One of my favorite things to do when visiting the Disneyland Resort is sit down for a nice breakfast. Going to the parks requires a lot of energy from the very start, so I like to make sure I'm beginning my day on the right foot. The only problem is, not every restaurant at the resort serves breakfast, so every time I visit, I'm constantly on the lookout for a new a breakfast experience to add to my list. As such, in an effort to try something new, on my most recent trip to the Resort, I tried the breakfast menu at Tangaroa Terrace.
Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Megan Walker.
Located at the Disneyland Hotel, and connected to Trader Sam's bar, Tangaroa Terrace is a casual restaurant with a Polynesian-themed menu. In addition to breakfast, Tangaroa Terrace also serves lunch and dinner, and even has some grab-and-go options, offered mainly for hotel guests, but good to know nonetheless. (Here's a tip: Tangaroa Terrace has Mickey Ice Cream Bars in their grab-and-go freezer case!)
Easily one of the best things that Tangaroa Terrace has going for it is its atmosphere. Designed on the outside (and partially inside) as a island-themed beach hut, the palm trees surrounding the building and the island music playing on the speakers makes for a very relaxing setting. Even if you're just grabbing a drink, it's a great place to hang out and relax. When I visited, it was a nice Southern California morning and having the opportunity to sit outside underneath the palm trees to eat breakfast sounded perfect.
Outside seating at Tangaroa Terrace. Photo by Megan Walker.
We arrived at the restaurant without looking at the menu in advance, so we weren't sure what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised with the variety of options. The menu here is also different than the standard fare in the parks. There was the traditional breakfast platter with an island twist, a breakfast wrap, French toast, chia seed breakfast pudding, and, of course, Mickey-shaped waffles. Honestly, we thought everything sounded good and it was actually really hard to choose, but, ultimately, we chose to share the breakfast wrap.
Tangaroa Terrace breakfast menu. Photo by Megan Walker.
The breakfast wrap included scrambled eggs, avocado, cheese, bacon, and pineapple salsa in a whole-wheat tortilla, served with island fruit and roasted potatoes. We subbed out the bacon for turkey bacon, as well. At first I was hesitant about sharing, as I was pretty hungry, but I am so glad I did for this item. The wrap was huge! It was definitely big enough to share. Everything about it was delicious; I had no complaints and would definitely order it again. In addition to the wrap being quite big, the servings of the fruit and potatoes were also plentiful. This is definitely a good place to go for a filling breakfast with reasonable a price tag.
Tangaroa Terrace breakfast wrap. Photo by Megan Walker.
Tangaroa Terrace is a counter-service-type restaurant: you order at the cashier when you enter the restaurant, find a table, and then they will bring you your food once it's ready. They were very quick with the food, which was nice, and the service was great. The cast members were very nice and helpful and offered to bring anything else to the table that we might have needed. While it can be nice to sit down for a “table service” meal, I found the service at Tangaroa Terrace to be fantastic and had no complaints there either.
Tangaroa Terrace kitchen area. Photo by Megan Walker.
Overall, if you're looking for a nice breakfast to start your day at the resort with, you don't need to look much further than Tangaroa Terrace. While not a fancy restaurant, the food was tasty, the prices were decent, the service was great, and you can't beat the setting. It was a perfect place to sit down for a little bit and enjoy a nice meal before heading into the hustle and bustle of the parks for the day. Whether you're making your way into the parks from an outside hotel, or you're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, plan to stop at Tangaroa Terrace one morning … you won't regret it!
