Jambo! Now, I have so much to say about this park because it is 100 percent the park that I've spent the most time at since it is my home park. During my college program I was placed in quick service food and beverage in Africa so I got up close and personal with the food from Animal Kingdom. In all honesty, when I found out my placement for the program I was a little disappointed that I would be working here. I am sometimes an anxious being and thought that having the opportunity to work in a hotel or outside the parks would make the experience a little less intense and not to mention Animal Kingdom (DAK) is not my favorite park. However after spending my college program in Africa, I had more of an appreciation for the park and its food even though my fear for the intensity was correct (especially during the holidays). Enough of the nostalgia, these are the some delicious food destinations in Animal Kingdom to eat at so you won't have to eat at Rainforest Cafe.
Quick-Service
Satu'li Canteen
Now lemme tell you, this spot is an Avatar fan favorite for many people. I've been here multiple times and it's great and all but it's personally not my favorite quick-service spot. Located far far away from Earth in Pandora is this Avatar themed food spot that is well known for its creativity with their food. Pictured above is a noodle and shrimp dish that is no longer on the menu but is similar to the chili-garlic shrimp bowl that is currently on the menu. The chili-garlic shrimp bowl is chili-garlic shrimp served with your choice of a base (which I believe is either rice or noodles) and a sauce. If you're not quite as much of a seafood lover as I am there is also the same type of bowl entree to make with a base and a sauce but with options like grilled beef, chicken, or both. If you're vegetarian or vegan then they also have this entree but with crispy fried tofu. One of the most favorited dishes on the menu is actually from the kid's meal section. The cheeseburger steamed pod dish is highly recommended by Disney foodies alike and is served with vegetable chips, grapes, and a kids beverage. As I've recommended in my other Disney dining guides, Satu'li has mobile order capabilities in the My Disney Experience app which makes ordering food less of a hassle and way less time consuming.
Pizzafari
This is a restaurant for all of the picky eaters in the group to rejoice at. Located in Discovery Island is this dino themed spot known for their pizza. There aren't any other Italian-American dinings spots in the park so if this is what your group is feeling hungry for then look no further. Pictured above is my favorite item off of the menu which is the shrimp flatbread. This flatbread comes with roasted peppers, spinach and arugula, shrimp, and pesto all on top of a flatbread pizza. Adult pizza options also are sausage and pepperoni, pepperoni, vegetable, and the classic cheese pizzas. All of these flatbread and pizza options include the side caesar salad. If you're not hungry for pizza then the other option is the full sized portion of caesar salad which can come with or without chicken for extra protein. Just like Satu'li this spot also has the ability to do mobile order so if you're on that time crunch, use the app to skip the line and save some time.
Yak & Yeti
This Asian-American dining spot is perfect for your trek through Animal Kingdom. Located in Asia is this quick-service destination for some breakfast and lunch/dinner options. Yak & Yeti has two dining spots, one is the formal sit-down dining experience while the other is a quick-service spot. This is about the quick-service location that serves food from park opening to park close. I have never eaten their breakfast but I have indulged in their lunch/dinner menu. Pictured above is what I ordered when I went there which is the teriyaki beef bowl. This bowl is a combination of marinated beef, carrots, snap peas, onions, and mushrooms in a sweet teriyaki sauce with white rice. I actually really enjoyed my meal in Asia and have referred many guests that visited DAK here from Africa because of the diverse menu. There are also more Asian options such as the honey sesame chicken or the ginger chicken salad but there are also some traditional American dishes like the beef hot dog or the cheeseburger. With such a diverse menu, there is something for your entire group to love here.
