Boma is back! The first of the buffets to come back in its original buffet format (instead of plated family-style meals), Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge has been a longtime favorite among Disney fans and here at the Disney Food Blog!

We stopped by the newly reopened Boma to see if their breakfast buffet still holds up!

Atmosphere

Boma is located inside the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)! This means two things: it’s gorgeous when you get there, but you also have to account for transportation time to Animal Kingdom Lodge (if you’re not already at the hotel!). Keep that in mind when you’re booking a breakfast here.

Boma is located on the lower level of the Animal Kingdom Jambo House, so you’ll need to take the elevator or stairs down to it from the main lobby. But also, take a second to appreciate the gorgeous lobby here. I mean, just look:

Boma is back as a true buffet and prices are $29 per adult and $17 per child ages 3-9!

When we got there, we used Mobile Check-in to let Boma know that we were here.

We got confirmation after we checked in…

…and we got a text when our table was ready.

We headed over to the check-in desk and we were led to our table.

“Boma” is actually an African term for a fence made of sticks that forms a safe enclosure for gathering. Throughout the entrance of the restaurant, you see the stick fence motif captured in different materials. Much like the rest of Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma is GORGEOUS inside!

Ceilings are lined with large pieces of cloth strung up at the corners to mimic how shades would be created outdoors over the gathering place or marketplace.

The rustic yet refined style of this restaurant makes it a unique spot on Disney World property.

Seating options include booths and tables with chairs, and there are ample amounts of seating at this spot within its massive dining room.

Another important detail to remember (since, ya know, we all haven’t been eating from Disney World buffets in…oh…like a year and a half?): you do have to wear a mask while you’re grabbing your food!

And while you’re securing your mask, let’s sanitize those hands!

Enough about the atmosphere, let’s eat!

Eats

Before we jump into the buffet line, let’s review what’s available. Though the buffet includes juice, milk, fountain drinks, and coffee, there are some Specialty Beverages that you can order for an extra cost.

Now, let’s see what we can expect from the buffet! Boma offers up a wonderful breakfast selection ranging from normal breakfast classics, like muffins and pancakes, to more unique items with an African flair, like Bobotie or Coconut Steel-cut Oatmeal.

OK, our mask is secured, our hands are clean — let’s check out all of the food! Since Boma is in the first phase of buffets returning to Disney World, we were eager to hit the buffet line and see what they had prepared for us!

We were super excited to start off with the Chakalaka. This was an explosion of flavor! This South African Tomato Stew had a nice balance of sweetness from the tomatoes and kick from spices. It wasn’t listed on the online menu for breakfast, but that just goes to show that menus can still fluctuate.

The Chakalaka pairs perfectly with the Pap, a Creamy White Cornmeal similar to grits. The sweetness of the corn helped balance out the Chakalaka and made this dish delicious!

The Carved Ham was delicious, juicy ham but the spicy mustard was the real star of the show! The heat of the mustard and the smoky sweetness of the ham were great together! We give this ham and mustard combo five stars!

Next, we had to head over and get some carbs! First up is a selection of muffins and pastries.

Then there are some bagels and croissants with an assortment of jams, schmears, and butter.

If you prefer something simpler, you can find bread to toast as you desire.

Of course, what’s a Disney buffet without Mickey (and Simba) Waffles? These were delicious as always!

The Blueberry Pancakes were another great addition! They had that perfect fluffiness and the blueberries were just the right amount of sweet and tart.

There is a selection of bacon, sausage, potato barrels (AKA tater tots), and breakfast potato wedges.

The Sausage was classic and good addition to the meal, but we really wished it had more heat to it. It’s just your standard breakfast sausages, the same ones you’ll find served for breakfast across Disney property. If you like those, you’ll like these (’cause, you know…they’re the same!).

The Bacon was your standard bacon but it was absolutely delicious and crispy! Disney came through with some great bacon here, but nothing mind-blowing or different. Bacon doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel — it’s bacon, therefore it’s delicious.

And breakfast just isn’t complete without some eggs! Boma offers a variety of scrambled eggs and omelets.

The Scrambled Eggs with Spinach, Tomato, and Feta were some of the best scrambled eggs we’ve had at Disney World! We really enjoyed the creamy texture and the strong feta cheese flavor throughout these eggs. If you’re not a big fan of those Mediterranean flavors, these may not be your jam. But for anyone who likes cheesy scrambled eggs, grab a big scoop of them!

The Coconut Oatmeal was recommended by the chefs (twice!) and we’re so glad we tried it! Normally we probably would have skipped an unassuming bowl of oatmeal over all the other more substantial goodies on the line, but WOW. It had a nice creamy texture and a delicious coconut flavor that’s good enough to even convert an oatmeal hater! This is also a great option for vegans out there!

We also found some lovely Bobotie. This is an African dish made with spiced ground meat topped with an egg-based topping. It’s jam-packed with flavor and, while full of spices providing flavor, it’s not particularly spicy.

