A Salute to All American Food, But Mostly Hot Dogs

“A salute of all American cuisine, but only hot dogs” is the title that’s actually accurate. But that doesn’t fit the Sam Eagle quote template from MuppetVision 3D, nor does it make sense. How can you salute all of something, but then only a very narrow part of it? Whatever. I love that line and felt compelled to use it once again since “Sam’s Centennial Cook-Off: A Salute to All Cook-Offs but Mostly Barbecue” is already back here at Regal Eagle.

Anyway, the American Adventure in World Showcase is home to yet another all-new menu for the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. It’s called Flavors of America for the second year, so the booth itself is not new new. That booth (name) debuted last year, and had a rather expansive menu of ambitious regional dishes, many of which were hot and heavy.

Previously, this was the Hops & Barley booth, having debuted back in 2005. We have a lot of fond memories from this spot, from free beer tastings (yes, really–it was a different era at EPCOT) way back in the day to the glorious Pumpkin Mousse and Lobster Rolls that were among the best uses of Disney Dining Plan credits ever. In the last several years, the menu has been all over the place, probably as it tries to compliment the immensely popular Regal Eagle’s Distinctly Patriotic Smokehouse (aka “The Muppet Meatery”), which opened a few years ago the American Adventure pavilion.

Speaking of Regal Eagle, our strong recommendation if you’re dining at Flavors of America during the daytime hours over the first half of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is to take your food over to the indoor seating area at Regal Eagle. That offers air-conditioning and shelter from potential afternoon showers, both of which can come in handy.

In fact, we’d recommend grabbing food from nearby booths–Japan, Greece, Belgium, and Brazil–and taking it inside Regal Eagle to eat if the weather is hot or rain is on the horizon. This is basically a ‘cheat code’ in the eyes of other guests.

We always do this, and didn’t think it was that remarkable of an idea until telling other guests about this in-person and seeing the light bulb go off for them. It’s also nice because the aforementioned booths often run out of seating entirely, whereas Regal Eagle usually has ample space indoors (and covered tables outdoors with seats if the temperature is more pleasant.

With that said, let’s take a look at the food menu for the Flavors of America booth at the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival:

Now for a brief preface that’s seemingly necessary when reviewing any regional dishes at Walt Disney World…

“I give my allegiance to no one.” -Boba Fett to Din Djarin about the Mandalorian creed, and Tom Bricker to this blog about food.

I’ve discovered over the years that Walt Disney World fans, and presumably people in general, are weirdly passionate and protective of foods from their respective regions. Wherever they live has the best and definitive version of whatever, whether that thing be pizza or a cookie or, I assume, hot dogs. To me, this is craziness. All food is good food.

I’ve lived in the Midwest, South, and California. I swear no allegiances to the cuisine from any of those or other regions. Variety is the spice of life, and I want to see how different places reinterpret and localize food. This includes Walt Disney World, which seldom has strictly authentic cuisine from anywhere since it’s catering to a diverse global audience. This is part of the fun! It’s wild to me that people complain about it, yet here we are.

Now that I’ve vacated the soapbox, let’s turn to the hot dog reviews. I promise, this isn’t that serious.

New York-style All Beef Hot Dog ($6.75) – This hot dog is topped with sauerkraut, onion-tomato sauce, and spicy mustard in a brioche bun.

All of the hot dogs at this booth are the same–high quality all-beef franks. The one thing I appreciated was that they use different buns. I’m a fan of this softer brioche bun, which offered a buttery quality that played well with the spicy mustard. Generally speaking, the more restrained toppings worked well. My second favorite of the bunch.

Chicago-style All Beef Hot Dog ($6.75) – This hot dog is topped with tomato, dill pickle, pickled sport pepper, diced onions, yellow mustard, and Chicago green relish in a poppy seed bun.

Michigan is not Chicago (fun fact!), but growing up this was the hot dog I always got whenever we went to the local fairgrounds, which was shockingly often. Same thing in college, especially once Portillo’s opened an outpost right down the street (that was dangerous for my waistline). So even though I owe no regional allegiances, I admittedly do have a soft spot for Chicago dogs.

I also think this is the best of the bunch–at least for the first month-plus of Food & Wine–because it’s the most refreshing. It’s meaty and heavy, but the toppings make it perfect for a hot summer day. (I do prefer the brioche bun, though.)

Carolina-style All Beef Hot Dog ($6.75) – This dog is topped with chili, coleslaw, and yellow mustard in a brioche bun.

This is basically the anti-Chicago dog. It’s hearty and heavy and smothered in chili. I like this one a lot, but think it’ll be a better option on chilly nights or during the second half of the festival. So for now, #4…but probably top 2 by late October. (A more robust bun than the brioche would be nice.)

Southwest-style All Beef Hot Dog ($7.25) – This hot dog is wrapped in bacon with warm pinto beans, tomatoes, jalapeños, avocado crema, and queso fresco in a French roll.

I’m a red blooded American, so you’re never gonna catch me hating on anything wrapped in bacon. To do so would be distinctly unpatriotic. The flavors here are all fantastic  (I’m a sucker for avocado crema and queso fresco), but this one is challenging to eat without a knife and fork. And even as someone who loves French rolls, I’m not big on them as hot dog buns. To each their own on that, though. This is my #3 hot dog, and I feel a little guilty ranking it so low. But in the end, they’re all good dogs.

Freshly-baked Chocolate Pudding Cake ($5) – For those lamenting the loss of the Ireland booth, America’s got you covered. In typical USA fashion, we’re taking dishes from other countries and making them our own. That’s more or less what’s happened with this chocolate pudding cake, which simply swaps out the Irish Cream Liqueur Custard for Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Being distinctly patriot, you’ll never get me to admit Ireland’s sauce is superior. But this is still fantastic. The cake was incredibly moist and gooey, with just the right density. It’s a rich and decadent indulgence–precisely what you’d expect from a booth slinging 4 different hot dogs. Grab whichever of those catches your eye, and pair it with this highly recommended dessert!

Ultimately, it’s at once sad, fitting, and hilarious that Flavors of America has eschewed ambitious regional cuisine for a bunch of different hot dogs. When I first read the menu, I thought it sounded slightly like trolling on Disney’s part, but the execution here is surprisingly strong and attention to detail is high. These are all among the best hot dogs you’ll find at Walt Disney World…I’m just not sure they’re exactly exemplars of the culinary prowess of America, the greatest and most diverse country in the world for food (that’s right, France).

Personally, I’d love to see the chefs take a big swing here and showcase the great foods found throughout the United States. An evolving seasonal menu (like EPCOT Farmers Feast does with early/middle/late during Flower & Garden) would be fantastic, and make it possible to start with lighter dishes and get progressively heavier as the weather changes. In the meantime, this should scratch the hot dog itch–and it also helps that Harvest Hollow is basically the higher-concept American cuisine area.

Check out our Global Marketplace Booth Menus & Photos for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival Booth Menus post if you want to see and read more about every menu this year! You’ll also want to read our full 2024 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Guide before you go to get an idea of what to do, strategy for the festival (yes, you will need a strategy), and much more!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

If you’ve tried any of the hot dogs at Flavors of America, what did you think? Favorites? Least favorites? What was and wasn’t worth it? Thoughts on the regional dogs or dessert? Anything on the menu you’re excited to try this year? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts in the comments below!