Animal Kingdom is magical. There's something special about a park that is literally its own living, breathing organism. I love being surrounded by nature and especially animals. Oh, and food :)
There are plenty of unique dining options at Animal Kingdom with some of the finest restaurant and quick service themes in all of Disney World property. We didn't make it to Tiffins on the last trip but it's certainly on the list and I would really love to hear your comments and reviews if you've been there!
Our Animal Kingdom day started with a hearty lunch at Yak & Yeti. This location, similar to Rainforest Cafe, is not wholly owned by Disney and can sometimes offer promotions and accept third party gift cards. If you're active in an employee recognition program at work, check to see if Yak & Yeti is an option for redeemable rewards. I've found that the program my employer uses offers gift cards starting at $25 and it's something I'll be sure to use on future visits!
Wok-Fried Green Beans at Yak & Yeti
We love all Asian food and this Americanized restaurant did not disappoint. We started with the Wok-Fried Green Beans served with Thai chili dipping sauce. The green beans were perfectly crispy and I wish I had the recipe for the dipping sauce because it was fantastic! The portion is huge for two people and could easily feed three or more as an appetizer.
Boneless Rib Eye with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes/Veggies (off-menu item)
Patrick ordered the special of the day, which was a boneless rib eye with wasabi mashed potatoes and vegetables. This was a visually appealing dish but tasted even better than it looked! If we hadn't already experienced the steaks at Le Cellier then this plate probably would have ranked at the top of the list. The steak was cooked perfectly and the mashed potatoes had really great depth of flavor. Don't let the single scoop fool you, this was more mashed potatoes than one person could handle!
Crispy Honey Chicken
I am crazy about honey chicken and order it whenever it's an option on any menu. Yak & Yeti was no exception. The chicken had the perfect amount of sauce to give it a sticky texture, which is exactly how I prefer it. The carrots and sugar snap peas were a little crunchy for my liking but they were a great accompaniment and added a fair amount of freshness to the dish.
Garlic Noodles
Honestly, we were just curious about the garlic noodles so I ordered them as a side. I had no idea that it would be enough food for four people! This side dish was delicious and had wonderful flavor. I could easily eat these noodles every day for the rest of my life.
Yak & Yeti also has a quick service option, which is super convenient for families in a hurry. I have not heard any complaints regarding quality from one location over the other. If you like Americanized Asian food, give this place a try!
We didn't snack much in Animal Kingdom because it was a humid, hot day and nothing really caught our eye but Tamu Tamu Refreshments is a fantastic place to stop for a Dole Whip (with or without rum) and my favorite chocolate-covered espresso beans! Make a stop here before heading over for the Lion King show if you'd like to take a snack into the auditorium with you.
With such a big lunch, we decided to go easy on dinner and picked Pizzafari. This quick service option has recently changed up its menu from standard pizza to flatbreads, which has been met with mixed reviews. We didn't have high expectations but this place really blew us away! First of all, the service was excellent; the cashier noticed our "Just Engaged" pins and struck up a lively conversation with genuine interest. He then offered to carry our tray to the dining room, which was a very thoughtful and kind gesture. Take a look at what we ordered:
Mediterranean Flatbread
Meatball Sub
Garlic Knots
Tiramisu and Tomato/Cucumber Salad
So we didn't really take it easy for dinner - our eyes were bigger than our stomachs! Patrick loved the Mediterranean Flatbread and said he would definitely be back to order it again someday. The Meatball Sub was pretty average but the garlic knots were an absolute winner! We didn't take the word "basket" seriously when we read the menu but six garlic knots was a bit too much for us. At $6.99, it would be a great addition to a family meal. The flatbread was served with a tomato and cucumber salad, which Patrick didn't enjoy, and the sub sandwich arrived with chips. I set these aside to be used as a snack on another day. We're major fans of tiramisu and Pizzafari's take on it was pretty tasty for a quick and cheap option. We probably won't order dessert again because the entrees are quite large on their own. While the food was better than most quick-service locations, it was the Pizzafari staff that won us over and we'll be back for sure!
On another note, I've heard nothing but great things about the dining options at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Jiko and Sanaa frequently receive rave reviews and we'll be planning to dine at one of these locations on our next trip. Check out the Jiko and Sanaa menus when you get a chance and let me know what you think!
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