Most signature dining experiences in Disney World are known for high prices and high quality; is that a tradeoff you’re willing to make? And while you’re at it, ponder this: are you willing to leave the Disney parks for a meal at a Disney hotel? It’s a tough call! There are TONS of great eats in all four parks, but does the experience compare to a quiet sit-down dinner at a hotel’s signature restaurant?

We’re considering all these questions and more as we head over to the newly reopened restaurant, Jiko — The Cooking Place, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House.

Jiko is a (dearly beloved) restaurant located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge that serves gourmet African cuisine in a tranquil atmosphere. It’s been closed for quite some time (since the parks shut down in 2020!), but finally reopened on February 17th.

Atmosphere

If you’ve never made a visit to Animal Kingdom Lodge, you might not realize how many phenomenal restaurants are tucked away in this resort. From the classic Boma buffet experience to the legendary Sanaa bread service, this hotel has a TON of incredible options. Now that Jiko is back, the trifecta is complete!

We learned a LOT of fun facts about this restaurant! For example, the rings on those large columns represent the rings worn on women’s necks by some African tribes. Also, the back wall was made to resemble an African sunset — it’s STUNNING! 

For those who wish to sit at the bar, you’re in for a special view! The bar area has seats right in front of the chefs. While you’re there, look up at the ceiling for a hidden Mickey above the flatbread station!

There is also a wine lounge area with some small tables and chairs. If you’re looking to try some unique wines, this is a great place to check out!

If you love Imagineering details as much as we do, listen to this! The restaurant is filled with Kanu birds, which are mythical African birds that are said to fly over crops and bring farmers good luck and blessings. Looking down at the floor you’ll notice shapes that are supposed to represent barrels of crops and looking up at the ceiling reveals the Kanu birds flying into the African sunset and bringing good luck. Little details like this are what make Disney World special!

Unlike many of Disney’s other signature dining experiences, Jiko is pretty light and bright (thanks to those floor-to-ceiling windows!). You probably won’t need a phone flashlight to read the menu, which is a plus in our book.

Once you are seated, Cast Members will give you hot rosewater towels to clean your hands. When you leave, you can take some blood-orange candy; it’s small touches like these that make a big difference.

In terms of space, there was the main dining room, a wine lounge, and a private dining room. Given that this is an upscale restaurant (A.K.A. what Disney considers to be a “signature” restaurant), and there is a dress code. According to the Disney website: 

• Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional.
• Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition.
• Not permitted are tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing, and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.

In general, we thought that the atmosphere was beautiful; the thoughtful details and intimate setting make this a special restaurant.

Menu

The menu has a nice selection of African appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

We were given a reusable paper menu as well as a cocktail menu. On the appetizer menu, you can order a salad, squash bisque, seared scallops, or go for something like the duck confit or wild boar tenderloin.

On the entrée menu, you’ll find a variety of meat, seafood, and plant-based options. Keep in mind that the entrées are priced along the lines of a signature dining experience. In terms of options, guests can choose from things like the Moroccan Lamb Shank, Oak-grilled Filet Mignon, Heritage Chicken, Fish, and more! Guests can also add three additional enhancements that range in price from $11 to $23.

The kids’ menu also has a variety of appetizers and entrées, or guests can opt for the create-your-own meal.

To finish the meal, there are five special desserts.

Now, let’s eat!

Eats

We started with two small loaves of bread, including giraffe bread and Egyptian sesame bread. The giraffe bread was the larger white loaf, which you’ll see was topped with rice flour to give it a fun giraffe print (we are at ANIMAL Kingdom Lodge, after all!). The thinner loaf was the Egyptian sesame bread, which we found to be a little harder and denser than the giraffe bread. Both we SO good, though — our bread was nice and fresh!

Additionally, the bread was served with goat’s milk and cheese butter topped with black sea salt. This isn’t your typical butter; it was quite strong and tangy (we credit the goat cheese for the bold flavors). Overall, though, this was a unique and interesting way to start our meal!

We tried two cocktails as well, the Kanu Old Fashioned and the Seychelles Martini — both are $15.

The Kanu Old Fashioned was a well-balanced drink that was simple, yet classic. The orange bitters added a nice fragrance to the drink, and we enjoyed the ratio of simple syrup to bourbon. None of the flavors felt overpowering or out of place. If an Old Fashioned is your go-to drink of choice, you’ll likely enjoy this drink. If you’re looking for something new and adventurous, try something else!

Next up, the Seychelles Martini was a little more out-there — especially compared to a classic Old Fashioned! This cocktail was somehow both extremely sweet and extremely boozy, which made for a rare (and confusing) combination! When we took a sip, we first tasted the Raspberry Liqueur, which gave us a mouthful of sugar! Then, we felt the burn of the alcohol that made this feel like a strong drink! 

If you tend to order fruity cocktails (like a lemon drop or cosmopolitan), this might be an adventurous take on some of your favorite drinks. This cocktail was made with gin, but the flavor was disguised by the pineapple and other ingredients! If you aren’t a fan of sweet drinks, you should probably avoid the Seychelles Martini.

