My party of 2 spent $82 at Tokyo Dining in Epcot, and I wouldn't get everything I ordered again

Although I worked at Epcot back in 2018, for some reason, I didn't make it over to Tokyo Dining in the Japan Pavilion until the end of last year.

But my visit made me question that decision because it was some of the best food I've had at Epcot.

On the walls of the restaurant, there are screens with images of gorgeous flowers and Japanese monuments. And nearly everything is made out of wood, which I think provided a peaceful aesthetic for dining.

Just next door, however, is the more lively Teppan Edo, which is filled with pretty loud noises from hibachi chefs doing tricks and applause from guests. Those sounds drifted into Tokyo Dining during my meal.

If you don't mind a bit of chaos as you dine, then it's fine. But for those looking to escape the commotion of the busy park, it may not be a great fit.

Outside of hibachi spots, I'd never been to a Japanese restaurant before. I let my server know I was a newbie to the cuisine, and she walked us through the menu and gave some recommendations.

Since I'm not a fan of spice, I specifically asked her if she could point out what I should stay away from.

We even had friendly conversations about the parks and our love for Chip and Dale, which was fun.

I love edamame, so when I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to order it.

It ended up being my favorite appetizer.

Alongside the edamame, I also ordered the chicken karaage, a Japanese-style crispy chicken with yuzu-gari sauce.

The chicken was good, but I thought it was too greasy.

Plus, for $12, it only came with four pieces, making each bite-size piece roughly $3.

In my mind, it's pretty hard to go wrong with noodles, and I was right.

I ordered the yaki udon, stir-fried udon noodles with beef and vegetables in a sweet, tangy sauce.

Since I don't like beef, I swapped it for chicken to get some protein, and I'm glad I did.

I thought the noodles were delicious, super thick, and flavorful. But my sister thought the opposite and didn't like how hard they were to eat.

With a price tag of $30, the yaki-udon noodles are one of the most expensive picks on the menu.

Although they were really good, I don't know if I can justify the cost for essentially a plate of pasta, even at Disney World.

My sister decided to order the California roll, but because I'm not a fan of fish, I stuck with my noodles.

Although I didn't try her dish, she claimed it was the best sushi she's ever had.

The dessert menu was pretty limited: yuzu mousse cake, chocolate-ginger cake, ice cream, mango mousse cake, and chocolate tiramisu.

We ended up splitting the chocolate-ginger cake since it seemed like the safest option, considering our food preferences.

I've never tasted anything like it — it was both sweet and spicy.

The spice came more as an aftertaste, but it was definitely there. Even as someone who doesn't like spice, this was tolerable for me.

If there was any more ginger, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it, but the ratio of chocolate cake to ginger was just right.

Looking back, I should've known I'd like Tokyo Dining because Teppan Edo is also one of my favorites.

I'd definitely return if I'm ever in the mood for delicious noodles, even though it was expensive. But I wouldn't order the $12 fried chicken again, and I'd probably split a tray of noodles to cut down the cost.

The bill came out to $68.06 with my 10% annual-pass discount. Once I added in the tip, it was $82.06.

I wouldn't consider Tokyo Dining a must-visit like Chefs de France or Teppan Edo, but it's definitely up there. If you've never dined there, it's worth it to make a reservation for your next trip to Epcot.

Editor's Note: Tokyo Dining is currently closed for refurbishments but is set to reopen for visitors in summer 2023.