60 Disneyland Dining Tips
Food is an awesome part of the Disneyland experience. From delicious desserts to addictively-good counter service fried chicken to table service restaurants that pay tribute to Walt Disney, there are a lot of exceptional dining options at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Many of you have loved our 101 Great Disneyland Tips post, and since dining is so essential, we’re following up that post with this one that is specific to eating in and around the parks.
While dining at Disneyland isn’t nearly as complicated as dining at Walt Disney World due to the lack of a Disney Dining Plan, and also because there are far fewer restaurants, there is an added wrinkle: locals. Due to the huge population of local Annual Passholders, Disneyland regularly offers seasonal snacks, special foods, and even has some ‘secret menu’ treats that are only available to those in the know.
As Disneyland locals ourselves, this is something we really appreciate. New and interesting meals and snacks keeps things interesting, and motivates us to keep dining inside Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, even when we could just stop for fast food on our drive to or from the parks…
The result of this is that we probably eat at Disneyland Resort far too often. On the plus side, this has given us a good amount of insight into Disneyland dining tips that less-frequent visitors can also take advantage of in order to ‘eat like a local’ at Disneyland.
That’s our goal with this post, and hopefully this mix of random Disneyland and Disney California dining tips helps you do exactly that!
Some of these tips might not work for you, but if you can even test out 5 of them on your Disneyland vacation, that’s hopefully going to be a “win” and make your visit a more enjoyable experience.
Other Disneyland regulars may disagree with some of our tips, but such is the nature of such a list, which offers subjective tips. Alright, here goes: our 60 Delicious Disneyland Dining Tips:
- Like another California icon, In-N-Out Burger, there are numerous “secret menu” options throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. These occasionally change, but our current favorites are the Mac & Cheese Bread Bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe and the Neapolitan Shake at Flo’s V8 Cafe.
- There’s a temporary Beauty and the Beast restaurant in Disneyland, and it has some of the best counter service food in the park. (This still exists as of Spring 2019 with no plans to remove it, so “temporary” might no longer apply.)
- The Disneyland Dining Plan was discontinued several years ago and has not been offered since. The “Free Dining” promotion never has been offered at Disneyland.
- Read our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews and look at food photos before planning your meals. Also, consult current menus on Disneyland.com for pricing info.
- Dining reservations for many restaurants at Disneyland are not essential. However, reservations can be made online for many Disneyland Resort restaurants, up to 60 days in advance.
- Annual Passholders receive 10-15% discounts on dining at Disneyland restaurants. Due to this discount (and the merchandise discount), it might make sense for someone in your party to purchase a lower-tier Annual Pass instead of regular tickets. Do the math!
- Some Disneyland counter service restaurants allow you to order a la carte as opposed to a combo, meaning you get the entree without frees or whatever other side is included. This will usually reduce the price by ~$2. (Confirm that it will reduce the price before paying.)
- Even though alcohol is not served inside Disneyland (except at Club 33), it’s still possible to Drink Around the World at Disneyland Resort. You’ll just focus on the Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and Hotel bars. It’s a blast!
- If you want to try the famous Monte Cristo, consider splitting it with a friend (or two). It’s incredibly rich and decadent, and the whole thing might be a bit much for those who aren’t competitive donut eaters.
- Drinking fountain water at Disneyland tastes funky. You can get free cups of ice water on the go from any counter service restaurant at Walt Disney World. Or, bring a Brita 24-Ounce Water Filter Bottle so you can filter your own water on the go!
- Mickey Beignets at Mint Julep Bar are the same as the ones at Cafe Orleans, but for half the price. The only difference is the Mint Julep Bar beignets don’t come with dipping sauce.
- Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is an absolute blast. Even if you don’t drink, going here and grabbing appetizers (and drinks, if you do) after a long day in the parks is a fun way to unwind. The Disney details and special effects here are a lot of fun.
- In addition to free cups of cold water, you can also get free cups of hot water from counter service restaurants. Use that hot water plus these Mount Hagen Organic Instant Regular Coffee sticks for a cost-effective and strong way to get your caffeine fix.
- Avoid churro stands in out of the way locations. The ones on Main Street and Fantasyland are typically best, as they see more foot traffic and are most likely to have fresh churros, rather than ones that have been sitting around for a while. Fresh churros are definitely best.
