Animal Kingdom Dining Guide Overview- Best Restaurants, Snacks, Quick Options

Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is dedicated and themed entirely around the natural environment and animal conservation.  This unique park features hundreds of species of live animals on exhibit, unique attractions fit for the whole family, as well as some great restaurants! Animal Kingdom is easily the most underrated park at Disney World, and one of these reasons is because many don't realize just how good the restaurants are at this beautiful theme park.

Some of our favorite restaurants are located at Animal Kingdom, and there is a wide variety of themes and types of restaurants available including quick-service dining, table service dining, buffets, and character dining.

We have dined at each of the Animal Kingdom restaurants and visit the parks monthly. This is our complete guide to dining at Animal Kingdom, where we will share an overview of each restaurant including our own personal reviews! You can also check out our own ranking of the best restaurants in Animal Kingdom here!

You can also see our overall guide to the best Disney World restaurants ranked for our top recommendations across the resort.  

Animal Kingdom Dining – Table Service Restaurants and Lounges

Animal Kingdom has several amazing table service restaurants that are all worth visiting on your next trip to Disney World. We always recommend making reservations at any table service restaurant at Disney World as they tend to be very busy throughout the day. You can make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance through the My Disney Experience website or mobile app. You can also call (407) 939-7529 to book your next table service dining reservation. I personally prefer making dining reservations at Animal Kingdom especially because they can be a nice break from the heat and the amounts of walking that guests typically do during a visit to Animal Kingdom.

The table service restaurants at Animal Kingdom include:

• Tiffins Restaurant
• Yak & Yeti Restaurant
• Rainforest Café

There are also two table service lounges located near Tiffins Restaurant and Rainforest Café that serve drinks and small plates. They do not take reservations, but will either have walk-up availability or a walk-up waiting list on the My Disney Experience app. These lounges include:

• Nomad Lounge
• Safari Bar

Tiffins Restaurant

Guests can dine on African, Asian, Latin Cuisine at the Tiffins Restaurant. This fine, signature dining location has three elegant dining rooms honoring the spirit of Africa, Asia, and some of the world’s most exotic animals. Tiffins Restaurant can be found on Discovery Island just before the bridge to Pandora: The World of Avatar.

Tiffins Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and main entrée prices range from $28 to $68 per adult. The menu features main courses such as Tamarind-braised Short Rib, Oaxacan Pork Duo, and Surf & Turf. Their dessert menu includes delicious options such as white chocolate-orange crème Brule, champurrado chocolate bar, and plant-based sweet mango sticky rice with lemon verbena-avocado “ice cream.”

The Kids menu (ages 9 and younger) offers create your own entrées ranging from $15 to $19 and includes an entrée, two sides, and choice of small low fat milk, Dasani water, or small Minute Maid apple juice. Kids entrées include grilled shrimp, grilled steak, grilled teriyaki chicken thigh, or plant-based Korean Impossible meatballs.

In my personal opinion, Tiffins Restaurant is the BEST table service dining restaurant in Animal Kingdom! Although a bit more on the expensive side, the value for the food is worth it especially if you are celebrating a special occasion.

Nomad Lounge

The Nomad Lounge is one of my favorite spots to take a break in Animal Kingdom! Located right next to Tiffins Restaurant, this beautiful table-service lounge is inspired by the thrill of discovery, with festive banners hanging in the center of the lounge posing a different question about traveling the world.

Although the Nomad Lounge is a “lounge” serving alcoholic drinks, it is extremely family friendly. It is also located right next to the Discovery River, so you may be able to watch the Character Flotillas floating by with character favorites including Mickey, Donald, Pocahontas, Meeko, Russell, Dug, and more!

Nomad Lounge is typically open between 10:30 AM and park close (7 PM) and offers a variety of specialty cocktails, wine, beer, non-alcoholic drinks, and enticing appetizers from all across the globe. The small plates typically range between $10 and $18, and the cocktails are priced between $15 and $18 each. The Nomad Lounge is always serving new and seasonal drinks and plates, so be sure to stop in as often as you can. If you're in the mood for something sweet, we absolutely recommend the Nomad Lounge churros served with vanilla crema and seasonal sauce – it is one of our favorite desserts in all of Disney World!

The Nomad Lounge also offers the same kids menu options as Tiffins Restaurant including grilled shrimp, grilled steak, grilled teriyaki chicken thigh, or plant-based Korean Impossible meatballs.

