La Brea Bakery Cafe

We reserved the counter area for a group and were pleased with the service and food. The staff was efficient and well organized. Everyone loved the menu items. I had the kale salad with chicken and would order it again. Of course the bread is the highlight of the menu.
The prices were reasonable for being a sit down restaurant. I usually don’t write reviews, but because this was an outstanding experience, La Brea needs to know what a great job they are doing at Downtown Disney.

Good food, expensive, but it is Disney.
We ended up getting to the parks early so to kill time we decided to get breakfast. We walked around to see the menu at every restaurant at Downtown Disney. There are only a couple sit down places for breakfast. I liked the variety here, so it was an easy decision.
You are going to have to expect Disney prices. This means $ 10 oatmeal. I went with the Crab Cake Benedict. I was shocked by how much food it came with. It was basically a mountain of breakfast potatoes. I wasn’t able to finish them all and I was pretty hungry. The Crab Cake Benedict was also delicious. It was very filling.
Although service was slow at first, it ended up picking up. The one thing I don’t like is there is no restroom. You have to go around the restaurant to the outside to a very small restroom. There was a wait.

BTW this was one of the most expensive meals we had on our 3 day trip. far MORE than anything in the park…
I had no idea that there are 2 seperate restaurants… we wanted a café style breakfast before the park. The reviews would have kept me away but my gf is a cast member and she said she’s heard good things.
The check in process is confusing and the staff is LESS than helpful. It says check in with hostess on a sign, I asked the guy in front if my if it was a line to check in he said yes… it made sense. So i get to the front of the line by now there’s 20 people behind me. I guess you check in first then wait in a seperate line after?! Makes zero sense since they call out people’s names once they are up. Why would you tell out people’s names if they are literally standing right next to you? How do accommodate IN EXACT order a 2 top vs a 10 top… Anyways it was awful the hostess was RUDE. we finally sit down and it’s not even the same things pictured from the reviews. So we immediately left the table and went to the café side.
Food from the café was great! Location is amazing… But the service was still pretty awful. I’ve just never been to a restaurant where I’ve spoken to nearly a half a dozen rude and miserable employees. They should consider writing a handbook on” how to not treat customers.”

My review is solely based on the 2 cooks (Alvaro and Rachel?). I’m eating my bread and watching the bakers make pizza. They look awesome! Anyways. Alvaro says… we got screwed with another mushroom. Rachel sighs and they begin making the pizza and complaining of how they keep getting screwed. FYI THAT WAS MY MUSHROOM. Management needs to tell these 2 that complaining in front of guests is NO BUENO!

La Brea is the best option in the whole Disney area for salads/​soups/​sandwiches/​breakfast. I have been more impressed with the sit down portion of the restaurant in the past, but the tomato basil soup we ordered from the takeout counter recently was tasty!
Employees are friendly enough at both the sit-​down area and the takeout counter. Expect to pay a decent sum for average to somewhat superior food, but it is definitely worth it instead of the mediocre options inside both parks! The morning mini frittatas/​quiches are quite tasty! Their burgers are quite decent, and all of the bread seems reasonably fresh…
We also recently enjoyed some salads with freshly grilled salmon. The salmon was moist, flavorful, and grilled to perfection! The rest of the salads were just A-​OK, but compared to the other fast-​casual options, La Brea is the best!
Quick Tip: The sit-​down side will validate Downtown Disney parking tickets!

The service was a little slow, maybe they were busy. Got the protein bowl. Absolute favorite! The chicken was juicy, great flavor and beans weren’t undercooked. Like the broccolini, was a very nice touch. Very filling meal over all. Just what I needed to start off my day.

A great place to stop for food outside the parks. This is your first stop outside both parks when you head into Downtown Disney. We actually ate here 2x on our last visit. First time was for dinner– it was great! Large servings for reasonable prices. All meals were great. We got to share and enjoy all meals. Enjoyed dinner so much we headed back for breakfast. Breakfast was ok– ordered the French toast. Pricing was ok for breakfast foods. Preferred dinnner here for sure! Sit outside and enjoy the people watching!!!

After a long day inside the Magic Kingdom we needed to get out for a break. We stopped here for a casual early dinner as this was the first food stop out of the gate.
I was surprised the only option was outside seating. But there are overhead heaters to keep you warm. The burger I ordered was cooked medium so it was good and juicy. (Surprisingly not dry) It came with a side salad topped with a nice vinaigrette. The club sandwich was good but nothing to wow about. The bread basket was good with two selections of rolls.
The service was good as we were not there at the busiest time of day.
We enjoyed our meal and was now fully recharged for round two of more Disney magic.