- One of the best things about Christmas at Disneyland is the special snacks. While these change (to some degree) each year, we look at fan-favorites in our list of the Best Christmas Foods at Disneyland.
- The closest In-N-Out Burger to Disneyland is at 1168 S State College Blvd, Anaheim, California. It’s a 45-minute walk from the front gate of Disneyland, or a 5-minute Uber ride.
- If you need a Starbucks fix around parade time in Disneyland (or any time the line is out the door), it’s faster to place a mobile order for the Downtown Disney Starbucks, walk there, and then go back into the park.
- For $15,000, you can enjoy the uber-exclusive 21 Royal Dining Experience. For $15, you can come to our place and I’ll microwave some corn dogs. (Neither one of these offers are things we’d recommend doing.)
- Steakhouse 55 Lounge is one of the best hidden gems at Disneyland Resort, and its 24-layer chocolate cake is a must-do challenge.
- Captain Kidd’s buffet is directly across the street from Disneyland. It exists solely to prey on unsuspecting tourists, who haven’t Googled it to learn it’s the lowest-rated restaurant in all of Anaheim. Do not dine here unless you want to roll the dice with food poisoning.
- We do not recommend the World of Color dining packages or dessert party unless money is no issue. We have plenty of tips for getting a great view of World of Color without spending any extra money.
- The Plaza Inn Yule Log is basically the spirit of Christmas in food form. A smaller, similar version is also available during Disney California Adventure’s Festival of Holidays.
- The outside seating area at Flo’s V8 Cafe offers excellent views of Radiator Springs Racers. We love sitting here at night, and typically grab food from Pacific Wharf and take it over here to enjoy the ambiance.
- Typically, the wait for Dole Whips is much shorter from in Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room’s waiting area, so enter the “line” for the attraction, and order from the back of the Tiki Juice Bar.
- Carnation Cafe on Main Street is a great option for a quality table service lunch at moderate prices. Lots of good items on the menu here. Also, plenty of Disneyland history!
- Tangaroa Terrace‘s French Toast is the best counter service breakfast outside of the parks.
- Trying a Disneyland Turkey Leg is a rite of passage. It’s a love it or hate it type of thing (I happen to love Disneyland’s turkey legs), but you need to at least give it a chance (we recommend splitting one).
- Mickey’s Funwheel is one of the secret menu drinks at Cove Bar, and it’s worth ordering if only for the Instagram-worthy photos. (“If only for” because the actual drink isn’t that good.) The Lobster Nachos are another must-do at Cove Bar, even though their portion size has been reduced recently.
- Smokejumpers Grill is only an okay counter service option, but it has a self-service toppings bar, so you can pile your burger high with extras. Would you like a little hamburger with your salad? 😉
- Blue Bayou, with its views into Pirates of the Caribbean, is one of the best-themed restaurants at Disneyland. However, the food is fairly ordinary and overpriced. Consider doing a lighter meal here if you must go.
- The glorious Plaza Inn fried chicken can by ordered by the piece, which is good for lighter eaters, especially since the full meal is now creeping up on $20.
- The menu at Flo’s V8 Cafe has changed dramatically since the Cars Land restaurant opened, going from the best counter service restaurant in Disney California Adventure to a mediocre one. We still recommend breakfast there, though.
- Many of the off-site hotels near Disneyland offer “free” breakfast, but almost all of these are awful. Three exceptions are Candy Cane Inn, Park Vue Inn, and Desert Palms Hotel & Suites (and even these are just so-so). Park Vue Inn is the best of these, and is also our top pick for off-site hotels near Disneyland.
- Along with Plaza Inn, our top pick for counter service dining in Disneyland is French Market. Slightly higher prices than the norm, but the quality more than makes up for it.
- The DCA Food & Wine Festival is a fun, annual event and nice way to try some tastes of California. Our Guide to the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival offers tips for saving money, what to try, what not to buy, and more.
- Award Wieners might seem like a good value if you’re going by menu prices, but it’s not a very filling–or very good–meal. Corn Dog Castle is a better alternative if you’re in the market for some form of hot dog.
