Flo’s V8 Cafe Review
This Flo’s V8 Cafe review features food photos and summarizes our opinion of this Cars Land restaurant at Disney California Adventure. Flo’s V8 Cafe has undergone a significant menu overhaul since it first opened, at which point we named it one of the best restaurants in all of Disneyland Resort.
Starting with the theme, Flo’s V8 Cafe is modeled after a real restaurant on Route 66, Midpoint Cafe in Midpoint, Texas. Before you snort in derision that the real restaurant is in Texas and this is a California theme park, it’s fair to say that this restaurant could be found anywhere along Route 66, including California.
More than anything, it looks like Flo’s V8 Cafe that caters to talking cars from a certain Pixar film, which is set in a fictional town an an area that’s most likely Arizona…which is also not California. Whatever. The cafe and the land work, and they work well.
Flo’s V8 Cafe is a mix of real-life 60s-era car culture and backstory from Cars having to do with the rise of racing in Radiator Springs. The neon will draw you toward the restaurant, where you’ll notice great details such as oil cans, gas pumps, cacti, and varying types of architecture depending upon what side of the restaurant you view. Once inside, the rest of the details will continue to mesmerize you.
The main lobby and line area has a large dome ceiling with color-changing lighting and a modern lighting fixture. This, against the checkered floor and the jukebox tunes of Cars Land give Flo’s V8 Cafe a 1960s soda-fountain feel. Different dining rooms have different themes, with part of the restaurant decorated in a “pit” style, another area decorated as a trophy room, and another area featuring awards, accolades, and posters from Flo’s career as a singer.
All of these details inside are really cool and worth some time exploring, but the absolute best place to eat is actually outside, behind the restaurant in an area that overlooks Ornament Valley (and Radiator Springs Racers).
Soaking up the ambiance in this seating area at night while enjoying a nice Racer 5 IPA (speaking of which, I commend Disney for going with a local microbrew from Bear Republic Brewery) might just be my favorite thing to do in all of Cars Land.
The ambiance inside is great, too. There, you’re transported to the bygone era of car culture, whereas outside, you feel the “natural” world of Radiator Springs.
In both cases, the atmosphere you’re experiencing is not one that will remind you of the cartoon world of Cars or of being in a theme park. In both cases, you’re truly transported away from Disneyland Resort and into totally different locations entirely.
This is the greatest allure of Flo’s V8 Cafe, and it’s a testament to the Imagineers that they were able to convey a car theme that isn’t simply straight out of a scene in Cars.
Yes, the references to the film are there, but beyond the exterior design bearing a striking resemble to a locale in the movie, the restaurant does not seem cartoonish at all.
Of course, all of the ambiance in the world doesn’t make a whole lot of difference for a restaurant if the restaurant’s food is awful.
During our visit for the grand reopening of Disney California Adventure and in the couple of years that followed, we ate at Flo’s several times, and enjoyed the experience each and every time. Pretty much everyone we knew liked the menu and enjoyed the food. Then, the menu changed. And not for the better.
Here’s an example of something from the old menu: Pork Loin with Coca-Cola BBQ sauce. The sides (your choice of 2 hot sides) were hearty, the portion of meat was deceptively large, and the garlic chive roll was good. When Cars Land opened a few years ago, this was available for $11.50. Note that this is no longer on the menu, we just are showing it for the sake of comparison.
Now, the new menu. At first blush, it may seem like a lateral move. Ribs, chicken, and a couple decent-sounding sandwiches…
Then you see the portion sizes, all at higher prices. Here is the quarter chicken accompanied by a scarce amount of veggies and a spoonful of mashed potatoes.
For a couple dollars more, you can get a half-chicken with more on the side over at Cocina Cucamonga (Review). That’s definitely the better option.
Likewise, the rib platter is about a quarter rack of ribs. They are delicious, but even someone with a modest appetite will leave hungry.
The turkey sandwich is a better option…but only because of the bread. Again, barely any meat here, and what is there is on the dry side (thankfully it’s a dip sandwich).
The best option terms of both value and taste is the roast beef & cheddar sandwich, which has a fair amount of meat that is juicy and tender on a soft chive bun. Even with this, though, I was hungry again like 2 hours after my meal.
On a more positive note, the desserts are still just as delicious as they always have been here.
The chocolate mud pie is rich and decadent, and well worth ordering. I wouldn’t say it’s an addictive pie or something you’ll crave, but it’s very good. One of the top 10 desserts at Disney California Adventure.
Higher up that same top 10 list is the cheddar apple pie. These flavors go together like bacon and maple icing (which is to say shockingly well) and this is a unique, must-do dessert.
Although not as unique, we also like the chocolate shake with “road gravel.” As best I can tell, the road gravel isn’t actual chunks of rocks, but little balls of chocolate. It added a nice texture to our chocolate shake, which was very good.