As previously mentioned, the Nomad Lounge does not take reservations, however oftentimes there is a virtual walk-up list on the My Disney Experience App. You must be inside the park to access the walk-up list and usually it appears right at 10:30 AM when the lounge opens. Make sure to have your location enabled within the app so that it knows you are inside of the park. A Cast Member at the Nomad Lounge can also help you join the walk-up list. You will receive a text when they have space available, and you are free to roam the park while you wait.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Our next favorite table service restaurant at Animal Kingdom is the Yak & Yeti Restaurant. Yak & Yeti is located in Asia, closer to Africa area and near the bridge from Discovery Island. Yak & Yeti is a fan favorite due to it's beautiful theming and overall atmosphere paired with it's delicious Asian-inspired and American food options. It is a perfect restaurant addition to the Asia area and has some of the best food in Animal Kingdom!

Yak & Yeti is open for lunch and dinner between 10:30 AM and 6:50 PM. They have a huge menu including a variety of cuisines and sizes, such as small plates, shareables (meant for 2 people), noodles and bowls, specialty entrees, Wok, and grilled items. Although all of Disney World has great plant-based and vegetarian options at each restaurant, Yak & Yeti has several great plant-based meals which makes it a dream for those who prefer meatless options! Their menu includes chicken tikka masala, Cantonese pork belly bowl, BBQ ribs, and Hibachi Steak & Shrimp. The prices range between $22.99 and $37.99, but most of the dishes are under $30 which makes it a slightly lower cost table service restaurant.

The Kids menu at Yak & Yeti consists of eight different entrée options, each priced at $11.99, with choice of two sides and a small milk or apple juice.

Yak & Yeti also has a great dessert menu featuring pineapple upside down cake, mango pie, and fried wontons with skewers of fresh pineapple, vanilla ice cream and a honey-vanilla drizzle- Yum!

As always, we highly recommend grabbing a reservation if you want to dine at Yak & Yeti. Yak & Yeti is a Landry's owned restaurant, meaning Landry's Select Club members can receive priority seating without a reservation. Although subject to availability, Landry's club members usually have no issues with last minute reservations at least 24 hours in advance. Rainforest Café is also a Landry's Select restaurant.

Rainforest Café

The Rainforest Cafe® at Disney's Animal Kingdom is located just outside the park's main entrance and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is another Rainforest Café location at Disney Springs, and is part of a larger chain of restaurants that you may have seen before or visited in your hometown. Although Rainforest Café is a chain and not unique to Disney World, it is still a great option, especially for kids. Guests will feel like they are on a safari in tropical rainforest while they dine on their American-style food. This colorful jungle atmosphere features singing birds, elephants, gorillas, and schools of fish.

The breakfast menu features delicious options such as Benedict Bamba, Wild Waffle, and a Mexican-style breakfast pizza. The prices for breakfast entrees range between $12.99 and $26.99, the most expensive item being a Sirloin steak and eggs meal. There is also a kids menu for ages 9 and under which range between $9.99 and $11.99.

Lunch and dinner options include Beef Lava Nachos, Big Islander Shrimp Caesar Salad, Caribbean Coconut Fried Shrimp, Rainforest Burger, as well as chicken, steak and pasta dishes. Prices range from $19.99 to $43.99 per adult. The kids menu options all cost $11.99 and all come with a choice of a side and drink.

Safari Bar at Rainforest Café

The Safari Bar is also located at the entrance to the Animal Kingdom inside the Rainforest Café. This lounge celebrates the world travels of Disney Imagineers and animal experts, and allows guests to answer different questions about traveling the world. Guests can enjoy draft and bottled beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, such as a Beso Del Sol Red Sangria and Moscow Mule. Prices range from $15 to $34.99 per adult.

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Animal Kingdom Dining – Character Dining

Animal Kingdom offers one character dining restaurant, Tusker House Restaurant, which serves buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Tusker House is located in Africa, just outside the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction.

Donald Duck hosts this African fare meal with appearances from other classic Disney characters such as Mickey, Daisey, and Goofy (subject to change). Character dining is a great way to meet characters and enjoy a delicious meal. For more information about character dining, check out our reviews of every character dining experience in Disney World here!

Although character dining is the most expensive, it is an all you can eat buffet style experience! The breakfast menu consists of pastries, Mickey-shaped waffles, eggs, oats with berry compote and house-made granola, fruit salad, honey Greek yogurt, and breakfast potatoes. Various breakfast meats are also included such as bacon, sausage patties, and rotisserie ham. Coffee and soft drinks are included in the price, however additional specialty drinks are also available for purchase.

Lunch and dinner consist of breads with dips, salads, tandoor chicken, berbere-marinated pork, braised beef tajine, and various sides. Lunch and dinner also include a nature-inspired dessert such as baby bee and flamingo cupcakes and double-chocolate zebra cookies. Tusker House also provides a plant-based and allergy friendly menu upon request.

The pricing at Tusker House consists of the following (plus tax and gratuity):

• Breakfast: $47 per adult, $30 per child
• Lunch and Dinner: $62 per adult, $40 per child

Although we prefer the family-style meals over buffet, Tusker House is another great Animal Kingdom dining option!