My boyfriend and I came here one morning to get some Mickey waffles but it was just way to packed so we settled for this place. I got the Brioche French Toast with seasonal berries, maple syrup, and powdered sugar ($ 12). It was fairly decent. It came with 4 pieces of toast which was not bad but I thought it was a little pricey but what do you expect when you come to Disney. My boyfriend got the Chicken Protein Bowl ($ 17). It consisted of arro, broccolini, pepitas, pistachios, sundried tomatoes, green peas, white beans, feta, lemon vinaigrette. He thought this was okay. That is pretty expensive for a salad and it wasn’t even a lot. Their dinner menu sounds good but I think we would probably not come back here.
NOTE:
–Annual pass discount applies!

They validate which is the more of the reason why I came. Surprised the food was actually pretty good. I ordered the burger, and the burger patty was flavorful and quite juicy. This place is pretty busy so you’ll probably expected to wait but service is attentive for the most part.

Terrible service. Lackadaisical employees.
Good clam chowder. Hard bread.
Old and stale pastries.
Express side does not validate parking. You have to go to the restaurant side for your 5 hour validation.
Outdoor seating area on the express side is comfortable and good for people watching.
Maybe if I came back in the morning instead of in mid afternoon, the bread and pastries would be better. Not sure when that visit will happen because I’m pretty sure that the service will be just as horrible regardless of the time I visit.

We had passed over La Brea Bakery the last time we were in Downtown Disney a month ago, and as we had some time before our movie yesterday decided to take advantage of their brunch options (available until 3 pm). We made a reservation, and after 30 minutes got seated in the patio area.
After ordering a couple of glasses of hibiscus tea and ginger lemonade ($ 4 with free refills), Kat and I went for the following brunch items:
Kat’s order: the Bacon Cheddar Frittata ($ 15) — up ’til yesterday, my lady had never had a frittata before. After her brunch, she now knows how delicious they can get! The potatoes and green onion melded well with the baked eggs, cheddar, and diced bacon; the mixed green salad served with a citrus vinaigrette further enhanced the dish.
My order: the Short Rib Hash ($ 17) — the moment I saw this on the menu, I knew I had to try it. And for the most part, I was very pleased — the short rib was very tender due to its braising, and once I mixed the sunny side up eggs with the roasted potatoes, peppers, and onions, the dish came together quite nicely. My only issue is that there are A LOT of potatoes in the entrée; no wonder I was filled up rather quickly and ended up bringing home my leftovers.
The patio area we had our lunch in was pretty clean; we did a bit of people watching during our brunch. It did take a while for our servers to refill our drinks, but given how busy the place was, we weren’t too surprised.
Looking forward to trying the burger and pizzas at La Brea Bakery (especially as our passholder discount helps) — just gotta remember to be patient here!

It’s no secret there are a lot of eating options at Downtown Disney and somehow, for all my years going there and being a Disney AP holder, I never actually tried the La Brea Bakery. My friend I went with is vegetarian and La Brea seemed to have the best options off of their menu that weren’t crazy expensive.
We each ordered a sandwich and chips and got a delicious sugar cookie to split for dessert. The sandwiches were delivered to our table pretty quickly to us and were nice and warm and a good size, I couldn’t even finish my chips so I kept them for a next-​day snack. It’s worth noting they have a table service section but you can also do quick service and take it To Go. The service at the quick service ordering counter was super friendly.
Seating is definitely ideal in the summer or when it’s warm as the large majority of it is outside but it’s a great way to feel like you’re actually at Disneyland as you watch all the people go by (or feel extremely sad because you can’t go into the park even though it’s that close. Depends on your mood that day).

Out of all the dining options in the Downtown Disney strip, this was probably the one that presented more of the healthy dining options, so we decided on this. This was not my first time here, but gosh do I wish they had better alternatives to dining here. They have your typical fare — sandwiches, salads, burgers, etc. Honestly, the menu was a bit disappointing. My husband and I decided to split one of their mango chicken burgers and a salad. The Mango Chicken Burger was pretty impressive with the mango salsa and a very juicy chicken patty that surprisingly had bold flavors. They were fairly busy for lunch, but the wait was only about 10 minutes. The location is close to the entrance of both Disneyland and California Adventure parks.

We love eating at Disneyland. A few days ago Downtown Disney hosted a YoYo contest. Ten to 18 year-​olds put on quite a show outside the ESPN store.
When lunchtime rolled around we headed to La Brea Bakery restaurant to grab a sandwich. We’ve passed the store and restaurant many times, usually on the way home from a full day at Disneyland park. Too tired to stop, we vowed one day we’d try their fare.
We dined on the patio. No waiting. Comfortable. Shaded. Perfect breeze. Great for watching the parade of folks headed to-​from the park. Table laid with real cloth napkins and real silverware. Nice surprise.
Hubby ordered a Club Sandwich — turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato on white toast. I tried a wedge. Yes, it was tasty. Ranch dressing on the side kept the sandwich moist.
Grandson Jake ordered a Tuna Sandwich (tomato, avocado, sprouts on the side) served on grilled wheat toast. I’d order this again. Mounds of tuna. Large sandwich (only ½ sandwich visible in photo). Easily sharable by two people. Huge side of French Fries accompanied his meal.
Jake also ordered Apple Juice, which turned out to be fresh squeezed with bits of apple floating in the juice. Extremely healthy, but not for the palate of a kid whose juice is usually served as a clear amber liquid. Little too real.
We ordered Ice Tea. Such a hot day. Afterwards, we noticed a Ginger Lemon Ice Tea on the menu. Looks delish! Again, next time.
Great service. Many thanks to Pedro C. #110

