For some people, one of the great perks of Walt Disney World is that every restaurant offers at least some version of the classic meat and potatoes entree. No matter where you are, no matter what your dietary desires, you can find something that will be to your taste.
But, for others, one of the great perks of Walt Disney World is its wide variety of culinary options — allowing you to taste flavors from all parts of the world, including combinations and dishes you couldn’t possibly have imagined.
For those guests, dining is as much of an adventure as any attraction, and a dinner of simple hamburgers and chicken fingers would seem like wasted time. Thankfully, Disney has plenty of dining options with them in mind.
Sure, you can find a good burger just about anywhere, but these are the best year-round restaurants for the most adventurous diners at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Boma
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Our first three entrants to this list all come from the same resort hotel, but it just so happens to be arguably Disney’s finest. The Animal Kingdom Lodge embraces both the aesthetics and the flavors of the African continent, offering several restaurants that — in total — display the grand culinary tradition of one of the planet’s most beautiful areas.
Boma is the entry-level edition at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, offering a buffet that includes everything from Ghanaian Oxtail Stew to Durban-style roasted chicken. There are soups and sauces galore on the buffet, with many different regions and palates represented. The buffet is designed to be grazed upon — like the African savanna — tasting and trying everything that looks good to you.
I say it’s entry-level for a few reasons: For starters, the basic meat-and-potatoes concept is still available here, so those traveling with pickier eaters might find Boma to be the perfect compromise. Plus, the nature of a buffet means that dishes tend to be a bit more one-size fits all than you’d find at a table-service restaurant.
Still, Boma is an impossible reservation to get, meaning it walks the tightrope of appealing to a broad group of diners well — while still being unique and delicious.
Jiko
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At the intermediate-level, you’ll find Jiko — arguably the best restaurant on Disney property. At first glance, the menu looks not too dissimilar from what you might find at a traditional high-end restaurant, with flatbreads, steaks, fish, and chicken headlining. But, with Jiko, the preparation is what makes all of the difference.
With unique African flavors and spices, familiar components spring to life in surprising and delicious ways. Cocoa-rubbed bison and curry-flavored macaroni and cheese elevate the ordinary into something you won’t soon forget.
Jiko is an amazing dining experience, and if you’re someone who loves to be treated to an imaginative chef’s creations, you’ll be thrilled you stopped in.
Sanaa
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If it’s authenticity and bold flavors that you want, Sanaa is the expert-level restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Located in the Disney Vacation Club-run Kidani Village section, Sanaa offers the taste of North Africa and Indian cooking.
The star of the show is the famed Indian-style bread service, which is arguably one of the most iconic fine dining dishes on Walt Disney World property. But, there’s far more to the menu than breads and spreads as African and Indian styles of cooking mesh to produce outstanding dishes served in the shadow of the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s savanna.
It’s a beautiful setting and a bountiful meal — just what you want at Disney.
Tangierine Cafe
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If you venture into Epcot, you can try even more amazing North African cooking. Tangierine Cafe offers more traditional street food flavors from this region of the world, including falafel and shawarma — served in large portions at the back-end of World Showcase.
The Morocco Pavilion is a gem unto itself, with amazing shops and unparalleled architecture. It tends to find itself a bit off the beaten path as well, meaning for those who venture in to enjoy the food, there are great spots to sit and enjoy it.
Tangierine Cafe isn’t just for adventurous eaters, it’s also for the adventurous Epcot-goers too.
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
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With dishes like shu mai, whole fish, and Thai noodles, the Skipper Canteen is no ordinary theme park restaurant. If you’re looking for several steps up from limp hamburgers and fries, this pan-continental fusion location is exactly the place for you.
The menu is, admittedly, less exotic than the names of its dishes would have you believe. However, when you compare it to the other options on offer at the Magic Kingdom, the Skipper Canteen definitely stands tall.
Of course, the biggest reason to visit this restaurant is if you’re the type of adventurer who also loves to explore the rivers of the Jungle Cruise. Themed alongside that iconic attraction, the food isn’t quite as eclectic as the boat ride, but it’s close.
Morimoto Asia
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If there’s a problem with Disney Springs, it’s this: There are just too many good restaurants to choose from.That’s a happy problem to have, of course, and among the best is Morimoto Asia — the spinoff of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s restaurant empire.
Offering pan-Asian delicacies like sushi, sashimi, ramen, dim sum, and other dishes, this restaurant isn’t quite as outside the mainstream as it might have seemed even 10 years ago. But, for many, delicious Asian dishes of this caliber can be hard to come by. The food is an equisite example of the genre, and the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful.
Morimoto Asia is the rare brand-name restaurant that lives up to its brand name. And, the flavors are special enough that even adventurous eaters will be thrilled with what they find here.
Jaleo
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The newest addition to Disney Springs, Jose Andres’ restaurant brings a sorely-needed Spanish spot to the West Side. Offering traditional dishes like tapas and paella, Jaleo offers a nice pop of flavor and a playful menu.
Andres is a celebrity chef in his own right, with his humanitarian efforts often outshining his culinary talent. But, he’s a chef first and foremost, and his commitment to bringing Spanish flavors to the masses is felt with this awesome outpost in his growing empire.
With an enormous menu with tons of options for sharing, Jaleo is one of the best vacation restaurants for foodies — giving you the ability to sample, discuss, compare, and enjoy.
Victoria and Albert’s
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Adventurous eating isn’t just about tasting the iconic dishes of countries in far-off places. It’s also about eating incredibly inventive and rich meals that excite every part of the palate.
Victoria and Albert’s, in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, is in the conversation for the best restaurant in the entire state of Florida. Its exquisite tasting menu offers a complete tour of what’s popular in cuisine today, from hearty proteins to delicate caviar. It is, ultimately, the most grand dining experience you can have at Walt Disney World.
For those reasons, Victoria and Albert’s isn’t for the faint of heart. In order to enjoy this meal, you must truly love the exploration of the culinary arts, and you have to be willing to cede control to the chef’s impulses and imagination. It is dining — adventurous or otherwise — at its finest.
