Downtown Disney Food Trucks: No.

Dear Disney,



It has come to my attention that you have not learned from your mistakes concerning your “food trucks” that silently exist in bustling Downtown Disney. I am telling you this as a friend, and as a subtle fan: your food trucks are a disaster. The prices are too high, the portions are too small, the dining options aren’t very reasonable coming from food trucks, and overall you are embedded in an area that has dramatically upped its game in food truck cuisine---meaning you have to do the same if your food trucks plan on surviving without issuing a loss.

Look, Central Florida has a thriving Hispanic community consisting of Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians, and Venezuelans. With that we have food trucks left and right all over Orlando and Kissimmee long after the sun comes down. And even with the lack of food trucks, we have hole-in-the-wall places that are open extremely late. Each of these places provide simple foods and very simple prices that gets the job done. And even without the Hispanic food trucks, we have several successful food trucks located within Downtown and close to it---including a famous Korean BBQ spot and an awesome chicken-and-waffles truck. Food trucks appeal to local Hispanics much more than tourists that find the concept a bit foreign, so why not whether a) cater better to this crowd or b) cater more to your tourist crowd.

Let’s look at these pictures, shall we? Downtown Disney during Avengers Day (Avengers: Age of Ultron premiere) has thousands of people roaming around waiting for their movie to start. They were scattering all over the streets, but ultimately avoiding the food truck area entirely. And I assure you if you skipped over to the other side, there will be a line 100 people deep at the spectacular Earl of Sandwich. When people would rather wait 10-25 minutes to order as opposed to ordering food truck food should really say something.

Guys, I can get an arepa, a perfectly baked bread stuffed with whatever I want (My personal favorite is handmade cheese, white cheese, shrimp, and chicken) at just $6. Almost all your items are far beyond that price and I assure you will not be as filling. Food trucks should not sell meals, they should sell simple yet engrossing and fulfilling foods. Macaroni and cheese with a pork shank is not a food truck option---that type of food is more suitable for a sit-down place. Why would I spent $12 on this meal AND not be served this food when I can find a restaurant, order essentially the same thing at the same price, have myself a server, and get a better portion out of it? Wolfgang Puck on both sides offer this similar item---and they have a full-staffed kitchen working on this meal as opposed to just one cast member.

Food truck food is supposed to be simple. Grilled cheese sandwiches, fried chicken, popcorn, ice cream, corn dogs, hot dogs, funnel cake, tacos, quesadillas, pizza slices, and doughnuts are all examples of foods that would do much better in that small Downtown Disney corner. Gyros, sliders, butter chicken is not what we consider food-on-the-go. It never has been this way.

The ONE food that I would consider keeping within the entourage of pricing and quick-service overkill would be the Disneyland-inspired corn dog. This hunk of calorie-infested meat is a gem, definitely worth its pricing (when you order it without the pointless fries). Its savory, lightly sweet, and has that perfect fried texture to match with the hot dog. This is the ONLY reason why you should visit one of these food trucks. I ordered the chicken and waffles just out of curiosity. It was a disaster, I couldn’t even finish it. The waffles were small, way too fluffy without much flavor, and the chicken just didn’t mesh well with the meal. The whole thing was disappointing. And it’s not the fault of the cast members, they are merely following the simple formula. Melissa’s food truck features a waffle that you can fold like a taco and consume it with the chicken inside---now that was perfect.

Bottom Line: Downtown Disney’s Food Trucks will never even come close to the success of the nearby places mainly because they are trying to charge us fine dining prices for simple foods that’s still too complex for something that should be finger food on the go. Instead of mac and cheese, they should be mac and cheese bites. Instead of flatbread, they should be pizza slices. Instead of sliders, they should be legit burgers. And why can’t you sell simpler fresh foods like popcorn, funnel cakes, donuts, and hot dogs? The idea of food trucks in Downtown Disney is good, but the execution couldn’t be more disappointing. There is always room for change, but the way it is now, it does not work and it will not work. You can’t compete with the heavy-hitters like Bongos, T-Rex, Splitsville, and especially Earl of Sandwich. Go in a different route and offer simpler foods and more valuable (and acceptable prices). Very simple. Keep the corn dogs though….



