Food,  Travel

A Foodie’s Guide to the Ultimate Anaheim Packing District Experience

Welcome to the Anaheim Packing District, one of my favorite places to hang out and eat delicious food! It’s a foodie’s paradise food hall, with an eclectic mix of restaurants and quick-service stands.

In this post I’m sharing my favorite places to eat, relax and shop and helpful tips you need to know before you visit.

This post is all about the Anaheim Packing District.

Helpful Guide to the Anaheim Packing District

Location

The Anaheim Packing District is located at 440 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805, just a few blocks south of the I-5 freeway.

The Packing House building itself is hard to miss, with its bright white modern paint and big orange letters nodding to the history of citrus packing inside this building.

How far is Anaheim Packing District from Disneyland?

The Anaheim Packing House food hall is just under 2 miles away from Disneyland, which makes it a hot spot for traveling tourists. By car, you can expect a 7-10 minute drive.

Don’t have a car? Just walk from Disneyland to the Harbor-East Shuttle Area on Harbor Blvd and catch the orange or blue line to the Harbor-Lincoln stop, which is just a short walk from the Anaheim Packing District.

Anaheim Packing District Parking

Parking can be a bit of a challenge, especially on weekends when the Packing District is busiest.

Self-parking is available in the Packing House lot and lot on Claudina, just south of the Packing House. I typically use street parking in the surrounding area within a few blocks. If you choose to park on the public street, just be aware of the parking restrictions and posted signage.

Valet parking is also available for a fee.

Anaheim Packing District Food Hall

What Is The Anaheim Packing District?

The Anaheim Packing District is a popular dining destination in Orange County for visitors and locals.

Not only does the Anaheim Packing District include the infamous Packing House, but it also includes a few surrounding buildings and gathering areas as part of the district. These include the Make Building, Packard Building and Farmer’s Park.

So basically, the entire district spreads a few blocks but the main building is the Packing House food hall.

Anaheim Packing District Map

Here’s a helpful map to help you understand the layout and locations of the Anaheim Packing District.

Anaheim Packing House

Let’s start with the main attraction, the Anaheim Packing House. This food hall is housed in the restored Packard Building, a former citrus packing house. The Packing House features over 20 artisan eateries and shops, each with their own unique flavor and style.

With live music, events, and an indoor/outdoor marketplace, there is always something to see and do here. Which is why it’s one of my favorite spots to spend a weekend afternoon or a date night with the hubby at Blind Rabbit!

Best Quick-Service Food Stands at the Anaheim Packing House

One of my favorite parts of the Packing District is the variety of quick-service food stands. If you have picky eaters or a large group to please, this will do the trick!

Some of my favorites include Black Sheep Grilled Cheese Bar, which serves gourmet and unique grilled cheese sandwiches to go. Fancy cheese + bread = abso-freaking-lutely.

Georgia’s Kitchen is all about soul food. So you’ll find chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and just about anything else that will transport you straight to Louisiana.

Anaheim Packing District Georgias

If you’ve never tried the Canadian junk food called poutine, head to The Kroft where the entire menu is based around cheese curds and gravy, and I’m not mad about it.

Other notable mentions are ADYA for Indian street food, and Healthy Junk at the House for fresh comfort vegan food.

Best Anaheim Packing House Snacks

Popbar is another favorite of mine, which has a wide variety of unique gelato popsicles. You get to choose the base popsicle and your toppings and they dip it in front of you. I love the banana flavor gelato with dark chocolate and coconut. A delicious treat on a warm day!

Anaheim Packing District popbar

Hans’ Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Hole are other great snacks that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Best Sit-Down Restaurants at the Anaheim Packing House

If you’re looking for a more formal dining experience, there are several sit-down restaurants to choose from as well.

My personal favorite is the Blind Rabbit, a unique speakeasy that’s tucked away on the bottom level. You can read all about it in my post The Blind Rabbit: A Secret Speakeasy Bar in Anaheim’s Packing District. If you aren’t able to get reservations, add it to your list for next time. I promise you’ll thank me later!

Other great option for a sit-down restaurant is URBANA on the lower level. This stylish and colorful Mexican restaurant is focused around Dia de los Muertos and farm fresh cuisine.

If you’re a fan of Hot Pot, check out Rolling Boil which currently offers an all-you-can-eat option. This restaurant is located on the bottom level beside Urbana and Blind Rabbit.

Best Spot for a Cocktail

The Blind Rabbit is hands-down the best cocktail bar in the Anaheim Packing District in my opinion, but you’ll need reservations and it’s a very small, intimate space.

Hammer Bar is another great spot with beautiful craft cocktails and a more lively seating area.

BXCR is really fun because you can sit inside a train boxcar! You can find this spot on the lower level.

They have a great selection of wine and a few cocktails. My husband and I spent hours in the boxcar one afternoon playing chess and sipping a wine flight, which they paired with cupcakes for a special they were running. It made a fun, unexpected date day that we really enjoyed.