At this point, we worked up an appetite! We ordered three appetizers, including the Seared Scallops with Nhopi and Groundnuts for $18, the Braised Wild Boar Tenderloin for $19, and the Duck Confit and Honey Raisin Flatbread for $16. All three dishes look AMAZING!

Ah, scallops. This little starter consists of Diver Scallops, Blistered Peanuts, Nhopi, Chestnut Cream, Fennel-Apple Slaw, and a Cider Reduction. If you were wondering, Nhopi is a type of African side dish typically made with mashed pumpkin or squash!

Our scallops were seared perfectly, and the Nhopi was extremely buttery and had a sweet caramelized flavor. The apple slaw added a cool, crunchy freshness we really enjoyed. Even for someone who isn’t a huge fan of scallops, we had to admit that these were done PERFECTLY! If you love scallops, order this. Seriously, we have no critical notes! That said, if you aren’t a fan of a porridge-like texture (from the Nhopi), you might want something else. 

Tenderloin time! We ordered the Braised Wild Boar Tenderloin, made with Creamy Pap, Chakalaka Tomatoes, and Herb-smoked Oil. This was a robust starter with a perfectly-roasted tomato salsa. Speaking of the salsa — WOW! It was made with a blend of peppers, onions, and spices that was so good. There were also some grits in this dish, which we found to be a little pain. The tapioca crisp, while virtually flavorless, gave each bite a little crunch and balanced out the texture of the grits.

If you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone, this is worth the risk; it ended up being one of our favorite dishes of the evening! It is quite heavy, though, so we recommend sharing this if possible.

The flatbread appetizer was made with Preserved Duck, Rocket, Toasted Chickpeas, Mozzarella, Plump Raisins, Harissa, and Spiced Honey. This is another sort of adventurous dish, but YES it was worth it!

We thought that the flatbread balanced the sweet fig flavor perfectly with the spicy crunchy chickpeas. Although it sounds pretty different, we still think this will appeal to many people — give it a try! We wish this appetizer had just a little more duck, but if you don’t mind a little sweet heat, you might enjoy the Duck Confit and Honey Raisin Flatbread.

Time for the main course! We ordered the Oak Grilled Filet Mignon for $52 and the Heritage Chicken for $37, plus the $20 Bobottie Mac and Cheese and $12 Zulu Oxtail Samp and Beans enhancements.

First, we need to talk about that Oak Grilled Filet Mignon with Rainbow Cauliflower and a Chocolate-Red Wine Demi-glace — it was out of this WORLD! The red wine demi-glaze on top added a smooth richness, while the oak-grilled filet had a warm, smoky flavor that we adored. While plain, the four-cheese mac-and-cheese was extremely high-quality; we’re not talking Kraft mac-and-cheese, here. Our tip? Combine a bite of mac-and-cheese with the steak to enhance the flavors. 

We don’t have a single bad thing to say about the steak! If you love steak, you’ll love this dish.

The Heritage Chicken consists of a Sumac Roasted Breast, Ancient Grains, Cipollini Onions, Fennel, and Preserved Lemons. Often at Disney, you’ll find that the chicken dishes are pretty simple and safe, but Jiko offers a surprisingly adventurous take on chicken. Right as the dish arrived, we caught a strong whiff of citrus (from the preserved lemons) that ended up giving the chicken a strong, tangy flavor that somehow wasn’t sour or tart. The chicken itself was tender, and the veggies, while nice, didn’t add anything special to the meal.

The grains under the chicken were cooked well and simply seasoned with just a little salt, pepper, and garlic. Admittedly, we found the lemon flavor to be a little too strong. We wish there was more sauce, too. If you aren’t a fan of lemon, you will not like this dish. If you like bright and unique flavors, you should give this a try!

The Bobotie Mac-and-Cheese was an optional add-on that was SUPER cheesy and rich. This enhancement was made with Four Cheeses, Waygu, Almonds, Raisins, Kachumbari, and a Red Wine Reduction. There might be some new words in that little description, so let us pass on some knowledge. After a quick search, we learned that Bobotie is a sort of spiced minced meat dish while Kachumbari is a fresh tomato and onion salad, so there ya go!

The bobotie topping was a little odd; it contained spiced raisins and almonds that took us by surprise. All that stuff on top of the pasta felt a little heavy, and we’re not so sure we liked the bobotie combined with the mac-and-cheese. 

To finish off the entrée portion of the meal, we tried the Zulu Oxtail Samp and Beans, made with Cracked Hominy, Sea Peas, Fragrant Masala, and Braised Oxtail. Again, you’ll find some potentially foreign-sounding ingredients here like Samp, which is a mixture of dried corn kernels.

We wouldn’t go as far as to call this spicy, but there is definitely a little heat in this dish! We thought that this tasted very authentic to the culture and provided a nice introduction to more exotic foods like oxtail. That oxtail flavor was a little gamey (and strong), but not unbearable in terms of tanginess. We ended up liking the flavor profile here; it takes a little bravery to order this, but we enjoyed it!

