San Fransokyo Square will add a new area to Disney California Adventure

Category: Travel

When San Fransokyo Square opens August 31, 2023, a new dimension to the wharf area of Disney California Adventure will bring plenty of joy to guests. As it is being reimagined from Pacific Wharf to San Fransokyo Square, guests in the park are privy to the update. Unlike past changes and additions, there is no barricade to hide the construction. As Michael Dobrzycki, art director at Walt Disney Imagineering, said, the square is “Coming to life in front of everybody at Pacific Wharf.”

Once the area is opened to the public, they will see “the Pacific Wharf with a twist,” explained Dobrzycki. It will be like stepping into the film Big Hero 6, which delighted audiences when it was produced in 2014, and later made into a series for Disney Plus. The Port of San Fransokyo will contain the Coy fish turbines that powered the city in the film and in the evening the wharf will light up the night.

There will be a meet and greet with Baymax, the delightful blowup robot, a store for merchandise, and background music from J-pop, the Japanese pop band. As Dobrzycki said, the square “recreates movie moments.”

The Makers Market store will sell T-shirts for adults, children, and dogs. Yes, dogs. There will be four different medallions honoring the film and characters, phone accessories, an adorable Baymax sipper, pins, a cuddly Baymax, and more.

Chef Jeremiah Balogh said they had to “stretch their knowledge” to create food that combined cultures to bring the flavor of Asia to the guests.

So what kind of new delicacies will be offered in San Fransokyo Square? First of all, to quench your thirst and refresh your spirit, the Honey Lemon-Ade: Minute Maid Lemonade Zero Sugar and yuzu purée with passion fruit and strawberry popping spheres is Non-alcoholic and very tasty. (It was so good I had 2 during the media sampling event.)  To eat try the Soba Noodle Salad with tofu, cabbage, edamame, carrots, roasted corn, scallions, and cilantro topped with crispy shallots and sesame ginger dressing. It’s plant-based, tangy, sweet, tart, and yummy. (Psst….don’t tell anyone but I had two of these as well.) And this being Disneyland Resort, they had to create a special macaron and for the first time a macaron will be available all the time and not just during a festival. This Baymax macaron has a chocolate-hazelnut spread and buttercream center. It’s decadent and delicious. The Japanese-style fluffy cheesecake is different than what Americans are used to when it comes to this dessert. It is actually more akin to a sponge cake with tart cherry topping. Yummy.

Forget the old-fashioned thinking that burgers, fries, and pizza were all you could get at a theme park. Not when it comes to Disney. To get yourself inspired for all the new tasty treats in San Fransokyo Square, here is a list of what the talented chefs at Disney have created:

