On Thursday, construction crews were spotted tearing down the last remaining structures of the former Tortilla Jo’s restaurant in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort. After more than 20 years serving guests, the Mexican dining spot closed in March 2024 to make way for two new restaurants.
Tortilla Jo’s first opened its doors at Downtown Disney in 2004, offering classic Mexican dishes like tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and enchiladas. The restaurant was especially popular among Disney Parks fans for its fresh guacamole, which was hand-prepared and customized tableside, making it a standout dining experience at Disneyland Resort.
Although construction walls went up shortly after the restaurant closed last spring, permits for demolition weren’t filed until September 2024. Actual demolition work began earlier this year, with crews steadily tearing down the two-decade-old restaurant over the past several months.
On May 15, X (formerly Twitter) user @laughing_place shared videos capturing the moment a large construction vehicle brought down some of the final remnants of Tortilla Jo’s at Downtown Disney (Disneyland Resort’s equivalent to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort). The guest even captured part of the building coming loose and crashing down, a rare sight for Disney Park guests since major construction usually happens overnight away from public view.
Watching them knock down part of the remaining Tortilla Jo’s structure. #DowntownDisney #DisneylandResort
I could feel the seismic reverberations as it came loose. #DowntownDisney #DisneylandResort
I could feel the seismic reverberations as it came loose. #DowntownDisney #DisneylandResort pic.twitter.com/LP8bRWFzdh
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) May 15, 2025
Disneyland Resort has announced that two new dining locations are set to replace Tortilla Jo’s: Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon, and Pearl’s Roadside BBQ. No official opening dates have been shared for either spot. Follow Disney Fanatic for updates on the ongoing construction in Downtown Disney and other projects around Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and the international Disney parks!
Did you eat at the Downtown Disney District Tortilla Jo’s before it closed? Share your favorite memories with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