While we digested our dinner, we ordered a Zebratini for $15 and the Keoke Coffee for $13.

Is it a drink? Is it a dessert? We say both. The Zebratini is made with Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, Frangelico Liqueur, Amarula Liqueur, and a shot of Espresso, served in a Chocolate Zebra-striped Martini Glass.

The best way to describe the Zebratini is to compare it to a chocolate martini! We mainly got a nutty almond flavor in this dessert cocktail. And although it was a dessert cocktail, the Zebratini wasn’t overly sugary or sweet. If you like chocolate martinis, you have to try this! On the other hand, if you hate creamy cocktails, this isn’t for you. 

The Keoke Coffee has a little less going on in terms of ingredients. It’s made with Brandy, Kahlúa Liqueur, Bols Dark Crème de Cacao, and Coffee, then topped with Whipped Cream.

We thought that this coffee was actually BETTER than a regular Irish coffee; the flavors were interesting and different! There’s a slight warmth from the alcohol at the end, but the drink wasn’t too boozy at all. If you are a fan of Irish coffee, imagine this drink as Irish coffee but on steroids.

Finally; dessert time! We went for THREE desserts: the Malva Pudding for $13, Melktert for $12, and the Kilimanjaro for $15.

These desserts looked like art! Our Malva Pudding, made with Melktert Ice Cream, Kataifi, Kanu Tuile, and Cabernet Gelée, was the autumn dessert of our DREAMS! Our server told us that the sauce on the plate was made to resemble the crops that the Kanu bird (from before!!) flew over to bring good luck.

This was heavy on the cinnamon, but you also get a lot of honey and heavy cream flavor. The bird was made from shortbread. We LOVED this dessert! From the story to the taste, (which reminded us of a churro) everything about the Malva Pudding was amazing. We wish it came with a little more ice cream. If you don’t like cinnamon, you probably won’t like this, though. 

You might be wondering, what exactly is Melktert? Well, this next dessert is an African Milk Custard Tart seasoned with Cinnamon and Cardamom, accompanied by a variety of Fresh Fruit. This one is CUTE, isn’t it?

The flavor was pretty plain, but the pomegranate seeds added a tart boost of flavor! If this was a little sweeter, we think it would be perfect. The way we tried it, though, we mainly tasted a slightly sweetened milk flavor. We probably would skip this one next time!

Finally, the Kilimanjaro, made with Single-Origin Ghanaian Dark Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio Financier, Pink Peppercorn Meringue, Cocoa Nib Crunch, and Ras el Hanout Pineapples. Sounds fancy, huh?

We have another cute little story to share with this one! The Kilimanjaro has a cloud of meringue on top to represent that Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Tanzania, where it is said you can touch the clouds. Despite the cool story, we found that the flavor fell a little flat. We wish that pistachio flavor was stronger! We did manage to get a few sour bites thanks to the guava and pineapple on the side.

This is the only chocolate dessert, so keep that in mind if you like ordering chocolatey treats!

Nosh or Not?

Trek over to Jiko if…

• You want a romantic meal — From the setting to the cuisine, this is an intimate, romantic restaurant. We recommend Jiko for couples, though families are welcome, too! Just don’t forget about that dress code we mentioned earlier.
• You’re looking for a completely unique meal — There aren’t many places in Disney World that serve authentic African dishes. Jiko is bold, adventurous, and colorful, and we LOVE that about this signature dining experience.
• You want a relaxing, quiet, yet elevated dining experience — As with most signature restaurants in Disney World, the food is expensive, but you can count on a high-quality meal. We’ll admit, the price is steep, but the food is AMAZING!

Skip Jiko if…

• You’re on a tight budget — We know Disney World is EXPENSIVE, so don’t feel like you have to seek out a signature dining experience to get a good meal! There are SO many great quick-service meals in Disney World that offer quality meals for much less money.
• You’re worried about the noise level — This restaurant was pretty quiet, so if you have a little one that gets very passionate while dining, this might not be the best place for your family. That’s not to say families aren’t welcome, though!
• You’re dining with picky eaters — There’s no shame in it! Jiko has a unique menu, but if you or someone you know tends to order the safe option, you might feel limited by this menu.

Overall

Overall, we had a positive experience at Jiko! We visited on the restaurant’s reopening night, which could impact things, but even still our server was kind and helpful and took the time to explain everything on the menu. In terms of the decor and overall energy, we were very pleased! The atmosphere was colorful and friendly despite the stigma many people associate with signature dining experiences.

We loved eating here! Almost every dish surprised us (in a good way), so if you have some extra time on your vacation, consider Jiko! Of course, the prices are a bit high, but the quality of the food and the environment can make it forgivable (at least in our opinion).

As always, keep an eye on DFB for the latest Disney World food reviews and more.

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Have you ever dined at Jiko? Let us know in the comments!

The post REVIEW: It Takes an ADVENTUROUS Eater to Try This Disney World Restaurant! Are You Up for It? first appeared on the disney food blog.