REVIEW: I Will Literally NEVER Stop Talking About This Disney World Hotel Restaurant

While we love dining inside the Disney World parks, sometimes it’s so special to head to the hotels for an escape from the chaos. It’s convenient to eat at the hotels you’re staying at, but with that handy dandy dining reservation, you can visit other hotels and experience what you might be missing out on.

You’re coming with us to Jiko — The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to see if it’s worth a visit. This is usually one of our favorite restaurants in Disney World, but does it still live up to our standards? Let’s find out!

Background

Jiko is located in Animal Kingdom Lodge, a beautiful resort to check out different animals and scenery.

It’s one of Disney’s Signature Dining, which is their fancy way of saying fine dining. It focuses on African cuisine and is open from 5 PM to 9:30 PM for dinner, which has a dress code where clothing should be “clean, neat, and in good condition. Please no swimwear.”

You’ll also want to snag an Advanced Dining Reservation, but some say day reservations might be available.

Atmosphere

One part of Jiko that we absolutely love is the massive windows that lead outside. There are beautiful scenes, and the sunlight lit the whole restaurant in a relaxing way.

This is one of our favorite escapes from the theme parks for good reason. In Swahili, jiko means “the cooking place,” and when you walk in, look to the right to see the open kitchen — this is their cooking place! If you look up above the wood-fired ovens, you can see one of the biggest hidden Mickeys in Disney World.

There are booths and table options, and the birds hanging from the ceiling are a fun addition as well.

Food & Drinks

Firstly, our meal started with complimentary Giraffe Bread and Butter, because no good dinner is complete without bread.

It’s called giraffe bread because of the pattern on top, created by rice flour that cracks when baked. The rice flavor comes through subtly, along with a light crunch, and it’s a more unique take on traditional rolls. The bread is fluffy and super airy, but it is strong enough to tear apart and for the butter to hold onto it well.

The butter was creamy and salty, with a nice tanginess that was balanced by the salt. It also reminded us of the tanginess of sour cream, but in a soft and enjoyable way, and it’s a perfect way to start your meal.

For our first appetizer, we had the Diver Scallop with Pork Belly for $19. It features a  Seared Scallop, Sumac-roasted Pork Belly, Corn Cream, Mustard Caviar, and Fennel Crisp.

This dish seriously melts in your mouth. The pork belly and scallop were cooked so well that they were tender and literally melted in your mouth — and no, we won’t stop talking about it. The scallop had a beautiful sear and a light seafood flavor, so those who are always a little wary about seafood will enjoy knowing it doesn’t taste as if it came straight from the sea. It also balanced well with the pork belly, since you get more saltiness and a savory-sweet sorta play.

Nothing was too salty, and the pork belly had the right amount of fat. We loved the crispy bits on the edges that reminded us of burnt ends. There was a great smoky, sweet flavor, and when you get everything in one bite, it’s just heaven. The sweet corn fennel puree is similar to grits or polenta but super smooth. It gave the dish some earthy flavors, and the mustard caviar incorporated a pop of acid and a bit of bite, since the pork belly and scallop are on the soft side. The appetizer was fairly small, so it’s great for one person, since you only get one piece of pork belly and one scallop.

We also had the West African Koki Corn for $16, which has Mushrooms, Pickled Vegetables, Avocado-Tomatillo Puree, and a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

Raise your hand if you’re here for the sauce! Okay, now go ahead and write down “West African Koki Corn” because this dish was a sauce lover’s dream. We were originally picturing something like elote or another bowl of corn, but this was much closer to a tamale. The corn is the base (very similar to a tamale base), a little grainy and perfectly moist, but it really only tastes like corn — which is why we’re SO obsessed with the sauces.

The red pepper sauce was smoky, like the red sauce on tamales, and the green sauce was bright and fresh and herby. Both sauces had a light spice but weren’t anything overwhelming, nor did they linger. The pickled mushrooms and onions were a punch of acid and balanced well with the earthiness of the corn and the spice of the sauces. If you’re looking more for an appetizer to share, this one is perfect.

For our entree, we tried the Short Rib Isitambu for $54, which features a Merlot-braised Beef Short Rib, Cracked Hominy, Sea Peas, and Fragrant Masala.