Dawa Bar

Guests can relax at a bamboo open-air bar in the heart of Harambe village when they visit the Dawa Bar, which located right next to the Tusker House Restaurant.

This lounge offers alcoholic drinks only which include specialty cocktails, such as the African Margarita and Ngumu Jungle Juice, as well as draft beer and wine. For a quick drink, we highly recommend the Dawa Bar!

Animal Kingdom Dining – Quick Service Restaurants

There are several great quick service restaurants when considering Animal Kingdom dining options. These restaurants do not require reservations, however on busier park days it may take a while for your food to be prepared. If possible, we always recommend using the My Disney Experience app to mobile order meals at quick service restaurants because it is usually a lot faster than waiting in line and for your food to be prepared. Although indoor seating is not guaranteed or always provided with quick service restaurants, they are convenient and low cost options.

All of the Animal Kingdom quick service restaurants include:

• Flame Tree Barbecue
• Pizzafari
• Restaurantosaurus
• Satu'li Canteen
• Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes

Let's take a closer look at these quick service restaurants at Animal Kingdom!

Satu'li Canteen

The Satu'li Canteen is my personal favorite quick service restaurant at Animal Kingdom! Located near the exit of the Flight of Passage attraction in Pandora, Satu'li Canteen is open for lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy the art and culture of the Na'vi while dining in a former RDA mess hall.

Their menu features a variety of bowls, including the Slow-Roasted Sliced Grilled Beef Bowl, Sustainable Fish Bowl, and the Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl. Prices range from $17.99 and under per adult. There are also Kids meals available totaling $8.79 and under which include a chopped wood-grilled chicken bowl, cheeseburger steamed pod, and all beef hot dog wrapped in dough. The Kids meals are served with two sides and choice of water or milk.

Flame Tree Barbecue

My next favorite quick service restaurant in Animal Kingdom is Flame Tree Barbecue, located on Discovery Island just before the bridge to Dinoland, U.S.A. This one of the few barbecue restaurants in Disney World, and offers beautiful views of the Discovery River and the 199-foot high rollercoaster, Expedition Everest.

Flame Tree Barbecue is open for lunch and dinner and has an extensive barbecue menu for all to enjoy, including vegan options which I have personally enjoyed. The entrées cost $18.99 and under for adults meals and include baked macaroni & cheese with pulled pork, smokehouse chicken salad, St. Louis rib dinner, and a smoked pulled pork sandwich.

There are also several kids meal options for $7.79 and under including a baked chicken drumstick, pulled pork platter, all beef hot dog, and PB&J Uncrustable with choice of two sides and a small milk or water.

For some of the best views and food in Animal Kingdom, I highly recommend Flame Tree Barbecue!

Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes

Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes, located right next Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Asia, is another great quick service option in Animal Kingdom! They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serve some of the favorite meals you can also get at Yak & Yeti.

This quick service restaurant is one of my favorite places to get breakfast at Animal Kingdom. They offer various breakfast bowls, English muffins with egg whites or sausage and egg for $12.99 and under. They also offer a kid's French toast or pancake and sausage stick for breakfast for $9.49 each.

Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes' lunch and dinner menus consist of various Asian-inspired dishes including honey sesame chicken, rib tips, and rib tips. Their main entrées cost $18.99 and under and are one of the best quick service options at Animal Kingdom.

Kid's meals include cheeseburger, chicken strips, and a PB&J Uncrustable option for under $10 each which include a cookie, fresh fruit, and choice of small milk, apple juice, or water bottle.

Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes is a great quick service option when it comes to all the Animal Kingdom restaurants!

Pizzafari

Guests can enjoy an Italian feast when they visit Pizzafari. This bright safari-themed restaurant serves pizza, pasta, salads, and Italian desserts in five themed rooms with colorful murals. Pizzafari is located on Discovery Island near Tiffins Restaurant and across from the Otter Grotto viewing area.

Prices range from $10 to $13.29 per adult for the various entrées. The kids menu features macaroni & cheese ($6.99) or pepperoni pizza ($7.59) served with two sides and choice of small milk or water.

Although lower on our list when it comes to Animal Kingdom dining options, Pizzafari is always a good bet if you're in the mood for quick and easy Italian food!

Restaurantosaurus

Located in Dinoland, U.S.A., Restaurantosaurus is a dino-themed restaurant offering something for everyone in the family. Guests dine in “pre-hysteric,” paleontology student humor in this family-friendly themed restaurant. We're still not sure what the future holds for this restaurant due to Dinoland being set to be completely reimagined into a new land inspired by the tropical Americas. However, no announcements regarding Restaurantosaurus have been made quite yet.