  • Karaage-inspired Crispy Chicken Sandwich with slaw, and Togarashi mayonnaise on a potato bun served with garlic chips (New)
  • Beef Birria Ramen with consomé, served with house-made birria, soft boiled egg, Monterey Jack, cilantro, roasted corn, onions, and radish (New)
  • Yaki Udon with mushrooms, sugar snap peas, roasted red peppers, bok choy, and dark soy and hoisin sauces (New) (Plant-based)
  • Yaki Udon with Karaage-inspired Chicken with mushrooms, sugar snap peas, roasted red peppers, bok choy, and dark soy and hoisin sauces (New)
  • Baymax Macaron filled with chocolate-hazelnut spread and buttercream (New)
  • Pork Wonton Nachos: Hoisin-glazed pork, cheese sauce, spicy aïoli, pickled cabbage, jalapeños, and toasted sesame seeds
  • Teriyaki Chicken with sautéed vegetables and steamed rice
  • Beef Bulgogi Burrito with seasoned rice, cabbage slaw, and garlic chips
  • Pot Stickers: Crispy vegetable and chicken pot stickers
  • San Fransokyo-style Street Corn with Togarashi mayonnaise, queso fresco, furikake, and bonito flakes served with wheat chicharrones (New)
  • QuesaBirria Street-style Tacos: Braised beef and cheese tacos with tomatillo salsa and consomé
  • Carne Asada Street-style Tacos: Citrus-marinated grilled steak tacos with crushed avocados and fuego salsa
  • Al Pastor Street-style Tacos: Pineapple-achiote marinated pork tacos with crushed avocados and jalapeño-garlic salsa
  • Pollo Asado Street-style Tacos: Achiote-marinated grilled chicken tacos with crushed avocados and fuego salsa
  • Tacos Dorados de Papa: Crispy potato tacos topped with cabbage slaw, crema, and tomatillo salsa (Plant-based)
  • Frijoles Charros: Chorizo and bacon stewed pinto beans
  • Lime-Cilantro Rice
  • Curry Beef: Beef, carrots, potatoes, and onions cooked in classic curry topped with rice, pickled ginger, and green onions served in a Boudin sourdough bread bowl (New)
  • San Fransokyo Clam Chowder: Creamy clam chowder with bacon, potatoes, and a hint of white miso served in a Boudin sourdough bread bowl (New)
  • Mac & Cheese
  • Soba Noodle Salad with tofu, cabbage, edamame, carrots, roasted corn, scallions, and cilantro topped with crispy shallots and sesame ginger dressing (New) (Plant-based)
  • Chilled Shrimp Soba Noodle Salad with tofu, cabbage, edamame, carrots, roasted corn, scallions, and cilantro topped with crispy shallots and sesame ginger dressing
  • Japanese-style Fluffy Cheesecake (New)
  • Shrimp Katsu Sandwich: Panko-breaded shrimp patty on a potato bun with cabbage slaw, spicy mayo, and katsu sauce served with garlic chips (New)
  • Turkey Pesto Club: Roasted turkey breast, pesto aїoli, havarti, bacon, arugula and tomato on herb focaccia served with potato chips
  • Steamed Rice (New)
  • Boudin Sourdough Loaf, Round or Baguette (Plant-based)
  • Garlic Pinwheel Chips Mix (New)
  • Specialty Beverages
  • Lychee Tea: Gold Peak Unsweetened Black Tea and premium lychee syrup with lychee coconut jelly (Non-alcoholic) (New)
  • Thai Tea with sea salt cream and brown sugar boba (Non-alcoholic)
  • Hot Green Tea (Non-alcoholic)
  • Bottle Logic Hanamachi: Japanese Rice Lager
  • Strawberry Lychee Cocktail: Vodka, lychee liqueur, premium strawberry syrup, and fresh lemon juice with sliced strawberry garnish (New)
  • Horchata Agua Fresca: House-made rice and cinnamon beverage (Non-alcoholic)
  • Melon Cocktail: Tequila, melon liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and orgeat topped with a cherry (New)
  • Lime Margarita
  • Bootlegger’s Cocina Cuca-Mango: Mango-flavored Hazy IPA
  • Modelo Especial
  • Citrus Michelada with Bootlegger’s IPA
  • Citrus Michelada with Modelo Especial
  • Turbine Twirler with choice of frozen wild cherry, frozen lemon-lime, frozen strawberry, or frozen blue raspberry slushy topped with peach gummy ring (Non-alcoholic) (New)
  • Rita’s Lemon-Lime Margarita with strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick (New)
  • Rita’s Grand Lemon-Lime Margarita with a splash of liqueur and strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick (New)
  • Rita’s Strawberry Margarita with strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick (New)
  • Rita’s Grand Strawberry Margarita with a splash of liqueur and strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick (New)
  • Honey Lemon-Ade: Minute Maid Lemonade Zero Sugar and yuzu purée with passion fruit and strawberry popping spheres (Non-alcoholic) (New)
  • Specialty Caramel Cream Cold Brew: Joffrey’s Coffee Caramel Mudslide Cold Brew topped with house-made sea salt caramel whipped cream (Non-alcoholic) (New)
  • Peach Soju Citrus Cocktail: Citrus beverage with peach-flavored soju (New)
  • Firestone Walker Brewing Company, 805
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Endless Summer Hard Seltzer: Mandarin Orange & Dragon Fruit (New)
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Moment of Zen: Japanese Rice Lager (New)
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Follow the Sun Blonde Ale
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Windansea Wheat Ale
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Red Trolley Ale
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Boat Shoes Hazy IPA
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company Aurora Hoppyalis IPA

  • Kids Meals
  • Teriyaki Chicken with sautéed vegetables and steamed rice
  • Chicken and Rice with vegetables and steamed rice (Disney Check Meal)
  • Yaki Udon with mushrooms, sugar snap peas, bok choy, dark soy sauce, and hoisin sauce (New) (Plant-based)
  • Carne Asada Taco
  • Pollo Asado Taco
  • Turkey Sandwich (Disney Check Meal)
  • Mac & Cheese

The locations in which these items will be available are the new Aunt Cass Cafe, Port of San Fransokyo Cerveceria, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, and Rita’s Turbine Blenders.  As you can see from the list above, most of the new items have a Japanese or Asian flair.

Beginning August 31, 2023 the entirety of San Fransokyo Square will open to the public. It will be  like stepping through the screen right into the Big Hero 6 movie, much like Cars Land is like stepping right into Radiator Springs. With the 54 foot Gateway Bridge welcoming guests, the new square is a fun addition to Disney California Adventure.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.