Did you know that not all Disney World restaurants are Disney restaurants?

Quite a few restaurants in Disney World are actually run by outside companies. While you’ll find most of these restaurants at Disney Springs, there are also quite a few to be found in the parks, like EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. And recently, I stopped by one of these “non-Disney” spots to do a full review!

Atmosphere

Join me today as we journey to the imaginary village of Anandapur and dine at Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Animal Kingdom!

This spot is run by a company named Landry’s, and they even offer a special membership to their select club, where you can get discounts on their restaurants. My server gave me a brochure about the perks during the meal, and you can sign up while you’re there.

The restaurant itself is Asian, and that’s definitely reflected in the decor! There are plenty of pieces of artwork, sculptures, and tchotchkes all around the waiting area and the dining rooms.

And speaking of the dining rooms, they are PLENTIFUL. This restaurant offers quite a bit of seating, with an entire downstairs and upstairs to choose from.

Each floor has multiple rooms of tables, and a few of the rooms were entirely vacant during my visit. Even if you can’t find a reservation for this restaurant in the My Disney Experience app, you may have good luck by checking at the host’s stand throughout the day.

The dining rooms are fairly dark, with warm lamp lighting and lots of natural wood accents.

Now that we’ve toured the space, let’s talk about the food!

Menu

As I mentioned above, this restaurant serves Asian fare, and they’ve got a fairly broad menu. The small plates list includes everything from pot stickers and egg rolls to calamari and Korean Fried Chicken.

They also offer a selection of Asian-inspired soups and salads, as well as some specialties like salmon, coconut shrimp, chicken tikka masala, and Bhaktapur Duck.

For grilled items, you can order ribs, fajitas, fish, or burgers. There are a few different noodle and bowl options like Lo Mein and a veggie bowl. But some of their popular items lie in the Wok section, like Korean Beef, Honey Chicken, and Sweet & Sour Chicken. 

The back of the menu lists the many beverage options, which include wine, beer, sake, and non-alcoholic choices.

And of course, we can’t forget about dessert! You can get Fried Wontons, New York Cheesecake, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Chocolate Pudding Cake, or Mango Pie.

Now that we’ve scoured the menu, it’s time to order!

Eats

I started off my meal the best way — with a beverage! This is the Berry Cherry Limeade, which is cherry and lime juices mixed with Sprite. It’s topped with a lime wedge and a maraschino cherry.

It’s definitely on the more sour-than-sweet side, and it has a fair bit of carbonation to it. It’s not quite sugary enough for me to recommend for kiddos, but if you like cherry, lime, and tart fruits in general, this might be your jam!

Now, it’s time for the eats!

The first thing I ordered was the Bang Bang Calamari, which is $16.49. It’s a battered medley of calamari and vegetables topped with Bang Bang Sauce and served with sweet chili sauce on the side.

This wasn’t quite the best calamari I’ve ever had in Disney World, but it was still pretty good. The pieces were chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside from the batter, and the Bang Bang Sauce had a low heat to it that filled my mouth. My server warned me that it would be spicy, but I didn’t find it to be too hot.

The vegetables throughout were fine, but they were mostly a little mushy in the middle. The portion on this is pretty large, considering it’s made to serve two people. I really enjoyed the sweet chili sauce on the side for dipping — it had a nice sweet-and-spicy combo that complemented the fried food.

After that, it was time for the main course! For my entree, I got the Honey Chicken, which is $22.99. It’s tempura chicken tossed in honey sauce and served with stir-fried vegetables and your choice of brown or Jasmine rice. You can also order fried rice for an added charge.

I’ve had this dish at Yak & Yeti before, and it’s definitely one of my favorite items on their menu! The chicken is crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The honey sauce works with it perfectly, adding a lightly sweetened flavor and a slightly sticky quality (but not too messy!).

The veggies and the Jasmine rice were fine accompaniments. The veggies are cooked just a smidge past al dente, so they still have some chew without being too soft. The Jasmine rice was nicely salted, and both sides worked well with the chicken.

Also with the entree, I got a side order of Garlic Noodles for $12.99. These come in an absolutely MASSIVE portion — I was able to eat them at the restaurant, then take the leftovers home and still split them into two portions from there.

And let me tell you, they were a garlicky, delicious surprise! The garlic flavor is strong and earthy, but not too overwhelming with a balance of soy sauce. The noodles are cooked nice and soft, but still a little sticky so that they don’t fall apart. I would eat these ALL day. These would be a great choice as a meal for someone who didn’t want anything too pricey or overwhelming.

Last but certainly not least, we’ve got dessert! I ordered the Mango Pie, which is $13.99 and essentially the large version of the Mini Mango Pie that we love from Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe next door.

If you like the mini version, you’re going to LOVE this full-size slice. The ratio of filling here is a lot greater since it’s not a mini pie, so you get a lot more mango overall. It was creamy and fruity and the absolute perfect way to end my meal.

So how does Yak & Yeti stand up?

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at this restaurant! The food I tried was all delicious, especially the Honey Chicken, Garlic Noodles, and Mango Pie. Those three are the items I would most likely recommend if you’re planning a visit.

I will say that my meal was fairly long, so be prepared for a leisurely experience. It’s fine at a park like Animal Kingdom, where there aren’t quite as many rides and attractions available. But the service was absolutely wonderful!

Nosh or Not?

Travel to Anandapur and dine at Yak & Yeti if…

• You’re in the mood for some good Asian food! This restaurant has a delicious selection of Asian eats, and it’s the only table service spot in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom.
• You want a relaxing midday meal. There are quite a few places where you can enjoy a chill meal at Animal Kingdom, and this spot definitely makes that list!

Skip the yak AND the yeti and dine elsewhere if…

• You’re on a tight budget. As far as table service spots go, this restaurant doesn’t exactly have the cheapest menu. Some of the entrees are a little bit pricier than the standard, so you’ll need to be prepared to leave with a bill.
• You want a quick meal. This definitely wasn’t a speedy meal, so be prepared for that if you’re on a time crunch.

That’s a wrap on my visit to Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Animal Kingdom, thanks for coming along! We’ll keep you updated with more dining reviews and news from Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB.

Click Here to See Our Ranking of Animal Kingdom Restaurants!

Have you ever been to Yak & Yeti? Tell us in the comments!

The post REVIEW: This Hidden Gem Disney World Restaurant Has a Secret Discount! first appeared on the disney food blog.