Jiko - The Cooking Place

Went here for Valentine’s Day date/dinner. Very chill and great service. Nice dining yet not too fancy: you can still be casual. Not my favorite place in all of Jambo House (reference BOMA), however, a great place to have a quiet and nice dinner for the adults! :)

Jiko is what fine dining is about. It’s an incredible group of staff that looks to make your day better, with incredible food, history, and a delightful atmosphere. Jiko offers an experience that is filled with South African culture from the wines to the architecture. The staff is incredible and is extremely proud to represent and be apart of the restaurant and it’s noticeable. In addition, the food is tremendous, it’s perfectly cooked, a well balanced portion, and unbelievable look. I have ate at Jiko multiple times, and will continue to dine here as long as my wallet allows me to.

Great restaurant with awesome food and service. The wine list is also exceptional. I highly recommend taking a look at some of their rare pours selection, which offer great value.

The moment I walked into Jiko – The Cooking Place, the warm, spiced aromas let you know you’re in for something special. Tucked inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jiko is both elegant and welcoming, with rich African inspired touches and golden lighting that sets the mood. Every dish was delicious with bold - layered flavours. Service was flawless: kind, attentive, and never rushed. More than just a meal, Jiko is a full experience and one we’ll absolutely come back for.

This dining experience was one of the highlights of our whole trip. My husband is from South Africa and he said it reminded him of home. Excellent staff, beautiful aesthetics. Would definitely recommend and will return.

It was one of the greatest birthday experiences I've had. The food is unbelievably good. The server we had was from Africa and told us about his experiences. We had a great conversation with him and learned about the restaurant and all the hidden magic in the decor. My husband had the lamb shank, and the meat literally fell clean off the bone, was tender, and so delicious. I had the short ribs, and as a short ribs connoisseur, I can confirm these are among the best I've ever had. The bartender was kind and hilarious while we waited for our table as well. They surprised me with a birthday dessert! Overall, it was just an incredible experience. ✨️ 💖 ✨️

My first time coming here and it was nice. There was a little hiccup with my reservation but the staff Jump Right In and square it out. The atmosphere was great the food was good and the service what's phenomenal. One of the best dishes I had was the wild boar tenderloin that was a great Advertiser and one of the best dishes Timmy on the menu even though the creamy pap was salty it was still a good dish. The veggie dumplings we're okay I just didn't like the vinegar, it was very overwhelming towards the dish with the pickled onions on it

I had high hopes for this place but the first thoughts that come to mind is that I've had more cheerier service in a graveyard than at Jiko. Honestly, once we left the host station, our server seemed to care less. The food also was somewhat tasteless and dull, with the overwhelming stars being the appetizers. The wine selection was unique but looking at older menus, this must've been a hit in the early days, but now just seems overly Americanized and disneyafide if that's a term. $400 later and I wish I had spent that money at the lounge instead. This maybe is not a place for a foodie family like us and instead should be reserved for those sipping the old Disney cool aid.

I had heard good things about Jiko as one of the top dining spots at Disney, and I have to say it definitely lives up to the hype. It was my first time at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the resort is gorgeous. The restaurant's interior beautifully complements the hotel's elegance, and the staff thoughtfully explained the cultural details of the decor as we were seated. We enjoyed our meal at Jiko, from the complimentary giraffe bread served at the start of the meal (outstanding) to the chai-spiced ice cream for dessert at the end. The wild boar tenderloin appetizer was delicious and tender, and the filet mignon entree which started off as ordinary seemed to taste better after every bite. The chicken dish, which we ordered as a safe option for our toddler, was a bit more pedestrian and not as tender as we'd hoped, and we'll definitely look to order something more adventurous on a future visit. I thought the carrot soup was on the sweeter side and would have preferred something more savory, but that's a matter of personal taste. Sticking with the theme, I chose to go with the Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet from South Africa and thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it as top tier to anyone who typically enjoys mid-range wines. Between Jiko and California Grill, my only two Disney dining experiences, I'd definitely choose Jiko for the food. Despite California Grill's unbeatable views and service, Jiko's food was simply more memorable. For even more added value, guests can also use their Disney Dining Plan at Jiko, and Disney Visa cardholders enjoy a special discount. Although both restaurants can be a bit of a splurge, I would still recommend going at least once as a one-time experience. I'm looking forward to see what new offerings they'll both have on a future visit!

Jiko is always a favorite when visiting WDW and tonight's dinner did not disappoint. The food as always was highly delicious. The service was extremely friendly - but would you expect anything less? It's Disney! When you are seated, the host brings a hot towel for everyone at the table - a lovely touch. The only thing keeping it from being a perfect 5 star meal tonight, was the incredibly slow pace at which the fish came out of the kitchen. It took over 40 minutes from finishing our appetizers to being served our entrees. One of our table mates had ordered the chicken but was served the short rib too. None of this ruined the evening though. Jiko remains one of our favorites.

I was staying at Disney for a few nights and wanted an actual good meal ... most of the restaurants at Disney do not offer much in terms of fine dining since my favourite restaurant on property, Artist Point, closed and turned into character dining. Animal Kingdom Lodge, though not exactly the most convenient restaurant to get to, is one of the most striking resorts architecturally and has hands down the best dining out of any resort. I was disappointed that they didn't have any suitable reservation times for me on the day I wanted to go for dinner. The reservations agent told me that there was a small bar in the back which had first come first serve seating. (Not the big, main bar ... but the one in the back of the restaurant hidden away.) At first, I was not loving the vibe of the bar as it faced away from the restaurant, had an open door looking into a food prep area and was right next to the entrance to the bathrooms. However, I took the last open seat (there are 5 bar stools and two tables) ... what commenced was one of the best meals I've had at Disney because of the staff. There were two bartenders working ... Brian and Lo. Both were so friendly and funny that they totally made the meal for me. Brian took my food order and had great recommendations on the menu items, as I was feeling pretty indecisive because it all looked good. Lo was pouring the drinks and although I stuck with beer, she was making all kinds of interesting cocktails and you could tell that she had a really creative passion for bartending, which was cool to watch. She also had me in stitches laughing the whole time. I had the Wild Boar appetizer (a 'must do') and the Scallop appetizer, which was pretty fantastic. Based on other reviews, many said that the appetizers were better than the entrees, so I decided to make myself a surf and turf. The bread that came with the meal was the best bread I've ever had. It had a giraffe pattern and salted butter and I ate the whole loaf, served warm. The boar was flavorful and came with a great presentation and the scallop was cooked perfectly. The only thing I will mention is that both items could have used a little more seasoning. There was another couple on vacation at the bar and a gentleman at the end of the bar who was a local regular. We all started talking to each other and it felt like Cheers ... by the end of the meal, I felt like I had made new friends. While I initially dreaded eating at the bar, by the end of the meal, I am so glad I did. This is one of the best restaurants on the Disney property and has earned its reputation. Whether you are sitting at the bar ... or dining in the main dining room, this is not your average tourist slop and bagged food restaurant. The smell of a wood grilled fire is in the air and the staff is all awesome.

