Disneyland fans of pork spareribs, beef brisket, pulled pork and sausage links have reason to celebrate with the return of Southern-style barbecue to the Anaheim theme park for the first time in nearly a decade.
I sampled the menu of the new Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree during a soft opening on Thursday, Oct. 24 ahead of the official grand reopening of the revamped restaurant on Friday, Oct. 25.
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The new Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree brings a thematic, musical and menu overhaul to the Hungry Bear restaurant in the rethemed Bayou Country area of the park.
The updated restaurant will soon welcome a new neighbor when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially debuts on Nov. 15 after annual passholder and cast member previews.
The good but not yet great barbecue joint still has room for improvement. Fortunately, there were a few places where Disneyland chefs could make a few easy changes to improve the menu.
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I’m a barbecue junkie, so the revamped Hungry Bear was destined to become a go-to spot for me from the moment it was announced. My great hope is that the new place eventually lives up to its promise. The good news: Soft openings are all about working out the kinks and dialing in the menu.
Disneyland has been without a true BBQ joint since Big Thunder Ranch closed in 2016 to make room for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
The restaurant remodel mostly focused on the kitchen, but Walt Disney Imagineering did sprinkle a few Country Bears posters and signs throughout the dining area during the makeover.
A country music soundtrack played with a bit of fiddle and banjo – but I didn’t hear any familiar old Country Bear songs. And don’t expect to see Henry, Trixie, Teddi or any of the other Country Bears wandering around the restaurant.
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Let’s take a closer look at the five best things I ate on the menu at the new Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree counter-service restaurant.
1) Smoked Barbecue Combo Platter
Two selections of house-smoked meats: Pork Spareribs, Pulled Pork, Sausage Link or Beef Brisket. Served with baked beans, house slaw, white bread and pickles. ($21.49)
The pork spareribs were the star of the Smoked Barbecue Combo Platter. They were the reason I came to the Hungry Bear in the first place and the reason I’ll be coming back in the future.
The dry rubbed ribs were pull-off-the-bone tender and tasty. They weren’t overseasoned so they took the sauces really well.
Each rib had a fair amount of meat – but I came away wanting more.
Next time, I’ll get a double order of ribs and skip the other options – sausage, pulled pork and beef brisket.
The sausage available with the platter was fine but nothing special. And you can get the brisket and pulled pork as sandwiches.
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My one complaint about all the meats: They weren’t smoked enough. The meats are smoked anywhere from an hour to overnight. But they definitely could use more time in the smoker.
The big surprise on the platter were the pickled vegetables tucked in the corner. I loved the bread and butter pickles. The Hungry Bear should offer them as an a la carte side dish.
2) Corn Ribs Plate
Chile-lime aioli, parmesan, crispy onions, cilantro and scallions with house slaw served with beer-battered fries. ($14.99)
The Corn Ribs were unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
The Disneyland chefs sliced the corn on the cob lengthwise the way you would use a corer to split an apple or pear. The strips of corn on the cob curled up a bit during the cooking process.
The clever presentation lets you eat corn like you do ribs and toss away the “bones” when you’re done. It was a fun way to eat something we’ve all had before.
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The plant-based platter also came with a pile of amazing beer-battered fries. The Hungry Bear offers ketchup at the Fixin’s stand, but don’t bother bringing any to the table.
Go for the trio of bold and delicious barbecue sauces instead for dipping your fries. My favorite was the golden mustard sauce that was tangy and not at all vinegary.
3) Banana Pudding
Bananas, whipped cream, crushed wafer cookies, dulce de leche and toffee. ($7.29)
Disney does sugar better than anyone and the Disneyland chefs did justice to this classic Southern dessert.
This fantastic treat delivered layer after layer of deliciousness. The toffee topping gave the whole thing a crunchy sweet bite.
The petite serving size was just enough for one – so tell your friends to get their own.
4) Sparkling Strawberry-Pickle Lemonade
Lemonade, strawberry smoothie, lime, lemon-lime soda, pickle juice and a pickle spear. ($7.49)
Most drinks at Disneyland are way too sweet. Fortunately, that’s not the case at the Hungry Bear.
The refreshing pickle lemonade was the big winner of the bunch. The pickle juice wasn’t overpowering and it added an enjoyable sweet and sour taste to the lemonade.
The added bonus: A pickle spear in the drink to munch on as you sip.
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The strawberry shortcake lemonade also on the menu sounded like a sugar overload, but it was surprisingly mild and delicious. The cream topping actually helped moderate the sweetness.
5) Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich
Tangy BBQ sauce, house slaw, bread and butter pickles served with beer-battered fries. ($15.99)
The pulled pork sandwich needed some work – but fortunately I had everything I needed right in front of me to fix the problem.
The pork was fairly juicy, but it was more chopped than pulled. The meat was almost like stewed pork. I wanted more smokiness – just like with the ribs.
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The big problem with the pulled pork sandwich was the house coleslaw. It was plain, wet cabbage desperately in need of some kick. A few bread and butter pickles and little pickle juice pushed it up a notch. The golden mustard sauce brought it all together.
The pulled pork sandwich was much better than the smoked beef brisket sandwich – which was tough and dry without much flavor. The chunks of brisket that should have been jiggly and tender were far too thick.
Barbecue fans who judge a place by its brisket will be sorely disappointed.
