Best (and Worst) Food and Drinks at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
While a visit to Disney parks is often about the rides, shows and characters, food at Disney has increasingly taken a center stage. Every time Disney unveils a new attraction or festival, the Disney chefs get to work. The result is always some tasty, innovative and highly Instagrammable new menu items guests scramble to try for themselves.
The Essential Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland
The most epic expansion at Disney parks in many years just happened with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland. Naturally, this new land introduces Disney guests to a myriad new food offerings -- this time, from a whole other planet.
In fact, while you won't find character meals or fine dining, food is an integral part of making visitors believe they are actually visiting Batuu, a remote planet on the edge of the Star Wars galaxy. Disney developed the food to reflect that distant location. Most dishes are made of what would be local farm-to-table ingredients (if Batuu actually existed, of course). The result is an absence of chicken fingers and fries, and instead a menu that is pretty ambitious, much like many of the food offerings in Pandora - the World of Avatar at Walt Disney World.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge offers a cumulative total of five restaurants and snack stands. TPG had three writers in the land on opening day. We tasted nearly every single dish, sipped most drinks, compared notes and picked our favorites. Here are the best menu items that will tickle your taste buds, along with a few that may have missed the mark. (And yes, the dining outposts on Batuu seem to be coding as dining, so warm up your best credit cards for dining.)
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Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
The largest restaurant with the most food and beverage choices in Black Spire Outpost is Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. It's most similar to Satuli Canteen in Pandora, although not quite as enormous. Mobile ordering is available to skip the lines and save time (though at times you need to use mobile ordering an hour or two before you want to eat). The best dishes include:
Fried Endorian Tip-yip. Tip-yip is a lightly breaded white meat chicken dish with a side of vegetable mashed potatoes and gravy. It's probably the safest choice on the menu for less adventurous eaters. The restaurant also serves a kids' meal version of this dish with mac and cheese instead of potatoes.
The mac and cheese on the kid plate was actually pretty tasty, so you might want to steal a bite from your kid's plate.
Roasted Endorian Tip-Yip Salad. It's often really hard to get your greens on a theme park vacation, so kudos to Disney for putting a salad front and center. With roasted chicken (aka tip-yip) on top, it's a pretty healthy combination and a break from the many other heavy dishes most guests eat at Disney. Don't let the look of this menu item make you shy away. It would be perfect on a hotter day. The dressing itself was refreshing and not too heavy, but if we had any complaint, it would be that it was a bit overdressed.
Batuu-bon. Between the two desserts on the Docking Bay 7 menu, the Batuu-bon was the better choice. It is a chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse. Disney's description says it also contains coffee custard, but ours was very light on the coffee filling. That's probably a good thing because it made the dessert more kid-friendly.
As for menu misses, we thought the Smoked Kaadu Ribs were ultimately too spicy for sensitive palates and just too messy for theme park fare. A side dish that accompanied this entree, a blueberry corn muffin, was well done but not enough to salvage the overall effect.
The kids' meal Yobshrimp Noodle Salad was a major miss. There are just not that many 3- to 9-year-olds who would enjoy chilled shrimp served with noodles and dressing. Even the adult version isn't likely to be a grand slam, but will find the occasional fan far more frequently than the kid version.
If you are at Docking Bay 7 for breakfast, your menu is a bit more limited, but Rising Moons Overnight Oats were surprisingly good. We didn't expect to go to a theme park and enjoy chilled overnight oats, but as long as you are OK with the consistency, the fruity flavor with real fruit on top was quite good. The pork sausage in the Bright Suns Morning was also a standout in the morning line-up.
Ronto Roasters
Not far from Docking Bay 7 in the market is a smaller food counter, Ronto Roasters, serving just a couple of items. Outside, a droid turns "space meat" on a spit heated by a podracing engine. Mobile ordering is also available at this restaurant to save valuable time in the land.
Ronto Wrap. The main menu item, the Ronto Wrap, is definitely a highlight. It's a folded pita filled with pork sausage and a different variety of sliced pork, topped with slaw. It doesn't necessarily look like it will be as good as it tastes, so don't let the appearance throw you.
The breakfast version, dubbed the Ronto Morning Wrap, also gets strong marks on flavor from the combo of sausage, egg, cheese and sauce.
Kat Saka's Kettle
Outpost Popcorn Mix. Kat Saka's Kettle is a shop in the Black Spire Market serving only one food choice: Outpost Popcorn Mix. The colors are bold purples and reds and the flavor is sweet and spicy. The first few bites were a bit weird, but the dish became rapidly addictive. If you like kettle corn and don't mind a tiny bit of spice, this will be a hit. I even think many kids will enjoy it as well.
Oga's Cantina
Oga's Cantina is the local watering hole on Black Spire Outpost. It's also the first place in Disneyland Park (outside of the private Club 33) to sell alcohol. If you've ever had the chance to stop by Trader Sam's on either Disney coast, you probably already know how well Disney can do exotic cocktails. Oga's drink menu matches that very high standard, but unlike at Trader Sam's, drinks are premixed rather than hand crafted.
There are no food items at Oga's other than snack mix most of the day. The bar does serve a few breakfast items, presumably so guests aren't imbibing on empty stomachs in early morning hours.
With a two alcoholic drink maximum and a very long line to enter, it was not possible to sample all the drinks at Oga's. But with three TPG writers in the land on opening day, we collectively imbibed quite a few of them. We can confidently recommend the following:
Yub Nub. The drink is similar to a mai tai, but with the addition of passion fruit and also a bit heavier on the pineapple. At $42, it's the most expensive drink on the Oga's menu (but it comes with a very high-quality souvenir Endor tiki mug).
Bespin Fizz. This rum-based drink combines yuzu purée, pomegranate juice and white cranberry juice. It's topped with a cloud swirl that spills over the edge of the glass like a dry ice fog. We couldn't taste much alcohol in it (especially after the Yub Nub, which definitely packs a punch), but the fruity flavor was refreshing. It's a much smaller drink that goes down quickly.
If you are in the market for an (expensive) fun nonalcoholic drink, the Cliff Dweller, also comes with a keepsake Porg mug and is quite tasty, comprised of ginger ale, a blend of juices, hibiscus-grenadine and coconut. Expect to spend $32 for the cool drink with the adorable mug.
Milk Stand
Blue or Green Milk. The menu is simple at Milk Stand. This quick service counter near the First Order's headquarters serves blue milk and green milk. (Neither is actually milk.) These drinks are moderately sweet smoothie-like concoctions made with nondairy ingredients like coconut and rice.
The blue milk is largely considered the tastier of the two but unfortunately neither was truly excellent. This is a novelty drink that most people will order for either fun memories of Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen (or just for Instagram) but not everyone will truly finish the "milk." After three or four sips of each, I threw mine away. At $7.99 each, that's an expensive Instagram shot.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Theme Parks
Bottom Line
The food in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge pushes a few boundaries and is quite innovative. There are some excellent selections, but also a few misses, mostly due to the innovative nature of the ingredients.
Disney always tweaks the menus after new land openings like these so expect changes in the coming weeks and months. In particular, I'd expect (and hope) for a new kids' meal offering or additional snack to pop up somewhere.
For more inspiration:
- First Look Inside Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Was the Force With Disney for Opening Day of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?
- Disney’s Star Wars Land Is ‘Sold Out’ — Here’s How to Still Get In
- Miles Away: Using an LAX Layover for a Day at Disneyland
- The Best Restaurants at Disneyland in 2019
- The Best Restaurants at Disney World in 2019
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.