Tiendita

In spring 2024, three Mexican restaurants opened simultaneously at Downtown Disney District – the high-end Paseo, mid-range Céntrico, and casual grab-and-go Tiendita – a somewhat surprising development given Disney’s then-recent history of lackluster culinary offerings, offset by obviously continued park visitor interest in Mexican foods beyond churros. We visited Paseo soon after opening and Céntrico a year later, but didn’t stop into Tiendita until a year after that, as we had no need to visit either Downtown Disney or Disneyland for basic Mexican items; however, what we found when we arrived was somewhat more interesting than expected.

While all three of the restaurants cater to different needs, they’re physically right next to each other; Céntrico’s kitchen is on Paseo’s first floor, with a separate outdoor bar for drinks, and Tiendita has an enclosed prep space inside its tiny footprint directly next to Paseo’s entrance. There’s no seating in Tiendita, and all orders are taken at several touchscreen kiosks in the front; guests can stand inside and use counter-like surfaces briefly to hold their food and drinks, but aren’t expected to stick around long. Water, utensils, and napkins are self-serve, and waits for orders are typically in the sub-15-minute range.

Apart from the lack of seating, Tiendita is probably the best of these options for cash-conscious families with young kids, thanks to a nice kid’s menu where quesadillas or burritos are paired with one side (guacamole/salsa/chips, rice, black beans, or esquites) for only $10 to $11. By comparison with in-park meals, where tiny portions of so-so items are commonly sold for the same prices, guests can eat quite well here.