- Pizza Press is the best off-property restaurant near Disneyland; it’s around a 15 minute walk from the parks, and features delicious made-to-order pizzas. They even offer an AP discount!
- Bengal Barbecue was once a fan-favorite of Disneyland locals due to generous portions on these tasty skewers. In recent years, prices have gone up and portion sizes have gone down. If you read elsewhere about this being a must-do or popular spot, that tip is likely outdated.
- Schmoozies is a national treasure. Whenever a new seasonal smoothie is released, my Disney California Adventure social club, “Walt’s Maliburr-eaters” has a turf war with the “Sons of Eisnarchy” to determine who gets to take the first smoothie-selfie. Not really, but that’d be cool if we did. (Seriously, though, the smoothies are good here.)
- The best, quick breakfast in Disneyland is at Rancho del Zocalo.
- Coke Freestyle Machines (with refills!) are available at Whitewater Snacks in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. This is a great spot for lunch if you want a respite from crowds. Plus, it has the best counter service burger in all of Disneyland Resort.
- The best “value” option in Downtown Disney is not Earl of Sandwich, it’s Napolini, which is the counter service version of Naples. (Which is the West Coast version of Via Napoli!)
- If you like the taste of freezer burn, Stage Door Cafe is for you!
- Pacific Wharf Cafe serves a seasonal bread bowl and a seasonal bread pudding. All of the bread puddings we’ve tried have been glorious. The bread bowls are usually good (always filling), too. Our favorite is the Turkey Pot Pie Bread Bowl (served at Christmas), which some people say is life-changing.
- The Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Sandwich at Pooh Corner in Disneyland is exceptional, but pricey. Actually, both of those things could be said about a number of treats at Pooh Corner. (I also love their cookies, which are deceptively large.)
- Mint Julep Bar serves seasonal beignet flavors for Halloween and Christmas. These are sometimes hit or miss, but they’re worth trying.
- The (new-ish) Crispy Battered Corn on the Cob at Corn Dog Castle is shockingly good. If you’ve never had Mexican corn on the cob, this is pretty much it. This style of corn on the cob is particularly popular down by San Diego, so think of this decadent treat as trying some authentic local cuisine!
- The various “twists” (Grey Stuff Twist, Cheddar Garlic Bagel Twist, and Strawberry Rose Twist) at Maurice’s Treats in Fantasy Faire are seriously good and filling. They make a good late breakfast option (when open), too.
- Avoid Tomorrowland Terrace at all costs. (Don’t even be tempted by the Alien Burger on the secret menu.) In fact, just avoid eating in Tomorrowland at all costs.
- Stick with desserts at the marketplace kiosk food booths during Disney California Adventure’s festivals. Savory snacks are usually small and offer poor value for money.
- The Matterhorn Macaroon at Jolly Holiday Bakery is an iconic Disneyland snack that represents an iconic Disneyland attraction. It’s a moist coconut macaroon topped with sugary white chocolate “snow” to represent the Matterhorn. It’s delicious and a good value, as far as Disneyland snacks go.
- Don’t order anything served with eggs (notably, breakfasts) at counter service restaurants. These are powdered eggs, and they are disgusting. (Also, we’re pretty sure Disneyland sources its counter service bacon from rubber.)
- The famous Monte Cristo is served at both Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans. It’s the same sandwich made in the exact same (shared) kitchen, but is cheaper at Cafe Orleans. Order accordingly.
- Try the Fantasia Ice Cream at Gibson Girl. We recommend this in ice cream sandwich form. This is back for a potentially limited time during Main Street Electrical Parade’s run, but hopefully it’ll stick around.
- Sprinkles in Downtown Disney serves the best cupcakes at Disneyland Resort.
- Dole Whips, Dole Whip Floats, and Dole Whips with Rum at The Coffee House at Disneyland Hotel.
- Napa Rose is the best restaurant in all of Disneyland Resort. Try the Chef’s Counter for an unparalleled foodie experience.
- A variety of “fancy” donuts are sold at the Coffee Cart in Disneyland’s Central Plaza (near Sleeping Beauty Castle). Three flavors are available per day, and they frequently sell out in mid-afternoon. Rest assured, though, as another “shipment” usually is freshly-made for evening crowds.
