5 Asian-Inspired Foods I Tried At Disneyland For APAHM

Buzz Feed

14-05-2025

Hi, I'm Dannica, and I recently went to Disneyland!
I originally went because my friend is getting married at the end of the month, so we wanted to celebrate by having a little bachelor party at the happiest (and most expensive) place on earth, but turns out, the main point was that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! And as a Filipina American, I was extremely excited to find that Disneyland is celebrating the diverse cultures of AAPI folks through the thing that really brings people together: food.
So, here are my honest opinions on the exclusive and seasonal items I tried at Disneyland and California Adventure to celebrate APAHM! Let's get started!
1. Matcha Float 🍵 — You can find this item in Adventureland at The Tropical Hideaway on the Disneyland side! It's a strawberry and mango swirl Dole Whip with matcha on the bottom, topped with white chocolate drizzle and toasted coconut 🥥.
First, there were A LOT of people at the parks when I went, so my friends and I stood in line for this float for about 30 minutes (you can't order this on the mobile app, either, BTW). It was $9.29, which, even for Disneyland, seems quite steep. However, I will argue that there was a whole lot of good stuff going on in this float, and there was enough to share among the three of us.
The strawberry and mango swirl Dole Whip was sooo refreshing, but the mango flavor definitely overpowered the strawberry, resulting in a tangy-forward taste. However, the earthiness from the matcha and the subtle sweetness from the coconut flakes really balanced the tanginess out and made the float come together. (Also, I'm literally just noticing that the float we got didn't come with the white chocolate drizzle!?!?)My only qualm with this dessert (aside from it missing an ingredient 😒) was that the matcha by itself was noticeably chalky, especially once we got to the bottom of the float. It wasn't super chunky or clumpy, but it felt powdery in the mouth. All in all, I'd get the matcha float again if the line wasn't long, but it's not something I would feel compelled to get again, especially for the price point.Overall rating: 8/10
2. Miso Caesar Salad 🥬 — I saw this salad on the menu at The Tropical Hideaway as well, but I actually bought it at Bengal Barbecue, which you can also find in Adventureland. It comes with romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan, croutons, miso dressing, and a little cup filled with pickled cucumbers and pickled onions 🧅.
I personally love a salad and don't think I've ever had a salad I didn't like before, and this miso caesar salad was no exception. I was a bit hesitant to try it because I'm honestly not that familiar with miso outside of the obligatory miso soup that normally comes with a lunch order at my local Japanese restaurant, but I'm glad I did!First of all, much like how the white chocolate drizzle didn't make it on top of the matcha float, the croutons meant to come with this salad were nowhere to be found. And again, I didn't notice until AFTER the fact. At this point, Mickey Mouse himself must've had something to do with it, but I digress.
Even though there weren't any croutons, the salad as a whole was still very pleasant. The romaine was fresh and crunchy, the pickled onions and cucumbers were sweet with only a slight sourness, and the miso caesar dressing was...interesting in the best way possible. In fact, the dressing carried the entire thing.
The miso dressing wasn't what I was expecting because it was packing a bit of heat! I only knew miso as an ingredient that was a little salty and subtly savory (again, I've only known miss miso in soup form), so I was surprised when I tasted the creamy dressing and found it slightly spicy. I'm thinking from the close-up of the dressing that maybe there was some chili powder action or something, because it added a layer of flavor that completely elevated the salad.Really, the only downside of getting this salad is the portion size for the price. The portion given looks like it would be a side for an entrée, when in reality, it's $11.29 for the salad alone. That said, I don't regret trying it, but I'd probably spend my $12 elsewhere.Overall rating: 7/10
3. Pulled Pork Slider Plate 🍖 — Also a seasonal menu item at Bengal Barbecue, this plate features three pulled pork sliders with coleslaw on what looks like Hawaiian rolls, paired with macaroni salad and a bag of Maui onion potato chips (not pictured) 🥔.
For $18.99, I was expecting these sliders to be DELICIOUS. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Before we get into the sliders, though, let's have a moment for the macaroni salad, which was extremely peppery and not very creamy. The dressing was thin and a little soupy, and it had a touch of sweetness to it that was ultimately overpowered by the liberal dusting of black pepper. Honestly, if I had a choice, I'd probably pass on the macaroni salad.
OK, now for the main event:
It's not like the sliders tasted bad. In fact, I'm sure that for a lot of people, these babies are delicious. Though the pulled pork was tender and moist, I just couldn't bring myself to fully enjoy the marinade, which was sweet and vinegar-y — almost reminding me of adobo (which, hot take, I don't like).I thought that the already-sweet Hawaiian roll paired with the already-vinegar-y slaw weren't good matches with the pulled pork, and I think I would've enjoyed it more had there been a more savory or salty element to it. Again, I'm sure other people would enjoy this dish, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It is a big portion, though, so it's definitely shareable!Overall rating: 5/10
4. Ube Cake Flan 🍮 — We found this flan in San Fransokyo Square from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at California Adventure! This dessert features vanilla flan with ube cake at the bottom.
I've had ube flan many times because a lot of Filipino-owned bakeries in my area make them, so they're always at family parties. That said, I was super curious what Disneyland's take on ube flan would be, so for $7.49, I found out — and wasn't mad about it!
If you're unfamiliar with flan, it's basically a sweet, baked custard dessert with a nice layer of caramel on top. And if you're unfamiliar with ube, it's a purple yam originating from the Philippines, typically used in an array of Filipino desserts due to its subtle nutty flavor and touch of sweetness. So, basically, combining ube with flan creates the most heavenly concoction known to the human race. At least, in theory.Disneyland's ube flan cake definitely satisfied my sweet tooth, but it obviously didn't compare to the ube flan I've had from family-owned bakeries. I kind of wish there was a bit more of the runny caramel, and I wish I could've tasted the ube more. The cake itself was moist, though. It was a good little (and I mean LITTLE) dessert, but I think Disneyland's ube cake just lacked a Filipino auntie's touch and ❤️love❤️.Overall rating: 8/10
Before we get into the last (and best) thing I had at the parks, let's have a moment for the matcha soft serve from Cars Land's Cozy Cone Motel at California Adventure, which sold out before I could get a taste:
*Sigh.* I know it's not anything wild, but I think I would've loved it.
Lastly: The Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava Punch 🥭 — I feel like everything you need to know is in the name, but this drink is made with passion fruit juice, orange juice, and guava juice. It can be found at the Lucky Fortune Cookery, also in San Fransokyo Square, at California Adventure (also, peep the Baymax macaron, which was filled with a chocolate-hazelnut spread and buttercream 🤤).
I know, I know. Seriously, Dannica, of all the things Disneyland offered, the best thing you had was a drink?! Yes, I love a silly little drink, arrest me!This drink was incredible, and I've been thinking about it every single day since I left the parks. It's so refreshing, fruity, and light, and you would think with all the different juices that it would be overly sweet, but no! The drink had the perfect ratio of tang, sweetness, and tartness. I would inject this drink into my bloodstream if given the chance. The drink was $6.29, which I honestly and obviously wouldn't mind paying again. I hope they keep this punch throughout the summer so I can possibly get it again!Overall rating: 10/10.
And those were my eats! I'm sure there are a lot more foods Disneyland will be releasing for APAHM, so if you visit the parks and come across any foods that I didn't try, please let me know! I'm going back to Disneyland in July, so if you have any favorite treats or sweets you recommend, comment them down below! Catch y'all later!
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