Are you trying to find a no-fuss and quick meal in EPCOT?

We know there are so many options when it comes to food at EPCOT especially during their frequent festivals. That can feel pretty overwhelming, so we thought we’d skip the festival booths and instead check out a restaurant that’s available year-round. We’re checking out the Lotus Blossom Café in EPCOT’s China Pavilion to try their food and give you a full review!

The Lotus Blossom Café is EPCOT’s quick-service restaurant serving the China Pavilion. You might ask, “What can you expect to eat there?” To that, we’d say that the menu is built on many staple “Chinese food” options you’d find at your local Chinese restaurant.

That isn’t to say it’s not good food, just don’t expect exotic dishes and drinks here like you might find at other locations around the World Showcase. Let’s check out the restaurant together.

Atmosphere

As you enter the China Pavilion, take a left and just past the Nine Dragons Restaurant, you’ll find the Lotus Blossom Café.

This is a counter-service restaurant, meaning that you will have to place your order with a Cast Member. Also, there is no Mobile Order option here.

As you walk up to place your order with the Cast Members, you’ll find the menus on the screens above the window counters where you pick up your food.

Also, you’ll find this café to generally be pretty empty, so you don’t have to worry about many crowds here.

The seating areas are all covered, but open-air, which might have you feeling pretty warm on those summer days in Florida. You will be able to escape from the rain though.

You can find your standard table and chairs here in the dining spaces on either side of where you place your order, and since it’s typically not crowded, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a place to sit.

You can get your utensils and paper napkins at the dispensers…

…on either side of the ordering area.

Now, let’s check out the food!

Eats

Let’s start by diving into the Lotus Blossom Cafe menu.

The menu features standard appetizers, entrées, and kids’ meal options similar to those you would find at your local Chinese restaurants. The menu has not seen many changes in a while, minus any price changes or minor additions/subtractions. You can check out our other reviews from this menu.

You can find two dessert options here, all the standard beverages, two unique teas, and alcoholic options.

Now on to the entrées! First up, we wanted to check out the Mongolian Beef Combo for $14.50. As a side note, all three meat entrée options are priced the same and the vegetable option is $2 cheaper at $12.50.

Snagging this dish means you’ll find yourself with a serving of Mongolian Beef and Onion, Spicy Noodles, an Egg Roll, and a side of Vegetables.

While it was a decent amount of food, it didn’t feel worth $14.50. Our favorite part of the dish was the beef. It did have a good flavor, but it was so paper thin, which made it go ice cold really quickly.

As we said earlier, there is a good portion with the noodles, beef, vegetables, and egg roll. You might want to add sauce packets to enhance the flavor of the sides.

To be completely honest, the Mongolian beef dish is pretty basic. It didn’t really stand out, and for the price, you could get two or more dishes from a festival booth that would be way more exciting and flavorful. It might be a hit for picky eaters, but if you’re looking for something more interesting, you might want to try somewhere else.

Next up, we’re checking out the Orange Chicken Combo for $14.50.

If you get this dish, you’ll find yourself with a serving of Orange Chicken, Steamed Rice, an Egg Roll, and a side of Vegetables.

As with the Mongolian Beef combo, it had a decent amount of food, but didn’t feel quite worth $14.50 as it was quite basic in general. The chicken had good flavor and there was plenty of sauce, which felt surprising.

Again, the portion is good, the vegetables definitely buttery, and the egg roll is your standard fare. The thing to note is that everything went cold very quickly, so don’t spend too long before digging in.

If you’re looking for quick and basic, this can be a go-to dish for you. None of the flavors stood out, but it does have that familiar Chinese takeout feeling to it.

Now for the most import question about Lotus Blossom Café: To Go or Not To Go?

Let’s weigh the pros and cons before you make your decision.

Reasons to Give It a Try:

1. It’s a Picky Eaters Paradise: If you’re dining with a crew of finicky eaters, Lotus Blossom Café has got you covered. You can indulge in classic Chinese takeout staples like Chicken Fried Rice that will transport you back to the comfort of home.
2. Al Fresco Feasting: The covered and open-aired dining areas allow you to soak up all that EPCOT ambience without baking under the Florida sun.
3. Craving Familiarity: Sometimes, all you need is a taste of your local Chinese restaurant. When you can’t dash to your neighborhood joint, Lotus Blossom Café steps up to the plate, offering those beloved egg rolls and more.

Reasons to Reconsider:

1. Budget Concerns: Let’s be frank; prices here may leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth. Forking over $14.50 for fried rice might seem steep, even within the magical realm of Disney World. Look elsewhere if you crave more bang for your buck.
2. Seeking Culinary Adventure: EPCOT serves up a tantalizing array of global flavors, making Lotus Blossom Café seem rather unadventurous in comparison. If you’re on the hunt for unique taste profiles or intriguing sauces, you might want to explore other options.
3. A World of Better Choices: While we can’t fault the commendable service and overall pleasant experience at Lotus Blossom Cafe, we must acknowledge that EPCOT houses a treasure trove of exceptional dining establishments. Consider redirecting your culinary compass to Germany Pavilion, Mexico Pavilion, or even Joy of Tea or the China festival booth for a more satisfying foodie adventure.

In a Nutshell:

Lotus Blossom Cafe isn’t a bad choice, but it may not be the crown jewel of your EPCOT dining experience.

That said, if you want something familiar or need a speedy meal while exploring World Showcase, Lotus Blossom Café can still be a reliable go-to. Just be aware that the value may not always align with the price tag. Keep an open mind and consider venturing beyond the ordinary to uncover hidden culinary gems.

Remember, this is just our take on Lotus Blossom Cafe. Your personal tastes and preferences may lead you on a different culinary adventure. Stay tuned to DFB for more restaurant reviews from Disney World!

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What do you think of Lotus Blossom? Tell us in the comments! 

The post The EPCOT Restaurant With Local Takeout Vibes — Help Us Decide If That’s a Good or a Bad Thing first appeared on the disney food blog.