- Goofy’s Kitchen is the best character meal at Disneyland Resort. It’s the West Coast version of Chef Mickey’s, except with better food!
- Cafe Orleans is one of the best table service restaurants at Disneyland. The best meal here, we think, is the pommes frites (an absolute must-order) followed by one of the crepes.
- Eat at off-hours to avoid the crowds. Counter service restaurants are least busy between 2 and 4 pm, and at the end of the night.
- Paradise Garden Grill is our favorite counter service restaurant in Disney California Adventure. The food is refreshing and healthy-ish, and there’s often live music in the evenings.
- For many Disney fans, the membership-only Club 33 is the holy grail. Since its last refurbishment, we think Club 33 is nothing special. Look past the “exclusivity” and instead have a nice meal at Carthay Circle Restaurant, which is just as classy and nicely pays tribute to Walt Disney.
- Hungry Bear Restaurant has a ‘seasonal’ Churro Funnel Cake. We’ve yet to try it, but the idea sounds glorious. Hopefully this will become a permanent menu fixture!
Okay, so you’ll notice this is 64 Disneyland Dining Tips, not 60. My original goal here was 50 tips, and I unknowingly went over. I bumped the title up to ’60 Disneyland Dining Tips,’ but then went over that, too. Rather than keep typing and get this thing to 75 or 101 Disneyland Dining Tips (both of which are easily doable), I figured I’d turn this post over to you, and see what people come up with in the comments. So please, share your Disneyland dining hacks, favorite snacks or menu items, etc., in the comments below!
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, tips for booking a hotel (off-site or on-site), where to dine, and a number of other things, check out our comprehensive Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our Disneyland dining tips? Have any of your own to add? Any secret menu items you enjoy that we didn’t cover? Good value options inside or near the parks? Other must-do menu recommendations? Questions about where to find anything we’ve shared here? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments below!
Are the “fancy” donuts at the Coffee Cart actually good? I love a good fresh bakery donut, but I don’t want to waste snack calories on something comparable to a grocery store donut that I can get at home.
We are going to Disneyland in the second week of December. We love the Tonga Toast at Capt. Cook’s at the Polynesian in Walt Disney World. Is there any thing like this at Disneyland?
So if we have attended the Disney World Not-So-Scary Halloween party 3 times already each year for the past 3 years….would you recommend just buying tickets for a regular full day at Magic Kingdom rather than the NSSHP again? Our kids mostly like to do rides and character meet and greets so we usually don’t even end up watching the whole parade or even the fireworks show. For the cost, do you think a regular day makes more sense?
Any tips on the character meal choices? Would love to know your thoughts on Ariel’s Grotto, which I have heard is not as good as Cinderella’s Royal Table and has not received glowing reviews on Trip Advisor.
Seriously, how good is Naples? Is it truly West Coast Via Napoli? We’re going in a few weeks for the first time in years instead of WDW. The one thing my wife and I have lamented about going to Disneyland over WDW, is that we won’t get to eat at Via Napoli. Need some confirmation!
I think it’s just as good, Sarah thinks it’s not quite as good. If you’re that big of Via Napoli fans, I’d say it’s probably at least ‘close enough’ to get your fix.
I’m another who is shocked to see Goofy’s Kitchen on here. We’ve eaten here twice and both experiences were terrible to the point that we won’t be returning unless major changes are made over the years. Both times the food wasn’t fresh, even hard, and characters missed us. The first time the restaurant only had a dozen or so people, and the second time the place was absolutely booming.
We’ve been to three other character meals at Disneyland and liked each one better. Ariel’s Grotto for breakfast is pricy, but the Tri Tip was quite tasty, and getting into the park early is always a plus. The introduction for the Princesses was also a nice touch that enhanced the experience.
We’ve done Storyteller’s three times, with each time being a decline in quality. The first time was in 2013 and we had 8 characters and an amazing breakfast. Being able to walk right into California Adventure afterwards is pretty awesome too. The second time there was in 2015, and Brer Bear and Brer Fox were cut which was a huge loss, since those characters are so rare. Pluto was also cut but that wasn’t a huge deal since he’s everywhere. The food was still passable but it went from an 8 out of 10 to a 6. The third time was 2016 and the food felt worse, AND they cut another character. Meeko was gone, and this was a giant shame because Meeko isn’t an easy to find character either. Storyteller’s has been removed from our list, but we’d go here over Goofy’s Kitchen.