Located inside the Animal Kingdom Resort, so I highly recc you make reservations on the disney app. Great service by highly informative staff. The ambiance is classy African themed, but everyone is casual since it's Disney. Food is so so good. We loved everything we got as seen in my photos. Highly recc the short ribs and tenderloin appetizers. MUST GET.

We had an enjoyable dinner at Jiko - The Cooking Place, a South African restaurant located inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. This restaurant was recommended to us by a Walt Disney World regular/expert and it did not disappoint. South African cuisine may sound adventurous, but Disney has done a good job designing the menu here to be appealing to all palates. Jiko is Swahili for stove. This place is popular. Book reservations as early as you can. We booked almost two months in advance. A credit card was required to guarantee the reservation. When we were at the restaurant, we saw lots of people (walk-ins) waiting for a table. Something interesting I noticed right off the bat was the hosts and hostesses were African/black - some were from Africa and had African accents - and wore traditional African clothing, which fit the theming of the restaurant and the Animal Kingdom overall. However, inside the dining room, the servers and other staff (e.g., managers) were white. Our server joked with us that it was a bait and switch. Just an observation. This is a nice restaurant highlighted by an open kitchen with two wood-burning ovens. If you're familiar with the Hidden Mickey at Disney properties, this restaurant has one. See if you can find it. Regarding the dress code, this is what was in our reservation confirmation email: "This restaurant is a Disney Signature Dining experience offering fine dining with a distinctly magical flair. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant's sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat and in good condition. Please no swimwear." Since this is Disney World, we saw a lot of people dressed casually. For example, jeans or shorts with T-shirt. We were a bit more dressed up than that. We noted my crustacean allergy when booking the reservation. As a result, I received the allergy-friendly menu while my wife got the regular menu. Disney is great about food allergies. It's not that serious for me, but I appreciated it. Below is a list of what the two of us had. It should give you a good idea of what Jiko has to offer and what the prices are like. There were a lot of unique dishes and we had fun trying different things. * Winemaker's Flight: Stark-Conde ($35) - Jiko's tasting notes below - Field Blend - aromatic and round flavors of florals, peach, and earth - Syrah - dark fruit, violet, licorice aromas, white pepper notes, and rich fruit - Cabernet Sauvignon - blackberry, tea leaf, cedar aromas, dark fruit and mocha flavors * Fever-Tree Ginger Beer ($5.49) * Giraffe bread with baobab butter (complimentary) Appetizers * Braai'd Wild Boar Tenderloin ($19) - creamy pap, tomato chakalaka, herb-smoked oil * Diver Scallop with Pork Belly ($18) - seared scallop, sumac-roasted pork belly, corn cream, mustard caviar, fennel crisp * Duck Confit and Honey-Raisin Flatbread ($17) - preserved duck, rocket, toasted chickpeas, mozzarella, plump raisins, harissa, spiced honey Entrees * Bone Marrow-Crusted Filet Mignon ($62) - four-cheese macaroni, seasonal vegetable, and chocolate-red wine demiglace; from the oak grill * Roasted Halibut ($49) - roasted tomato butter, black rice, mushroom ragu, tomato confit, lemon oil Desserts * Malva Pudding ($14) - Amarula-infused Malva cake, caramel-sea salt gelato, kataifi, kanu tuile, cabernet gelee * Complimentary after-dinner treat: pineapple gummies If I recall correctly, our server said that Jiko has one of the world's largest collections of South African wines outside of South Africa. The Winemaker's Flight was terrific. I recommend it. In general, the food was delicious. Every dish was presented beautifully. The giraffe bread is named as such because it has a pattern that resembles a giraffe. It was yummy and tasted like a sourdough. Baobab is a tree native to Africa. The apps were wonderful. The Braai'd Wild Boar Tenderloin was perfectly cooked -- medium rare, tender, and flavorful. The Diver Scallop with Pork Belly was outstanding in quality and preparation. I loved the mustard caviar. It cut through the richness of the pork belly well. The Duck Confit and Honey-Raisin Flatbread was like a thin-crust pizza. It was super appetizing. We enjoyed the apps more than the entrees. I believe the Bone Marrow-Crusted Filet Mignon was 7 oz. I had it cooked medium rare. It was flavorful and satisfying. A solid filet mignon. The mac and cheese was pretty average. It was the first underwhelming dish of the night. The Roasted Halibut was average as well and not that memorable. It was our least-favorite dish. Save room for dessert and get the Malva Pudding. It was really good. I loved the different textures. It was topped with a shortbread cookie that was shaped just like the birds that decorate the ceiling of the dining room. Service was excellent. Our server ("cast member") was Chelsea. She took great care of us despite a busy and what I'm sure was a tiring dinner service for her.

