Cheers, friends! While looking for Gluten-free Nine Dragons in Epcot’s China Pavilion menus, we were shocked to find out that there weren’t any.
Can you eat gluten-free at Nine Dragons?
Our waitress brought out the manager who verbally told us which items could be made gluten-free. Prior to publishing, we could not find a menu or list featuring gluten-free Nine Dragons in Epcot’s China Pavilion so we decided to create our own.
| Meal | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Garden Salad | $6 | Mixed greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and a lemon vinaigrette salad dressing. |
| Happy Family | $20 | Chicken breast, beef, shrimp, and vegetables. Comes with rice. |
| Canton Pepper Beef | $20 | Slices of beef, scallions, and sauce. Served with rice. |
| Moo Goo Gai Pan | $18 | Stir-fried chicken, snow peas, carrots, and mushrooms. |
| Kung Pao Chicken | $17 | Peanuts, dried chilis. You can choose level of heat. Served with rice. |
| Kung Pao Shrimp | $22 | Peanuts, dried chilis. You can choose level of heat. Served with rice. |
| Chicken and Broccoli | $18 | Chicken, broccoli, and rice. |
| Beef and Broccoli | $18 | Beef, Broccoli, and rice. |
| Vegetable and Tofu Stirfry | $16 | A combination of vegetables and tofu served with white rice. |
| Kid's Honey Chicken | $7.98 | Chicken nuggets with honey sauce on the side. Served with rice, broccoli pieces (2), and baby carrots (2). |
What are the best gluten-free meals at Nine Dragons?
While we had a hankering for hot and sour soup, we were disappointed to learn that it already came with gluten-filled soy sauce. In fact, there was no soup or appetizers that were gluten-free. Our only option was a garden salad with lemon vinaigrette dressing.
I am a pescetarian, so my options were limited to the salad, vegetable and tofu stirfry, or the Kung Pao Shrimp. I didn’t know what to expect so I stuck with the salad.
The greens were fresh and crisp, the tomato perfectly ripe, and the cucumber delicious. However, I expected a bit more. The lemon vinaigrette was so sour that my mouth instantly puckered. Go lightly on this one before you gauge how you like it!
Make sure to ask for gluten-free soy sauce. My husband got the Kung Pao Chicken and white rice and was ecstatic to put soy sauce on his food. Even though he asked for 1 pepper out of 2 pepper rating for spiciness), the food was very spicy. The flavor was relatively mild and overpowered by its heat. He thought the green scallions were a colorful touch.
Are there kids gluten-free menu items at Nine Dragons?
Our daughter is not gluten-free, so she stuck with the regular Kids Honey Chicken. It was delicious and she happily munched the accompanying veggies. However, it’s our understanding they could have created a gluten-free version.
What is the vibe at Nine Dragons?
The restaurant is ornate, with gorgeous windows facing out to the World Showcase. We loved the view outside. The dining room was lovely, also. There are three separate areas divided by wooden screens with rooms that are bright and light.
However, the ambiance was a bit upscale for a family with meltdown-prone children. I didn’t enjoy myself very much because I was on high alert at all times.
We are a large family of six with an older baby and a young preschooler. For some reason, we were surrounded by well-dressed couples that spent a lot of time looking at our family with disdain. While we don’t go out to eat much at home, usually Disney is an exception with kind fellow customers and staff. I don’t know if this was an anomaly, as I have never been to Nine Dragons before.
I would love to hear about your experience with the ambiance. It seemed very formal in a way that was disproportionate to the cost. What has your experience been with other Nine Dragons patrons?
The only available options are the following:
- Garden salad with dressing
- Happy Family
- Canton Pepper Beef
- Moo Goo Gai Pan
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Kung Pao Shrimp
- Chicken and broccoli
- Beef and Broccoli
- Vegetable and Tofu Stir Fry
- Kid’s Honey Chicken
Would you return to Nine Dragons?
Can you eat gluten-free at Nine Dragons? Yes, but I don’t know that I will again. With so much delicious gluten-free food available at Epcot, why would I waste my time?
Nine Dragons did not wow us, but it wasn’t horrible. It was the middle of the road option for cost and taste. While we would have loved General Tso, soup, and dumplings, we were excited to have a last-minute sitdown meal with gluten-free soy sauce.
The dining room is beautiful, the service was fine. The servers were not our favorite, but they served hot food, quickly got us someone who could help with our dietary concerns, and had our bill out equally quickly. However, given the frequent festivals at Epcot, if it’s between Festival snacks and this sitdown, catch me at the Festival booths!
Check out our other gluten-free Walt Disney World Menus and Reviews:
- Gluten-Free Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village Resort
- Gluten-Free Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Gluten-Free Trattoria al Forno: Bon Voyage Breakfast
- Gluten-Free Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
So many beautiful and yummy options in the World Showcase. I surely don’t mind giving this a miss. Especially with judgey patrons! Thanks for the review!