Harambe Market
Jambo and welcome to the the part of DAK that I am 100 percent knowledgeable about. Having worked here and spent hours in the kitchen, I can say with all of the certainty that I know what is great from the menu and what isn't so great. Located by the Wildlife Express Train in Africa is the Harambe Market. The first time that I went into the area before I started working here, I thought that there were
separate buildings to the market but that is not the case, it is all one building. Alright I'll go from best to least desirable items on the menu. My favorite item that I would actually order on my breaks if I had time to is is beef and lamb gyro which is pictured on the bottom. I got to make some gyros when I worked there which was pretty fun to do. Anyway this dish is slices of beef and lamb gyro meat on top of pita bread with a lettuce and tomato salad served with their tzatziki sauce and african coleslaw on the side. I personally would get extra tzatziki on the side and opt out of the coleslaw side. There is also a chicken gyro which I haven't tried but I can imagine is pretty decent. My next favorite thing to order was the chicken bowl which is the top photo featuring my costume khaki shorts below the table. This dish is just marinated chicken with some (really delicious) cilantro rice, yogurt sauce, salsa, and a small side salad with a vinaigrette on top. I would order this with extra yogurt sauce, vinaigrette, and salsa. So delicious. My last option for ordering off the menu would be the roasted vegetable bowl. This is a mixture of cauliflower, onion, sweet potato, and other vegetables on top of cilantro rice with a dollop of yogurt sauce and slice of pita on the side. It is a little spicy but definitely very tasty. Next up is the pork sausage which is just a pork sausage on top of a pita with a curry-ketchup onion-relish and cilantro on top. The last time I ate this was when I did my training and it's not a bad dish, it's just not my favorite thing to order off of the menu. Last option off of the menu is the thing I would avoid eating which is the ribs bowl. Prior to the menu change that was in December 2018 at the end of my program this was just a rib dish but now it's the rib bowl. It is the same concept of the chicken bowl but with one rack of ribs. The reason why I wouldn't order this dish is because the ribs are pretty fatty and I think that the ribs from Flame Tree Barbecue are much better. If the line is incredible long out front then I'd advise you to use do mobile order from the My Disney Experience app, per usual.
Flame Tree Barbecue
This is definitely my favorite quick-service spot in Animal Kingdom. Located in Discovery Island near Dinoland is this delicious barbecue spot. Aside from the Harambe Market, this is probably the place that I've eaten at the most in DAK because the food is so good. I honestly think that a lot of the food from Disney can be mediocre but this is one the places that is not just your typical theme park food. My absolute favorite thing from the menu are the french fries with pulled pork and cheese which is the photo in the middle. This side dish is comprised of french fries, pulled pork, melty nacho cheese, and a drizzle of barbeque sauce. Also I could be wrong but I believe this tasty dish counts as a snack credit. Next up is the baked macaroni and cheese with pulled pork which is pictured on the bottom. This entree is baked macaroni and cheese topped with smoked pulled pork, onion rings, coleslaw, and a drizzle of barbeque sauce. If you're feeling a little more hungry then my suggestion is the ribs and chicken combo. This is a half rack of ribs and chicken with baked beans and coleslaw on the side. There aren't many vegetarian friendly options but a delicious salad entree is the smokehouse chicken salad. The salad is pulled chicken, smoked cheddar cheese, diced granny smith apples, cornbread croutons, crispy onions all on top of mixed greens with a barbeque ranch dressing. Just ask for no chicken and this is a great veggie option. Save time on your DAK trip by using mobile order at this location to order your food and to skip the line.
Snacks
Harambe Fruit Market
Who would've ever thought that curried corn would make a delicious snack at a theme park. Located in Africa is one of DAK's healthiest snack spots. If you want something other than the traditional Disney snacks like the popcorn, churros, or turkey legs then look no further than the fruit market. The best snack option here is the grilled corn which is pictured above. This is a very classic, popular, and delicious snack choice that people will line up and wait for. The grilled corn is simply an ear of corn, dipped in melted butter, and topped with a curry seasoning. As I have made many of these, one of the main questions asked was if the seasoning was spicy and I can say with full confidence that it is not. Other snack options at this location include the Mickey pretzel, apples and caramel, fruits, pickles, and more.