Lastly though is one I consider to be one of Disneyland’s greatest gems. Breakfast at the Plaza Inn. Early entrance to the park, gorgeous interior, and delicious food. There’s breakfast steak with biscuits and gravy, as well as an AMAZING banana sauce topping for the French toast. But the biggest achievement of breakfast here, is how each time we’ve gone there has been at least ten characters. That is incredible for Disney standards, especially when you will pay MORE at Goofy’s Kitchen for breakfast. I can’t think of another Disney meal with more than 5 characters except for major differences like the Thanksgiving buffet at the Disneyland Hotel. Some of the characters we’ve gotten here include: Minnie, Chip, Dale, Eeyore, Pooh, Tigger, Captain Hook, Mr. Penguin, Captain Hook, Fairygod Mother, Perla, and Suzy. Our experiences here have been so amazing, that we are going to start going to it twice a trip. You can even stock up on chocolate milk and other beverages, since you just walk up and take the drinks you want!
We have yet to do the Stitch meal, as our time at the Paradise hotel has been almost nonexistent.
I think SH55 is actually better than Napa Rose, but they are both fantastic. It is hard to find SH55, however. If you dont have rez, you can sit at the bar and still have a fabu steak.
My wife & I split the Dry-aged Piedmontese Cowboy Rib for Two, and it was the best steak I have ever had- even better than Ruths’ Chris or Mortons.
We used to love Trader Sams, but it’s very hard to get into nowadays. Crowds are terrible.
Other than the first version, I have never had a good meal at Flos. When they went so downhill so fast is beyond me.
We disagree about Goofy’s Kitchen. Storytellers may have better food and the PCH grill has Stitch- and fewer crowds.
Cafe Orleans is my “go to” spot for lunch- the pommes frites are fantastic. I get my own order so i usually go with the salad or a bowl of gumbo instead of the crepes.
Sarah had dinner at Steakhouse 55 with some friends recently (I was not invited!), and she reported a similarly exceptional meal experience. I really want to get there soon. Everything I’ve heard has been really positive.
Calling Goofy’s Kitchen better than Chef Mickey’s isn’t exactly high praise. Chef Mickey’s is really bad. My point was more that Goofy’s Kitchen is the ‘iconic’ character meal at Disneyland, with the costumes and all.
#17, is that $15,000 a person, or for your entire party?
My favorite thing to do is right when the park gets crushingly busy (around 5 or so due to AP locals showing up and tourists with kids not having left yet) is to stop in at the Hungry Bear either for an early dinner or just for a soda and enjoy the late afternoon/early evening light on the Rivers of America. Perfect ambiance. Waving to the keel boats and canoes as they go by. Watching kids play over on Tom Sawyer Island. The warm glow on BTMR.
It’s a great way to take a few minutes and just enjoy the park until the crowds thin out a bit. (or until HB gets so busy you feel guilty about taking up a table any longer)
#18, is that $15,000 a person, or for your entire party?
Here’s one that comes in handy if you’re trying to marathon eat all the goodies at Disneyland without getting too full or sick – take any kind of bakery items that can hold up for at least a few hours (ex. candy, the Matterhorn macaroon, peanut butter sandwich, cookies, etc) to go and then you can eat them that night for dessert or the next day! I brought a pb sandwich, smores, and macaroon all the way back to Massachusetts and they lasted me a couple weeks!
I will follow your tip on my next trip about taking food from elsewhere and eating it on the tables overlooking radiator springs racers outside Flos. That is my favourite place to sit but the food is often quite average.
I would also like to make my reservation for the $15 hot dog dinner at your place. When will the bookings open for this magical upcharge experience?
$15 for private dining at The Bricker’s? Sign me up!!
Your warning on Tomorrowland reminds me of my similar war in to people visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum: DON’T EAT THERE!!!
