The BEST Dishes From EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival

EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival is a culinary exploration of cuisines across 6 continents.

During our last visit to Walt Disney World, we had a blast snacking around World Showcase and hitting up the festival food booths.  In this article, I will cover everything we sampled at EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival, and which dishes we thought were the best of the fest!

For a full list of Food and Wine Festival offerings, head to the Walt Disney World website.

Flavors From Fire

The Impossible Burger Slider

This plant-based slider is served with wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw on a sesame seed bun.  The plant-based patty was very flavorful and similar in texture to a traditional burger patty.  If the menu didn’t say this dish was plant-based, I probably wouldn’t have known! 

The wasabi cream added a great spicy kick to the slider (spicy even for Disney’s standards), and the slaw provided a fresh element to the dish.  I shared this with my teenager, and we were both fans!

Smoked Corned Beef

This is a very popular Food and Wine Festival offering I was excited to try.  The smoked corned beef is served over house-made potato chips with cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue. 

The corned beef was tender, salty, and smoky.  Topped with that amazing beer-cheese fondue, and this dish was a winner!

Spiced Chocolate Tart

This chocolate tart is made with a BBQ potato chip crust and topped with salted whisky-caramel and smoked sea salt.  I had to check out this interesting combination of sweet and savory for myself.

The chocolate tart was very rich, and it was too sweet for my liking.  In addition, the smoky/barbecue flavor of the crust really threw me off.  I wanted to like this dish, but it was a miss.  I did, however, enjoy the potato chip garnish which was a great balance of smoky and sweet.

The Fry Basket

Adobo Yuca Fries

Another popular Food and Wine Festival offering – I couldn’t wait to try these fries myself.  They were served piping hot with a drizzle of garlic cilantro aioli.

I loved the seasoning on the fries, and the aioli added a cool and creamy contrast.  This was a big win for us, and a dish I would order again!

Pickle Fries

The breading on these pickle fries was flavorful and crunchy, and the pickle itself was crisp and juicy.  A drizzle of dill ranch tied everything together. 

If you’re a big fan of fried pickles, then you will enjoy this dish.  But I’d recommend the Adobo Yuca Fries over these fries as it’s a more unique offering.

Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings

A classic PB&J in wing form!  The jelly added a subtle sweetness to these wings, and the chopped peanuts added interesting texture.  My seven-year-old was a big fan!

Orange-Cardamom Wings

My initial reaction to these wings was they were quite sweet.  The orange flavor was very pronounced, but I felt the cardamom was subtle.  I wish there was more complex spice to these, they could have used some heat to counter the sweetness.

Pickle Milkshake

The polarizing Pickle Milkshake – we had to order one just to know what the hype was all about!  What sounded like an unpleasant combination ended up being pretty darn delicious!

I would describe this as a sweet vanilla milkshake with a slight dill aftertaste.  The milkshake lacked any brininess you’d find with pickles, which I think made this a successful combination.  My toddler couldn’t get enough of it!

The Noodle Exchange

Ramen with Shaved Beef

This ramen is made with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots, daikon radish, shaved peppers, and a soy egg in citrus-sesame broth.  The beef was tender, and the broth was very flavorful.  I loved the amount of spice in this ramen! 

This dish was too spicy for my younger kids, but it was my teenager’s favorite of the day.

Mexico

Tostada de Carnitas

This tostada is served with braised pork, black beans, avocado mousse, queso fresco, and chives.  I appreciated the generous number of toppings yielding several layers of flavor.

Taco de Costilla

This taco is served with slow-braised beef short rib, salsa de chile morita, avocado mousse, and spring onions.  I felt these components worked well together in this dish.

Both dishes from Mexico had good flavors, but I felt it was pretty standard Mexican you can find at a lot of places.  At Food and Wine Festival, I prefer sampling more unique menu items. 

China

Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings

These chicken dumplings are served with a house-made sweet-and-spicy sauce and topped with sesame seeds and green onion.  The dumplings were good, but there was nothing spectacular about this dish.

Crispy Duck Bao Bun

Bao is always a winner for me, and this duck bao bun did not disappoint!  The bao was soft and pillowy, and the duck was tender with crispy skin.  This was a big win for me!

Dandan Noodles

These noodles are served with spicy pork, Sichuan sauce, peanut butter, and sesame.  We loved the flavor of peanut and the slight kick to this dish.  Highly recommend!

Passion Fruit Bubble Tea

This was a great drink for the kids on a hot day.  They were fans of the refreshing tea, but not so much the tapioca boba pearls.  If this drink had bursting boba pearls, it would have been a big win for the kids!