Mr. Kamal's
Just like the grilled corn, the fries at Mr. Kamal's are one of the great surprises of DAK. This small snack spot, I've been to several times is located in Asia nearest to the Up! bird show. The pleasant surprise from Asia, pictured above is Mr. Kamal's seasoned fries. The snack is comprised of crispy fries topped with a tzatziki salad and sriracha ketchup. My second favorite item off of the menu are the chicken dumplings. These are your traditional steamed dumplings filled with chicken and ponzu sauce on the side for dipping. Ponzu sauce is a tangy soy-based sauce that also has citrus juice in it. The final snack option at this location is the hummus which is served with vegetables and mini pita bread.
Sit Down
Yak & Yeti
Full disclosure, I've never eaten here but I have heard nothing but great things about this spot. Located by the Yak & Yeti quick service location as well as on the other side of the Up! bird show in Asia is this sit down spot. The appetizer that made me put this spot on the list is the ahi tuna nachos. This sharable plate that is meant for two people is comprised of sushi grade Ahi, Asian slaw, crispy fried wontons, wasabi aioli, and a sweet soy glaze. People talk about this dish in Disney Facebook groups and post photos of it so I've been led to believe that it is worth it. Other than the nachos, there are some other notable dishes on the menu. One option that caught my eye is the lobster garlic noodles. This dish is on the pricier side of $30.99 but has many great seafood components to it. The dish is made with lobster, shrimp, scallops, baby spinach, and mushrooms tossed in a garlic stir-fry sauce. Another eye catching dish from the menu is the Korean BBQ ribs. The dish is a half rack of St. Louis pork ribs, BBQ sauce, shoestring fries, and kimchi slaw.
Dessert
Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery
So this spot is not necessarily just a dessert spot, it is also has breakfast and other savory snack options. Housed in Africa diagonal to the Harambe Fruit Market and across from Zuri's Sweets Shop is this underrated pastry and snack spot. Unfortunately they have taken the roast beef sandwich that is pictured above off of the menu but there are still some great options for desserts and snacks. One of the most popular pastry options from the menu is the colossal cinnamon roll. Other than Creature Comforts (Starbucks), Kusafiri is the only other spot in the park that has this dessert/breakfast item. This menu item is a large Mickey shaped cinnamon roll that is baked to order, and drizzled with warm and gooey frosting. It is warm and delicious and sure to satisfy a couple of hungry people. More pastry items to choose from are the danishes, pistachio honey croissant, muffins, chocolate chip cookie, and the elephant ear pastry. My favorite savory entree item from the menu that I would 100 percent recommend to everyone is the shrimp curry. This item came to the menu late last December and thankfully has stayed there ever since. The shrimp curry is warm shrimp with vegetables in a green curry sauce over white rice. There is also a chicken curry option which is the same style dish but with a tomato-based curry sauce on the chicken, as a well as a combination dish of both the chicken and shrimp curry.
Tamu Tamu Refreshments
This is the final spot on my Animal Kingdom favorites list and for good reason. Located diagonally to the above restaurant Kusafiri, this spot is also in Africa but is located right across from the sit down restaurant Tusker House. This is the only spot in Animal Kingdom that has the Disney famous Dole Whip. For those of you don't known Dole Whip (pictured above, also prepared by myself) is a dairy-free pineapple soft serve that has the right amount of sweetness to it and also counts as a snack credit. Another Dole Whip option is the Dole Whip float which is pineapple juice at the bottom and Dole Whip on top. If you're feeling a bit boozy then alcohol options exist for the Dole Whip or the float with coconut or dark rum. Another favorite menu item of mine is the warm brownie sundae. This is a pretty straight forward dish with a warmed brownie, vanilla ice cream, and caramel drizzle. It is warm, delicious, gooey, and absolutely worth the calories. Another warm, cozy fall favorite of mine is the malva cake sundae. I would always describe the malva cake to guests as a spiced carrot cake, which is quite delicious. On top of the cake is a single scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle. You can also make your malva cake sundae boozy by opting for either coconut or dark rum. Also to note, there are no other ice cream options at this location, they only serve vanilla ice cream. If you're looking for soft-serve ice cream then Anadapur Ice Cream Truck in Asia has plenty of ice cream options.
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