The menu at Restaurantosaurus mainly consists of classic American theme park food ranging from foot long hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and a fried chicken sandwich for $14.79 and under. There are also a variety of tasty desserts at Restaurantosaurus, including the S'moresosaurus Shake which is a vanilla shake with chocolate drizzle, gram cracker crumbs, chocolate sprinkles, and topped with a chocolate-dipped s'more!

Restaurantosaurus also offers several kids options for $10.79 and under including chicken strips, macaroni & cheese, Impossible burger, and cheeseburger.

Although we think there are better quick service restaurants at Animal Kingdom, Restaurantosaurus is a great option if you're looking for a classic meal and a sweet treat!

Animal Kingdom Dining – Food Stands and Kiosks

Now that we've covered the restaurants and lounges that offer meals, small plates, and drinks, you may be wondering where to grab a quick snack at Animal Kingdom. There are tons of kiosks and food stands throughout Animal Kingdom that are open throughout the day that can satisfy your snacking needs! A lot of these food stands, such as Harambe Market, offers mobile ordering, so be sure to check out the My Disney Experience app if you are interested in dining at any of these locations!

The following kiosks and stands are located throughout Animal Kingdom:

• Creature Comforts serves STARBUCKS® coffee and specialty beverages, Disney baked goods and La Boulange™ pastry items.
• Harambe Market is an open-air plaza featuring four unique walk-up windows.  Hungry explorers can visit Kitamu Grill, Famous Sausages, Chef Mwanga’s, and Wanjohi Refreshments. Guests can enjoy their food in a nice, shady area that resembles an old colonial-era train depot.
• Harambe Fruit Market sells a nice variety of fresh produce, Mickey-shaped pretzels, hot dogs, and churros. They also serve one of my favorite Disney snacks, the grilled corn on the cob, with or without African spices!
• Pongu Pongu offers a lounge menu including Pongu Lumpia and the Colossal Pretzel along with a large variety of specialty drinks and beer. A fan favorite drink from Pongu Pongu is the Night Blossom drink with layers of apple and desert pear limeade topped with Boba balls (alcoholic version also available).

• The Smiling Crocodile is a fun treat!  Guests can enjoy open-faced turkey BLT or house-made Pimento-cheese BLT with house-roasted bacon at this snack stop.  Prices range from $14.99 and under per adult.
• Eight Spoon Café is a quick-service option that sells baked macaroni & cheese dishes, including options topped with pulled pork or shrimp and sweet chili sauce.
• The Feeding Ground
• Isle of Java serves fresh-brewed espresso, cappuccino, cold drinks and various sweet treats. Those 21 or over can also purchase an Island Cappuccino, which is made with white chocolate and Captain Morgan’s Original Spiced Rum.
• Mahindi is a popcorn stand which also serves cinnamon-glazed almonds or pecans. Guests can wash their snack down with a beer or soda.
• Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery offers breakfast or lunch to go for guests on their way to explore the Savannah. Breakfast options include freshly baked pastries, assorted cereals, and yogurt.  Lunch options feature paninis or sandwiches.
• Tamu Tamu Refreshments is in the heart of Harambe Village and sells exotic desserts, such as Pineapple DOLE WHIP® Cup and the Malva Cake Sundae topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.  Pineapple fans that are 21 and over can try Pineapple DOLE WHIP® Cup with Dark Rum, which is delicious!

• Mr. Kamal's offers some great snack options including chicken dumplings, hummus with vegetables and pita, and seasoned fries. They also offer an assortment of beer.
• Warung Outpost serves a delicious Maharaja lime margarita along with beer and snacks including chips.
• Drinkwallah is a quirky pit stop for refreshing frozen beverages and snacks such as chips and cinnamon-glazed almonds.
• Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Company offers a favorite of specialty coffee beverages and pastries.
• Trek Snacks is an easy grab ‘n' go kiosk with popcorn, Mickey pretzels, Mickey ice cream bars, PJ&B Uncrustables, beer, and assorted beverages.
• Thirsty River Bar is located just next to Expedition Everest and is an open-air bar offering specialty drinks and beers, beer, and wine.
• Anandapur Ice Cream Truck is a unique stop offering soft-serve waffle cones and frosty floats with choice of fountain beverage.

• Dino-Bite Snacks in Dinoland, U.S.A., offers a variety of ice cream treats including sugar free and vegan ice cream upon request.
• Trilo-Bites is a quick service eatery offering zesty buffalo chicken chips, frosty floats, beer, and more.
• Terra Treats and Snack Shop is a cute snack shack that sells buffalo chicken wings or hummus with veggies, as well as soft drinks, beer or cider.
• Caravan Road serves reinvigorating shaved ice in a variety of tasty flavors, including alcoholic options.

As you can see, there is no lack of food, drink, and dessert options at Animal Kingdom! Disney World does a great job at accommodating all dietary preferences and allergies, so it is very easy to find something for everyone in your party.

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