Jiko is just something else completely - what a special restaurant. The giraffe bread with the unique butter is an absolute MUST. Of all the dining at AKL Jiko has that certain *something*, that je nais se quoi. Though some people might say to not come here with young kids, our 2 year old and older elementary aged child did great here and also enjoyed. They even had crayons for the kids! And let's not forget, Disney is for kids of all ages. Service here was excellent as to be expected. The waitress gave great recommendations and there are unique findings for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The restaurant was clean, bright and with an African flare. The food was tasty, fresh and memorable. I would absolutely suggest dining at Jiko, whether or not you're staying at animal kingdom lodge. An upscale restaurant with great service, great food and unique offerings - now why would you want to pass all that up? Bon appetite!

Lovely African style restaurant in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. A variety of entrees and dishes with an African flair. The group loved the appetizers, soup was excellent and tasty entrees. The lamb shank was a bit on the gamey side but the others were pleased with their meals. Excellent service as you might expect from Disney.

All I can say is WOW! This restaurant is located in Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge. The food is amazing! I really had a hard time choosing an entree. I went with the Botswanan Seswaa Short Rib. My fiancé got the Cocoa-crusted Venison Loin. And for dessert Potjie Pot. The pictures do it no justice! The service was impeccable! They described all the dishes and answered all our questions. The restaurant is nicely decorated in South Africans decor. I highly recommend this restaurant while you are enjoying Walt Disney World.

Can I say...this was one of the very best restaurants I've been to in a really long time! Everything was delicious! Came here with my friend for our New Year's Eve dinner and it was everything we wished it to be. Jiko is one of the restaurant located at the Magic Kingdom. When you walk into the restaurant, you feel as if you're transported right to Africa. The decor is beautiful and I loved the music playing. Every single staff member was super nice and I appreciated the mini tour of the restaurant you were taken on before you are sat. All of the menu choices were amazing! We ordered the Diver scallop with pork belly, Moroccan-spiced Lamb Shank and a martini for the drink. The diver scallop was so flavor and the pork belly literally melted in your mouth! So good! The lamb shank was super flavorful as well and simply fell off the bone. The combination of flavors in the dish was super complimentary and mixed together so well. I absolutely enjoyed my time at this restaurant and next time I'm at Disney, I definitely plan on coming back!

My husband and I chose this place for our WDW trip date night because we had heard so many good things about it. The restaurant was very nice inside and we had a good view of the cooking place. Our server Brenda was amazing, she took time to help us make the best menu choices, she was very attentive and made our experience so much better. As for the food, I was honestly a little worried I wouldn't know what to order by looking at the menu but everything was fantastic! We ordered the Duck Confit and honey-raisin flatbread, the flavors were so unique and spectacular. My husband got the Botswanan Seswaa Short rib and I got the Roasted Halibut, both were so delicious and flavorful. We both ended up liking the halibut the best and it's not one of their more popular items so if you like fish I suggest you try it! Overall it was an amazing experience and we would definitely come back next time we're in the area.

Good food in a upscale ambience with opportunities in service. My service Dawn was fantastic... too many tables for one person. The African motive decoration makes this place a great experience. Mrs Dawn recommendations helped us to enjoy a great evening.. My recommendation, need to team a server with a waterboy so there's service

After over a decade we visited Jiko at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Went to celebrate a birthday and i must say the dishes were all absolutely scrumptious!! We ordered the Jiko Salad with pears and apples which came on 1/2 of the edge of the salad plate. Interesting presentation but at first sight makes you wonder if it will be enough. Price point $17 so a tad bit more would have been better because these leaves were similar to Boston lettuce and very airy and light but the fruit gives it the body of fullness. Two of us enjoyed the short rib and trust me it was melting in your mouth and falling off the bone as indeed it should be. So delicious!! Another dish was Peri Peri chicken and very delicious a bit different than the spicy peri peri due to the Moroccan flavors of apricot and thus adding a touch of fruity sweetness. Lovely!! Dessert was a chocolate mouse dome and just perfect to finish off as we shared this dessert. I do feel the dessert could have been complimentary as we spent over $300 and booked as a birthday dinner. I think the dessert was $10 or $12 so had this been complimentary ( it was not) it would have been a nice extra touch. Order the wine flight for one and expresso martini for another since the Shiraz tasting was not to palate as some other full bodied wine. Service was very good and Susanna was very personable. Overall enjoyed it very much. Short rib was $54 and Peri Peri chicken $41, bit on the high side for a chicken dish. Will likely return for a special occasion in the future :)

I remember when the AKL opened up and Jiko was showcased as their signature dining restaurant, and learned of their 4 AAA diamond awards, I knew it was going to be special. I think one of the coolest things about this place is not only the exploration and celebration of various African cuisines, but the culture as well. In a nutshell, this is one of my top 3 restaurants on Disney property, and I don't see it falling from that ever. I have been here 3 or 4 times over the years, and after each visit, it seems to get better and better. I would like to note that even though this is a high end restaurant, it is still family friendly. They are also only open for dinner as well. On my last visit, when I checked in, I got a message to see the host. I was kind of nervous (was I getting the boot before even getting seated?!), but they asked me if I wanted to sit at the cooking table or a normal spot. I figured why not, lets do the cooking table! Not every day you get that chance, and it was nice, I got to see some of the cooking up close and personal, while getting to chat with some of the employees in the process. For the most part, the majority of the menu stays the same, with a few changes- which is nice, because not only everything is so tasty, but the repeat items taste the same as years past. The prices arent bad for disney, considering an entree usually comes with a starch and veg, when some places charge a la carte. They do have add ons which you can by any means get and help you get full, but also make sure you save room for dessert. The wine list- is one of the largest wine lists of South African wine on this hemisphere. They have tons of pairings, but honestly I just get the beers or the cocktails, cant go wrong any of them. The starters, along with the Jiko Salad, is tasty, healthy, and colorful. They always say the boar tenderloin is a specialty, but you can't go wrong with the duck flatbread either. Loaded with flavor and wood fire cooked at around 700F. For entrees, I usually get the short rib, or the filet or steak of some sort. The short rib is very tender and will fill you up. One of the entrees comes with mac n cheese, but they have a specialty one you can add on with a little extra bang to it. They do have bread as well, keep that in mind, I can eat the whole loaf solo. The desserts, don't get me started, give me one of each, and a lactaid so I can make it home. The service is top notch and some of the friendliest people on property. This place, is not to be missed. If you are trying to be cool and go to Victoria and Alberts, come here instead (you won't even need a dinner jacket), youll save some time, money, and still leave fully happy.