3.5 stars
La Brea Bakery is the last eatery in Downtown Disney before entering the Theme Parks. They have two options: a sit down restaurant and an express café. I usually opt to go to the express for baked goods and coffee to go so I can maximize my time in the theme parks.
I really like how they have people kneading dough and making bread right before your eyes-​very festive and very Disney. They have an ample selection of pastries, croissants and muffins which are good for a quick bite on the go. For bigger appetites they also have sandwiches, paninis and salads which are OK. Yes, the prices are high for the quality of food you are paying for, but it’s Disney. Swipe your card and look the other way. Everything will be expensive everywhere you go. I wouldn’t expect to leave here for less than $ 10 a person. Add a drink and it’s more like $ 15.
I would never seek out La Brea Bakery as a destination eatery in the Disney area, but it’s never let me down in times of desperation. It’s mediocre and pricey, but safe and convenient. Plus, service has always been very friendly.

A great healthier option while at Disneyland.
All of the breads, muffins, salads and pizzas are good. We often eat many meals here during a Disney stay
2^nd time here on this trip, the chocolate croissant was disappointing. It was tough and not buttery. Somehow, the dough was overworked which is surprising in a chain restaurant that uses machines to knead the dough

TL;DR Food is good for Disney, but overpriced and not extraordinary.
My friend and I came here for dinner after a full day at the park and at about 6 p.m. had about a 10 minute wait for a table for 2. Once we were seated, we immediately got some ice water– sooo refreshing after a full day on our feet. The hardest part about this meal was deciding what to get because everything looked so good.
We decided on the shrimp and farro salad and the cobb salad with a tomato bisque bread bowl to share. The bread bowl came out first and it was smaller than I expected, especially for $ 10, but the soup was delicious. Perfect temperature-​wise and not too creamy. The salads were also good, but we definitely got too much food! As for the shrimp and farro salad, I recommend going with another dressing unless you’re a fan of lemon– the dressing is a bit too lemon-​y for my taste. However, the salad was large and had a good lettuce-​to-​toppings ratio. The shrimp was hot also which I liked. I left with leftovers and a happy tummy. I definitely want to try this place for brunch one day before a day in the park– their brioche french toast looks yummmmmm.

Overview: La Brea Bakery and Restaurant is a casual American restaurant located in Downtown Disney, closest to the park itself. It does not require park admission for entrance. It serves relatively simple entrees such as salads, sandwiches, and some fish plates at inflated prices, but the upside is that it does validate Downtown Disney parking that extends parking to 5-​free hours.
The Service: Our server, Kevin F, was quite the charmer and was the perfect example of a friendly and effective waiter. He remembered several guests as they arrived and took the time to talk to all of them. He was very attentive, and very pleasant to us.
The Food: My wife and I split the pastrami sandwich plate with fries for $ 20 including tax and tip (as of May, 2015) and enjoyed it. The portions were actually quite good in my opinion for «tourist trap» food (see photo below). Like all pastramis and fries, it was unhealthy and delicious.
The Establishment: We sat outside, and found it exceedingly pleasant with plenty of shade and décor, but the inside was also beautiful and well kept. The restaurant was very clean, and had the same happy, touristy mood that I experienced in Disneyland Park itself.
Conclusion: La Brea is a great restaurant that serves relatively simple American food that upcharges for the fact that it borders Disneyland Park, but offers a very pleasant experience and parking validation. Don’t expect a good value, or unique food, but it definitely seems like a great mid-​day stop after a fun morning at Disneyland.

La Brea Bakery is the closest restaurant to Disneyland, located in Downtown Disney. My cousins and I walked up for lunch and asked how long the wait was for four. The hostess gave us a 10 minute timeframe. No problem. As it was hot, we stood in the shade. A short time later we were seated on the shaded patio. Our server was great. He was asking how our day at the parks were but hadn’t been just yet. We informed him that we had just been to an early screening of Cinderella and that the movie was great. He asked about the movie and which part we liked best. It’s this level of attention that I really value. Great job!
As for food, I ordered the kale salad with bacon added. It was light and tasty. The grapefruit paired well with the kale. The bacon was a nice bonus. Still at $ 17, I’m pretty sure that’s more than I’d ever pay for a salad. It was big enough to share too. I also had an Arnold Palmer. Our meal arrived in a decent amount of time and we didn’t feel rushed. They also validate parking and take the AP discount.