Walt Disney World has released full menus for EET by Maneet Chauhan, the only Indian-inspired restaurant that’s opening in late 2023 at Disney Springs. This post shares a first look at food served at the new dining spot for lunch & dinner. Plus, thoughts on the cuisine, Disney Dining Plan credit value, and how it’ll compare to its predecessor.
As background, construction is currently in progress for this New Celebrity Chef Restaurant Coming to Walt Disney World in 2023. As we previously speculated, Walt Disney World has now confirmed that EET by Maneet Chauhan is replacing the former Wolfgang Puck Express in Disney Springs. That’s not even remotely surprising, as there was no way they were building a new restaurant from the ground up in under 6 months, and this is the only vacancy, so…process of elimination and all that.
For those who are unfamiliar with Maneet Chauhan–and that was us until reading the original announcement and doing some research (we’re more HGTV people)–she’s an acclaimed James Beard Award-winning chef and Food Network Star. Born and raised in India, Maneet Chauhan honed her skills at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in New York, and has accomplished quite a lot since on her ascent to culinary stardom. Among other awards and accolades, the James Beard Foundation has recognized Chauhan on multiple occasions.
It’s on Food Network where Maneet Chauhan has really gained national recognition, though. First as a competitor on the Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef, then as a permanent judge on Chopped. She’s also made appearances on The Next Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, The View on ABC and the Today Show on NBC. She was also featured on the finale of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network–as a judge, not one of the infamous cooks–and won the Food Network competition Tournament of Champions.
Anyway, as for EET by Maneet Chauhan restaurant, for this she’s working with her husband, Vivek Deora, an international hospitality entrepreneur to bring this new restaurant to Disney Springs. The location will be a “modern and fun Indian-inspired concept” and is currently slated to open in later 2023.
According to EET by Maneet Chauhan’s restaurant page on the official Walt Disney World website, it’ll offer authentic Indian cuisine as Chauhan and Deora bring their family’s culture and traditions to one of their favorite vacation spots. Here’s a look at the full menu, along with a sneak peek at food photos released by Walt Disney World…
Sharables
eet Bread Service with Pimento Whipped Paneer – $18.00 – buttered naan, garlic naan, pimento whipped paneer cheese, masala vegetable sticks, indian pickle, coriander honey, chutneys
Tandoori Chicken Poutine – $14.00 – chaat masala fries, tandoori chicken, white cheddar curds, rich tomato butter sauce
D.I.Y. Pani Puri – $12.00 – (7 pcs.) crispy semolina puffs, black garbanzo beans, potatoes, tamarind, date chutney, mint cilantro water
Walking Taco – $12.00 – crunchy indian puff snacks, spicy pork chili, indian pico de gallo, tamarind chutney, cojita cheese
Samosas – $9.00 – (2 pcs.) savory potato & pea pastry, tamarind chutney, mint chutney
Pizza & Breads
Chicken Tikka Naan Pizza – $14.00 – chicken kabab, rich tomato butter sauce, mozzarella, parmesan
Saag Paneer Naan Pizza – $14.00 – saag spinach sauce, paneer tikka, mozzarella, parmesan
Spicy Green Chili Naan – $6.00 – green chilies, cilantro, clarified butter
Garlic Naan – $5.00 – garlic, kasoori methi, clarified butter
Buttered Naan – $4.00 – traditional indian flatbread
Market Fresh
Street Style Puffed Rice Salad – $12.00 – crispy puffed rice, mango, strawberry, potato, cilantro, tamarind chutney, mint chutney
Samosa Chopped Salad – $15.00 – chopped lettuces, cucumber, radish, tomato, garbanzo, mini samosa croutons, chaat vinaigrette
Enhance Your Salad – $5.00 – tandoori chicken | paneer tikka | basil cilantro shrimp | masala roasted cauliflower
Build Your Own Bowl!
Build Your Own Bowl – $18.00 – includes pickled red cabbage, indian pico de gallo, and masala chickpea pearls | choose base, kabab, and sauce
Pick Your Base
- cumin basmati rice
- turmeric riced cauliflower
- fresh salad greens
Pick Your Kabab
- tandoori chicken
- paneer tikka
- basil cilantro shrimp
- masala roasted cauliflower
Pick Your Sauce
- tikka (aromatic buttery tomato sauce)
- saag (rich earthy spinach sauce)
- moilee (golden coconut curry sauce)
- korma (cashew saffron sauce)
- bhunna (classic indian curry sauce)
Additions & Sides
Marsala Fries – $4.00
Yogurt Raita – $3.00
Mint Chutney – $2.00
Tamarind Chutney – $2.00
Chopped Green Chilies – $3.00
Desi Salad – $4.00 – lemons, tomatoes, green chilies
Kids Menu
Lil’ Naan Pizza – $9.00 – tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese with choice of fresh fruit or fries and served with apple juice
Lil’ Sliders – $9.00 – two hawaiian roll sliders, beef patties, and american cheese with choice of fresh fruit or fries and served with apple juice
Crispy Chicken Fingers – $9.00 – served with ranch, choice of fresh fruit or fries, and served with apple juice
Desserts
Gulab Juman Cheesecake – $9.00 – NY-style cheesecake, gulab jamun, strawberries, saffron, cardamon
Chocolate & Strawberry Naan – $8.00 – chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, white chocolate, diced strawberries, fresh mint
Signature Drinks
eet House Wines – $12.00 – pinot noir, pinot gris, sparkling
eet Citra Pale Ale – $8.00
Boozy Slushies – $12.00 – seasonal selections
Vanilla Cardamom Yogurt Lassi – $5.00
Mango Yogurt Lassi – $5.00
Turning to commentary, this sounds incredible. EET by Maneet Chauhan looks both inventive and approachable, a restaurant we’d enjoy but could also do with our parents, who generally favor more crowd-pleasing comfort foods.