Jiko is the fine dining restaurant located in the Animal Kingdom Resort at Walt Disney World. We chose to make a reservation here for our anniversary dinner, given it's wonderful reputation as a foodie destination. What they're known for is with fusing African flavors to Western Staples and it's immensely popular; however, I have to say that it didn't quite fit my palate. Their bobotie mac and cheese is a perfect example as it brings Bobotie, a savory african stew and they fuse it with four cheese mac and cheese. I like Mac and Cheese and I probably would like Bobotie, but I wouldn't necessarily want it together. The thing is that people love this dish and I would encourage you to make your own mind on this place. If you find yourself in Walt Disney World and you want a fine dining experience for a special occasion that offers really unique flavor profiles, then this is an interesting spot. For me, it was a miss; however, you do you!

Our number one spot to dine at Disney - it's always on the list for our visits. The service is outstanding- attentive, great with the kids, patient and informative. We were sat up on the back platform area near the booths but no view into the Savannah unfortunately. We started with some fun dumplings and then the carrot soup and the fish. Everything was delicious and the flavors were complex and fresh. Don't miss this spot!!

Well we were really disappointed about Jiko. We had high hopes but it was a let down. This was our christmas dinner. The service was great but that was about it. The food was marginal and tasteless. The ambiance was a bunch of kids screaming and our reservation was at 840pm and we didn't sit to 9pm. While it is a signature dinning spot, people were dressed in tank tops and workout clothes. The bar area before hand was great. Lo was nice and let us know they had the full menu. We should have listened to her and ate at the bar. If you are a group of adults looking for a upscale resturant go to the California Grill or the resturants at the Grand Floridian.

This was the best dinner my husband and I could remember having in our lives, from start to finish. First, the ambiance is lively but not loud and we had a nice booth to ourselves by the bar. The interior is beautiful and feels celebratory with its deep bold colors. We both ordered the vanilla old fashioned and although we have had good cocktails, this one stood out. The texture was creamier than a standard old fashioned but without being thick. Strong with a wonderful flavor of the whiskey but balanced perfectly with subtle vanilla. Our server was great and made us feel welcome and comfortable. Along with the drinks our server brought us the giraffe bread which is a highly yeasty bread that has a dusting of rice flour on the top prior to baking, creating a very thin, crispy top with a lovely flavorful and soft interior. Absolutely some of the best bread I've had and different from anything I've had before. The butter is mixed with baobob fruit which is from the baobob tree in Africa which only grows leaves for a short time each year. The fruit is citrusy which is a pleasing but very different flavor when mixed with butter. More subtle than lemon or orange, the butter felt creamy with a subtle tanginess. We ordered the jiko salad and the sukuma wiki dumplings for appetizers. The dumplings are plant based filled with cashew cheese. I loved the earthy flavor and soft chew of of the green dough paired with the umami flavor of the mushroom broth poured over the little appetizer. My husband raved about the salad. I thought it was fine but not as amazing as he did. Range of textures and flavors that all worked together. But I suppose I'd wanted more of a pop in flavor from the fruit and it was more subdued. My husband ordered the halibut which was decadently moist and flaky with a perfect crispy, salty top. I had the lamb and it was fall off the bone tender with such a lovely flavor. I've only had Greek flavored lamb before and it was fun to experience lamb flavored with pomegranate glaze. The cranberry date relish paired perfectly with the nhopi mash which was similar to sweet potato mash. I found the confit squash offputting. The texture of what appeared to be zucchini slices was good but the flavor reminded me of the smell of the washcloth used to wipe restaurant tables. My husband thought they tasted fine so maybe it was just me. For dessert we ordered the potjie pot on the advice of our server who said his two favorites are that or the melktert. We don't handle rich nor sweet foods so he recommended the potjie pot over melktert or the plant based dessert. We were wow'ed by the dessert. The chocolate custard was a silky texture that lingered nicely on the tongue but without being so weighed down by cream, it was quite flavorful of chocolate. The olive oil cake was quite tiny in comparison to the chocolate and paired nicely. The whipped caramel lent a nice sweetness as the rest of it was less sweet than some desserts. Unfortunately too rich and sweet for me, but most people would probably love it. I also loved the crispy-chewy cocoa nib on top.

As a restaurant in the most magical place on Earth, Jiko lives up to the hype! We made a reservation two days before our requested date and they were pretty booked up, but we managed to get a late evening time. If traveling within the resort - make sure to budget time for transferring shuttles at Disney Springs which is a bit further from the restaurant. We were greeted promptly and kindly escorted to a table. All the staff were very helpful and did a great job explaining the menu. The restaurant itself has dimmed lighting and pretty decor that makes for a nice evening dinner. We were given giraffe bread with Baobab butter to start off which was heavenly - the crunchiness of the bread pairs so well with the lightly lemon flavor of the butter. Next was the wild boar tenderloin as our appetizer which was coincidentally one of our server's favorite dishes. I can see why because the taste was so rich and succulent. We decided on the Moroccan lamb shank and Seared Venison Loin for our entrees. The lamb was so tender it fell right off the bone, and the flavors were sublime. The root vegetable mash was lovely. We weren't the biggest fans of the venison - the meat was on the bland side though we did enjoy the tomato emulsion underneath. We were quite full but up for trying dessert - our server recommended the Malwa pudding. It was on the lighter side and had so many flavors and textures packed in to make a lovely, well-rounded dessert. For cocktails we tried the prickly pear mule and the Baobab. The mule was so so tasty and we polished it off quickly! We are generally fans of slightly sweeter drinks so the Baobab's lighter sweetness was not as appealing for us. Regardless this was such a nice meal with friendly service. If you are in the mood for a fancy dinner with unique tastes while at DisneyWorld, this is a great spot!

