REVIEW: Paradise Garden Grill – Lunar New Year 2019 at Disney California Adventure

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paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

REVIEW: Paradise Garden Grill – Lunar New Year 2019 at Disney California Adventure

This review was written with the help of Michel Lichand

Another celebration has begun, this time over at Disney California Adventure Park! That’s right folks, Lunar New Year is back again and better than ever. For Lunar New Year 2019, Paradise Garden Grill has premiered a new menu to bring your taste buds up to speed. We tried the Banh Mi, Korean Grilled Chicken, Whole Deep-Fried Tilapia, Vegan Orange Tempeh, and the Mango Mousse. And now we’re giving you the full review:

Paradise Garden Grill

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

Banh Mi -$11.99

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

Banh Mi is a sandwich with Korean barbecue and veggies. The bbq was well cooked and crispy, which went well with the crunchiness of the bread. The vegetables complimented the meat, providing some spiciness to the dish. The only problem is that the veggies made one of the ends of the sandwich soggy. Otherwise, it was a really good sandwich.

Korean Grilled Chicken – $12.99

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

It’s not bad Korean BBQ, but there’s nothing that stands out about this dish. Although it had a wine-barbecue taste to it, it was still on point and well cooked. If you’re really picky, this is your meal. If not, the Banh Mi is the better option.

Whole Deep-Fried Tilapia – $24.99

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

The fish itself is a gorgeous meal and, clearly, it’s meant to serve a family from the sheer size of the Tilapia. It looks and tastes like something that might be more at home at Carthay Circle. So that’s the problem: a quick service restaurant typically serves food that guests can consume easily, which is not this. Anyone who has ever had a whole fish knows that deboning it is a long, arduous, and important process. It’s a process you wouldn’t mind in a sit-down restaurant. But if you’re a family who wants a quick bite before your next FastPass, you can imagine that deboning this fish carefully to avoid any problems with bones is not going to work out.

It’s a shame because that is the only negative aspect of this very delicious dish. If you want it, go for it, but be warned that it’ll take more time to consume than your regular quick-service dish.

Vegan Orange Tempeh – $12.49

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

This dish looks pretty from the outside. The tempeh is shaped like Mickey Ears and everything is fried to visual perfection. The problem is the taste. This dish is like getting a thousand flavors all at once. The flavors of the vegetable fight with the rice and the tempeh, which taste more like peanuts drenched in sauce than chicken. Then again, perhaps that’s the point?

Disclaimer: I am not vegan, so perhaps this would taste different to those accostumed to the flavor. Overall, this what our least favorite dish on the menu.

Mango Mousse – $4.49

paradise garden grill lunar new year 2019 disney california adventure

In a menu filled with dishes that left an impression, this one disappointed. Not because it was bad, but because it was just okay. It’s a cakey outer shell around the sweet mango mousse interior. Apart from that (and a little flower you can eat along with the mousse), there’s nothing unique to it. Plus, it stuck to the plate, so it ended up being a bit more of a hassle than it should have been.

Overall, we didn’t love the Paradise Garden Grill Lunar New Year 2019 menu as much as we had hoped to. But there are still a few great options worth checking out! Let us know how you feel about the menu in the comments.