Anaheim Convention Center – Dining

It’s hard to say with certainty what on-site dining options will be available to you during your visit to the Anaheim Convention Center. That’s because the food services provided at the convention center by Aramark, the facility’s catering company, vary based on the size and type of event being held. Food trucks will park outside on occasion, but don’t bet on it. And even if they do show up, be prepared to spend a good portion of your lunchtime stuck waiting in line.

If you’re not into what’s on the menu at the Anaheim Convention Center, don’t fret. There are over 100 restaurants nearby that can be reached either by foot or within a short drive. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat in the middle of the day or don’t want to order dinner off of a room service menu, the Anaheim Resort district has something to suit every palate. Below you’ll find a list of some popular restaurants in the immediate area we’ve compiled to help kick off your search.

Once you decide what restaurants you’d like to dine at during your stay, drop by the Restaurant Reservation Center located in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center. Their helpful and friendly staff will be more than happy to take care of all your restaurant-related needs so you can get back to focusing on the task at hand: enjoying your time spent at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Hilton Anaheim

With over 1,500 guest rooms and 140,000 square feet of meeting space, the Hilton Anaheim is the largest hotel located on the Anaheim Convention Center campus. It’s also a great place to grab a bite to eat while you’re at the Anaheim Convention Center, being that they’re practically right next door to each other.

There are a variety of options to choose from when deciding where to dine at the Hilton Anaheim. If you’re short on time, swing by the Starbucks located in the lobby or the food court, which features Sbarro, Baja Fresh Express, Just Grillin’, and Submarina. This way you won’t miss out on any of the action back at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In addition to these quick-service eateries, the Hilton Anaheim also features two sit-down restaurants: Mix Restaurant & Lounge and the outdoor Pool Bar & Grill. The Mix Restaurant & Lounge offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner service while the Pool Bar & Grill is only open for lunch and dinner from May to September.

The menu at the Mix Restaurant & Lounge features a variety of dishes infused with fresh Californian flavor, such as a vegetable frittata drizzled with tomatillo salsa for breakfast and dinner offerings like red snapper Baja tacos and vegan rigatoni.

The selection at the Pool Bar & Grill is a tad smaller in comparison, but make no mistake, there’s still plenty to choose from. If you’re in the mood for something light and fresh, opt for a grilled chicken Caesar salad or a veggie wrap. Want a meal that’s a bit more substantial to get you through the rest of the day? Get your fill with an open-face steak sandwich or street tacos. The Pool Bar & Grill even has a kids menu with items like burgers, chicken fingers, and hot dogs.

Anaheim Marriott

The second-largest hotel on the Anaheim Convention Center campus, the 1,030-room Anaheim Marriott, is another good option to consider when you’re deciding where to go eat. This Marriott property features three eateries: nFuse Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, The Market, and Slice Pizzeria.

nFuse is the Marriott’s sole full-service establishment. It’s an upscale restaurant that also features a bar and lounge area with an impressive drink menu to boot. While dining at nFuse, you can pair your meal with handcrafted cocktails, locally brewed craft beers, upscale wines, and more.

The breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus at nFuse are just as impressive as their selection of drinks. For breakfast, indulge in cinnamon brioche French toast drizzled with caramel maple syrup or something savory like a grilled shrimp omelet. Later in the day, nFuse serves up a selection of tasty lunch and dinnertime offerings, such as a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, rigatoni with spicy fennel sausage, and ale-braised short ribs.

If you’re short on time, the Anaheim Marriott’s got you covered with two quick-service dining options. The Market is your typical coffee house joint, where busy travelers can grab a cup of coffee along with a pastry or grab-and-go sandwich before a long day at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Slice Pizzeria serves up a variety of piping hot pies, from specialty pizzas like the So Cal BBQ, topped with chicken, red onions, Roma tomatoes, and barbecue sauce to your own custom creation. They’ve also got draft beer on tap for diners looking to pair their pie with a cold one. Talk about a match made in culinary heaven!

Anaheim GardenWalk

Head East down West Katella Avenue, the street where the Anaheim Convention Center is located, and you’ll eventually pass Anaheim GardenWalk. This outdoor dining, entertainment, and shopping destination is less than a 15-minute walk from the convention center, so getting there is a breeze.

Anaheim GardenWalk features a number of popular chain restaurants, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, Johnny Rockets, P.F. Chang’s, and more.

If you’re in the mood for a more unique dining experience, Anaheim GardenWalk is also home to FiRE + iCE Interactive Bar + Grill, a creative restaurant concept where diners can choose from a variety of ingredients, then sit back and watch as highly trained chefs cook their unique culinary creation on a searing hot open grill.

Best of all, a meal at FiRE + iCE is all-you-can-create. That means you can go with Asian-inspired flavors for your first dish, American for your next, and if you’re still hungry after all that, take your taste buds south of the border or over to Italy.

Other upsides to dining at FiRE + iCE include an outdoor patio with a roaring fire pit, live music on weekends, and a drink menu full of creative twists on classic drinks like margaritas, martinis, and more.

Downtown Disney District

If you’re a diehard Disney fanatic or just someone in search of dining experience that’s far from ordinary, a visit to the Downtown Disney District is a must during your time at the Anaheim Convention Center. With over 15 eateries and even more located inside the three resort hotels on the property, we’d be here awhile trying to name them all. However, some standouts include La Brea Bakery Cafe and Uva Bar & Café.

Whether you’d prefer to sit down and savor your breakfast or get it to go so you don’t miss any of the action back at the Anaheim Convention Center, La Brea has got you covered. This cozy café is a great place to fuel up for the big day ahead, with breakfast options ranging from perfectly portable croissant sandwiches to decadent brunch staples like pecan-stuffed French toast and short rib hash.

La Brea isn’t the only Downtown Disney restaurant offering quick-service breakfast though. Others include Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express, a New Orleans-themed eatery serving creole classics like beignets and bread pudding, and, you guessed it, Starbucks.

Stop by La Brea later in the day instead and you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to try their delicious dinnertime dishes, such as a blackened mahi-mahi sandwich dressed with Cajun remoulade and chicken pot pie filled with tender chunks of white meat chicken and fresh vegetables, topped with flaky puff pastry.

Those who are looking to take advantage of California’s beautiful weather while in Anaheim will definitely want to check out Uva Bar & Café, a swanky outdoor spot where diners can either soak up some sunshine or sit out under the stars as they enjoy their meal. The menu at Uva features Spanish-style tapas and a variety of entrees, along with a sweeping selection of craft beers, signature cocktails, and other adult beverages.

For those unfamiliar with the term, “tapas” alludes to snacks, canapes, or small plates commonly associated with Spanish cuisine. If your meal at Uva will be your first foray into the exotic world of tapas, be sure to try the corn arepas. This popular tapa features savory pulled pork, guacamole, cilantro, and red onion, all sitting atop a seared cake made from ground maize known as an arepa. Full of bright, fresh flavor, these corn arepas pair perfectly with the al fresco dining experience offered at Uva.