Our review of the Paella Caldoso Epcot Food and Wine dish finds mussels dominating the flavor, leaving shrimp and scallops in the background.
The Spain Global Marketplace at the 2025 Epcot Food & Wine Festival is serving up a brand-new dish: Paella Caldoso with rock shrimp, bay scallops, and smoked mussels ($8.00). It looks like a winner on paper, but when we actually tried it, things got a little… fishy.
Paella Caldoso Epcot Food and Wine
First impressions? Beautiful presentation. This dish looked like the kind of paella that would earn a standing ovation. However, after one bite, it became clear that the smoked mussels weren’t just part of the ensemble. They were the entire show. Even the rice tasted like mussels. The shrimp and scallops never got a chance to step into the spotlight. In fairness, the mussels totally dominated the paella we ate on opening weekend. Still, on a recent visit, we tasted mostly mussels.
Add in a greasy texture (at least in our serving), and you’ve got a seafood dish struggling to find its footing. Still, while it’s called paella, the soupy caldoso style of preparation makes it feel more like a paella impersonator. Is it rice? Is it soup? It’s having an identity crisis somewhere between Valencia and Venice.
Bottom line: If you adore mussels, the Paella Caldoso Epcot Food and Wine dish is tailor-made for you. If not, you may want to stick with other festival options. We have placed some of our other Epcot International Food & Wine Festival reviews below to help with your planning.
Forr more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. As always, eat like you mean it!
- Tortellini alla Vodka
- Moroccan Wrap
- Schiacciata Sandwich
- Trio de Pintxos
- Flavors of America
- Korean BBQ Wings
- Zwiebelkuchen
- Mixed Berry Pavlova
- Beijing Zhajiang Noodles
- Basque Cheesecake
- Cast Iron-seared River Trout
- Rodizio-Style Grilled Beef Skewer
- Bacetti ‘Kisses’ di Pizza
- Tostada de Carnitas
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