I am of the school of thought that every Disney World guest should experience not only every attraction in each park, but in the case of Epcot’s World Showcase every restaurant.  In our tradition of eating in the World Showcase, my husband and I eagerly awaited our reservations at Nine Dragons, the table service restaurant in the China Pavilion.  There is a lot to do in the China pavilion, such as checking out the Circle 360 film and the replica Terra Cotta army, which could both be easily overlooked.  There are also carts with sugar art and traditional umbrellas often nearby.

Unlike other restaurants in World Showcase pavilions, however, I would consider Nine Dragons a great stop for a last minutes reservation or for picky eaters who really enjoy Chinese food.  While the food here is restaurant caliber, many of the menu items are familiar and recognizable as items found in most Chinese food establishments around the country.  Don’t get me wrong, the honey sesame chicken here soared high above anything I could order from the Chinese delivery a few miles from home, but it does not wow in the way some other World Showcase restaurants do.  It is because of this that I suggest Nine Dragons as a lunch choice or for an early dinner.  You can often walk up for lunch and save a few dollars.

Inside, the ambiance is representative of many different parts of China.  The recently renovated dining room is warm and relaxing.  As a plus, many meals are served family-style, which is nice for sampling many things.  One thing not to be missed here is beverages: there is something for everyone to try! I suggest ordering a tea or beer selection imported right from China itself.

Menu:  Wine Dessert Dinner Lunch

Melissa has created Chip & Company’s ‘Guide to Walt Disney World: Restaurant & Snack Options’ posts as well as chronicling her Disney baking (and cooking) exploits In the Kitchen. She also writes original articles about her experiences visiting Walt Disney World and finding Disney magic in her home state of New York. Melissa is a World History teacher and you can find her on tumblr. Oh & you should probably know she believes in fairytales.