Wow, I've been talking about this place for years. Finally, I found a friend that would go with me. Did not disappoint. The atmosphere is amazing. You get to see artifacts from Africa. You read about the history of Africa or that region you get to see live animals giraffes zebras Ostrich, stork, vultures, hyenas wallabies, and then you move out of the lobby onto the tram and over to jiko restaurant just a beautiful experience already free parking in the parking garage. You're welcome to buy post that are in African attire that are welcoming, joyful, and ask you how you are and what brings you in love that they seated us at the experience bar, which I loved it's no extra charge to sit there. Everybody should experience it once. We are welcome to buy our waiter and the lovely lady that is behind the prep bar that has the fire ovens in it with rose soaked hand towels to freshen up, took our drink order water with an African wine we ordered that was amazing and then we just wanted something light so we shared the. Duck. Confit with dehydrated, grapes, hot honey, arugula, and mozzarella cheese. Their dough is homemade every day amazing flavors. Confit is hot oil that the duck goes in with seasonings and broth and then goes into the oven to simmer on slow until it is just tender amazing. Relaxing to sit up there by the two pizza woodburning pizza ovens made out of clay just beautiful with the wine wall on the other side and the large slab of granite. We were still a little hungry so we ordered the shrimp platter that had five small size shrimp grilled with a very, very spicy chutney on top good but too hot the only thing that the waiter did not warn us about. We also were served the giraffe bread which is made in house and their butter that is made from a kind of like a tree of life. The flower that comes off there is dehydrated and then put into a grinder to become a powder then mixed in and whipped into the butter amazing flavors only found somewhere in the African region so I asked for a little extra to go home because I did not finish my bread. Just an amazing experience will definitely invite other friends to come experience this and will welcome going there over and over again

This is by far one of the best places on Disney property. It isn't good because it is in the Disney bubble. It is just good. I had the lamb; it was tender and beautifully seasoned. My husband had the short ribs. They just melted in your mouth. The stand out dish was the boar appraiser. I can't recommend it enough. Our server was fantastic. The dining room was beautiful and had the creative touches you expect from Disney. If you get desert, get the chocolate one. It is way better than the signature malva pudding

This place is the best restaurant I've been to in Disney. The restaurant is really well decorated and the workers dress in traditional clothings. The service was quick and all the food was delicious. The duck confit flatbread was one of my favorites with the perfect balance of sweet savory and spicy. The entrees were also well cooked, just wish it came with a little more veggies.

After a day of traveling we finally checked into the Caribbean Resort and wanted something nice for dinner. I read that you might be able to see animals from the Animal Kingdom safari at their restaurant, but I knew darkness was falling and so we might not be able to see anything. Still, we had to eat, so I suggested Jiko because I haven't had injera bread in years. When we got there the cast members were dressed up in african costumes and they were so joyful and kind. Farai met us at our table and he just charmed the heck out of us. He was so genuinely warm and he appreciated my sister's enthusiasm so he went out of his way to check on us throughout the dinner to make sure we were smiling. He also gifted us with pins saying that we were first timers to the park and Jiko's and that made Sis' day. The food was good too. If I could order again, I'd get three servings of the pork belly because it was stewed so perfectly with it's saffron sauce and dehydrated cross slice of onion and mustard seed topping. It was the best bite we had during our five day trip and I'd go back for it again. We also had the Bobotie Mac N cheese which tastes like it has Hamburger Helper meat mixed in, but in a good way. The melktert dessert was pretty good. On our way out we got to see some of the cast members playing their instruments through the connected dining rooms while dancing with some of the customers. We climbed the stairs to go to the lobby and out of nowhere Farai greets us to say goodbye. My sister almost cried because he really did go out of his way to make us feel special. We took pictures with him and hugged him and we were on our way, thinking how magical the night was and that maybe the Magic Kingdom had more surprises around the corner for us.

This PLACE IS UNREAL..from Start to Finish just amazing.... our Server Brenda was one of the best we have ever at at Disney. She took amazing care of Us our entire time we dined.We started with warm towels for our hands, theN THE FOKD EXPERIENCE BEGAN with Giraffe bread with a tangy baobab tree fruit powder butter and black sea salt... I started with an actual appetizer which I had for my meal - 3 orders of the Wild Boar with CREAMY pap and tomato stuff and a smoked oil. Wife had the Halibut.w/black rice and mushrooms ragu . Kids had the oak fired filet with broccolini, and other had the seafood Tagine(sea pic) . . CANT WAIT TO COME BACK

I was excited to try Jiko because I heard it was an actually good restaurant, and not just a restaurant that is good because its at WDW. I made a reservation a few weeks in advance, which wasnt too hard to get. For those who dont know, Jiko is a South African themed restaurant located in Animal Kingdom. I've tried Boma, Sanaa, and now Jiko and unfortunately, I would have to put it at the bottom of my list. That's not saying that its not good, more so that there's other options that might be better and at a lower price point. I checked in to the restaurant and they seated us right near the window where there is running water and rocks. Its a nice little view, except it was night time so you couldn't see much. We had a very nice waiter walk us through the menu and then we were off. I started with the Wild Boar tenderloin for the appetizer. This dish was so delicious and might be worth coming to Jiko just for this. Its 3 pieces of tender boar cooked medium rare on a bed of creamy pap which is like a cheese polenta. The flavors were amazing and boar cooked perfectly. In addition to the appetizer, they give you Giraffe bread (included) with Baobab infused butter. This was also excellent as the bread is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. From there, the dishes afterwards were okay. Not bad, but just not worth the price. I had the Moroccan Spiced Lamb, which was a big on the bone lamb over a sweet potato type mash. The lamb was not overly flavorful and was almost missing salt. The second dish was the short rib which was on a cassava hash and a carrot infused sauce. The short rib was good, tender, and flavorful, but the rest of the dish was random and lacked any real flavor. We also had a side of the ox tail to add on. This was on the other spectrum where it was very flavorful, but WAY too salty and a little too spicy for my liking. I needed to eat the bread with it to breakdown the salt. Overall, each dish ranges around $50 and the appetizer is almost $20. Its an expensive meal for food that was a bit lacking or had components that didn't make sense. It wasn't a bad experience by any means, just not an experience that's worth visiting again.

