You visit Animal Kingdom to enjoy the serene, peaceful atmosphere and beautiful animals. But now many people seem to consider a great spot for Disney World food.
But the secret gem of Animal Kingdom IS the unique snacks and food you find in this oasis of a theme park.
So, how do you know what to eat in Animal Kingdom? That’s what you’ve got US for! We will go through all the dining options to tell you the best of each category so you can know what to prioritize the next time you’re in Animal Kingdom. Now, it goes without saying that every palate is different, and we’ll try to include sweet and savory options as often as possible.
If your palate is a bit more sophisticated and you also want some spicy, sour, and salty, well, keep an eye out for those items as well, or bring your own hot sauce (not in a glass container, though, Disney won’t allow those in the parks), but if you have a stash of extra Taco Bell Hot Sauce packets in a drawer somewhere, you can put them to good use (you know we’re kidding, right? unless you’re one of those folks who puts hot sauce on everything…).
Snacks
Let’s start with the widest range but the smallest bites. You can easily make a meal out of snacking around Animal Kingdom. So, let’s look at those top Animal Kingdom snacks (in no particular order).
Mr. Kamal’s Seasoned Fries (Mr. Kamal’s)
This little cart, located on the path that meanders between Africa and Asia behind the Tree of Life, has been home to some of our favorite vegetarian snacks for ages.
In the past, we’ve enjoyed a variety of vegetarian snacks, like the falafel, hummus, edamame, Asian noodle salad, and samosas. But the real reason to stop here is the Seasoned Fries!
The portion on the fries is usually pretty generous, and they are perfect. Fried crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and coated in seasoning similar to Cajun-style, so it has a tiny bit of a kick. There have been a variety of dipping sauces, from curried honey mustard to Korean chili ketchup. These are large enough to share, but you’ll want these beauties all to yourself.
Baked Mac and Cheese (Eight Spoons Cafe)
Just around the corner from the Tree of Life is the little Eight Spoons kiosk that serves the classic Mickey Pretzel, a unique Pulled Pork Jelly Doughnut Sandwich, and the piece de resistance: Baked Mac and Cheese.
You can get this dish with or without pulled pork, based on your preference. Don’t judge the dish by the bowl. This is a hearty portion packed with cheese — which is all you could ever want from a snack.
Impossible Empanadas (Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery)
No matter when you stumble across the Kusarfi window in Africa, you’ll find flaky pastries or hearty breakfast sandwiches in the morning. But we’re here for the Impossible Empanadas.
The Impossible Empanadas aren’t just for vegetarians, these delicate pastry pillows are filled with plant-based picadillo and full of flavor. Take our word for it; Kusafiri is worth a stop!
Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery Restaurant
Services: Kiosk
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich (Dino-Bites)
For your sweet tooth, nothing fits the bill like an ice cream cookie sandwich from Dino-Bites that requires both hands to manage! This treasure trove is tucked in the corner of DinoLand near Restaurantosaurus.
Each season and celebration will bring a new flavor, and look for these decadent bites (which are more like heaping mouthfuls!). So make sure you swing by to see what flavor is highlighted during your visit (and if it’s red velvet anything — get one, you won’t regret it!).
Quick Service
Satu’li Canteen
Practically all of the flavors you want in a way you didn’t really expect to see them presented in a theme park! Once you’re done completing your Na’vi rite of passage by soaring over the Mo’ara Valley on the back of an Ikran (or banshee), this quaint canteen can help you satisfy that hunger that sets in after a high-flying adventure.
Here you’ll find customizable bowls and Steamed Pods (twists on Bao Buns) along with unique drinks and desserts that are available at this lunch and dinner spot. We never turn down the Cheeseburger pods, but you can’t go wrong with anything on this menu!
Satu'li Canteen Restaurant
Services: Quick Service
Flame Tree Barbecue
You’ll smell this smoking barbecue spot before you see it, and your nose will lead right to the front steps of this quick service. You can chow down like a carnivore king (or queen!) on BBQ ribs, chicken, or pulled pork.
Or if you’re craving some more veggies, the Smokehouse Chicken Salad is fresh and hearty. Dine with a view gazing up at the majestic Expedition Everest in the background — if you can take your eyes off your plate, that is! That BBQ is a thing of beauty!
Flame Tree BBQ Restaurant
Services: Quick Service
Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe
If you can lure your noise away from Flame Tree BBQ, Yak & Yeti might hold your heart (or your stomach’s) desire. This window in Asia (next to Yak & Yeti’s table service restaurant) is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and is actually one of our favorite spots to grab a quick breakfast!
This is the epitome of a fusion dining experience, with meal options like Teriyaki Chicken Salad, Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich, and Veggie Tikka Masala. Or if you just want a light bite, grab a pair of pork egg rolls or a side of chicken fried rice. And don’t forget the mini mango pie!
Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes Restaurant
Services: Quick Service
Table Service
Tiffins
This is place to take your time while you dine. Each detail of this restaurant is curated artifacts from the travels and research of the Disney Imagineers as they transformed the vision of Animal Kingdom into a reality.
Enjoy comfort food like Butter Chicken and Shrimp and Grits, or find something a bit more unique, like the Whole Fried Sustainable fish.
Tiffins Restaurant
Services: Table Service
Yak & Yeti
This table service restaurant offers a flavorful fusion of Asian cuisine, and the atmosphere is ripe with details and special Disney touches… all in a wonderfully detailed Nepalese-style setting.
Home of our beloved Ahi Tuna Nachos and the Kobe Beef Burger that regularly makes our best burger of Disney World list, you might be lured in by the promise of air conditioning, but you’ll keep coming back after you taste these tasty bites!
Yak and Yeti Restaurant Restaurant
Services: Table Service
Tusker House
The character dining option in Animal Kingdom, you might book this reservation for a chance to meet Mickey, Minnie, and the gang in their safari costumes (which is adorable!). But once you taste the rotisserie roasted meats, hearty bobotie, and perhaps a few corn dog nuggets, this place will become a fast favorite.
The Tusker House character buffet is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers delicious African-inspired cuisine with some comfort options tossed in the mix. You won’t go hungry, and you might find a new favorite!
Tusker House Restaurant Restaurant
Services: Buffet/All You Care to Eat
There you go! All of the BEST eats you’ll find in Animal Kingdom. Some you can eat while you walk, some you can even pack and take home with you, and some you’ll sit, savor, and remember for a lifetime!
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What’s your favorite thing to eat in Animal Kingdom? Did your favorite make the list? Let us know in the comments below!
We usually lunch at Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe. We like the selection and the fact that we can buy just fried rice or a couple of egg rolls instead of a larger entree, if a big dinner is on the schedule. Tiffins was lovely for dinner a few years ago, but our most recent meal was disappointing. There is less of a selection, and quality and service have slipped while prices have increased. Some of us like Flame Tree, but I do not eat food on bones, which leaves me the pulled pork sandwich. It’s good, but I’m tired of it and would appreciate other sandwiches, as well as some decent vegetarian selections. I try to eat a vegetarian meal once a day.