It’s great to see naan pizza (!!!) on the menu, which presumably means that they’re reusing the pizza oven that was there for Wolfgang Puck Express. I already know our first order is going to be the Bread Service and Tandoori Chicken Poutine “for the table” plus Chicken Tikka Naan Pizza for me and, I’m guessing Sarah will order a BYOB with masala roasted cauliflower (I’m not good enough to guess her base and sauce, but probably greens and bhunna or saag). It’s going to be a fantastic feast!
I was hoping for a slightly deeper menu, but maybe this will be the rare Walt Disney World restaurant that expands its menu over time rather than cutting items as it runs into difficulty with demand or serving everything efficiently. Honestly, I prefer this approach. And in any case, there are a half-dozen dishes that sound excellent, and I can’t see us managing to get here more than twice per year.
Walt Disney World still hasn’t officially confirmed this will be a counter service restaurant, but odds are high that it’s fast casual just like Wolfgang Puck Express given both the restaurant style and menu prices. I’m guessing EET by Maneet Chauhan pulls a lot from the Wolfgang Puck Express playbook, right down to the table service quality food at counter service prices.
To that point, EET by Maneet Chauhan should make our list of the Best Counter Service Counter Service Credit Uses on the Disney Dining Plan for 2024. It won’t be #1 like its predecessor, but the BYOB will earn it a spot on the list. There are a couple of other items that are likewise worthy of consideration from a value for credit perspective.
Obviously all of this is just guessing on our part, but EET by Maneet Chauhan will likely be a good value for money when paying out of pocket, too. These prices are relatively reasonable for what’s being served, and it’s safe to say that the exact same dishes would be 20% more expensive if served in Magic Kingdom. (In all likelihood, the exact same dishes couldn’t be served in Magic Kingdom at a counter service restaurant, as it would be too inefficient.)
Part of this restaurant being attractive on the Disney Dining Plan or when paying out of pocket is a matter of practicality. The location that EET by Maneet Chauhan is moving into is not great. This spot is way off the beaten path, tucked away in a corner of the Marketplace at Disney Springs that is light on foot traffic and can be difficult to find.
That wasn’t such a big deal back in the more compact Downtown Disney era, but it’s pretty far removed from the main drag of Disney Springs. It’s never been confirmed, but we assume this played at least a contributing factor in Wolfgang Puck Express closing a few years ago during the phased reopening of Walt Disney World. That it never reopened even after restaurant business started booming during the last couple of years should say something.
EET by Maneet Chauhan will have to contend not only with the inconvenient location, but also being a type of cuisine for which Walt Disney World’s guest demographics might be less enthusiastic. Accordingly, it’ll likely need something to act as a hook. A memorable bread service or epic loaded poutine could be those things. So could strong word of mouth and solid value on the Disney Dining Plan. Hopefully all of those things so it doesn’t suffer the same fate as Wolfgang Puck Express.
To that point, Walt Disney World has not yet added EET by Maneet Chauhan to the Full List of Restaurants on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan, so we’re simply assuming it’ll participate. It pretty much must accept the DDP, though. I can’t imagine this restaurant being viable if it’s not on the Disney Dining Plan. So even if it doesn’t start 2024 on the DDP, I’d bet that it ends the year on the Disney Dining Plan.
Ultimately, we’re really looking forward to EET by Maneet Chauhan. We love Indian food, both the authentic variety and the inauthentic comfort cuisine spin that’s more accessible and appealing to broader audiences. Whatever this restaurant ends up being, we welcome the concept. Walt Disney World has no shortage of Italian, Mexican, and American restaurants–but little in the way of Indian eateries.
EET by Maneet Chauhan could end up being destination dining at Disney Springs, or a hidden gem that offers great counter-programming to the always-busy hotspots like Polite Pig, D-Luxe Burger, and Blaze Pizza. Based on the shareable menu options, naan pizzas and bowls, it already looks like EET by Maneet Chauhan has a hook to get Walt Disney World guests excited. Here’s hoping the restaurant can capitalize, and develops a strong fan following. Both for its own sake and so more unique and untested concepts come to Walt Disney World!
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
What do you think about the full menu for EET by Maneet Chauhan? Do the food photos look appetizing to you? Will this be a good addition to the restaurant lineup at Disney Springs or Walt Disney World as a whole? Wish there were more unique culinary concepts like this, or do you prefer the crowd-pleasing Italian and American restaurants? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