This was our first meal in Disney, I wasn't expecting much as I had heard from many the food was mediocre everywhere. Well they were wrong in some cases and right in others. But when it came to Jiko, they could not be further from the truth. This restaurant is insane! First, the service which was over the top. Our server Baran, was on top of everything. Extremely polite and personable but not over the top. There was never a time we needed anything without him somehow knowing and showing up. A true professional who made our first night in Disney magical. The meal starts with the "Giraffe" bread, named because of the spots on the top of it. It's slightly sweet but when topped with the butter with salt, it elevates it. Definitely a good start. We ordered the Jiko Salad: Lolla Rosa, Baobab Vinaigrette, Braai'd Stone Fruit, Orange, Spiced Pumpkin Seeds. The plating was beautiful and it was just as good as it looked. A great combination of sweetness balanced with acid and a savory hit from the spiced pumpkin seeds. Then on to the Diver Scallop with Pork Belly: Seared Scallop, Sumac-roasted Pork Belly, Corn Cream, Mustard Caviar, Fennel Crisp. A perfectly seared, still rare on the inside sweet diver scallop, the fennel balanced the sweetness with its licorice flavor and some savory pork belly to finish it off. All perfectly seasoned and another beautiful presentation. For the entrees we ordered the Moroccan-spiced Lamb Shank: Apricot-gazed Lamb on Root Vegetable Mash, Confit Squash, Cranberry-Date Relish which was amazing and the Filet Mignon topped with a blue cheese topping served with mashed potatoes and parmesan broccolini. Both perfect dishes, cooked expertly and seasoned. We also added the Zulu Oxtail Samp and Beans: Cracked Hominy, Sea Peas, Fragrant Masala and Braised Oxtail. The oxtail (bones removed) was braised perfectly and seasoned so well, but the winner was the cracked hominy. The warm seasonings they used transported us from south Florida to another country. I would choose this dish as my last meal. I will add that it's not cheap, but this is Disney so you should expect to pay more. But this meal was worth every single dollar spent. I would expect this type of service, atmosphere, and food to be in LA, Chicago or NYC. Not in Orlando and certainly not in a Disney resort. It was by far one of the best meals I have had in many months anywhere!

Though I usually travel to eat, Disney is for me all about soaking in the fantastically themed surroundings and the immersive rides/attractions. I don't find Disney an especially good food trip, and certainly not a good value. "Ah, resort food, theme park food" I often think. It's certainly good enough, especially when considered as part of a fantastic larger experience. But if someone schemed to do a Disney trip where they eat food exclusively from outside the Disney bubble, I would have to commend them - smart from a value and flavor perspective. However Jiko was an exception, a meal we truly loved. Perfectly cooked food, complex flavors, starting with the "giraffe bread." The scallop and duck confit appetizers especially deserve your considerations and the pudding desert was phenomenal. If Jiko were part of our local food scene, we'd go now and then. And the kid food was well received also. And our thanks to Micheal, who took great care of us. He was one nice waiter. **** p.s. I was pretty shocked by Cinderella's Castle meal too. The fillet there was so good. There is some nice food at Disney. And there's always Dole whip!

Everything about our experience at Jiko was extraordinary. From the ambience to the service, to the menu to the quality & preparation of the food, each aspect was superior. They have bread table service (giraffe bread) which is sooo tasty! We got the bone-marrow crusted filet mignon for our entrees, which is served with a side of incredible mac and cheese. The steaks were high quality, cooked perfectly & the bone marrow flavor complimented the flavor of the steaks very well. For dessert we got the fantastic Malva pudding. Jiko isn't cheap for sure; but after our experience and the level of food we were served, we feel it was more than worth the price point. Highly recommend!

Excellent service and delicious dinner at Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's a great place to celebrate a special occasion, treat yourself and unwind after a long day at the park. To start the giraffe bread is so good, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside with black salt butter. We all ended up having the short rib but (as recommended by our wonderful and kind waitress Brenda) some of us had it with mac and cheese and others with the casava hash as it comes. Both were great. The short rib was very tender. The drinks menu is excellent and the African by the glass Cab pairs well with the short rib. For dessert we had Malva pudding which was devoured before I could take a picture. Enjoy!!

Oh my goodness!! This place is soooo delicious!! The African flavors are unique, cooked well and definitely a treat. I've been here years again, and I still dream of going back. Yumm!

This was a wonderful dining experience at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We recently spent a weekend there since we have never done a resort stay at Disney and wanted to try it out. The resort is amazing and offers several restaurants on site including Jiko. We stopped in for a late, light dinner and cocktail. Lo was our server and she was amazing! She was so friendly and happy to make recommendations and talk about the inspiration for the restaurant and decor. She definitely elevated the experience! The restaurant itself is very beautiful. We sat near the bar area since we just wanted to share an appetizer. I started with an Old Fashioned which was very good. My boyfriend got an African lager that was tasty. Bread service was included with a piece of giraffe bread and Egyptian bread with Black Sea salt butter. The bread was awesome, especially the giraffe bread! The butter was very good as well. We chose to share the duck flat bread which also had golden raisins, hot honey, arugula, and roasted chickpeas. It was soooo good. The blend of flavors was fantastic and the bread was delicious and held up to the toppings nicely. Probably the best flatbread I've had. Overall, this was a great experience and I'd definitely return for a full dinner in the future, though we were quite full after the bread and appetizer!

Michael deserves 5 stars! We arrived and they accommodated our party without a reservation! The bread was so yummy and looked like a giraffe! We had the airline chicken, the dumplings, and the black grouper. Each was delicious and fresh. The presentation was pretty and the kids meal was yummy too. I was expecting Mac and cheese from the box but it was fresh, creamy and delicious! Love the pond outside and the property!