One thing we love about African cuisine, especially as Jiko, is that you can taste the time and love incorporated in the dish. The short rib was slow-roasted and instantly tender. It shredded easily, and the sauce on top was similar to an edgy wine reduction and reminded us of a sweet and savory barbecue sauce, but in a fancy sorta way. It wasn’t too sweet and stayed on the savory side, and so lovely on the dish.

The isitambu is similar to a bean stew, which wasn’t the star of the dish, but come on, we know you'[re here for the short rib. It had a lot of great textures and was hearty, but mostly tasted like beans. The squash and sea salt on top were a nice addition, too.

For dessert, we dove straight into the Potjie Pot for $17. It has Chocolate Custard, Lemon-Olive Oil Cake, Whipped Caramel, Cocoa Nib Crunch, and Cherries.

Y’all. As if this meal couldn’t get better. Please do not skip dessert when you visit, please! The lemon olive cake was more lemon cake versus olive oil cake and was bright and citrusy without being too oily. It was fluffy and delicious and a great base for the dessert. There were other layers, like a thick, fluffy chocolate mousse that was incredibly smooth and had a much-welcomed milk chocolate flavor. What we can’t stop talking about is the caramel fluff, which is super buttery, and we could eat it by the spoonful.

It wasn’t too buttery, but it was perfectly caramelized and a great complement to the other flavors. The cocoa nibs along the bottom added the needed crunch, and all of the layers were very distinct without being overpowering or off-balance. Everything stayed on our spoon really well, and the cherries even added a bit of tartness.

Our drink throughout the meal was the Prickly Pear Mule for $17.50, which is made with VUSA Africa Vodka, Belle de Brillet Pear Liquer, Prickly Pear, Ginger Beer, and Lime.

If you’ve never had prickly pear, it tastes like a watermelon and strawberry combined. The drink was fun and right with a strong lime flavor and the sharpness of the ginger beer at the end of each sip. It reminded us of an adult fruit punch, but with the lime, it brought in more of a lime-aid taste. It does not have as strong an alcohol flavor and was a very pretty shade of pink in the iconic copper mule mug. While there might be more unique drinks on the menu, since the food can be a bit adventurous, we liked this twist on a classic Moscow Mule that was easy to sip on throughout the meal.

Magic or Tragic?

You absolutely have to go to Jiko if…

• • You’re celebrating a special occasion — Jiko is one of the more expensive restaurants at Disney World, but it’s perfect for those special nights out. Whether it’s a date night, anniversary, birthday, or literally any excuse to celebrate over dinner, it’s a nice, relaxing, intimate dinner.
  • You’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge — While we love Animal Kingdom Lodge, it’s not always the most convenient place to visit. Yes, with a dining reservation, you can usually park at the hotel, but it can still be far and out of the way if you’re not already going to that area.
  • You are looking for a unique dining experience — African cuisine might be a bit out of your comfort zone, but how many places do you get to try food like this? The servers are very knowledgeable about the menu, and this is definitely a spot for adventurous eaters.

You can probably skip if…

• • You’re traveling with picky eaters — Not everyone wants to try new cuisines out of their comfort zone, and that’s totally okay! While the kids’ menu has some more familiar American flavors, an entirely different restaurant might be a better choice when feeding the whole family.
  • You prefer a more affordable and fast meal — Jiko is known for its slow-cooked dishes, so this is not a dinner to be rushed. It’s also fairly expensive, and if you’re just looking to grab something and get back to the parks or hotel room, you might want to skip this spot.
  • You’re looking for a more casual meal — This restaurant does have a dress code, and while it’s still Disney, which can be on the more casual side of fine dining, you might not want to bring a fancy outfit, especially for the whole family. If you’re still looking for similar bites, you can head to Boma — Flavors of Africa next door.

Overall, we almost always love our experience at Jiko — The Cooking Place. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and is a welcome retreat from the chaos of the theme parks. It’s perfect for a night out with stunning, slow-cooked dishes with unique flavors. Make sure you grab dessert because that’s one of our favorite dishes!

Make sure you keep following AllEars for more of the best Disney World restaurant reviews for your next vacation. We eat all around Disney World, so we know the best places that are worth a visit.

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Have you ever eaten at Jiko? Tell us about your experience in the comments. 

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