Do you have a favorite Disney restaurant that you love to visit for special occasions? Perhaps you love the rooftop fireworks view at California Grill or the cozy luxury of dining at Le Cellier.

My favorite signature restaurant is one that is a little more off the beaten path — Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Less adventurous eaters might be initially nervous about Jiko’s menu, because it is listed as “African cuisine” on Disney’s website. If you aren’t familiar with this type of food, you may be anxious about whether you want to spend a lot of money on dining here. But trust me when I say it is absolutely worth it! The menu has something for everyone in your family — from the pickiest to the most adventurous.

In addition to the amazing cuisine, the service has been spectacular during each of my visits. And the restaurant itself is gorgeous — designed to look like an African sunset.

Jiko means “the cooking place” and refers to the huge wood-burning ovens in the middle of the restaurant. These are used to prepare flatbreads, steaks, and more. You’re welcome to watch the chefs prepare food in this area, which has a communal atmosphere.

Additionally, Jiko boasts a fabulous African-only wine list. In fact, Jiko has the largest South African wine selection in the United States. Make sure to ask your server for recommendations — they will ask what you normally like to drink, what you plan on eating, and your price range. I have never been steered wrong by the wonderful and very knowledgeable Cast Members.

For our most recent meal, our server recommended the Kanonkop Pinotage after learning that we would both be ordering red meat (more on that later). It was a fabulous selection! Of course, your server will let you taste it before you pour a full glass, so if you don’t love it — don’t be afraid to say so! Jiko is a dining experience, and the team wants to ensure it’s spectacular. That said, they’ve never poured me anything I didn’t like!

After sitting down to our meal, we were offered some complimentary Moroccan Mint tea to welcome us and thank us for dining at Jiko. At other visits, we have been offered other tea varieties or small bites, which is a lovely touch.

Now, onto the food! First up, appetizers.

For our starters, we tried the Jiko Salad and the Mushroom Flatbread.

Our server kindly split the salad onto two plates knowing we were sharing, so this is a half portion. The Jiko salad is made with Greens, Heirloom Apples, Goat Cheese Spread, Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette, Sweet-and-Spicy Pumpkin Seeds.

It was a wonderful mix of sweet and savory — with the pumpkin seeds and apples adding a unique flair. Additionally, all of the greens are from The Land at Epcot, which makes it truly a special dish.

We also enjoyed the Mushroom Flatbread.

Flatbreads are a signature option at Jiko, using that wood-fire oven for the crust. The Mushroom Flatbread comes topped with a trio of mushrooms, duxelle, maize-crusted pickled mushrooms, curried ricotta, and goat cheese.

Of course, you have to like mushrooms but if you do, I highly recommend this flatbread. Each mushroom was presented differently — including lightly fried and pickled varieties. The cheeses provided a nice, creamy texture, and the arugula was fresh. Mushroom lovers, this is a must for you!

Jiko’s signature bread is a sweet potato roll, topped with spices and served with a honey butter. It is incredible and honestly, worth a trip to Jiko itself.

Now for the main course! My husband decided to branch out and try the Cocoa-Crusted Bison. This dish is served with Butternut Gopi, Glazed Root Vegetables, Whisky-poached Pears, Saffron Crema, and a Ghana Chocolate Demi-glace.

The bison was cooked perfectly to the chef-recommended medium rare. Additionally, the cocoa crust and the chocolate glaze added a hint of sweetness, while not being overpowering. This is certainly a more adventurous choice for some, but it was truly delicious. The meat isn’t particularly gamey — in fact it tasted like a good steak! If you are looking for something unique and different, this is a great choice.

I, on the other hand, had to go with a Jiko classic — the Oak Grilled Filet Mignon.  Currently, the side is listed as olive oil potatoes, but  you can swap the potatoes for Jiko’s signature (not-on-the-menu) mac & cheese. This is a Jiko fan-favorite that goes on and off the menu, but you can always ask for it — and you will not regret it!

Isn’t this just the most beautiful plate you’ve ever seen!? I am drooling just looking at it. The filet comes topped with Jiko’s famous red-wine sauce, which really brings the dish to the next level.

The filet itself was perfectly cooked at medium rare (as the chef recommends) and is so juicy and flavorful. This is my favorite steak on property — tied with the “Le Cellier Filet” in Canada.

The mac & cheese is creamy and rich, but somehow also light. It is the most perfect bite to have a few noodles with a piece of steak and dipped in the red wine sauce.

This plate is far from anything you’d expect from “theme park dining” and is absolutely divine.

For dessert, we took our server’s recommendation for the Malva Pudding.

This dish is a puff pasty nest filled with a cinnamon ice cream and paired with two small sponge cakes, A sugar cookie which was designed to look like the bird decor in the restaurant. This is honestly not a dessert I would have chosen based on the description, but I am so glad our server recommended it!

It was light and not sickly sweet– perfect after such a large, rich meal. It was also unique with the flavors, and I loved the bird on top!

Jiko also boasts a large selection of after-dinner wines, cordials, and teas.

 

Overall, this visit to Jiko cemented why I love it so much. The service is exceptional, the food is phenomenal, and the restaurant is gorgeous. It is much more than a meal — it’s a wonderful experience. One I highly recommend during your Disney World trip — whether it be to celebrate a special occasion, a date night, or just to treat yourself.

What is your favorite special meal at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

Be sure to follow @allearsnet on Instagram and Twitter!

Check out our YouTube Channel for reviews, news, information and more!

Click below to subscribe to the AllEars® newsletter so you don’t miss any of the latest Disney news!

Comments (3)