Disney World’s Best Resort Food Court Has Awesome Bowls and Unique Desserts You Will Easily Miss

When discussing dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, usually the two restaurants in the conversation are Jiko – The Cooking Place and Boma – Flavors of Africa, and rightfully so. Those table service restaurants are excellent options for sit-down meals. What goes more under the radar is this hotel’s food court, but that shouldn’t be the case.

This food court restaurant might just be the best at any Walt Disney World hotel. We paid a visit to try their signature bowls and unique desserts. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including Disney ride closures for refurbishment this month and all the popcorn buckets at Disney World right now.

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The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Outside of bars and lounges, The Mara is the only quick service restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. You’ll find it on the Jambo House side of the resort. Its entrance is just off the Uzima Springs Pool area.

There are great options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at The Mara. We’ve already covered our experiences for breakfast at The Mara here and for a snack break here. Today, we’re stopping here for a mid-afternoon lunch. The lunch and dinner menus are the same.

Like at many quick service restaurants at Disney World hotels, diners at The Mara order their food from a station, then bring their food tray to a separate cash register to purchase their meal, then seat themselves wherever they’d like.

We included the full lunch and dinner menu for The Mara at the end of this story.

The interior design of The Mara is themed as if diners are underneath canopies of African trees.

We visited during non-peak hours, when the atmosphere felt more relaxing than it would have been during an early morning rush as guests eat before heading out to the parks.

If you choose to sit inside, there are tables and booths.

Murals on the walls show colorful illustrations of some of the animals found at both Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom the theme park.

If you don’t want to eat in the dining room, you can order your food to go. This is a good option for guests staying on the Kidani Village side of Animal Kingdom Lodge, or if guests want to take their food to eat it poolside.

Now onto the food! This is the Oak-Grilled Chicken Bowl, which costs $13.29 and comes with marinated chicken, pilau rice, kale slaw, cucumber-tomato salad, and chermoula sour cream. We enjoyed this and thought it was a good amount of food for the price.

The Mara also serves a shrimp bowl, but if guests can’t decide between chicken and shrimp, they can get both by ordering the Combination Bowl. It’s $15.79 and comes with chermoula-spiced shrimp, oak-grilled chicken, pilau rice, kale slaw, cucumber-tomato salad, and chermoula sour cream.

The bowls have a nice balance of rice, vegetables, and protein. They go beyond the typical burgers and chicken tenders of other quick service restaurants (though burgers and chicken tenders are available here, too).

These are just a few of the bowl options. We list the full menu below.

One of The Mara’s plant-based menu choices is the Marrakesh Falafel Platter for $12.29, with tabbouleh, cucumber-tomato salad, hummus, avocado-tahini sauce, and pita bread.

Don’t skip dessert because The Mara has several delicious choices. Zebra Domes, a staple of Boma’s buffet, can be purchased at The Mara as a 4-pack for $4.59. They are balls of chocolate mousse baked with Amarula cream liqueur-coated white chocolate and drizzled with chocolate stripes and chocolate shavings.

We also tried the Caramel-Banana Cupcake. Priced at $6.29, it’s a vanilla cake with caramel-banana filling, banana buttercream, and caramel-chocolate Mickey ears designed to emulate a giraffe print. The cupcake is a fun, on-theme dessert for Animal Kingdom Lodge, especially when paired with the Zebra Domes.

On our way out, we spotted these fun towels shaped like Mickey and Minnie wearing life vests, likely placed by a creative cast member.

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The Mara Lunch and Dinner Menu

Here is the full lunch and dinner menu for The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, including a few seasonal items available at the time of this writing.

Souvenir Specialties

• Disney Rapid Fill Refillable Mug ($22.99) – Enjoy refills of Fountain Drinks, Coffee, and Tea at any resort self-service beverage location for the entire length of your resort stay.

