Where to grab lunch at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is one of the theme parks that currently has the least amount of places to eat. The options that are available are not very diverse. So make yourself familiar with your choices ahead of time so you don’t end up just eating whatever to fit the bill. Also dining your table service for lunch may be a great choice if you’re wanting to fit in Fantasmic and the nighttime show at the Chinese Theatre. Take a look at the spots you can grab a bit of lunch at Hollywood Studios.
Counter Service
Baseline Tap House
Baseline has a huge selection of beer and has a great patio outside for enjoying a brew during your Hollywood Studios park day. They also have a couple of food items that you could enjoy as a light lunch. They have a salad, a cheese and charcuterie board and a meal size pretzel. Baseline also serves wine and cocktails if that’s more your thing. Found on Grand Avenue, just past the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre, Baseline Tap House opens at 11am.
Dockside Diner
Found in the dinosaur on Echo Lake, here’s the perfect spot to grab a hot dog for a quick lunch. Open at 11am, choose between a pulled pork sandwich, foot long hot dog, a chili-cheese hot dog or nachos. Here you can also find the Kahlua Milkshake and Minute Maid Alcoholic Frozen Lemonade. Delicious drinks to cool off on a hot day.
KRNR The Rock Station
Grab a quick hot dog before or after your ride on Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. It’s your basic stand so there’s no place to really sit. You’ll have to grab it and go. It actually opens at 9am so whenever your hungry they’ll be there.
Quick Service
ABC Commissary
The worst restaurant we’ve ever eaten at on Disney property by far. So I’m going to tell you NOT to eat here. But if you find yourself in a pinch here is what you’re in for: burgers and fries, club sandwich, salads, ribs, and chicken strips for kids. ABC Commissary is found on Commissary Lane across from Mickey and Minnie’s meet and greet. They open at 11am for lunch.
We love to eat here for lunch at Hollywood Studios because of their super cool Darth Vader Waffles. They come with chicken nuggets, and they taste just like Mickey Shaped Waffles. If this isn’t your thing they also have a super cool Galactic Salad, which features R2 on your Crisp Wonton. Backlot Express is beside Star Tours and therefore take on a bit of a Star Wars theme despite their generic back lot eatery appearance. We’ve seen Storm Troopers inspecting during peak meal times so don’t be alarmed if you’re investigated during your meal here. On the menu you’ll also find cheeseburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Not the most impressive menu but if you’re a fan of Star Wars then I would recommend adding this to your Star Wars day. Backlot opens at 11am.
Catalina Eddie’s
Found on Sunset Blvd, Catalina Eddie’s is among the many outdoor quick-service dining options on the Blvd. Catalina Eddie’s is only open during peak season. They serve a few pizza choices and a caesar salad with or without chicken. When they are open they started serving lunch at 11am.
Fairfax Fare
The place to find mexican fare at Hollywood Studios. Opening at 10:30am, Fairfax Fare is located on Sunset Blvd. They serve rice bowls, fajita combo platter and hot dogs. Here you can also find some great cocktails: bacardi and coke, jack daniels and coke, or black cheery bourbon lemonade. This eatery is outside, with minimal seating. So get someone to grab a table while someone goes and places the order.
PizzeRizzo
The perfect spot for any Muppets fan, here you can grab a pizza after heading to Muppets 3D. PizzeRizzo is found in Grand Avenue and they serve pizza and a meatball subs. There’s plenty of places to sit in here. Giving you a great spot for a large group.
Rosie’s All American Cafe
Another quick-serve spot found on the Sunset Blvd strip, Rosie’s has your nuggets and cheeseburgers with fries. They open at 10:30am, giving you a chance to grab a quick early lunch before heading on Twilight Tower of Terror.
Trolley Car Cafe
The Starbucks Hollywood Studios location, so you’ll find all your Starbucks favourite choices here including sandwiches, muffins and bagels. They open at park open and have a few tables outside but really none inside. Perfect for grabbing and going though.
The newest addition to dining at Hollywood Studios, head to Toy Story Land for lunch in Andy’s Backyard. There are four quick-service lunch options as well as a few snack items that you could enjoy as lunch. Try the BBQ Brisket Melt, the Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich, Smoke Turkey Sandwich or try Woody’s Lunch Box version of nachos. For snacks you have potato barrels, tomato salad or macaroni salad. There is no inside place to eat your meal, but there are tables surrounding the outside of Woody’s Lunch Box. Woody’s Lunch Box opens at 9am but starts serving lunch around 11am.
Table Service
This restaurant will put you back in the 50’s with their decor and their food. Here you’ll be dining at your aunts, your uncles, maybe your cousins place. Most of the tables have a TV right at the table, showing highlights of TV shows from the 50’s. Be wary, your server may expect you to set your own table and to finish your veggies before ordering dessert. This restaurant is great for dining out of pocket because it’s low cost for a table service restaurant, it’s actually on our list of worst 5 restaurants to eat at on the dining plan. Lunch is served from 11:00am until 3:15pm. 50’s Prime Time Cafe is located beside Hollywood & Vine and directly across from Echo Lake.
The Hollywood Brown Derby
This Signature restaurant is open from 12pm until 2:55pm for lunch. This is one of our favourite restaurants on property. We dined here on our honeymoon and then again to celebrate purchasing our DVC membership. With impeccable service and memorable meals Hollywood Brown Derby is based on the restaurant of the same name found in Hollywood. There are many pictures adorning the walls of famous actors and actresses. Be sure to try the Cobb salad, reservations are recommended and they require 2 table service meal credits for this meal. Hollywood Brown Derby is found at the end of Hollywood Blvd.
The only character dining experience found at Hollywood Studios and the only buffet restaurant. For lunch you’ll have the chance to meet Minnie Mouse and all her friends: Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Mickey. Hollywood & Vine is found directly across from Echo Lake. For lunch is open from 11:20 to 3pm and serves a wide variety of food. You’ll find soups, salads, pastas, carved meats, fish and of course a whole section of sweets. There’s a special section just for younger pickier eaters.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italino
Your place to grab pasta at Hollywood Studios, Mama Melrose’s opens for lunch at 11:30am. Found right across from Muppets 3D, Mama Melrose’s is one of the places you can grab a meal and add a Fantasmic Package, giving you special seating for the nighttime spectacular. Be sure to grab a reservation are there are so few place to sit down and eat at Hollywood Studios. Only 1 table service meal credit is required.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre
The most popular restaurant at Hollywood Studios, guests dining here will dine in a 50’s vehicle while watching old Sci-Fi films play out on the big screen. The menu is a mix of burgers, pastas, and the speciality BBQ platter. This restaurant serves lunch from 11am until 3:55pm. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre is found beside ABC Commissary on Commissary Lane.
Tune-In Lounge
Tune-In Lounge is the waiting area for 50’s Prime Time Cafe but they also serve a full menu along with appetizers. So you can dine here for a quick bite before heading back out for your Hollywood Studios day. They open at 11am.
There are quite a few choices, especially if you’re looking for burgers and fries and chicken nuggets. Looking for something more substantial than your choices a limited. But make sure to add Brown Derby on your list for someday, whether with or without kids. Happy Planning, Friends.