Overall, what’s happened to Flo’s is a real disappointment. When it originally opened, it was our favorite restaurant in Disney California Adventure. We wrote then that “prices at Flo’s are surprisingly reasonable for what you get. Although technically a counter service restaurant, it’s at the upper end of the spectrum” and praised its great ambiance. Well, fortunately that ambiance is still just as good as ever, but it now seems to be resting on the laurels of ambiance and its location in the busiest area of Disney California Adventure. The menu is a shadow of its former self, and you are likely to leave here hungry if you don’t order desserts (fortunately, they’re good). Our recommendation is still to dine here–but by grabbing food from Pacific Wharf, and walking over the the “back porch” and enjoying the ambiance while eating a more substantial meal.
If you’re preparing for a Disneyland trip, check out our other planning posts, including how to save money on Disneyland tickets, our Disney packing tips, whether you should stay off-site or on-site in a Disney hotel, where to dine, and a number of other things, check out our comprehensive Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide!
Your Thoughts…
If you’ve been to Flo’s V8 Cafe, which entrees and desserts do you like best? Have you noticed a decline in the food here since it opened? If you haven’t been, does this make you want to visit Cars Land even more? Share your thoughts in the comments!
I’m seriously underimpressed with Flo’s food. The breakfasts aren’t bad, but I’d avoid it any other time of day. I tried the veggie tater bake and it was TERRIBLE. Dry, not very flavorful, and not much of it.
My favorite item at Flo’s is the tamales for breakfast and it is (by far) my favorite breakfast in DLR or DCA. The only problem is it needs to be offered at lunch and dinner as a full meal. The tamales are SO good especially when ordered with extra salsa.
We ate here last week and really enjoyed it. I had the roast beef and my husband had the roasted chicken (that our 3 year old ended up stealing most of). The surprise stand out for us was the mashed potatoes! I went in with pretty low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. We really appreciated your honest reviews as we planned our trip. It seems like most Disney bloggers wax poetic about very mediocre food. I felt like we made good choices overall, with counter service meals being much better than the table service meals.
Thank you so much for the awesome restaurant reviews. I enjoy reading about specific items at each restaurant and the overall rating on a 10 point scale. However, several restaurants do not have an overall score such as Flo’s V8, Cozy Cone, Cocina Cucamonga, Lucky Fortune. If you have time, it would be helpful to add an overall score to these restaurants. Thanks!!
A tip to parents in the crowd: The souvenir “Cars” for the kid’s meals are great. But… they are a PITA to carry around the park. I don’t know how to get around this except for finding a locker or trying to hide them in a bush and fetching them later(I can’t imagine this would actually work very well) … But six hours of schlepping those babies around the park had me ready to chuck them from the top of Tower of Terror.
I am so happy I found your Blog on Pinterest! Planning a short 2 day trip to Disneyland and CA Adventures, I’m researching what to skip and what are Must DO’s or “Must Eats”… and must say, your blog has been the most helpful of so many out there.
Thanks!!
We tend to end up at Flo’s because it doesn’t serve burgers and fries! The atmosphere is great, especially outside looking out at Radiator Springs Racers. The restaurant recently changed their menu, however. Similar dishes, but served as sandwiches. Disappointing. Thankfully, the chocolate mud pie is still there!
Am here now had roast beef sandwic.. Couldn’t finish it. Forgot the horseradish which read desperately needed since the beef itself was bland, cold and chewy .. First time at this restaurant and the last time ad wel.. Really sucked
I’d like to point out that Cracker Barrel serves burgers.
Went to DL and DCA for the first time last fall and I have to admit… I hated the food at Flos V8 Cafe. I was expecting Burgers, Fries, and Shakes. The food doesn’t fit the theming of the restaurant. The food Flos serves would be better suited for a Cracker Barrel style restaurant.
I can understand not liking the food, but why do you think it’s not suited to Flo’s? It’s American comfort food, the type that would customarily be served at roadside diners along Route 66. I think it’s a perfect fit.
Sure, I wouldn’t mind a few more menu items (a nice, greasy burger and some cheese fries would be great), but I can understand why they were left off the menu in an effort to launch Flo’s as offering more than just ordinary theme park food.
When I think of Route 66 I think of 50s/60s dinners and that makes me think of burgers and fries.
American comfort food to me is Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans.
I just wish they had burgers, fries and chicken nuggets in addition to their current menu. It just strikes me as funny that the main eatery in a land based upon a kids movie doesn’t have burgers, fries and chicken nuggets. My boys are picky eaters and didn’t eat much.
Is Flos a restraunt you need reservations for?
No, Flo’s is counter service, so no reservations are needed! 🙂
What’s up, I read your new stuff regularly. Your writing style is awesome,
keep doing what you’re doing!
Flo’s makes an incredible french toast for breakfast!
