TDR Restaurant Review: Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo DisneySea

Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is one of 16 counter service restaurants and cafes at Tokyo DisneySea. It’s also the only place you’ll find Mexican food in the entire of Tokyo Disney Resort.

    

As you’d probably expect, the food at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is more Mexican inspired than authentically Mexican. It’s a Japanese take on a North American take on Mexican food, but don’t let that put you off. If you like Mexican inspired food, Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is quite good.

For the most part the options are fairly predictable – tacos, nachos, tortillas – you get the picture. Being Japan, though, don’t be surprised to find items such as cold shrimp tacos on the menu. The menu does change, but I did indeed have cold shrimp tacos the first time I ate at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina.

The above photo is of the Christmas 2015 Special Set, which consisted of the main meal, a drink and dessert. It was 1,580 Yen and it was quite okay.

Above: The Yule Log from the Christmas 2015 Special Set. I’m not sure what it has to do with the Mexican theme, but it was nice.

Above: The cocktails change with the seasons, and when we visited, we had Kahlúa mocha cocktails. Kahlúa, after all, is a Mexican liqueur. These cost 600 Yen, and the seasonal cocktails at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina typically cost around 600 to 680 Yen.

Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina also sells Corona, the Mexican beer. During Halloween 2013, they had a different beer to fit with the theme – ‘Day of the Dead’ beer. In other words, the food may not be authentically Mexican, but the beer is!

My favourite thing about Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is not the food (although the food is perfectly alright – I have eaten there twice and would consider eating there again) but the location. Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina has plenty of tables to choose from both upstairs and downstairs, as well as outside on the water (the Lost River Delta).

Whilst I wasn’t convinced that I was actually in Mexico, it was easy to believe that I was somewhere other than a huge theme park when I ate outside by the river at dusk. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the bats that come out in the evening, and the Temple of the Crystal Skull on the other side of the river makes for some great scenery.

Above: From the outdoor area on the water, you can see the queues of people waiting for the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line (a boat that goes up and down the Lost River Delta). Because of the lighting and the music, it actually looks like a party is going on and really adds to the ambience while you eat!

There is so much to see at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina that it’s worth taking a few minutes to have a wander around. They’ve really gone to a lot of effort to set the scene.

Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina may not be the most colourful or overtly ‘Disney’ eatery in the park, but it’s something different, and it’s often less crowded than some of the other restaurants due to being a little out of the way.

Where to find Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina:

Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is located in the Lost River Delta area of Tokyo DisneySea. It’s not the easiest place to find, so I’d recommend picking up one of the free park maps as you enter DisneySea so that you can refer to it later. There are three bridges that go over the Lost River Delta, and Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is closest to the bridge in the centre. It’s on the opposite side of the river to the Temple of the Crystal Skull and Yucatan Base Camp Grill.

Would I recommend Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina?

If you like Mexican inspired food and/or you’re keen to find a table easily, away from the overly popular areas, then Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is a great option. They have a good little range of Mexican inspired snacks and meals, and the prices are fairly reasonable. My partner and I have eaten there twice, and would definitely consider eating there again, and we’ve never had any trouble getting a table there.