Whereas most individuals deal with the perfect rides at Disneyland when visiting the park, my obsession has lengthy been the meals. I’m at all times in search of the perfect meals at Disneyland, however having been to the park repeatedly, I nearly at all times know the place to go. This is the reason I used to be so shocked on my final go to when a spot that I might have ranked close to the underside has now discovered itself close to the highest.
A number of months in the past, the Hungry Bear Restaurant at DIsneyland’s Critter Nation closed down, and it not too long ago reopened because the Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree. I lastly had an opportunity to eat there once I was shut by testing Tiana’s Bayou Journey which simply opened within the park, and I used to be thrilled to have some nice meals there.
Few Theme Park Fast Service Eating places Actually Impress Me
To begin, I ought to say that a part of my lack of affection for the outdated Hungry Bear is that it’s uncommon that theme park quick-service eating places impress me in any respect. Once I’m in a theme park, I’m both grabbing meals that I can eat whereas I stroll, like a Frontierland breakfast chimichanga or a cup of Dole Whip, or I want to sit at a desk the place a waiter takes my order and I can have a soothing meal. Fast-service eating places are too sluggish within the first case, and too quick within the different.
I additionally discover the fast service menus to be largely uninspired. There’s some actually artistic and wonderful meals to be discovered at Disneyland or different theme parks, but it surely’s often present in both high-end meals or artistic snacks and desserts. At quick-service places, you have a tendency to seek out fairly conventional sandwiches, burgers and the like. I can eat that meals wherever. If I’m going to pay theme park costs for meals, it higher be particular in creativity, if not in style.
Once I do hit fast service places, I deal with them like grab-n-go-style places. Cellular ordering was invented in order that I might stroll into Docking Bay 7 and seize a Chilly Brew Black Caf with out having to face in line.
The Hungry Bear Restaurant Simply Did Nothing Particular
I couldn’t let you know precisely when the final time I ate on the Hungry Bear Restaurant was, however I can let you know I discovered the expertise underwhelming. The menu might have come from nearly any chain restaurant, with sandwiches, burgers and steaks, and never a steakhouse steak. These are issues I can get principally wherever else at Disneyland and at equal or higher high quality.
On high of that, the Hungry Bear’s location, close to the lifeless finish of Critter Nation, meant that until I used to be going to trip Splash Mountain (now Tiana’s Bayou Journey), there was little purpose to trouble going that means. The meals itself actually wasn’t sufficient of a draw.
I had actually heard good issues concerning the Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree, however I wasn’t actually ready for issues to end up pretty much as good as they did.
The Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree Is Completely different And Scrumptious
The Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree calls again to the previous neighbor of the restaurant, the Nation Bear Jamboree. There may be music from each variations of the present, each the unique Nation Bear Jamboree and the Disney songs by the use of nation music model that may be discovered at Magic Kingdom right this moment. Props and different inventive prospers may be discovered across the constructing, however as any restaurant needs to be, the star is the meals.
It’s wonderful what an entire redesign of a whole menu can do for a restaurant. As an alternative of merely sandwiches and burgers, the menu has gone full barbecue, with the highlight dish being on a smoked barbecue combo platter that features selections of pulled pork, beef brisket, pork spareribs or sausage hyperlink. Sandwiches utilizing the pulled pork or beef brisket are additionally out there.
Since I wasn’t positive I might eat a whole barbecue platter, I grabbed the brisket sandwich, with beer batter fries, a strawberry shortcake lemonade and the brand-new banana pudding. For sure, I believed the whole lot was fairly good.
I’m not saying Hungry Bear is best than your favourite native BBQ joint, but it surely’s fairly a step above what had been there earlier than. The brisket was tender, the BBQ sauce was tangy and never too candy (one thing that tends to occur with theme park meals throughout the board), and I devoured the sandwich.
The Strawberry Shortcake Lemonade, one of many signature drinks on the location, was enjoyable. Not completely dissimilar to my Galaxy’s Edge Black Caf, it has a layer of candy cream on high that holds shortcake crumbs and strawberry mud, including a little bit of complexity and texture to a basic strawberry lemonade.
I’m not the primary to sing the praises of the banana pudding, however I additionally gained’t be the final. It consists of layers of crushed wafer cookies, dulce de leche and bananas, every separated by whip cream and topped with crunchy toffee chips. This might be a dessert I cellular order repeatedly going ahead.
Barbecue is simply one thing that’s been lacking from Disneyland since Large Thunder Ranch closed to make means for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (reportedly the coleslaw at Hungry Bear is identical recipe as what was at Large Thunder). It’s good to have it again and to have or not it’s so good.
I’m Nonetheless Not Offered On Fast Service, However Hungry Bear BBQ Is Price The Time
Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree hasn’t fully modified my tune on quick-service at theme parks. If I’m going to take a seat at a desk and eat a full meal in a theme park resort, I’d nonetheless love to do it in a extra relaxed ambiance. Working round a theme park may be disturbing, so taking these intervals of leisure is vital, and one thing fast service doesn’t usually present.
Nevertheless, if I’m visiting a Disneyland fast service location for something greater than a fast snack, it’s most likely going to be Hungry Bear going ahead. It’s obtained some scrumptious meals and it’s most likely the perfect quick-service menu at Disneyland proper now.