Flo’s is definitely awesome, but I think both Plaza Inn and Hungry Bear beat it for me, in terms of quick service. I love them all, though!
Plaza Inn definitely beats it for me. French Market does, too. I love Hungry Bear, but that’s also mostly for ambiance.
Ditto in regards to Hungry Bear. The main reason I enjoy it is not because of the food, but because of its location.
I thought the Breakfast Tamale was pretty tasty with a not-too spicy kick to it. But that Banana French Toast with caramel sauce is a decadent sugar rush. It should be offered as a desert item instead. I haven’t tried the American breakfast at Flo’s yet.
Jeez… am I the only one who hasn’t done breakfast at Flo’s?! 😉
Thanks for feedback on these items!
Oh great Christ but those meat plates look revolting. I understand the needs of mass-service restaurants, but couldn’t they do better than shaved with a rotary slicer? And what’s that suppurating mass on the starboard side of the plate? Looks like something one of my cats might’ve yakked up.
Food aside, it really does look like an impressive place. Makes me wish those of us who are WDW regulars could do something to get right with the Baby Jesus so we could get something like that here, instead of “Test Track WTF Edition.”
Also too, apple pie topped with cheddar cheese was a very common early-mid 20th century dessert, featured as much or more so than “a la mode,” so it’s kinda-sorta thematically correct.
I must echo Chronic Gin Deficiency and say that serving cheddar cheese with apple pie was once very common. My own grandmother was a champion pie baker, and, when apple pie was served, her question was always whether we wanted ours plain or with cheese. Ice cream (a la mode) was never mentioned. Apple pie with cheddar would have also been found on diner menus throughout the country. It was once a classic of American cuisine, but seems to have died off, to the extent that it is now thought to be odd (it was also thought to be so by the constituency of the superb Disney Food Blog, where I had to write a similar comment some time ago). A piece of homemade apple pie with a slab of good Vermont cheddar on top makes for a very satisfying experience.
Thank you both for the feedback on the cheddar apple pie. I had no idea that it was once a popular dessert. Nice to read that it’s thematically appropriate.
I’ve only heard good things about it, so what sounds like an odd combination to me likely isn’t that odd. I’m all for adding cheese to things, so I suspect I’d like it.
As the old saying goes
Apple without some cheese
Is like a hug without a squeeze
I had the American Breakfast (scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, and a biscuit), and the breakfast potatoes were horrible! I don’t remember why, but I do remember that that was my takeaway. I do agree with you that breakfast shouldn’t be the barometer for what is good or not good. And I’ve had friends who have raved about the Pork Loin with the Coke BBQ sauce, so I am looking forward to returning and trying it sometime in the future. Regardless, you are absolutely correct, the outside dining area tucked away in the corner feels like an oasis.
Excuse me, Flo? What’s the soup du jour?
It’s the soup of the day.
Mmm… that sounds good. I think I’ll have that.
I think you touched on part of what makes Flo’s a success, that it is an environment that can stand on its own independent of the Cars films. One doesn’t need to understand a single thing about the plot of either movie or recognize a single character to appreciate that this is a fully-realized classic roadside diner experience. However one feels about the movies, Cars Land and Flo’s succeed on their own. Cars Land serves the world of Cars better than either movie could. It’s almost like this is the form these characters and settings were meant to be.
Our family prefers the menu mix of Paradise Grill and Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta (including two kids under 15) compared to Flo’s. I wish there was a more diverse menu. My 10 year old didn’t understand why they didn’t have hamburgers at a diner.
But the food at Flo’s is tasty and you cannot be the atmosphere and views (and during the summer, the air conditioning!).
If I recall correctly, you’re a pretty big fan of those Paradise Pier restaurants (I think we discussed them before…), while I like the menus there, I’ve never had an “outstanding” meal there. I am starting to come around on them a bit more after dining there last June, but they still aren’t at the top of my list.
A big, greasy burger would make a lot of sense at Flo’s. I don’t think I’ve ever been to that kind of restaurant that DIDN’T serve a delicious heart-attack inducing burger. I’m not upset that Disney went with a different menu, but it is a bit surprising.
We decided to try Flo’s for breakfast one morning, and I hate to say it, but it was one of the worst breakfast I had ever had at the parks. The eggs were just wrong, and so was their texture.
Since then, we have been a little afraid to try the other meals.
I’d never use breakfast as a proxy for any other meal at any Disney restaurants. Breakfast is downright bad at a lot of Disney restaurants that have excellent lunch and dinner options.
That said… I’ve heard some positive things about Flo’s at breakfast, so I’m surprised to hear this. Did you try the French toast?
I went in May and had the french toast. It was AMAZING, and now I crave it all the time!
We had heard about how great the breakfast was too and went to go check it out and when I saw the menu.. lets just say I got a churro instead. I was pretty disappointed considering flo’s is a 5 star restaurant, but I guess I can say to much since I never got anything.