I will admit, the last two menu updates at Coral Reef restaurant in the Seas pavilion in EPCOT made me avoid going there to try them – but we now have some vegan options that make it worth a visit! The last entree was a curried roasted cauliflower dish, which I had heard was tasteless. Prior to that, we had the very UN-photogenic mushroom ravioli. I did not try that either, but most of the reviews I heard did not enjoy that one either. A few weeks ago, the Coral Reef menu received another update, and this time, the vegan options are a home run. Let’s continue on and explore these new options!
First up, the Caribbean salad. This is mixed greens, with toy box tomatoes, pigeon peas, and crispy seasoned plantains, tossed in a generous amount of key lime vinaigrette. I LOVE a tangy vinegar-based dressing, so this really made the salad for me. So satisfying in flavor and it’s a really great portion size too. You could definitely share this if you wanted to.
You can also request the gluten-free/vegan rolls here with vegan butter:
The entree is a plate of 3 “Coastal Palm Cakes” which are served on a bed of quinoa and fresh roasted corn, with toy box tomatoes and pearl peppers (also known as sweety drops). I loved this dish as well. I’ve loved pretty much all the vegan crab cakes I’ve had across Disney property, from Sebastian’s to the Grand Californian (sadly no longer available) and a few in between. These cakes are not trying to taste like crab cakes, in my opinion, in flavor or texture. There is some Old Bay seasoning involved, but you can also definitely taste the potatoes, chickpeas, and hearts of palm in there. It is a much starchier cake than the ones at Sebastian’s. But I still really loved it. The breaded coating is just the right thickness to give them a satisfying crunch texture on the outside.
The corn and quinoa tastes like it had fresh lemon juice squeezed on top, and I loved that. It made it so bright and fresh, with the char on the corn, it was a wonderful combination of flavors. The sweet pearl peppers are the final touch on this dish. The flavors, textures and tastes are all wonderful together.
Lastly, the recently updated dessert is now truly vegan (previously it contained Jack Daniels which is not vegan), and a lovely mix of hardened chocolate and fluffy and airy mousses inside. The flavors here are almond and chocolate, with some hints of orange from the garnishes. A perfect ending to this satisfying meal. Kudos to the chef responsible for this change – please keep this one around for a while! I think it’s going to be a big hit!
We’ll have a video review up soon too so be sure to subscribe to see when that comes out. Until then, check out our reel for a quick overview.
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Have you experienced the new vegan menu at Coral Reef in EPCOT? Let me know what you thought and which dish stood out the most to you! If there’s a review you’d like to see here, let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to add it to my list! Thanks so much for reading, I hope this was a helpful vegan review of Coral Reef!
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Disclosure: VeganDisneyFood is an informational fan site run by a lifelong Disney fan and vegan, doing constant research, speaking to chefs, and giving honest reviews of our experiences. We cover our own expenses 100% of the time unless noted and appreciate your support, and love helping you plan worry-free meals on your Disney vacation. Menu items reviewed in blog posts are subject to change by Disney at any time. Please consult our Complete Vegan Guides to Disney Parks & Resorts for the most up to date information. If you would like to let the Walt Disney World Resort know your thoughts on your favorite vegan items, what you would like to see more or less of, you can email Walt Disney World. If you have 4 or more allergy-friendly requests, you can contact Special Diets no more than 14 days prior to arrival.
