Recently, my family decided to take a trip to Disneyland for my daughter, Alyssa's 21st birthday. It didn't take long to wear myself out in the parks, so the foodie within guided me to Downtown Disney to unwind and enjoy the many eateries in the district. I decided to review some of the establishments I visited (since I was there anyways) and share my opinions with my favorite foodie community!
Candy Cane Inn
1747 South Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, California
www.candycaneinn.net
Before I delve into my Downtown Disney reviews, I thought it was worth mentioning where we stayed while in Anaheim, as it is a great place to stay without breaking the bank! On many occasions my family has stayed at Candy Cane Inn, a super clean hotel that is located at 1747 South Harbor Blvd in Anaheim California, which is a short walk away from Disneyland. This charming hotel is decorated with beautiful, well-maintained flowers and plants throughout the entire property. The hotel provides all of the amenities you will need, including a fitness room, a pool, hot tub and even a separate kids pool! Included in the price of our room was a very well stocked expanded continental breakfast, which is available to all guests every morning. If you don’t feel like walking to the Disneyland parks (which typically takes us 8-10 minutes), Candy Cane Inn also provides a complimentary shuttle to and from the parks. You will not find a better choice of hotel while visiting the Disneyland parks, especially if you don’t want to pay insane resort rates. If you decide to stay at Candy Cane Inn, tell them Delicious and Simple sent you!
La Brea Bakery Cafe
1530 Disneyland Drive, Downtown Disney, California
https://goo.gl/b8Ly1h
La Brea Bakery Cafe is restaurant in Downtown Disney serving Californian-American cuisine with an attached express bakery (hence the name). Emitting the tantalizing scent of bread baking, the bakery is full of delightful offerings for purchase to go. My husband Nick and I decided to make the most of our lunch by taking full advantage of the outdoor sitting area, which is decorated with wicker chairs and outdoor fans, invoking a casual feeling which is the perfect environment for people watching and getting away from the hectic park. We had a great server named Kevin, an employee of 12 years at La Brea that clearly loved his job and was very knowledgeable when it came to their wine list and menu.
We ordered baked yam chips which were hand sliced and baked fresh daily alongside a juicy La Brea Bakery Burger boasting hand-made burger patties. All sauces and dressings are made in-house, which is quite evident when we tasted them. Also explained to us was how their bread is considered artisan because 7 different people touch each piece of bread from start to finish and never will sell it if more than a day old. So many wonderful tidbits of information that Kevin was eager to share! I can go on and on about how great both the food and service was; La Brea Bakery Cafe was hands down our favorite place to dine and I would highly recommend you all try it out whenever you decide to visit Downtown Disney!
House of Blues
1530 Disneyland Drive, Downtown Disney, California
https://goo.gl/j2WLdx
After a long day in Disneyland, we were once again starving and as it was lunchtime, we decided to head over to Downtown Disney. Through the process of elimination, we decided to go eat at the House of Blues, inside of which is a restaurant featuring contemporary comfort food by executive chef Aarón Sanchez within a dimly lit plantation-style estate, all while enjoying great live music. The entire establishment is dotted with ornate art and also houses a shop to pass time by browsing their selection of blues paraphernalia. And in typical House of Blues fashion, you can also attend a concert here and listen to some great music.
Now, it was time to make a decision on what to order… we decided to go for their angus beef sliders and mahi mahi fish tacos with a bottle of Edmeads Zin. Monique, our server was very friendly, had memorized the entire menu and addressed all of our questions. My husband Nick and I found the food to be quite good and well priced given its location in Downtown Disney. We would certainly be repeat customers here, and perhaps next time we will explore the House of Blues’ evening offerings!