Just want to say that I have been following your blog for a while now, and I managed to score a deluxe resort at Disney world for an amazing deal! With free dining, and the terrible Canadian dollar, I will wind up paying what is advertised now (Canadian) but came in with a great deal (American) I was up all night long waiting for the free dining promotion and feel lucky that I booked as soon as it was out. Thanks so much!
I can’t believe you didn’t mention Little Red Wagon corn dogs – the best on the planet! And, given how much you (and I) love Plaza Inn fried chicken, you should have mentioned it twice. 😉 Other than that, great list and great tips!
Little Red Wagon seems to have a long line every time I want a corn dog from there, whereas Corn Dog Castle has zero wait…so I went with the latter. I will say that either option serves a delicious corn dog!
If you’re inviting, I’ll take advantage of #18, I’ve paid more for worse.
Sorry, we are fully booked at this time. You’re on the waitlist, though.
Hmm…what if I take you and Sarah to 21 Royal in fair trade? Could the list open back up?
Our family’s tip: Avoid the pizza at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta at all costs. My kids are not picky about their pizza (from pizza chains to frozen crusts, they are happy), but they universally decided that was the worst pizza they had ever eaten. My chicken caesar salad was fine, though.
The Italian Chef Salad is also really good, and has a lot of meat in it. The pizza and pasta there have always been hit or miss. The problem is the restaurant is not popular (at all) so who knows how long that stuff sits out under heat lamps–even on busy days.
Great tips! We use so many of your tips last year when we had Annual Passes and are now using them to plan our first WDW trip.
Quick question — I think Paradise Garden Grill has changed menus since you’ve reviewed. It appears it used to have mediterranean-type food; now it is more theme-park fare. Am I looking at the wrong restaurant?
Oh shoot! I forgot about this: so the current story with Paradise Garden Grill is that it has Corn Dog Castle’s menu while that is being refurbished. The normal menu at Paradise Garden Grill should be returning soon.
This one seems to have a revolving menu, as it changes every time we visit.
I think Michelle must be right that it is revolving–we tried to go there a few times during 2016 and I know for sure that one time it was just gross pizza and pasta. We usually went off-season so it may be that.
Pizza and pasta is the restaurant next door.
I don’t know if I’d say Paradise Garden Grill has a revolving menu, but last year while another restaurant was being refurbished, they did take its menu then, too. Additionally, every year they get themed menus for Viva Navidad and Lunar New Year.
So, it would seem that about 3-4 months of the year, Paradise Garden Grill does not have its normal menu. I guess you could call that revolving?
Sorry, ‘Seasonal’ might be a better word to describe Paradise Garden Grill’s menu. It’s the only DLR menu I know of that changes to suit various holidays and celebrations.
The churro cone with chocolate dipping sauce from the Cozy Cones is my can’t miss snack when we’re in Disneyland. And it may sound disgusting, but the dill pickle popcorn that they have on occassion can be inexplicably addictive. The only other advice I would offer is to order an off menu vegetarian entree at Carthay Circle, if you are a vegetarian planning to eat there. They create some gorgeous, in season vegetable dishes if you ask. I realize that this would not appeal to Tom. 🙂
“And it may sound disgusting, but the dill pickle popcorn that they have on occassion can be inexplicably addictive.”
You’re right, it does sound disgusting. 😉
I know people who like it, but I’ve never tried it. Probably should, but there are always snacks that I actually want to try, so I never have!
Yes. I ate their vegetarian lunch and it was good.
I replied to the post about Carthay Circle restaurant…the vegetarian offerings are good.
The Mickey raspberry macaroon at Jolly Holiday bakery on main street is a fav at our house, as is the white chocolate chip raspberry cookie you can get in Pooh corner, the candy shop on main, or the fancy French bakery in downtown Disney. Also, the hand dipped corn dogs, can’t be a trip to d-land without those! (We were in Magic Kingdom last week and so sad the corndog there were just nasty frozen ones) I do wish Disneyland would start the sleepy hollow waffle sandwiches somewhere, like Magic kingdom, those were yummy!
Do you mean a macaron, or is there a new raspberry version of the Matterhorn Macaroon that I haven’t tried yet?!?!
Oops I didn’t realize they were spelled differently! It’s a macaron with fresh raspberries in the middle.