The Basics: Jiko is located in Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World. It is a sit down restaurant with an incredible menu featuring South African cuisine. The restaurant is beautiful and it is a favorite of mine on Disney property. Things I like: All the food is delicious and creative, the services is great, and the setting is gorgeous. I loved all of the items I tried including the Oak-grilled Filet Mignon, Injera Basket (we ordered this entree as an appetizer and loved it), and the Malva Pudding for dessert. I also loved the 'giraffe' bread, it was fresh and delicious. The food is creative and I have always enjoyed my meals here. Things I didn't like: Nothing, Jiko is excellent in every way! Overall, this is one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World and a must if you are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge!

This place is AWESOME ! Truely FIVE . To start off we were given hot towels scented with rosé water, to wash our hands. Then we were brought Eygtian bread and with creamy jiko butter.

Jiko at Disney World not only impressed me with its exceptional African cuisine but also with its attentive and informative service. The staff at Jiko went above and beyond, providing a dining experience that felt both personal and welcoming. The attentive service began with a warm greeting and continued throughout the meal. The staff was more than willing to explain the details of each dish on the menu, helping me navigate through the unique flavors of African cuisine. They took the time to describe the Cocoa-crusted venison loin, offering insights into the preparation and the inspiration behind the cocoa infusion, adding an extra layer of appreciation to the dining experience. This attention to detail extended to their recommendations and descriptions of the dishes. When I inquired about the mac and cheese, the server painted a vivid picture of the dish - a symphony of cheesy flavors, perfectly balanced and a delightful companion to the main courses. It's this dedication to customer satisfaction that elevated the overall dining experience at Jiko. The combination of high-quality dishes, warm ambiance, and the willingness of the staff to guide and explain made my visit to Jiko truly memorable. If you're seeking not only delicious food but also a dining experience where the staff is eager to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the cuisine, Jiko is the place to be at Disney World.

We came to DisneyWorld to celebrate my fiancé's birthday and after much deliberation, she picked Jiko to have her birthday dinner. We were pretty excited because we've only seen and heard good things about the food at Jiko. You can't really miss with food at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in my opinion. The staff was really nice because we were running a little late for our 9PM reservation and they were still able to accommodate us. Our server laid out the whole menu for us and was really detailed with everything. To drink, we ordered the African Star Mojito (and something else I forgot). Haven't had a lot of mojitos but this was one of the best ones I've ever had. Great balance of sweetness and tanginess. The bread service here was pretty solid. The giraffe bread texture with the butter was a top 5 bread here. For our food, we decided to order the Braised Wild Boar Tenderloin an the Diver Scallop with Moroccan Snails to start and the Oak-grilled Filet Mignon and Moroccan-spiced Lamb Shank for our entrees. Everything we got here was so flavorful and cooked perfectly. The boar and filet mignon were both a perfect medium rare and so tender. The mac and cheese that came with the filet was cheesy but also portioned perfectly. The lamb shank was falling off the bone and the glaze gave it a great sweetness. The scallops and escargo and the broth they sat in were so flavorful. I mean everything was flavorful but it definitely stood out. To finish we ordered the Chai-spiced Ice Cream which we thought would just be a simple scoop but it was presented in a really cool way and was a great palate cleanser and not too sweet. Our server also gave us a chocolate mousse (I think) for my fiancé's birthday/our engagement which was a nice touch. We really appreciate how much he waited on us and checked on us often. This place is absolutely up there as far as special occasion restaurants in DisneyWorld but is very much worth it. I would absolutely love to come here again, especially if I am looking for great cuts of meat.

Made reservations for dinner. Staff were friendly and our server was good. The breads looked nice and tasted good. Ordered Diver Scallop and Moroccan Snails Braised Wild Boar Tenderloin 2 Oak-grilled Filet Mignon Malva Pudding The food was delicious. I loved the dessert. Inside looked clean.

I'll start this review off with a quick one-line summary: easily the worst dinner I've ever had at Disney World. And now for a quick background: * We moved to Orlando a couple years ago * We have annual passes and have dined at several (nearly every) restaurant on property * We have a large family who are also pass holders and frequently stay on property and enjoy booking signature restaurants for big gatherings and celebrations * We have several "foodies" (hate that word) in our group that eat at fine dining establishments often All that is to say we have a good amount of experience when it comes to expectations for a restaurant (even at Disney World), especially when it is dubbed a "signature dining" location. Here's our experience at Jiko: I. The Service Certain companies are synonymous with certain things. With Disney World, unmatched guest experiences and positive cast member interactions are expected and the norm. Now, keep in mind, everything I say will also be examined under a higher level of scrutiny as this occurred at a "signature dining location," and not a run-of-the-mill food court. The problems with the service, naturally, started with the server. I would describe his demeanor as follows: A gentleman wakes up in the street after another night of heavy drinking. He remembers that his wife of 15 years left him for another man last week. He's hungover and angry, and all he wants to do is go back to sleep. But alas, it is now 3:00 pm and his shift at Jiko starts soon. He hates his job -- he'd quit if he could. But if he misses another child support payment he'll be facing jail time. He rolls over and ties his apron on. "Let's get this over with," he mumbles, as he stands to his feet and raises his thumb to oncoming cars to hitchhike to work. Our server approached our table and never once greeted us. There was no hello, hi everyone, nothing. Not even a smile. Not just during his initial interaction with us, but at all. There was also no introduction. Thank you for joining us. My name is so and so. Our signature dishes are. I recommend. Are we celebrating anything? Nope. Nothing. We got nothing except a cold, seemingly angry man who conducted himself as if the 15 of us broke into his home, pooped on his rug, and demanded a four course meal. He seemed to resent having to do his job. He would occasionally whisper "what YOU want drink?" When a female member of our party inquired about their red wines, he flashed his sommelier-like knowledge and replied "is in book" as he gestured down towards the wine list. My father eventually voiced his displeasure with the service to the manager. She offered an apology and tossed us a complimentary cake (we were celebrating his birthday) - and that was about it. Incredibly disappointing service overall. We felt very rushed and like we were a burden. It was magnified by the fact that we could hear tables around us receiving great service and even hot towels (not us) as they sat down. Service was a 0/10. II. The Food A. Shrimp Dish - 4 shrimp. Fairly average. Good but not memorable. B. Wild Boar - Decent taste on the boar. Very small portion. The "creamy pap" it was served with was very bland. C. Ox Tail - Decent texture. Unremarkable. D. Oak Grilled Filet - the most disappointing dish of the evening. I had seen people claim this steak was jaw-droppingly good. This was far from the case. The steak itself tasted as if it was cooked sous vide then dumped onto my plate. For claiming to be fired over oak, there was zero char, zero crust, nothing. Just a grey piece of meat which was surprisingly tough for a filet. It was accompanied by what was dubbed "four cheese mac n cheese." The pasta was cooked decently, which is the nicest thing I could say about this dish. My 9-year-old niece summed it up well when she asked for a bite: "it tastes like Panera's Mac and cheese!" Exactly. What's interesting about this Mac and cheese was other photos and videos I've seen of it showed what looked to be a different product. It had yellow cheese broiled on top. This was all one color without any crusted over top. The menu mentioned it was crusted in bone marrow. This tasted like a bread crumb mixture with it perhaps. It didn't add much. Along with it I ordered a side of mashed potatoes. Out came the worst mashed potatoes I've ever had. In fact, im 90% sure this was grits or hominy. By this point we were all just ready to leave the restaurant so I didn't bother sending it back. Food was a 2/10 All in all, after having eaten at most Disney restaurants on property, I can confidently say this is far and away the worst one I've ever dined at. For me, every aspect of the experience was subpar and fell woefully short of what you'd expect at Disney, especially for a "signature dining location."

