Best Restaurants at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is one of the most unique theme parks in the country, with a focus on educating guests on conservation and the importance of protecting the environment. Not only does Animal Kingdom have various entertainment, rides, and live animals for guests to learn about, but it also has some of the most delicious theme park food in Disney World.

While you can’t go wrong at most of the restaurants in Animal Kingdom, these are our top three picks for you to consider during your next Disney vacation.

Tiffins in Animal Kingdom is described as “a culinary expedition of international cuisine.” This signature dining restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM and requires advanced dining reservations.

This restaurant is a celebration of adventure and has three different dining rooms inspired by the spirit of Asia, Africa, and exotic animals from around the globe. With beautiful artwork surrounding you, you’ll forget that you’re dining inside a theme park, especially since Disney has labeled Tiffins as one of their signature/fine dining establishments.

Tiffins is a little more expensive than some of the other dining options around Animal Kingdom with entrées costing between $34 and $68, though you can expect a more elevated meal while dining here. Their meals are inspired by African, Asian, and Latin cuisine. This restaurant serves delicious main courses such as butter chicken, cardamom-spiced veal, and Szechuan noodles. It’s a perfect dinner spot for those with a more adventurous palate who want something more than a theme park burger or chicken tenders.

They are also famous for their Tiffins Signature Bread Service. You’ll be presented with three different breads, as well as three different sauces for dipping for $18. It’s a must-do when eating at Tiffins and a great appetizer for the entire family to share as you mix and match the different breads with the various sauces.

Tiffins also serves charred octopus, lobster macaroni and cheese, and Korean barbecue mushroom bao buns.

For those over 21, Tiffins has many specialty cocktails and a renowned wine list for you to choose something to pair with your meal.

It is highly recommended that you make advanced dining reservations if you plan on eating at any of Disney’s signature dining options such as Tiffins; if you don’t want to worry about waking up early 60 days before the start of your Disney vacation, we can do the heavy lifting for you and help make sure you get the reservations you want!

One of the best places to eat in Animal Kingdom doesn’t even require an advanced dining reservation! Flame Tree Barbeque is a quick-service restaurant, making it a perfect spot for those looking for an easy lunch or dinner. You can order at the counter or place a mobile order and wait for your meal to be ready.

A favorite among Orlando locals is the baked macaroni and cheese with pulled pork, but Flame Tree also has meals like marinated slow-cooked chicken and a smoked pulled pork sandwich. For sides, you can order fries, onion rings, and more. They also offer options for people with various allergies. If you’re craving barbecue, Flame Tree won’t disappoint.

Once you get your meal, there is plenty of outdoor seating. Fortunately, most of it is covered so you don’t need to worry about finding a new place to eat if you end up visiting Animal Kingdom on a rainy day. You can even sit by the water with a beautiful view of Expedition Everest!

They are open from 10:30 AM until 8:00 PM, making this the perfect place to go for an early lunch, especially if you woke up early and skipped breakfast in order to make it to Animal Kingdom for rope drop.

Located in Pandora – The World of Avatar is a delicious quick-service restaurant that you won’t want to miss on your next visit to the Animal Kingdom. This establishment is themed after the 2009 Avatar film and is designed to look like a former mess hall decorated with Na’vi art and cultural artifacts. You can enjoy your meal inside and listen to the beautiful soundtrack from Avatar or grab a table outside to enjoy the views of the perfectly themed world of Pandora.

Like Flame Tree Barbeque, Satu’li Canteen also requires no dining reservations. You can simply place your order on your phone or walk up to one of the quick-service cashiers to order your meal. This makes it a perfect stop after you experience the beautiful scenery of the Flight of Passage attraction, whose exit through the gift shop will put you very close to Satu’li Canteen.

This quick-service restaurant allows you to make your own bowl with your choice of protein, base, and sauce. Proteins include smoked chimichurri-braised beef, marinated wood-grilled chicken thighs, chili-garlic shrimp, tuna, and chili-spiced crispy fried tofu. For your base, you can get noodles, rice and beans, salad, or red and sweet potato hash. Sauces include charred green onion vinaigrette, black bean vinaigrette, or creamy herb sauce.

Looking for something simpler? You can also order delicious cheeseburger bao buns. These steamed pods used to be on the kid’s menu, but they became so popular that Disney added a larger adult version as well!

For those looking for a sweet treat, the Satu’li Canteen is always experimenting and releasing new, Instagram-worthy desserts. Their Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse is a fan favorite and a perfect way to end your lunch or dinner. If you’re visiting around the winter holidays, the Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse is another delicious option.