We recently returned from another visit to EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival, and once again, we had a great time eating our way around the park.
This time, we traveled with one of our sons, and our other son and his wife met us there. That gave us five people to sample the food, which is a great way to experience Food & Wine. We could order several different dishes, share them, and get everyone’s opinions without getting too full.
Before our trip, we spent some time reviewing the menus and making a list of things we wanted to try. There were several new offerings that caught our attention, along with a few returning favorites we knew we wanted to have again.
We visited on a weekend, so we expected crowds. The lines were definitely long at some booths, but overall, we found them manageable. We didn’t get to everything on our list and ended up skipping Italy and China. With so many choices, there’s only so much you can eat in one visit!
So what did we enjoy most, and what would we skip next time?
Our Two Favorite Booths: Gyozas of the Galaxy and Flavors from Fire
If we had to pick two booths that stood out above the rest, it would be Gyozas of the Galaxy and Flavors from Fire.
Gyozas of the Galaxy was a new booth we were really looking forward to trying. We ordered both the Basil Pesto Chicken Dumplings and the Street Corn-Style Dumplings, and we loved them both.
The basil pesto chicken dumplings were a great combination of flavors, but the street corn dumplings were just as enjoyable. We couldn’t pick a clear winner between the two. This was one booth where we were glad we ordered more than one item.
Flavors from Fire was another favorite and served what we considered the best individual dish of the festival.
The Rodizio-Style Grilled Beef Skewer was our top pick of the day. The beef was flavorful, and at $6.99, we thought it was a good value for a festival portion. This is one we’d definitely order again.
We also tried the Smoked Chocolate Bread Pudding, which was delicious. The combination of chocolate ganache, vanilla bean-bourbon sauce, and smoked sea salt made this a dessert we’d recommend trying.
Between the dumplings, beef, and bread pudding, these two booths were easily our favorites this year.
The Alps Was Another Great Stop
We also really enjoyed The Alps booth.
We tried the Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese on a Baguette and the Tartiflette, which combines potatoes, bacon, onions, and Brie.
Both were very good. We enjoy cheese, so this was a natural stop for us. The dishes were rich and filling, and we were glad we made room to try both.
While Gyozas of the Galaxy and Flavors from Fire were our top two booths, The Alps deserves an honorable mention.
Returning Favorites That Still Hold Up
One of the things we enjoy about Food & Wine is getting to revisit some of our favorites from previous years.
The Slow-Roasted Pork Slider at Hawai’i is one of those dishes. Served with pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise, it’s been a favorite of ours for several years. We’re happy to report that it’s still just as good as we remembered.
Another returning favorite was the Schiacciata Sandwich at Forest & Field.
This sandwich features mortadella, prosciutto, stracciatella cheese, arugula, sun-dried peppers, and pistachio pesto on focaccia bread.
We really enjoyed this sandwich when it was offered previously, and we were happy to see it return. The flavors work well together, and the portion is generous compared with many of the other festival dishes. At $6.29, we thought it was one of the better values at Food & Wine.
Both of these dishes are worth keeping on your list, especially if you’re looking for something a little more substantial.
The Mac and Cheese: Sometimes the Original Is Better
We stopped at The Wedge to try the Crab and Corn Macaroni and Cheese.
It was good, and we certainly didn’t regret ordering it. However, we actually preferred the regular macaroni and cheese.
The crab and corn version had plenty going on, but sometimes a simpler dish is the better choice. If we were ordering again, we’d stick with the original.
A Few Sweet Treats
Of course, we had to save room for dessert.
One of the things we wanted to try was the Liquid Nitrogen Almond Truffle Mousse at Swirled Showcase. We’ve enjoyed the liquid nitrogen desserts at previous festivals, and this one was another fun treat.
We also picked up a s’mores cake pop from Regal Eagle Smokehouse. While it wasn’t technically one of the festival booth offerings, it caught our attention, and we decided to give it a try.
We made another dessert stop at Sunshine Seasons, where we tried a macaron. Unfortunately, while very pretty this one was a little too sweet for our tastes. We certainly enjoy desserts, but the sweetness was a bit overwhelming.
Of all the desserts we tried, the Smoked Chocolate Bread Pudding at Flavors from Fire was probably our favorite.
The Drinks Were a Mixed Bag
We always enjoy trying a few specialty drinks at Food & Wine, but this year we had some disappointments.
One of the biggest was the sangria at the Souk.
We’ve enjoyed this sangria on previous visits, but Disney has changed the recipe, and the price has changed as well. Unfortunately, we didn’t think the new version was as good as what we remembered. This was one of those cases where we wish they’d left a favorite alone.
We also tried two of the specialty Joffrey’s offerings, the S’mores and Almond Affogato drinks.
Both were okay, but neither really stood out to us. With so many drink options available throughout EPCOT, we probably wouldn’t go out of our way to order either again.
Visiting Food & Wine on a Weekend
We visited on a weekend, and the crowds were definitely noticeable.
Some booths had fairly long lines, but we found them manageable. We never felt like the waits took away from our enjoyment of the festival.
One thing that helped was having a list of foods we wanted to try before arriving. We didn’t follow a strict schedule, but knowing which booths interested us made it easier to decide where to stop.
Having five people in our group was another advantage. We could split dishes and try more of the menu without everyone having to purchase a full portion. It also made for some fun conversations about which foods were worth ordering again.
Our advice is to review the menus ahead of time and pick out a handful of must-try items. You can always add something that catches your attention along the way.
We also recommend sharing dishes. It’s a great way to try more foods without filling up too quickly, and it helps keep the cost down.
Our Final Thoughts on the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
We had another great time at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival, and there were plenty of dishes we’d happily order again.
Our two favorite booths were Gyozas of the Galaxy and Flavors from Fire. Both delivered some excellent food, with the Rodizio-Style Grilled Beef Skewer taking our top spot as the best individual dish of the festival.
The Alps was another great stop, and we were happy to see returning favorites like the Hawai’i pork slider and Schiacciata Sandwich still holding up.
Not everything was a winner. We were disappointed with the changes to the sangria, the Joffrey’s drinks were just okay, and we’d choose the regular mac and cheese over the crab and corn version.
But that’s part of what makes Food & Wine fun. You get to try new dishes, revisit old favorites, and occasionally discover something you wouldn’t have ordered otherwise.
We’re already looking forward to seeing what Disney comes up with next year.
Have you visited EPCOT’s 2026 Food & Wine Festival? What were your favorite dishes? We’d love to hear your recommendations!
Mike and Tara
The Many Adventures of Tara and Mike