Disney Springs began its phased reopening on May 20th to welcome guests back to its third-party restaurants and stores.

Since there are plenty of new health and safety procedures in place across Disney Springs, restaurants are limiting capacity and implementing social distancing measures. And, while we gave you ALL the details on dining in Disney Springs, we’re back again for more food! But, this time, we’re heading to Morimoto Asia for some Japanese cuisine.

Check In

When you first arrive at the restaurant, there are is a line for guests with reservations to the left, with distancing stickers on the ground.

And, there’s a separate line for drop-in guests to the right of the restaurant.

Atmosphere

Every time we walk into Morimoto Asia, we can’t get over how BEAUTIFUL the atmosphere is! It feels like you’re walking into a magical fantasy with its string light chandeliers (which fit right into Disney World!).

Although we noticed that the cocktail bar and sushi bar were both closed, you can still order both of them at your table! So, don’t worry — you can get that Sake with your meal!

Annnd, you’re going to want to pull out your phone to check the menu since Morimoto Asia is only using a QR menu for the time being.

If you don’t have a compatible device, notify your servers and they will be able to assist you! But know that Morimoto Asia is operating with a limited menu, so your favorite meal might not be available at this time.

Drinks

As we were deciding what to get, our server told us that two new drinks were debuting at the restaurant!

The Sparkling Belvedere is Morimoto’s twist on a Cosmo made with belvedere vodka, yuzu, cranberry, and topped with sparkling rosé for $18. Just like a regular Cosmo, the Sparkling Belvedere was delicious and SUPER refreshing. But, the most unique part of the cocktail was the citrusy yuzu — which added some tartness to the otherwise sweeter flavors!

The Forbidden Highball is a simple combination of Toki Japanese whiskey and soda water, but don’t be fooled — it packs a lot of flavor! We were actually surprised that the drink was made with whiskey since it is so light. Our server told us that Morimoto is actually one of the few restaurants in the United States that sells Toki. So, in order to make the Forbidden Highball, Morimoto had to get a special machine called the Toki Highball to mix the drink properly.

You can grab the Forbidden Highball for $16!

Eats

After we ordered, we were given disposable plastic silverware and chopsticks to use. We started our meal off with the Cauliflower and Cheese Spring Rolls for $16, which actually surprised us by how much of a treat they are!

While most restaurants with Asian cuisine might leans towards a more traditional Spring Roll, Morimoto’s unique twist was extremely good with plenty of cheese packed into the flaky rolls.

The Cauliflower and Cheese Spring Rolls also came with a side of Buffalo Beer Cheese Sauce, which is SO GOOD. We won’t pass up an opportunity for some extra cheese with a spicy kick!

After all that cheesy goodness, we decided to try the Buri Bop and Beef Lo Mein for our main courses. And, if you have never had Buri Bop, it’s basically a little show as it’s prepared in front of you for $36 ! Iron Chef Morimoto actually won Japan’s Iron Chef Competition with this recipe, so it’s one of the restaurant’s favorite things to serve up. (We stan an iconic dish!)

The chef started with raw Japanese yellowtail and a raw egg with rice and veggies (including chili curls that look BOMB). It was presented in a 550 degree hot bowl (!!!) and the chef seared the fish on it while he stirred the other ingredients and cooked the egg.

If the show doesn’t sound interesting enough, the flavors of the dish were AH-MAZING. Even if you aren’t normally a fan of fish this Buri Bop might just change your mind!

The bowl was packed with flavors of ginger and soy in every bite of the yellowtail and rice. Since the Buri Bop sat in the hot dish, the rice at the bottom got all crispy, which was a great texture contrast to the other soft ingredients.

And, believe it or not, our meal got even better since the Beef Lo Mein was also incredible! The dish was made with stir-fried noodles, beef tenderloin, napa cabbage, carrots, bean sprout, mushroom, and scallions for $25.

Although it may seem like a more typical meal to find at a restaurant like this, it was a stand-out against other lo meins that we’ve had! The beef tasted like very good quality and was cooked well. The flavors of the mushrooms and scallions added to the tender beef. Plus, that beef and veggie to noodle ratio was ON POINT, so you get enough of each part when you take each bite!

The only thing that could have made our meal better was dessert. BUT, Morimoto Asia isn’t serving dessert right now since the company that makes their ice cream hasn’t opened yet.

Overall

Morimoto Asia is one of those spots in Disney Springs that consistently serves up amazing food, even if you’re just trying the Street Food quick-stop outside!

If you’re looking for a place to have traditional Japanese cuisine or try something new, check out Morimoto Asia the next time you’re in Disney Springs. Plus, that Buri Bop turned our dinner into dinner with a show!

Check out what it is like to dine at other reopened restaurants in Disney Springs here!

Have you eaten at Morimoto Asia before? Let us know your experience in the comments below!