And some MORE sweet options! Sticky buns, French Toast Bread Pudding, and that divinely buttery pecan praline sauce.

The Sticky Buns were what we imagine heaven tastes like. The crunch of the pecans, the sweet caramel, and the option for an extra helping of that buttery praline pecan sauce made these buns some of our favorites!

The French Toast Bread Pudding was yet another winner for us! The doughy bread pudding, along with the rich, sweet taste of vanilla, made this a super sweet (but super delicious!) breakfast bite. We also really loved the crumble on top. Breakfast dessert? Thank you, Boma, don’t mind if we do!

The Apple Pockets from the pastry table were good but a little on the generic side. We’d much rather stuff our faces with more sticky buns (and we did. Ohhhh how we did!).

Heading over to see what kind of fresh fruit is available, we found a variety of watermelon, grapes, and fruit salad.

The Watermelon Slices with Mint-Pistachio Crumb were another highlight for us! Although it’s a very simple addition to an otherwise generic plate of melon, it was refreshing and something different than the usual buffet fruit offerings.

The Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon was a yummy little bite! We didn’t get a lot of salmon on our egg, so ours tasted mostly like a smokey deviled egg. This is quite a sophisticated twist on breakfast, and ya know what — we’re here for it!

After we made it through the sea of deliciousness that is Boma’s buffet, we had this glorious spread! Yep, a little bit of everything is how we roll. And the slice of watermelon makes it healthy, right?

Also, don’t sleep on the coffee at this spot, it is AMAZING! Boma offers guests the option to pay for a French Press Pot of really good coffee for two. It’s a dark roast of Kenyan 22 Coffee that was super bold and delicious! Kenyan roast coffee tends to be richly aromatic and has brighter acidic qualities that you find in some other coffees around the world. Ordering this in a pressed pot is a great way to experience these flavors in their purest form (before you dilute it with cream and sugar, that is). Be aware that this is not included in the price of the buffet and will have an extra $9 charge for it. Regular coffee is definitely available included with the cost of your meal, but if you love coffee we highly recommend splurging here.

Well, that was our breakfast at Boma! It felt good to see a buffet return to Disney and we loved seeing all the options and choosing our favorites (or choosing everything, it is vacation after all)!

Nosh or Not

You should stop by Boma if…

• You’re looking for a more adventurous buffet! This spot not only shines with its classic items, it also has a lot of great dishes inspired by African cuisine.
• You don’t mind traveling to Animal Kingdom Lodge for a bargain buffet. The pricing on this buffet is a steal compared to some of the other Disney buffets! Plus, you get a great opportunity to check out this gorgeous hotel.
• You’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge or planning a day at Animal Kingdom. If you’re already in the area, this is definitely worth a try!

Steer clear of Boma if…

• You’re not going to get your money’s worth! You do have to eat at least a full portion to get your money’s worth here. If you’re looking to just eat a small bite, don’t love breakfast food, or are just really really picky, this spot likely isn’t worth it.
• You’re looking for a quick and convenient breakfast on your way to the parks. Boma’s a bit out of the way and requires an intentional trip.
• You don’t like adventurous foods! Although there are plenty of classic breakfast items here, the more adventurous options really are the highlights of the buffet.

Overall

Boma is back and we couldn’t be happier! We really enjoyed our breakfast buffet at Boma; items like the Chakalaka, French Toast Bread Pudding, Sticky Buns, and Scrambled Eggs really stood out as stars of the show. The atmosphere, the service, and the meal were all amazing. This spot is definitely for the sliiiightly more adventurous palates (we highly recommend the ‘Ohana breakfast over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort if you’re looking for something less adventurous) but that was part of the appeal! But if you do have some picky eaters in your group, there are still quite a few classic options to choose from. (Those blueberry pancakes were winners for us and you simply can’t go wrong with a Mickey waffle!).

The bargain of a price for this meal (compared to other all-you-can-eat options!), along with the quality of the food, make it worth the trip over to Animal Kingdom Lodge to try out Boma. Honestly, the location is going to be the biggest hindrance for many guests. Animal Kingdom Lodge isn’t the most convenient to get to (If you’re at another Disney Hotel and relying on transportation, this will mean heading to a theme park or Disney Springs and transferring to a bus headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge). If you can swing making the trek over, your efforts will be greatly rewarded.

Their classic dishes were done well, their adventurous dishes were done well, and everything came together in a delicious symphony! We’ll be the first to admit we have a soft spot for Boma. It has historically been a consistently good buffet for any time of day we’ve dined here. Speaking of, we doubled up on re-opening day and ate here for dinner as well! Of all the Disney World buffets to return first, this was a solid pick. We highly recommend this spot — you won’t be disappointed!

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What do you think about Boma’s breakfast? Let us know in the comments! 

The post REVIEW: Disney World Breakfast Buffets are BACK at Boma! first appeared on the disney food blog.