Entrées

• Combination Bowl ($15.79) – Chermoula-spiced Shrimp and Oak-grilled Chicken with Pilau Rice, Kale Slaw, Cucumber-Tomato Salad, and Chermoula Sour Cream
• Chermoula-spiced Shrimp Bowl ($14.79) – Grilled Shrimp, Pilau Rice, Kale Slaw, Cucumber-Tomato Salad, and Chermoula Sour Cream
• Signature-blend Bacon Cheddar Burger ($14.69) – Signature-blend Ground Beef, Bacon, Cheddar, Berbere Spice, Lettuce, and Tomato on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries
• Harissa-spiced Beef Bowl ($13.79) – Braised Beef Stew, Pilau Rice, Kale Slaw, Cucumber-Tomato Salad, and Avocado Tahini Sauce
• Oak-grilled Chicken Bowl ($13.29) – Marinated Chicken, Pilau Rice, Kale Slaw, Cucumber-Tomato Salad, and Chermoula Sour Cream
• South African Vegetable Bowl ($13.29) – Curried Vegetable Stew, Pilau Rice, Kale Slaw, Dried Fruit Achar, and Avocado-Tahini Sauce
• Signature-blend Cheddar Burger ($13.99) – Signature-blend Ground Beef, Cheddar, Berbere Spice, Lettuce, and Tomato on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries
• Jerk BBQ Chicken Strips with Pineapple Salsa ($12.99) – Served with choice of Side
• Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($12.19) – With Cucumber Slaai, Peri Peri Aïoli, served with French Fries
• Chicken Strips (4 pieces) ($10.99) – Served with choice of Side

Flatbreads

• Three-Cheese Flatbread ($12.29) – Tomato Sauce with Mozzarella, Provolone, and Parmesan
• Fire-roasted Tomato and Herbed Ricotta Flatbread ($12.79) – Fire-roasted Tomatoes, Herbed Ricotta, Tomato Sauce, Cheese Blend, and Sun-dried Tomato Vinaigrette tossed Arugula
• Pepperoni Flatbread ($12.79) – Tomato Sauce, Pepperoni, and Cheese Blend

Cold Sandwiches

• Ham and Cheddar Sandwich ($11.49) – Creole Honey Mustard on Sunflower Multigrain Bread and served with Chips
• Tuna Salad Wrap ($11.19) – Romaine, Vine-ripened Tomatoes, and Cucumber with Citrus-marinated Olives

Salads

• Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad ($11.99) – House-grilled Chicken Breast sliced over a bed of Romaine Lettuce, Croutons, and Shredded Parmesan served with Caesar Dressing on the side
• Caesar Salad ($9.99) – Bed of Romaine Lettuce, Croutons, and Shredded Parmesan served with Caesar Dressing on the side

Plant-Based

• Marrakesh Falafel Platter ($12.29) – Served with Tabbouleh, Cucumber-Tomato Salad, Hummus, Avocado-Tahini Sauce, and Pita Bread
• Chickpea Salad Sandwich ($10.99) – Served with Cucumber-Tomato Salad Mixed Greens Side Salad ($4.99)

Sides

• French Fries ($5.49)
• Butternut Squash Soup ($4.79)

Kid’s Meals

• Cheeseburger ($8.99) – Small Grilled Angus Burger topped with American Cheese on a Bun served with Strawberry-flavored Yogurt Smoothie, Grapes, and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water.
• Chicken Strips ($8.99) – Served with Strawberry-flavored Yogurt Smoothie, Grapes, and choice of Small DASANI Bottled Water or Small Lowfat Milk.

Desserts

• Mickey Cinnamon Roll ($7.99)
• Spiced Pumpkin Cupcake ($6.79) – Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Filling, Spiced Buttercream, and Ghost Profiterole
• Pumpkin-Hazelnut-Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake ($6.49) – Pumpkin Cheesecake with Hazelnut-Chocolate Swirl, Vanilla Whipped Panna Cotta, and a Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Coin
• Chocolate Antelope Horn ($6.49) – Chocolate Torsade topped with Cardamom Pearl Sugar
• Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar ($6.49)
• Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Sandwich ($6.49)
• Caramel-Banana Cupcake ($6.29) – Vanilla Cake, Caramel-Banana Filling, Banana Buttercream, Caramel-Chocolate Mickey Ears
• Sunflower Cake ($5.99) – Mango-spiced Cocoa Cake, Yellow Buttercream, Mini Chocolate Chips
• Giraffe Cake Bar ($5.99)
• Coffee and Coconut Brownie ($5.79) – Brownie topped with Coffee Buttercream dipped in Chocolate-Coconut Ganache
• Africa-shaped Sandwich Cookie ($5.29)
• Zebra Domes ($4.59) – Chocolate Mousse baked with Amarula Cream Liquor-coated White Chocolate drizzled with Chocolate Stripes and Chocolate Shavings
• Brownie Cookie ($4.79) – With Chocolate Chunks dusted with Powdered Sugar
• Chocolate Chunk Cookie ($4.79)
• Sugar Cookie ($4.79)

Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake

• Chocolate Cake ($45.00) – Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Chocolate Mousse with your choice of Engraving Options (feeds 4 to 6 Guests).
• White Chocolate Cake ($45.00) – Vanilla Cake with White Chocolate Ganache and White Chocolate Mousse with your choice of Engraving Options (feeds 4 to 6 Guests).