Final Verdict: Do Not Recommend


Downtown Disney Food Trucks
Downtown Disney
Lake Buena Vista, Fl

Ana's Kitchen: Little Restaurant, Big Flavor

Word of mouth is a special, special thing.

There is a very small restaurant hidden behind Wet n’ Wild, located far from the more popular Tourist Country sites. This place is in a small plaza with throwaway stores and stereotypically-named restaurants. Ana’s Kitchen is in a tough location to make good money---and then being open strictly in the afternoon adds to the difficulty of maintaining itself.

But the word of mouth has allowed for this place to thrive. I was told of this place by a Brazilian co-worker, who doesn’t even officially live in Orlando (Has a one-year program). When I personally arrived, it was chock full of Brazilians and South Americans---tourists and locals. The place is just a few tables deep, the kitchen within sight, and barely enough room for decoration. Nice Brazilian artwork scatters the place, but you really don’t have space to enhance the vibe and atmosphere. Ana’s Kitchen is very friendly though from staff to management.

Being a small place with obvious limited budget, they pull off daily lunch specials to replace some of the main menu items that aren’t always available. Although I really wanted steak, due to limitations I instead ordered their chicken parmesan with rice, fried yucca, and French fries. I know, cool diet. Throw in some mango juice and I will call it a nice South American lunch. Although chicken parmesan doesn’t sound too Brazilian, keep in mind Sao Paulo is one of the top places for Italian food in the world. They love their pizza there.

The rice, fries, and yucca arrive first, which I found rather odd. The rice was decent, nothing too fattening (like Hispanic rice) or plain (like sushi rice). The fried yucca didn’t have much of the infamous Hispanic flair, but its yucca so you can’t really go wrong. You get a nice healthy portion, and each bite is just as crunchy and flavorful as the last one. Yucca is honestly everything the potato wishes it could be---if you haven’t discovered the magic of yucca (cassava in English) then you must change this today. Although the sides were good, I was still pondering why they arrived so much earlier than my –

---Holy crap. This is not chicken. This is a monstrosity. Not only is it a ginormous hunk of chicken lathered in fresh marinara and topped with a mountain of cheese, but it is a darn good chicken that is hugged by Italian goodness. When the plate arrives you can hardly see evidence of the meat—you have to start consuming it before you are convinced its chicken parm. Now, a plate of this size would usually mean that the dish is around $20-$25, but in Ana’s Kitchen it is a steal by costing just north of $12---and remember it comes with all those sides that had been delivered earlier.

Among the best chicken parms I’ve ever consumed, this behemoth is packed with intense flavor from top to bottom—from the smooth marinara to the fresh melted cheese to the chicken itself which was baked perfectly. Despite the size it was very easy to eat because the texture was being generous. But then combine with the rice and yucca and you have easily a full meal—it feels like the appetizer, sides, and main entrée was wrapped up in a nice $12 package. Hands-down one of the best lunch deals you’ll find in all of central Florida. If all the meals are this size then we are looking at one of the best restaurants in terms of value in the entire state.

Of course, I had to try their dessert. Chocolate flan was the dessert of choice, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. One of most egregious things you can do to moist desserts like flan or tres leches is not engulf the treat in extra syrup, sugar, or sauce. This flan was sitting on a sea of pure sugary mayhem, which contributed to why it was a nice sweet kick to offset all the salty and savory lunch I just consumed. It was nowhere near as big as the chicken parmesan but it was plenty to satisfy.

Bottom Line: Ana’s Kitchen is an awesome choice for lunch, especially if you’ve seen better days financially. Spotting a $20, you can engage yourself in a very full lunch that might hold you over past dinner, as the lunch items are big and the sides contribute to the great value you’ll find within these skinny walls. The menu is definitely smaller, but with the lunch specials and the good variety within that lonely page you won’t be moaning too much at the limited options. Everything I had here was fresh, delicious, and great in quantity. If you are looking for a calmer Brazilian restaurant that doesn’t have the typical buffet mannerisms, then Ana’s Kitchen is your spot.Word of mouth is the main reason why a secluded restaurant open only 5 hours can still remain a success story. And with this article, I am merely continuing the hype train.


Final Verdict: Recommend


Ana’s Kitchen
7500 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819