Oh, Hollywood Studios, why don’t you have more food options? We love Hollywood Studios, but sometimes we find ourselves trying to figure out where to eat. There aren’t a crazy number of restaurants, but we found one that might be your go-to.
Let’s eat at Backlot Express!
We headed to Backlot Express in Echo Lake to see if you should head here for your next meal in Hollywood Studios.
Atmosphere
You’ll find Backlot Express to the left of Echo Lake, close to the old Muppets Courtyard that is currently being turned into Monstropolis.
Come on in!
They have a large indoor and outdoor seating area and are close to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, so you might hear the show going off when you’re there! It’s themed like a Hollywood film set, with props hanging around and signs that the cast and crew were working on new projects. Along with seating, there is a large selection of condiments you can grab at the restaurant, which is a huge perk in our books.
Seating
Menu
On the menu, you’ll find family-friendly favorites! This is a quick-service restaurant, so you can order at the counter or on your app with Mobile Ordering.
The menu
They have items like chicken strips, burgers, salads, and sandwiches, and is one of the few traditional-style quick-service spots in Hollywood Studios. They also sometimes offer special snacks for different holidays and celebrations, along with Coca-Cola products and Joffrey’s Cold Brews. They have a kids’ menu as well with chicken strips and macaroni and cheese.
Drink offerings
Eats
First up, we had the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl for $13.29. This bowl is made with seasoned jasmine rice, teriyaki chicken, yuzu-pickled edamame, carrots, cucumber, and onions drizzled with house-made lemon-tahili-chipotle vinaigrette, and sesame seeds.
Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
We’ve heard good things about this bowl, and it came through! The chicken was cut into chunks and was super juicy with a teriyaki glaze. You’re not going to find much of a sauce on the chicken, but we thought it was the right amount. The green onions added some freshness, and the seasoned rice stuck together really well, even if there were a few bits we thought were undercooked. Something we loved was the almost equal ratio of chicken, toppings, and rice, and it was a great bang for your buck. The dressing on top was mostly lemon, and we didn’t taste any of the chipotle, but the whole bowl had beautiful textures and was filling.
Great ratio!
Then we had the Cuban Sandwich for $12.99. This sandwich features classically pressed roasted pulled pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, with plantain chips.
Cuban Sandwich
We were so surprised by how delicious this Cuban Sandwich was! It had a toasted outside and was nice and flat, exactly how it should be. The pork was a little dry, but the ham was juicy and thinly sliced. There was a decent amount of meat inside, along with melted Swiss cheese. You’re not going to quite get that glorious cheese pull, but that comes with the Swiss cheese territory! The pickles were very thin and had a nice crunch, but we didn’t like how easily they pulled out when we tried to bite into them. It did bring in an acidic, tangy flavor which matched the tangy mustards, the salty and savory meat, and the smooth cheese. This is a great, solid option!
Inside
We also tried the 1/3 lb Anugs Bacon Cheeseburger for $13.99. This is a 1/3 lb angus bacon cheeseburger on a brioche bun served with french fries or carrot sticks. We went for the fries.
Angus Bacon Cheeseburger
This wasn’t our favorite dish we tried all day, but we think it would be great for those looking for a comforting, simple meal. The bun was fluffy but also dry, and fell apart very easily when we were eating it. Overall, we thought it needed more salt and was on the bland side, but when you’re trying to feed the whole family at one restaurant, this might be perfect for the picky eaters of the group. The bacon was our favorite part: it wasn’t too crispy, had a bit of chew, and brought in the saltiness. We recommend grabbing a $1 Cheese Sauce, too, for some additional flavor.
Inside
Ending with dessert, we had the famous Wookie Cookie for $7.49. These are two oatmeal cookies with vanilla cream filling, garnished with a milk chocolate sash on top.
Wookie Cookie
This is probably one of Hollywood Studios’ most iconic treats, and we think you should at least try it once, especially if you love oatmeal cream pies. We love to share this cookie, and it has a strong oatmeal flavor and texture with an extra sugary vanilla cream in the middle. It’s a pretty sweet dessert and a perfect finish to our super savory meal. You can also take pretty cute pictures with it!
Tons of icing!
Nosh or Not
You should head to Backlot Express if…
- You want an easy, quick service meal with familiar dishes
- You like indoor seating and want somewhere to relax in the shade during your meal
- You are looking for filling options to keep you fueled throughout the day
You might want to skip if…
- You’re looking for more unique dining options
- You prefer a sit-down style restaurant with guaranteed seating
- You are in other areas of the park where other quick-service options might be more convenient for you
Our meal
Overall
Backlot Express might be an underdog of Hollywood Studios! They had a few solid options that were filling and had great value, along with comforting dishes everyone knows and loves. We love that they have access to lots of amenities, indoor and outdoor seating, and offer Mobile Ordering. While we wouldn’t necessarily make a trip just to go here, if you’re close by and are looking for a quick bite, this can be a great option.
In the meantime, keep following Disney Food Blog for more food reviews so you know where to eat on your next Disney World trip.
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Have you ever been to Backlot Express? Tell us about your favorite food in the comments.
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