The Condor Flats district of Disney's California Adventure pays tribute to the state's legacy of aviation. The area gets its name from the great birds that circle high over the Mojave Desert (note the plane on the marquee above casts a shadow of a condor), home of Edwards Air Force Base and site of many of the greatest achievements in aviation history.
Condor Flats features the terrific Soarin' Over California attraction, but for me it's a must-visit locale for the Taste Pilots' Grill. Set in a rocket testing hangar through which is bursting a replica of Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, the craft he piloted faster than the speed of sound, this counter-service restaurant is home to none other than the Wild Blue Yonder Burger.
The delicious combination of a Disney burger with steak sauce and crumbled blue cheese is something I find irresistible. Despite multiple attempts to reproduce it at home, the real deal can only be experienced here.
Another tasty treat that just seems to be the best at Disney's California Adventure is the corn dogs at Corn Dog Castle. This little stand with the big sign, originally located in the Route 66 strip of the park, has been closed to make way for the reinvention of the entire Paradise Pier area. One can only hope that the Castle (or at least the same scrumptious corn dogs) will return at some point in the future.
The Corn Dog Castle, of course, is where "Corn Dogs Rule!" Perhaps my favorite detail of this little snack spot is the corner of the billboard, inviting us to "visit the entire Corn Dog Kingdom." The sign implies that there are other stands in the Corn Dog Castle chain. It's a great bit of story, adding another layer beyond just what we can experience in the theme park.
