In a previous article, I suggested the best table burgers within the four Walt Disney World theme parks. In terms of burger quality, the better options reside outside the theme parks. A few counter service locations at the Walt Disney World Resort offer quality burgers at the resort hotels. D-Luxe Burger, in Disney Springs, provides a good counter service burger. Some excellent burgers can be found at lounges around Walt Disney World Resort. My top suggestions for those type places would be the Bison Burger at Geyser Point or The Three Bridges Signature Burger over at Three Bridges Bar and Grill.
However, you may be a burger person, but your group wants to do a table service dining experience. If you are that type of person, I have numerous suggestions for places where you can get a quality table service burger. In most cases, your burger might taste more gourmet than their table service dining entrees.
Before elaborating, my recommendations come from chatting with many theme park media colleagues. Though I have some strong opinions about these burgers, this list functions as a consensus of various perspectives. Once again, this list of six burgers only includes table service options not lounges or counter service options.
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We will start this burger quest with lunch options. I have two excellent burgers only available during lunch dining hours. First, we will go to visit Steakhouse 71 in the Contemporary Resort. The Stack Burger arrived on the scene with immediate praise. Respected theme park experts called it the best burger on Walt Disney World property. Now, that praise should be considered. However, that pronouncement looks a bit overblown. In fairness, it makes my list. Back soon after Steakhouse 71 opened, I reviewed it. I agree that it makes a great burger. Everyone will consider it very good. Yet, not everyone will declare it the best on property. The Stack Burger features a signature blend of beef, American cheese, lemon aïoli, red onion, house-made pickles, on a brioche bun. This burger comes with a choice of side. I suggest the parmesan fries over petite wedge salad or pasta salad.
Back in July, I wrote an article with suggestions of the best table service burger in each theme park. All those burgers cost $21 or more. This Stack Burger costs $20. I suggest this burger tastes better than anything The Plaza restaurant will create for less money. The pro dining move when visiting Magic Kingdom would be to take an afternoon break to visit Steakhouse 71 for the food there. As you might expect, you will need a dining reservation even for lunch. However, you can mobile order this burger at lunchtime to speed up returning to Magic Kingdom if desired.
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In terms of value for a burger on Walt Disney World property, a clear winner resides at STK Steakhouse in Disney Springs. From 11am until 3pm on weekdays, STK sells Wagyu Burger and Fries for $9.99. Before you think this is a tiny slider, think again. This burger features a 7oz Wagyu beef patty. Also, the beef patty itself tastes better than most table service burgers on Walt Disney World property. This burger comes topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, special sauce. You can pay an upcharge of $3 each for grilled onions, egg, or bacon. Adding avocado will cost $3.50.
Photo by Jon Self
I found this burger offers great value. In fairness, even if it was just average, it costs $10 with fries. You will need to search for a long time to find a decent burger and fries at a theme park resort for under $10. Fortunately, in this case, this burger tastes good!
Now, if you want a burger for around dinnertime for an evening meal, I have three suggestions. Now, all of these may be purchased at lunchtime also. First, the Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger at Ale and Compass sits atop many people’s list for table service burgers. This place resides within Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort in the Epcot Resort area. Menu description tells us that this burger comes with caramelized onion on a parker house bun with applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and herbed mayonnaise. This burger costs $20. In simple terms, this burger represents doing a standard bacon cheeseburger but doing it very well.
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The other two suggestions come from Disney Springs restaurants. Ironically, one specializes in chicken and the other in Italian food. The Art Burger at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ makes another example of a normal style burger done well. The Art Burger features two beef patties topped with American cheese, Art’s special sauce, tomato-bacon jam, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a brioche bun. Then, you get house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing. The burger and chips cost $18. In terms of quality and value, that works nicely.
Of all places, Terralina Crafted Italian offers guests a “Crafted Burger” for $21. This burger comes with house made truffle potato chips and garlic pickles. Also, the mixture of ground chuck and brisket creates a distinctive burger patty. The toppings of arugula, tomato, pickled red onion, cheddar cheese, chili-sage aioli within the toasted bun makes a solid burger. As odd as this sounds, the burger tastes light for such a hearty sounding burger.
Photo courtesy of Main Street Magic Podcast
No discussion of burgers at Walt Disney World should leave out the Lobster Thermidor Burger at Grand Floridian Café. I have already done a full review of that burger so click here for more specific about this excellent creation. Also, you can even get this burger for breakfast.
Walt Disney World offers some excellent burgers. In my opinion, these six burgers rate as the best table service dining options at Walt Disney World. Please give these a try and let me know if you disagree. If you think I left out a table service one, leave a comment or tell me via twitter (@pastorjonself). Of course, if these burgers sound good to you, consider setting up some alerts at MouseDining.com to book your advance dining reservations to enjoy then. As always, eat like you mean it!