Fresh Fruit

• Cuties Mandarins ($4.19) – Package of three
• Mixed Fruit Cup ($3.99)
• Apple Slices ($2.79) – Sliced Green Apples
• Orange ($2.29)
• Red Apple ($2.29)

Snacks

• Hard-boiled Eggs ($3.49) – Pack of two
• Nonfat Blueberry Greek Yogurt ($3.19)
• Nonfat Strawberry Greek Yogurt ($3.19)
• Nonfat Vanilla Greek Yogurt ($3.19)
• Luna Bar: Chocolate Dipped Coconut ($2.99)
• Luna Bar: Nutz Over Chocolate ($2.99)
• Strawberry-flavored Yogurt Smoothie ($2.39)
• Allergy-friendly Cookies ($6.99) – For Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

Specialty Coffees

• Large Caffe Mocha ($6.99) – Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee
• Large Caffé Latte ($6.49) – Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee
• Large Cappuccino ($6.49) – Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee
• Large Caramel Macchiato ($6.49) – Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee
• Large Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with Sweet Cream ($6.49)
• Iced Chai Tea Latte ($6.29) – Served with Oatmilk
• Large Americano ($6.19) – Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee
• Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with Sweet Cream ($5.99)
• Café Mocha ($5.29)
• Americano ($4.99 / $4.29) – Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee

Hot Beverages

• Large Freshly Brewed Joffrey’s Coffee (Regular or Decaf) ($5.19)
• Large Twinings Hot Tea ($5.19)
• Large Hot Cocoa ($5.19)
• Freshly Brewed Joffrey’s Coffee (Regular or Decaf) ($4.79)
• Twinings Hot Tea ($4.79)
• Hot Cocoa ($4.79)

Beverages

• Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Frozen Slush ($6.59)
• Monster Energy / Zero Ultra ($5.79)
• BODYARMOR Sports Drink (Fruit Punch, Orange Mango, Strawberry Banana) ($5.50)
• Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Barq’s Root Beer, POWERADE (Fruit Punch, Mountain Berry Blast), Minute Maid Lemonade ($5.50)
• vitaminwater (power-c, zero sugar rise) ($5.29 / $5.50)
• Simply Orange, Gold Peak Iced Tea (Sweetened, Unsweetened) ($5.29)
• Assorted Fountain Beverages ($4.79)
• Chocolate Milk ($4.79)
• Minute Maid Apple Juice ($4.59)
• DASANI Bottled Water ($4.25)
• Chocolate Soy Milk ($3.59) Whole Milk / Lowfat Milk ($2.59)

Beer

• Blue Point Imperial Sunshine Golden Ale, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Goose Island IPA, Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo IPA ($12.50)
• Stella Artois Lager ($12.25)
• Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen ($12.00)
• New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale, Concrete Beach Havana Lager ($11.25)
• Casa Lager ($11.00)
• Heineken Lager ($10.50)
• Michelob Ultra Lager, Yuengling Traditional Lager ($10.25)
• Blue Moon Belgian White Ale ($10.00)
• Coors Light Lager ($9.75)

Wine (Glass / 187 mL)

• Copa Di Vino (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon) ($12.00)
• Ruffino Prosecco D.O.C. Sparkling Wine ($12.00)

Wine (Bottle / 750 mL)

• Graham Beck Brut Sparkling Wine ($38.00)
• Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz / Sweet White ($25.00)
• Goats Do Roam Rosé ($22.00)
• Indaba (Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Mosaic Red Blend) ($22.00)

Cocktails

• Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Frozen Slush with Rum ($16.50) – STARR African Rum with Minute Maid Passion Fruit Orange Guava Frozen Slush topped with Raspberry Purée
• Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Frozen Slushy with Vodka ($15.50) – VUSA African Vodka with Minute Maid Passion Fruit Orange Guava Frozen Slush topped with Raspberry Purée
• Social Hour Cocktails Whiskey Mule ($13.00) – Ragtime Rye Whiskey and Ginger Beer
• High Noon Sun Sips Vodka & Soda Pineapple ($12.50)
• Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary / Vodka Mule ($12.00)
• RAMONA Blood Orange Wine Spritz ($11.75)
• Truly Hard Seltzer Wild Berry / White Claw Black Cherry ($11.00)

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