Anaheim Packing District bar

Shopping

In addition to the food options, there are several shops in the Anaheim Packing District worth checking out.

One of my favorites is SEED or browsing the dried flowers truck that sits on the top level near Popbar.

Make Building

The Make Building at the Anaheim Packing District sits just south of the Packing House on the other side of Santa Ana Street.

This building is home to Pali Wine Co, Unsung Brewing and Tacos El Gringo.

Packard Building

The Packard Building at the Anaheim Packing District sits on the north side of the Packing House on the corner of Anaheim and Broadway.

This building is home to Monkish Brewing, a brewery and beer garden that beer-lovers will not want to miss!

Farmer’s Park

If you have kids, they will love running around at Farmer’s Park. There are also two newer incredible sit-down restaurants.

After dinner, we grabbed some ice cream and headed over to the park so the kids could get out some much needed energy. There is a grassy area and plenty of seating, so you can relax in the beautiful outdoor weather.

We even got a peek at the Disneyland fireworks going off from Farmer’s Park, which was a fun way to end the night.

18 Folds Dim Sum at the Anaheim Packing District’s Farmers Park

This fast-casual spot offers a wide range of delicious dim sum dishes that are perfect for sharing with friends or family. The menu includes classics like steamed pork buns and shrimp dumplings, as well as some more unique items like crispy rice with spicy tuna and wagyu beef sliders.

The prices are reasonable, and the service is fast and friendly. Be sure to arrive early on weekends, as this spot can get quite busy!

Poppy & Seed at the Anaheim Packing District’s Farmers Park

Poppy and Seed is one of the newest additions to the Anaheim Packing District, and it’s already generating buzz among foodies and locals. You can dine inside the giant greenhouse which is beautifully decorated with a mixture of Southern California elements and elevated farm to table charm.

As a new establishment, I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but I can’t wait to try it! From what I’ve read, Poppy and Seed is definitely bringing an elevated approach to Southern California ingredients, and receiving rave reviews.

Instagram-Worthy Photo Ops

There are so many great spots to grab photos at the Anaheim Packing District, but here are a few of my faves!

  1. Japanese Lanterns on the bottom floor near BXCR (pictured below)
  2. Giant roosters at the east entrance (pictured above)
  3. Giant fireplace sitting area at the east entrance (pictured below)
  4. Flower cart on the upper level (pictured above)
  5. Outdoor lower level sitting area on the north side of the Packing House near Farmer’s Park (pictured below)

FAQs

Q: Is the Anaheim Packing District family-friendly?

A: Absolutely! There are plenty of options for kids, including grilled cheese sandwiches at Black Sheep Grilled Cheese Bar and ice cream at Hans’ Homemade Ice Cream.

Q: Is there outdoor seating available?

A: Yes, there are plenty of seating options outside. Or you can enjoy your food in the lawn at Farmer’s Park.

Q: Are there vegan or vegetarian options available?

A: Yes, several of the restaurants and food stands offer vegan and vegetarian options.

Q: What time does Anaheim Packing District close?

A: Each vendor has its own unique schedule, so check with the specific vendor if you have a certain place in mind. However, generally most places have standard hours and close around 9pm on weekdays.

Q: Is the Anaheim Packing District dog-friendly?

A: For health code reasons, dogs are not permitted inside or outside. The website offers more detail about service animal requirements and information.

Q: Is the Anaheim Packing District open on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

A: No, the Packing District is closed for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Q: Can you hold an event at the Anaheim Packing House?

Yes! To inquire, please check out their Venues for Groups and Events page.

What restaurants will you choose on your visit to the Packing District?

I hope this post inspired you to schedule a day or night at the Anaheim Packing District. There are so many great options to choose from and plenty of amazing things to eat. A real-life foodie paradise.

Let me know in the comments below what your favorites are and what you want to try next!

Happy travels!

-Hannah

This post was all about the best Anaheim Packing District restaurants, vendors, shopping and tips.

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Plate & Compass is a food and travel blog written by Hannah Falkosky. After quitting her job and spending 8 weeks in Europe on just a few thousand dollars, she found her love for budget travel and sharing tips to help others explore the world. She also spent 15 years working with award-winning chefs and developed a love for artful food and cocktails. Hannah is now based out of Los Angeles, and when she’s not traveling she makes it her mission to explore the best restaurants and cocktail bars while living life to the fullest.

3 Comments

  • Linnea

    I love the packing district! It’s the perfect place to getaway from the chain restaurants near Disney and go somewhere unique.

  • Lenore

    On my next visit to California I have to check out the Anaheim Packing District! So many great options to explore for a quick bite to eat or to stay for awhile. ADYA and Georgia’s Kitchen look divine.

  • Dionne Evans

    Great information and love the photos! I don’t live too far away so now I’m interested in visiting.

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