Where Should You Eat at Animal Kingdom?

If you’re anything like me, you’ll get hungrier at Disney’s Animal Kingdom than at any other theme park.

Due to the ambitious design of this theme park, it’s larger and hotter than anything else at Walt Disney World.

Animal Kingdom

Since the animals live there, they need plenty of space and a temperate climate to feel comfortable.

This reality forces you to walk a bit more and miss the air conditioning at times.

Animal Kingdom

So, you WILL feel hunger pangs during your visit. And that raises a question. Where should you eat at Animal Kingdom?

Best Quick Bites

In case you’ve missed the other articles in this series, I’ll alert you to the fact that we’re only discussing Quick Service options right now.

Table Service dining will come later, although I’ll warn you right now to skip Rainforest Café.

Something else to keep in mind is that you should nosh a lot at Animal Kingdom.

The international cuisines on display here will reward you. Plus, the Disney staples are great, too.

I highly recommend The Smiling Crocodile for its Chicken Street Tacos and Street Corn Tacos.

Speaking of Street Corn, Harambe Fruit Market sells the best version of this dish I’ve ever tasted.

Image Credit: Disney

You can also grab one of the rice bowls at Harambe Market while you’re in the area.

Meanwhile, Creature Comforts will be your go-to place to get your Starbucks fix.

If you’d rather have something sweet, hunt down a caramel apple at Zuri’s Sweet Shop. You can even use Mobile Ordering.

Last but certainly not least, you’ll eventually wind up at Tamu Tamu Refreshments because Disney sells Dole Whips here.

5. Pizzafari

Okay, I’ve been positive so far, as I believe that most of the dining options at Animal Kingdom are quite good…other than Rainforest Café.

However, I feel that way because I generally choose Table Service dining here.

The park’s Quick Service options…well, let’s just say that they could be better. But they’re about to get worse.

One of the five primary options will close next year, not that it’s any great loss.

I’ll level with you that I’d only recommend three of the places we’re about to discuss, and Pizzafari isn’t one of them.

Don’t get me wrong. When you want a pizza, you’ll be fine here. I’d describe the menu as better than Sbarro’s but worse than Blaze.

Basically, we’re talking about fast food pizza where the quality of the slices varies by the hour.

Sometimes, the pizza here is great. On other occasions, you’ll be trying to find some place that sells Tums or Pepto Bismol. 

4. Restaurantosaurus

I’ve got a strong emotional attachment to Restaurantosaurus, as it’s where I met a pair of close friends for the first time.

They’d work on my old site with me, and we’ve since vacationed together on multiple occasions.

However, the first time we actually met was at Restaurantosaurus, where we all agreed that the food was…fine.

You know the deal about these places, as they’re the expectation most people have about theme park dining.

As long as you expect nothing more than cheeseburgers and chicken strips, you’ll be perfectly satisfied.

When you’re in the mood for something with flavor, you should choose one of the next three restaurants.

3. Flame Tree Barbecue

NOW we’re talking! While the first two restaurants I’d discussed aren’t up to Disney’s lofty standards, in my opinion, things change from now on.

I’d argue that Animal Kingdom’s top three Quick Service restaurants easily surpass the best of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and maybe even Magic Kingdom.

Obviously, nothing can compete with EPCOT, but Animal Kingdom’s best counter service restaurants deserve tons of praise. They’re exemplary.

I’m technically ranking them here. I want to be clear, though. I’d rank all three among the finest Quick Service options across the Disney campus.

Photo: Flame Tree

Even now, Flame Tree Barbecue holds a claim as the best barbecue restaurant at Walt Disney World.

Other, newer options like The Polite Pig, Roundup Rodeo BBQ and Regal Eagle Smokehouse have narrowed the gap in recent years.

Still, for Disney loyalists, Flame Tree Barbecue will always remain in that conversation.

The primary reason I’m not ranking it higher is because you’re mostly out of luck if you don’t like barbecue.

Flame Tree Barbecue

Sure, the restaurant offers some chicken dishes, too. The only other viable option is a plant-based dish, Impossible Burnt Ends, though.

So, the limited selection makes me a bit more tentative in recommending it.

2. Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes

Yak & Yeti

I rave about Yak & Yeti Restaurant all the time…and unapologetically so. The Table Service eatery embodies the best of Disney dining.

What not enough people realize is that you can order most of the menu items at its adjoining space, Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes.

Photo: Facebook/Yak & Yeti

In fact, when you check in at this restaurant, when there’s a line, the server often recommends the bar and/or Local Food Cafes.

The staff knows that you’ll dine just as well here and probably save money, too.

Photo: Disney

Even better, you can order advanced menu items such as Sweet-and-Sour Tempura Shrimp, Vegetable Tikka Masala, and Honey Sesame Chicken.

Folks, you’re not gonna find anything like that at Six Flags. It’s one of the many reasons why Disney is better than other theme parks.

1. Sa’tuli Canteen

Photo: D23 || Satu’li Canteen

Finally, we have the best counter service dining option at the park and possibly the entirety of Walt Disney World.

When Disney marketed Pandora – The World of Avatar in 2017, they already knew that Sa’tuli Canteen would thrill guests.

Satu’li Canteen

The pictures of Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse factored heavily into the advertising for the new themed land. It’s that gorgeous looking.

To Disney’s credit, the food wizards at the Flavor Lab created several other dishes every bit as impressive.

Slow-roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash

You’ll find protein bowls and cheeseburger pods here, both of which are unique to Pandora and mesmerizing in terms of flavor profile.

Frankly, as often as people praise Sa’tuli Canteen, it’s still nowhere near enough. This is Disney’s most novel and creative Quick Service menu.

When you’re hungry at Animal Kingdom, you can do no better, although Flame Tree BBQ and Yak & Yeti are exceptional, too.

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