ByeJoe Punch

This cocktail is made with Chinese Baijiu Spirit, pina colada mix, lychee syrup, and sparkling water.  I was excited to try this cocktail because the baijiu spirit and lychee were unique ingredients to me, but the flavors were overwhelmed by the pina colada mix.  Unfortunately, the only flavor I got was coconut.

Fiery Dream

This cocktail is made with citrus vodka, triple sec, guava nectar, and spicy hot honey syrup.  This was a fabulous drink! 

I loved the heat level of the spicy syrup, which was a great balance to the sweetness of the cocktail.  Highly recommend if you are a fan of spice!

India

Curry-spiced Crispy Cheese

I was excited to try this dish, but it was a bit of a letdown.  I had anticipated more punch from the Indian spices and the curry ketchup, but this dish was all around very mild and safe.  However, it would be a good introduction for someone new to curry flavors. 

Potato and Pea Samosa

These samosas came out hot and fresh!  They had great flavor, but the dish could have used even more Indian spices.  Again, this was a mild and safe dish.  The coriander-lime cream sauce was a great addition to the samosas, but I wish it came with more!

Mango Lassi and Mango Lassi with Somrus Chai Cream Liqueur

We ordered a mango lassi for the kids, and one with Somrus Chai Cream Liqueur for us adults.  This was a great treat for the kids on a hot day. 

I thought adding the chai cream liqueur was a very smart idea for this cocktail.  It incorporated warm spices that beautifully complemented the mango lassi.

Kenya

Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Beef

This barbecued beef is served with sweet potato-corn mealie pap and kachumbari slaw.  I felt the meat was tough in this dish, and I didn’t really detect any coffee flavor. 

However, the fresh veggies were prepared well, and the mash was decent.  Overall, I was somewhat disappointed because of the quality of the meat.

Peri-Peri Skewered Shrimp

These skewered shrimps are served with citrus-flavored couscous and beans.  The shrimp was pretty basic and lacked flavor. 

The couscous, on the other hand, was a big hit with the kids.  I found myself really enjoying the beans.  They were packed with flavor!

Germany

Schinkennudeln

Schinkennudeln is a baked pasta gratin made with ham, onions, and cheese.  The main reason I wanted to stop by Germany was to find some kid-friendly food, and this booth did not disappoint! 

The kids all enjoyed this dish, as did I.

Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll

The bratwurst also went over well with the family.  Disney upped their traditional bratwurst by serving this offering on a soft pretzel roll. 

I felt the mustard added a great tang to the dish, but some sauerkraut would have taken it over the top!

Beer Flight

Germany’s beer flight includes Gaffel Kölsch, Weihenstephaner Festbier, and Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen. 

They were a great pairing to the traditional German dishes.

Flavors of America

Chilaquiles

Corn tortilla chips are tossed in salsa verde with ranchero chicken, queso fresco, cilantro-lime crema, and a soft-poached egg to create this dish.  The egg was cooked perfectly, yielding a runny yolk that added a wonderful silky texture to this dish. 

The chips ended up quite soggy, but I wasn’t even bothered because the flavors of this dish were fantastic.  Big win for Flavors of America!

Freshly Baked Carrot Cake

This carrot cake is baked with walnuts and topped with cream cheese icing.  Unfortunately, this cake was very dry. 

The icing helped a little with the dryness, but overall, this dessert was disappointing and not something I’d recommend.

Greece

Griddled Cheese

The griddled cheese is served with chopped pistachios and honey.  It wasn’t served warm and melty like I was hoping for, but the elements of this dish made a great flavor combination.

Wine Flight

Greece’s wine flight is comprised of Mylonas Assyrtiko White Wine, Skouras ‘Zoe’ Rosé, and Kir-Yianni Naoussa Xinomavro Dry Red. 

The wine flight was a great pairing for the griddled cheese.  When I have wine and cheese, I’m in my happy place!

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina

Grilled Moroccan-spiced Lamb Kebab

The grilled lamb kebab is drizzled with garlic aioli and served with a carrot-chickpea salad.  We were big fans of this dish! 

The kebab was juicy and had a good amount of spice, and the carrot-chickpea salad provided a light and fresh contrast to the richness of the dish. 

Falafel Pita

This pita is packed with falafel, lettuce, and cucumber and topped with a tahini sauce.  There was a slight spice to the falafel that balanced nicely with the cool cucumber. 

My husband (a self-proclaimed falafel connoisseur) felt they were bland, but I very much enjoyed them!    

Pistachio Cake

This cake is served with a cinnamon pastry cream and topped with candied walnuts.  The cake was soft and moist, and the buttercream added warm spices which elevated this dessert. 

This was delicious!

Brazil

Pão de Queijo

Soft, warm, bread and cheese – need I say more?!  This simple snack was amazing!  I had a really hard time sharing this one.

We whipped up a batch of these beauties for our Jungle Cruise Themed Dinner and they were delicious!  To see the recipe, head to our EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival Recipes article!

