The 5 Best Things I Ate at Disneyland’s New Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree – Orange County Register

Disneyland fans of pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausages 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 tried the new menu Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree during a soft opening on Thursday, October 24 before the renovated restaurant’s official grand reopening on Friday, October 25.

SEE ALSO: All you can eat at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree at Disneyland

The new Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree brings a theme, music and menu overhaul to the Hungry Bear restaurant in the park’s renovated Bayou Country area.

The updated restaurant will soon welcome a new neighbor when Tiana’s Swamp Adventure officially debuts on November 15 after annual previews for passholders and cast members.

The good but not yet great barbecue still has room for improvement. Fortunately, there were a few places where Disneyland chefs could make some simple changes to improve the menu.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland’s Hungry Bear Restaurant Brings Back BBQ and Country Bears

I’m a BBQ junkie, so the revamped Hungry Bear was destined to become a go-to spot from the moment it was announced. My great hope is that the new place finally lives up to its promise. The good news: Soft openings are all about troubleshooting and checking off the menu.

Disneyland has been without a real barbecue since Big Thunder Ranch closed in 2016 to make room for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

The restaurant remodel focused primarily on the kitchen, but Walt Disney Imagineering did contribute some country bears signs and posters throughout the dining room during the renovation.

A country music soundtrack played with some fiddle and banjo, but I didn’t hear any old, familiar Country Bear songs. And don’t expect to see Henry, Trixie, Teddi or any of the other Country Bears wandering around the restaurant.

SEE ALSO: Country Bears’ Journey from Sierra Ski Lodge to Disneyland Steakhouse

Let’s take a closer look at the five best things I ate on the menu at the new Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree counter restaurant.

1) Smoked BBQ Combo Plate

Two selections of house-smoked meats: pork ribs, pulled pork, sausage or beef brisket. Served with baked beans, house slaw, white bread and pickles. ($21.49)

The pork ribs were the star of the smoked barbecue combo plate. They were the reason I came to the Hungry Bear in the first place and the reason I will return in the future.

The dry rubbed ribs were tender and flavorful. They weren’t abroad so they took the sauces very well.

Each rib had a good amount of meat, but I came away wanting more.

Next time, I’ll order a double order of ribs and skip the other options: sausage, pulled pork, and beef brisket.

The sausage available with the dish was okay, but nothing special. And you can get the brisket and pulled pork as sandwiches.

SEE ALSO: The history of Disneyland’s Critter Country, from Indian war canoes to Bayou barbecue

My only complaint about all the meats: They weren’t smoked enough. The meats are smoked for anywhere from an hour to overnight. But they could definitely use more time in the smoker.

The big surprise on the plate was the pickled vegetables hidden in a corner. I loved the bread and butter pickles. The Hungry Bear should offer them as a side dish a la carte.

2) Corn Ribs Plate

Chili, lime, parmesan aioli, crispy onions, cilantro and scallions with house slaw, served with beer-battered fries. ($14.99)

The corn ribs were like nothing I had ever seen before.

Disneyland chefs cut the corn on the cob lengthwise the same way they would use a corer to split an apple or pear. The corn on the cob strips curled a little during the cooking process.

The clever presentation allows you to eat corn like you do ribs and throw away the “bones” when you’re done. It was a fun way to eat something we’ve all tried before.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland’s New Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Is Charming, Exciting, and Still Pretty Wet

The plant-based dish also came with a bunch of amazing beer battered fries. Hungry Bear offers ketchup at the Fixin’ stand, but don’t bother bringing it to the table.

Opt for the trio of bold and delicious barbecue sauces to dip your fries. My favorite was the golden mustard sauce which was spicy and not at all vinegary.

3) Banana Pudding

Bananas, whipped cream, crushed wafer cookies, dulce de leche and toffee. ($7.29)

Disney makes sugar better than anyone and the chefs at Disneyland did justice to this classic Southern dessert.

This fantastic treat delivered layer upon layer of deliciousness. The caramel coating gave the whole thing a sweet and crunchy touch.

The small portion size was enough for one, so tell your friends to get theirs.

4) Sparkling Strawberry and Pickle Lemonade

Lemonade, strawberry smoothie, lime, lemon-lime soda, pickle juice and pickle. ($7.49)

Most drinks at Disneyland are too sweet. Fortunately, that’s not the case at Hungry Bear.

The refreshing pickle lemonade was the big winner of the bunch. The pickle juice was not overpowering and added a nice sweet and sour flavor to the lemonade.

The added bonus: a pickle in the drink to munch on while you drink.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland Distributes All Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Virtual Queue Spots in Seconds

The strawberry shortcake lemonade that was also on the menu sounded like sugar overload, but it was surprisingly smooth and delicious. The cream topping actually helped moderate the sweetness.

5) BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Spicy BBQ sauce, house slaw, bread and butter pickles, served with beer battered fries. ($15.99)

The pulled pork sandwich needed some work, but luckily I had everything I needed in front of me to fix the problem.

The pork was quite juicy, but it was more minced than shredded. The meat was almost like stewed pork. I wanted more smokiness, like with the ribs.

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The big problem with the pulled pork sandwich was the house coleslaw. It was plain, moist cabbage that desperately needed a little kick. A few bread and butter pickles and some pickle juice took 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. Pieces of breast that should have been tender and tender were too thick.

Barbecue fans who judge a place by its meat will be sorely disappointed.