We were invited to try the authentic New Orleans dishes on the Tiana’s Palace menu

Tiana’s Palace is the culmination of a full-circle Disney story that began when Disney Animation Studios began researching their new animated movie, “The Princess and the Frog.”

Along with traveling to New Orleans, production designers and animators also visited New Orleans Square at Disneyland, where the French Market restaurant inspired the abandoned sugar mill that would eventually become Tiana’s Palace in the movie. That same building has now been transformed into the real-life Tiana’s Palace restaurant, complete with new smokestacks that Disney animators added for architectural interest.

“We did tremendous research on how we could turn a building in New Orleans Square into Tiana’s Palace,” explained Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Director Kim Irvine. “I recalled when the directors [of “Princess and the Frog”] looked at the French market, they said, ‘That’s [Tiana’s Palace]!’ So, we chose that building and added the smokestacks and the wheel house on top to make it looked more like the movie.”

Irvine notes the exterior of the new restaurant will change from day to night.

“It has such a transformation from the day to the night – both equally as beautiful,” she said. “Tiana’s sign lights up beautifully during the day, but at night it twinkles. And then the steamboat cabin lights up with an amber light and the big amber “T” lights up on the smokestacks. It’s going to be really, really spectacular.”

Tiana’s Palace Décor

The interior of the French Market was already filled with New Orleans-inspired details that were recreated in the movie, including ornate wrought ironwork and a blue skylight.

Imagineers built on those elements by adding Tiana’s trademark yellow and green color palette and personal touches like cookbooks and cooking utensils Tiana would use to create her famous beignets.

“In New Orleans they always have black and white checkered floors in all the restaurants, so we included that into the interior,” Irvine said. “But we did something kind of fun beneath the big blue skylight. We have white stars on a blue background underneath it as though the stars that [the movie’s animators] put in the restaurant’s skylight are glowing down on the ground.”

In addition to the sights from the movie, the restaurant will also feature the sounds of New Orleans, thanks to a score of authentic jazz pieces from the time period.

Tiana’s Palace Menu

The Tiana’s Palace menu was inspired by New Orleans too. The Disney culinary team met with the Chase Family of the iconic Dookie Chase restaurant to ensure the flavors were authentic (those sensitive to spice should note that some of the dishes have a bit of a kick).

The menu also features ingredients sourced directly from New Orleans or Louisiana, including shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, cane syrup from Louisiana, and Andouille sausage, golden rice, and bread from New Orleans. In addition, both Tabasco and Crystal hot sauces from the New Orleans region are used in the restaurant.

“These genuine ingredients bring the authenticity to life and are really critical to the dishes and the story,” said Disneyland Resort’s Culinary Director Chef John State.

Here are signature items guests will find at the new quick-service location:

Chicory Coffee Cold Brew – Joffrey’s chicory coffee topped with cream sweetened with Louisiana cane syrup

Muffuletta Sandwich – Mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, cheddar, provolone, and house-made olive giardiniera relish on toasted sesame seed bread from New Orleans and served with red beans and rice and house-made pickles

Beef Po’ Boy Sandwich – Slow-cooked beef in gravy dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on toasted French bread from New Orleans served with red beans and rice and house-made pickles

House Gumbo – Braised chicken, andouille sausage, and heirloom Carolina gold rice

7 Greens Gumbo (plant-based) – White Beans, roasted okra, roasted yams, roasted sweet potatoes, and heirloom Carolina gold rice (can also be ordered with chicken and Andouille sausage)

“This is a gumbo that our friends the Chases have developed and it’s only served on the Thursday before Easter,” explained Lindell Skinner, food and beverage operations manager for New Orleans Square (and a New Orleans native). “This is our opportunity to pay homage to the Chases and bring our version to life at Disneyland.”

Cajun Spice Half Chicken – Brushed with barbecue sauce and served with baked macaroni and cheese and coleslaw

“If you grew up in New Orleans, your baked macaroni and cheese was cut into squares,” Skinner said. “So, it was important to us that the baked macaroni and cheese for Tiana’s Palace is cut into squares.”

Gulf Shrimp and Grits – Simmered in Creole sauce with cheesy grits

House-filled Beignet – Glazed beignet with lemon ice box filling (beignet can also be ordered with an exclusive Lilypad and Lotus Cup ceramic set)

“Part of the tradition of New Orleans is a lemon ice box pie,” Skinner explained. “You really have to go to the neighborhoods to find this pie, so this is something we are paying homage to by creating a lemon ice box pie filling for our beignet.”

Kids Entrees – Kids meals are a baked chicken leg, the baked macaroni and cheese, or a ham and cheese sandwich

Tiana’s Palace will offer live entertainment on its outdoor stage. In addition, the restaurant’s patio seating has been expanded, and a new seating area has been added near a new mobile order window – and don’t worry, Mint Julep Bar fans, Mickey beignets and non-alcoholic Mint Juleps will still be available when Tiana’s opens.

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