fish Cafe are my two favorite signature dining restaurants at Disney World. My husband and I loved the oak-fired filet of beef with Zellwood sweet corn risotto, tomato butter, grilled corn relish, and popcorn shoots we had there on our 13th anniversary.  California Grill, at the top of the Contemporary Resort, is the best fireworks dining experience at Disney World, and the food is amazing.  If you have been craving sushi, be sure to check out their special diets sushi menu.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue - Fort Wilderness Resort

The chefs at Disney's Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue make gluten free cornbread, served with honey butter.  If that isn't enough, you will be entertained by the Pioneer Hall Players for two hours while you dine on gluten free ribs, grilled chicken, chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, french fries, salad, baked beans and corn.  Even the sangria is included in the price of your ticket.  It has become our tradition to spend New Year's Eve at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, then watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the dock at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.  If you have never been to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, you definitely need to add it to your Disney Bucket List.



Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC - Disney Springs (Downtown Disney)

For gluten free baked goods, you definitely want to stop at Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC in Downtown Disney.  We highly recommend the brownie cupcakes and the cinnamon sugar toastie.  Everything at Erin McKenna's Bakery, formerly known as BabyCakes, is gluten, dairy, egg, soy, and refined sugar free.



The Wave and Contempo Cafe at Disney's Contemporary Resort are also worth checking out, because they have some incredible burgers and sandwiches, like the build-your-own beef burger with candied bacon, red wine caramelized onions, guacamole, grilled mushrooms, and Black Diamond cheese at The Wave (lunch only), and the hot turkey sandwich topped with brie, apple butter, apple slices, and arugula from Contempo Cafe.



You do not need to pay for parking to dine at any of these restaurants, even the ones at the Magic Kingdom resorts.  When you get to the large Magic Kingdom gate, choose one of the right hand lanes, and tell the cast member what resort you are dining at.

What are your favorite restaurants for gluten free dining at Downtown Disney and the Disney Resorts?