Restaurant Review: Satu’li Canteen
In May of 2017, Pandora – The World of Avatar debuted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Since then, this themed land has turned into a tourist staple. People adore the immaculate, detailed theming, which even spills into the restaurants.


Image Credit: Disney
The most recognizable place to grab a bite to eat is a Quick Service eatery with a unique menu.
Here’s my review of Satu’li Canteen, one of the best quick bite places for foodies at Walt Disney World.
About Satu’li Canteen
You’ll find this restaurant toward the back of Pandora. Disney has positioned it near Pongu Pongu and Windtraders.
The setup isn’t accidental. When guests depart the ride building for Avatar Flight of Passage, they’ll walk down a path that leads to Windtraders.
Yes, you effectively exit through the gift shop, something park planners want so they can sell guests on pet banshees.
However, you won’t have any problem finding the restaurant if you’re entering from a different themed land.
While Pandora hosts lush foliage and other forest elements, signs will guide you to the restaurant. For that matter, so will My Disney Experience.
When you reach the restaurant, you’ll notice a number of exterior dining options, which have proven popular during the pandemic.
We ate inside during this visit, though. The restaurant comes with detailed theming that you never need to know, just like Avatar Flight of Passage.
The commerce of a touring company, Alpha Centauri Expeditions, has melded with the nature-based aesthetics of the Na’vi.
So, the place is commercial when you’re standing in line to order/pick up your food. Then, it’s like eating a family meal with the Na’vi when you sit down.


(Kent Phillips, photographer)
Check-In Process and Getting Seated
Our check-in process went unexpectedly well. Animal Kingdom wasn’t crowded when we visited, which allowed us to pick our mealtime immediately.
On My Disney Experience, a restaurant will list windows when you can order.
Lately, you’ve had to wait a while due to capacity limits. That wasn’t our experience here, though.
We exited Avatar Flight of Passage and did some shopping at Windtraders.
While there, we ordered our food and felt surprised when it showed that we could pick up our food immediately. So, that’s what we did.
When we walked to the entrance doors at the restaurant, three different cast members stood in our way.
One of Disney’s processes during the pandemic requires guests to have a Mobile Order before they may enter.
Also, the Mobile Ordering page displays three different steps. You must have all three dots filled, proving that your order is ready for pick-up.
Otherwise, you must wait before you can enter the restaurant and sit down for your meal.


Credit: Disney
We got our greenlight almost immediately after ordering. It was lightning fast and impressive.
I know from reading other comments about the restaurant that ours was NOT the typical experience. So, don’t expect such a quick turnaround.
The Dining Experience/Entrees
I unabashedly love eating at this restaurant. The cast members here and throughout Pandora take real pride in their jobs.
Like with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there was competition to get a job at this immersive themed land. Everyone seems to appreciate it.


(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
When we visited, Disney still wouldn’t allow guests to refill their beverages.
A kindly gentleman took better care of us than most restaurant servers…and he wasn’t doing it for tips!
My wife left her beloved nuiMO here, forcing us to backtrack later. When we arrived, three different people went out of their way to retrieve her doll.
The cast member experiences I’ve had here would make Walt Disney proud.
As for the food, I always struggle a bit ordering here since I don’t like many foods. I went with the Cheeseburger Steamed Pod.
As usual, it tasted eerily similar to a McDonald’s cheeseburger, which means it’s fine but nothing special. I do love the pickles here, though.
My wife enjoyed a much different dining experience, which is why we love to eat here.
She ordered the Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl, one of the most flavorful vegan dishes in Orlando.
We eat at Satu’li Canteen because she loves this entrée so much. It challenges meat-lovers to reconsider their palates.
The Boba Balls prove more than ornamental, too. Their appearance and texture belie their taste. You’re eating condensed yogurt!
Realistically, when people dine here, they’re likely to fall into two categories – bowls and pods.
We checked both boxes and came away satisfied, her more than me.
Dessert/Final Thoughts
If you know anything about Animal Kingdom desserts, you’ve heard of Satu’li Canteen’s most famous dish.
Sure, the bowls and pods get most of the orders, but the headliner here is now and always will be Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse.
Disney knew it had a winner here before the restaurant even opened. Many of the early Pandora images and videos included shots of it.
The unique coloring makes the dish look like multi-layered pudding with whipped cream at the top.
If anything, the images undersell the dish, which is among the tastiest things at Walt Disney World.
We didn’t just eat it during this meal. After another visit to Avatar Flight of Passage on a different day, we created a Mobile Order just for drinks and this dessert.
The Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse is a perfect ten dessert and on the shortlist for the best sweet treat at Walt Disney World.
As for the meal, we loved it at the time, but it’s what happened next that put it over the top.
Our interactions with Shawntay, Hannah, and Lee put the whole meal over the top.
They worked hard to provide customer service, thereby doing the impossible.


Photo Credit: Matt Stroshane, Disney
These three cast members found something lost at a theme park!
Of course, that matters less to you. So, what I’ll say about Satu’li Canteen is that the pods are good, while the bowls qualify as spectacular.
The dessert is what puts the place over the top, though.
Feature Image Rights: MealTrip.com