There are many choices when it comes to a theme park day – what to ride first, which shows to watch, when to get there and when to leave! Once it comes time to eat, sorting through all of the options can be a bit overwhelming. How are you going to figure out where to eat when it feels like it’s 105 degrees, you’ve almost been run over by 7 straight strollers and the gorilla behind the glass looks like he’s studied Rise of the Planet of the Apes intensively? You turn to this website where we’ll give our favorite restaurant recommendations and you can pick between them! We started this series with Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios and now are turning our attention to Animal Kingdom to complete the Walt Disney World parks!

This series is here to serve as a jumping off point on places to eat at different theme parks. I set up a few rules to follow in these posts which will include somewhere between 5 and 10 restaurants each time. Each favorites list will have:

• At least one counter-service restaurant.
• At least one table-service restaurant.
• One restaurant (generally quick-service) that’s not in the park but is very quick and easy to get to.

Typically, I’ll include more than just one from each category! I’m going to try to stick to counter-service spots once outside of the park because it just takes up too much of the day otherwise. Even if it’s a short walk or ride away, eating at a counter-service spot, getting back through the gates and to the land you want will likely take more time than eating a slow meal inside that park.

If you’re looking for just a simple ranking of all the resort’s table-service and counter-service restaurants we’ve been to then there’s our Walt Disney World posts on the subject! This series isn’t about ranking though. I might mention if one is a favorite or something but this is more to just give you a few ideas on where to eat at Animal Kingdom. That said, in this specific post the first four that I mention are some of my favorite places to frequent in all of WDW!

While the other Walt Disney World theme parks ebbed and flowed when it came to dining over the last few years, Animal Kingdom has kept a consistent and excellent array of places to eat. This might be considered a hot take, but there are times when I’d prefer the options here over Epcot. While the quantity isn’t on the same level, the quality is especially once you breeze past the generic restaurants in the park.

I usually reserve this paragraph for a somewhat sarcastic shoutout to my favorite Muppet characters or another joke that I think is funny but approximately 92.7% of all readers wouldn’t. This time around I’ll break from script and give a sincere shout out to the table-service restaurants in Animal Kingdom Lodge. While including them on the actual list would go against my self-appointed rules, Boma, Sanaa (although they do have a counter-service breakfast!) and Jiko all deserve a mention. They are very close to Animal Kingdom and with the park closing earlier than others at WDW, ending the day at one of those places with a tasty dinner is doable. Now that my honorable mentions have skirted the rules, here’s the actual list!

Tiffins

For a while, Tiffins was my favorite restaurant in any theme park. I’m not sure that it can still claim that championship belt but it remains near the top. With an ambitious menu that matches the restaurant’s theme, Tiffins is an excellent place to have lunch or dinner in Animal Kingdom. The art on the walls and the menu show the Imagineer’s travels and stories as they studied how to create the theme park. It makes for a unique restaurant that has excellent food!

Satu’li Canteen

Not only did Pandora – World of Avatar add a beautiful land and an outstanding attraction to Animal Kingdom, it also gave the park one of the best counter-service options in Walt Disney World. Satu’li Canteen is a BYOB place, except in this case that stands for build your own bowl instead of it being on a flyer for a college party. You choose the base, protein and sauce and then enjoy. We’ve always been impressed with the quality and that it’s a healthier (at least if you choose the right things) option while in a theme park. Breakfast is also excellent at Satu’li Canteen!

Flame Tree Barbecue

This old standby. Age and time can not diminish her beauty. In this case, that beauty comes in the form of ribs, pulled pork and delicious sides. Yes, there is better BBQ in the world but as far as theme parks go, this is a really strong spot. The only downside is that the prices have gone up significantly over the years and the mandarin lemonade is no longer on the menu. This remains one of the best counter-service options on the dining plan and a stalwart of Animal Kingdom’s dining scene.

Nomad Lounge

When it comes to coolest places to sit and have a drink at Disney World, Nomad Lounge tops the list. The lounge is connected to Tiffins and has an excellent drink menu and surprisingly tasty food offerings. Along with that, there’s comfortable seating that’s both inside and outside. We make a point of going to Nomad Lounge anytime we’re in Animal Kingdom and that won’t stop anytime soon.

Tusker House

The character dining representative for Animal Kingdom is pretty strong. Tusker House dresses up Mickey, Minnie and a few others in their best safari garb. It does beg the question of if animals would enjoy going on a safari to see other animals? I don’t see why not, especially if they are guaranteed protection. Back on track, the food at Tusker House isn’t as good as the aforementioned Boma buffet but it’s more interesting than your run-of-the-mill character dining dining. I don’t like this place as much as the previous ones listed but it’s a great place for families!

Dawa Bar

This outdoor bar largely makes the list due to the ambiance. It’s a nice setting, right in the middle of Harambe, and there’s usually some entertainment going on in the background. The drinks are pretty good and this is a perfect place to hang out around sunset.

The Mara (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

For the off-campus pick, I ventured to Animal Kingdom Lodge and their counter-service location. As I mentioned, the bus ride is quick and easy. The Mara has a nice range of options, whether you want something safe or a little more unique. Getting outside of the heat and crowds can be enticing and Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth spending some time in, with the beautiful architecture and animals of their own. If you have more time or want a nearby dinner after a full park day, Toledo at Coronado Springs Resort is tough to beat!

Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

We have a bonus entry for Animal Kingdom. When a restaurant is your favorite in all of Disney World, you have to include it. I don’t make the rules, I just know them (I definitely make the rules). Jiko is a signature restaurant and offers African flavors in a beautiful setting. Grabbing a somewhat late dinner here after Animal Kingdom closes is a wonderful option and one we’ve done a few times. We couldn’t recommend the restaurant highly enough.

Where are your favorite spots to eat in and around Animal Kingdom? Let us know, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! If you are planning a trip to Disney World, then check out our planning guide. Looking for discount Walt Disney World tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. You can do all of that on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!