EPCOT is full of dining options — so no matter your preference, you’ll likely find something to enjoy while you’re there.
Pizza, tacos, soup in a bread bowl — it can be hard to decide where to eat with all of the choices, and that’s not even taking into consideration the festival booths you’ll find during much of the year. With so many little food stands scattered around the World Showcase, you might walk right by some of them without giving them a second thought. Kabuki Cafe, inside the Japan pavilion, is one you might have overlooked, but it’s worth checking out! I stopped by for a light lunch here recently — come see how it went.
Atmosphere
Kabuki Cafe sits to the left of the 83-foot-tall pagoda made to resemble one at the Horyuji Temple in Nara, Japan.
The food stand is unassuming and has a rather small menu — but don’t miss it!
Behind the building, you’ll find a nice seating area surrounded by evergreen trees, a koi pond, and azaleas.
There are also a few tables to the right of the building that have a view of the World Showcase.
You might even catch the Matsuriza — a group of Japanese drummers that perform on the pagoda — if you time it right,
Let’s take a look at the menu!
Menu
The menu here is pretty slim, but if you’re looking for a light snack, there are a few good options. The Kakigori — a Japanese Shaved Ice — comes in various flavors: Strawberry, Melon, Tangerine, Cherry, and Blue Raspberry. You can get one flavor for $5.50, two flavors for $6, or Rainbow for $6.50, and add a Sweet Milk Topping for an additional $1.50.
For a snack, you could choose between two Sushi Rolls, a Nigiri Combo, or the Chilled Edamame. There are also various Sake Slushies, drinks, beer, wine, and traditional sake on the menu if you’re looking for something to drink.
Eats
I ordered one of the Melon Kakigori with Sweet Milk Topping and the Nigiri Combo for a light lunch.
The Melon Kakigori with Sweet Milk Topping was $7, which is a little on the pricey side, but it was a sizable portion.
The melon flavor was strong and reminded me of a combination of canteloupe and honeydew melon. It was sweet but refreshing, and I thought it was a great way to cool off in the Florida heat.
Since I got mine with the Sweet Milk Topping, this was a really creamy and flavorful dessert. However, I think that without it, it might have been a tad too icy and not shaved fine enough to be a really solid option. The cream made it taste more decadent — but if you’re just looking for a frozen sweet treat, this could still be a nice choice.
The Nigiri Combo was $6.50 and came with one piece each of Shrimp, Tuna, and Salmon Nigiri as well as some ginger, wasabi-flavored paste, and soy sauce. I was also given a pair of chopsticks, but there are forks, knives and napkins near the registers as well. The sushi here is prepared ahead of time and stored in the display case by the registers.
It doesn’t scream “super fresh sushi,” so you might be tempted to skip this, but you might be surprised to hear how it is!
This wasn’t bad, but it definitely was not an elevated sushi dish (but for $6.50 at Disney World, that goes without saying). Overall, the sushi and the ginger all tasted surprisingly fresh given how they were served.
The salmon was actually very buttery and flavorful…
…the shrimp had a nice firm texture that I enjoyed…
…and the tuna was good, but a bit more mild than I would have hoped.
Like I said, this was enjoyable — but it didn’t blow me away. Good nigiri has rice that is slightly warmed and holds its shape well, but this rice could have been better structured.
For $6.50, these three pieces of nigiri probably won’t fill you up. But, if you are just in the mood for a light snack and you love sushi, this might be worth a stop for you.
Overall
All in all, this is definitely not a bad spot to stop for a snack. If you’re looking for something light or want a cold treat to beat the heat, there are a few things here that could fit the bill for you.
The Kakigoris are fun and flavorful, and the sushi is surprisingly fresh, just not wildly impressive. If you want something quick and easy, make sure you check Kabuki Cafe out!
Nosh or Not
Stop by Kabuki Cafe for a snack if…
- You’re looking for a treat to cool off. The Kakigori here is refreshing and a fun way to beat the Florida heat.
- You want some low-maintenance Japanese food. There are a lot of great restaurants in the Japan pavilion, but if you want something easier than a table service meal, this might be a good spot for you.
- You’re in a hurry but need a bite to eat. The sushi here is already prepared, so it is served quickly! The Kakigori is prepared after you order, but it is done rather quickly, so you can be in and out of here in a jiffy.
Keep on walking if…
- You have picky eaters in the group. There isn’t a huge menu here, so if you’re looking for a light snack and don’t love sushi or edamame, this isn’t the spot for you.
- You want a more elevated Japanese cuisine experience. There are better options for food if you are looking for a fancy Japanese meal — including the recently opened Shiki-Sai: Japanese Izakaya!
- You want to eat where there is air conditioning. This is outside, so you might want to consider an indoor location if you’re hoping to cool off.
We’ll continue to bring you Disney World news and dining reviews, so stay tuned to DFB for more!
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Have you had a snack at this little dining location before? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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