Disneyland will once again have a steakhouse after shuttering a clubby and pricey restaurant during the pandemic that took diners back to a bygone era of lavish decadence and old Hollywood glamor with dirty martinis, bone-in rib-eyes and a legendary 24-layer chocolate cake.
Disneyland plans to open new steakhouse and barbecue concepts at the former Tortilla Jo’s location in Downtown Disney. No opening dates were announced for the steakhouse restaurant and adjacent BBQ eatery.
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The Disneyland Hotel was home for decades to Steakhouse 55 and its predecessors until the restaurant met its demise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walt Disney Imagineering created a new Lobby Lounge in the former Steakhouse 55 location.
There is no shortage of steakhouses in the Disneyland area with Morton’s, Fleming’s and Ruth’s Chris restaurants across Katella Avenue near the Anaheim Convention Center.
Which steakhouse and BBQ joint are heading to Downtown Disney?
Disneyland hasn’t made any announcements yet — but there are a few possibilities.
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A new iteration of Steakhouse 55 could return — but that’s unlikely.
Steakhouse 71 — Disney World’s take on Disneyland’s Steakhouse 55 — opened in 2021 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort during the kick off of the 50th anniversary celebrating the 1971 debut of Florida’s Magic Kingdom.
Tortilla Jo’s was operated by Patina Restaurant Group which is opening a trio of new restaurant concepts featuring Mexican cuisine by Chef Carlos Gaytan in May at Downtown Disney.
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Patina operates Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse by James Beard Award-winning chef Joachim Splichal in downtown Los Angeles and Midtown Manhattan.
Levy Restaurants — which has created and operated restaurants at Walt Disney World for more than three decades — is behind the new Parkside Market coming to Downtown Disney’s west end.
Levy runs Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse — owned by the NBA G.O.A.T. and six-time league champion — at a casino in Washington state.
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Disney Springs — Disney World’s version of Downtown Disney — has an STK Steakhouse and a Polite Pig barbecue restaurant. Disney Springs also has a Smokehouse at the House of Blues, but Downtown Downtown Disney lost its HOB years ago to the nearby Anaheim Gardenwalk outdoor shopping mall.
Disney’s Florida theme park resort has its share of steakhouses, including Le Cellier Steakhouse at Epcot, Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club and Shula’s Steakhouse at the Dolphin Hotel.
Disney World also has plenty of BBQ joints — including Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Regal Eagle Smokehouse at Epcot and Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