Frozen Caipirinha with Cachaça

I can’t believe I forgot to take a photo of this cocktail! Regardless, the caipirinha was very refreshing on a hot day. 

The cachaça flavor was subtle, which makes this a great cocktail for someone wanting to get acquainted with the spirit.

Ireland

Fisherman’s Seafood Pie

This dish boasted generous portions of seafood.  My family felt this was a very hearty and filling offering and a big win!

Roasted Irish Sausage

These Irish sausages are served with colcannon potatoes and onion gravy. 

This dish was packed with flavor!  The gravy was salty and savory, and the perfect complement to the sausages and mash. 

Canada

Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup

This soup was great on a cool night.  The soup was creamy and cheesy, and the bacon added a great smoky flavor. 

This was my teenager’s favorite dish of the entire trip!

Canadian Filet Mignon

Canada’s filet mignon is served with mushrooms, Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt mashed potatoes, and a Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt whipped butter.  I was so excited to get a sample of Le Cellier at this food booth, but we were very disappointed in our portion. 

The filet was very dry and overcooked, although the compound butter and mushrooms did help improve things.  The mash was standard, and not nearly as good as what we had at the Ireland booth.  Overall, this fan-favorite booth was a letdown for us.

Hawai’i

Kālua Pork Slider

This slider is served with a sweet-and-sour DOLE Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise.  The pork was tender, and the spicy mayonnaise added a nice kick to the dish.  But unfortunately, the bun got very soggy from the pineapple relish. 

The portion size was also small, so this is not an offering I would order again.

SPAM Sushi

This sushi is made with rice, teriyaki-glazed SPAM, spicy mayonnaise, eel sauce, and nori.  The SPAM gave this dish a denser consistency than traditional sushi, but the spicy mayo and eel sauce incorporated familiar sushi flavors in the roll. 

This was a very interesting take on sushi!

Shimmering Sips

Mimosa Flight

The mimosa flight at this food booth features a tropical mimosa, berry mimosa, and blood orange mimosa.  You can’t go wrong here!

Emile’s Fromage Montage Completer Prize

Shimmering Sips is also where you pick up your Emile’s Fromage Montage Completer Prize!  After purchasing five of the featured cheese dishes and collecting stamps, you can turn your passport in for this strawberry cheesecake soft serve topped with a mini cheesecake and graham cracker crumbs. 

How cute is this souvenir cup?!

Char & Chop

Roasted Porchetta

This dish is served with a lemon-parsley salsa verde and shaved fennel salad.  The porchetta was tender and juicy, and the veggies added a fresh crunch to the dish.  The salsa verde was incredibly flavorful, and really put this dish over the top. 

This was my husband’s favorite dish of the fest.

Meat Assorti

This trio of shaved meats is served with baby arugula, pickled mustard seeds, truffle oil, and grilled ciabatta.  The meats were good, but pretty basic.  The ciabatta came out hot, buttered, and soft.  The highlight for me, however, was the baby arugula with truffle oil.  It was the best thing on the plate, in my opinion! 

Together, these components worked well to create a delicious bite.

Wine & Wedge

Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese

This cheese board is served with Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Hartley Apple Brandy, and Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port. 

Being a wine and cheese lover, I enjoyed this dish soooo much.  The pimento cheese had a good spicy kick, which contrasted well with the sharp cheddar and honeycomb.  The blue cheese had a strong and tangy flavor which was elevated with the addition of fig jam.  This dish was a huge win for me, but if you don’t like “funky” cheese (like blue), or spicy heat, I would skip this offering.

Boursin Fig & Balsamic Soufflé

This soufflé was light and fluffy and gravitated to the sweet side rather than savory.  The balsamic added a nice tang which contrasted well with the sweetness of the fig. 

I ended up having to share more of this with my kids than I wanted to!

Final Thoughts

Overall, we felt the BEST dishes of EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival were:

• Smoked Corned Beef (Flavors From Fire)
• Adobo Yuca Fries (The Fry Basket)
• Ramen With Shaved Beef (The Noodle Exchange)
• Crispy Duck Bao Bun (China)
• Dandan Noodles (China)
• Chilaquiles (Flavors of America)
• Grilled Moroccan-spiced Lamb Kebab (Tangierine Café)
• Pistachio Cake (Tangierine Café)
• Pão de Queijo (Brazil)
• Fisherman’s Seafood Pie (Ireland)
• Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup (Canada)
• Roasted Porchetta (Char & Chop)
• Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese (Wine & Wedge)

Which dishes are you looking forward to sampling at EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival?  Let me know in the comments!

Looking for other Disney food reviews?  Check out our BEST Dishes of Festival of the Holidays and our Sanaa Dining Review!

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