Saw a posting about Jiko's offerings on a social media post and booked a reservation. We have been to AKL previously to dine, but this was our first experience at Jiko. The restaurant is absolutely lovely and we appreciated the calm vibe of the lighting and decor. The cast members were welcoming and took great care in walking us through the menu items. I have an allergy to one of the ingredients in several dishes and they went above and beyond to make sure to avoid this allergen. I felt super comfortable throughout the dining experience. I asked if we could share the Mac and Cheese as an appetizer and it was the perfect start to our meal. The food was outstanding and presented so beautifully. The portions were perfect and the drink options were plentiful. I always appreciate when a dining establishment suggests certain beverages to accompany meals. We were very impressed with our meal at Jiko and will return in the future.

Meh...... Server: Emily, really nice pleasant and prompt. Very much liked. Pleasure to talk to and attentive Appetizer: ordered wild boar, it was slightly dry. Main course: could be better. Ordered short rib and lamb shank. Both were very dry. The short rib was too dry. I needed a glass of water along side each bite. The Lamb Shank was slightly dry, but no flavor to the meat. Side notes: We have a 7:30 reservation and waited by the bar, side tables. I decided to get a drink for my wife and I. Met the bartender and After he served a customer, the bartender told me to hold on. For 20mins I waited, he passed by once or twice and left. My table was called, decided to leave.

Great food and great ambience! Our kids loved everything and so did we. Highly recommend the tenderloin appetizer

Excellent fine-dining on Disney World property, located in the Animal Kingdom Lodge it's a proper sit down and eat restaurant. If you aren't here with family its a good place for a romantic meal and at the same time it's comfortable enough to bring the kids to. Delicious blend of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. They have a huge oak-wood oven that they use for certain dishes and the flatbread which impart that perfect smoky, charred taste. Braaied Wild Boar Tenderloin: Creamy Pap, Chakalaka Tomatoes and Herb-smoked Oil. Our waiter basically forced us to order this and we were so thankful he told us we had to get it. Very delicious, oak-smoke kissed and a definite repeat. Diver Scallop and Moroccan Snails: Seared Scallop with Confit Snails, Butternut Nhopi, Fennel Slaw, Fragrant Broth, The broth was delicious and we used it to dip our bread into. Merguez-spiced Lamb Shank: Braised Lamb, Minted Peas, Lemon Potatoes, and Roasted Carrots. Tender and fragrant, loved the way it easily fell apart with a fork.

While it's pricey, I would recommend this place over the adjacent buffet spot. I'm not a Disney fanatic but one of my co-workers is so at a recent conference in Orlando, we dined at Disney resorts a couple of times. I was looking forward to dining here and it was good, don't get me wrong, but it might not have met every expectation. The service was great. (I would recommend making reservations days in advance). I really wanted to try the Injera plate but upon the recommendation of my colleagues and the waiter, we all three went with the filet. The sauce was outstanding. The macaroni (which was highly touted) was just OK. The Brussels sprouts were again just OK. My medium steak was a little tough. Wine recommendations are listed with each dish and I really wanted to try a great South African wine. I splurged and tried a glass of the Lady May Stellenbosch. I would do that again. Others at the table tried cocktails. You must try dessert here. I did the Potjie Pot and almost ended up licking the plate. Again, this a great place to try new cuisines (again, wish I would have done that Injera plate), stroll the lodge grounds and see the animals, and relax in a finer dining restaurant. (We were told by our Disney guru to dress up a bit. I would tell you the same but we also saw shorts, cut-offs, and tank tops.)

We stopped at the bar at Jiko after dinner to grab a Kungaloosh, one of my favorite beers. It's only available at a few places in Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom park. We realized they had the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and since we were celebrating my husband's birthday we decided to splurge. The price was pretty reasonable and the pour was nice. The star of this visit, the cast members! They made our night absolutely amazing. Would come back again and again just to visit with them.

This has always been one of my favorite on Property restaurants at Disneyworld. With every visit it always lives up to my expectations. The bar top dining overlooking the open kitchen is my favorite go to seat. I love the chefs interactions and knowledge of the food. It's always a great experience. Their hot teas are also amazing and a constant go to treat.

We had a special birthday dinner for me at Jiko on a weekday night with a party of 7. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The restaurant was beautiful, I loved the huge windows and unique lighting that fits perfectly with the vibes of Animal Kingdom Lodge. I started with a seasonal cocktail recommended by my server (that I can't remember the name of) but it was refreshing and delicious. Our server was very attentive and had many great recommendations because this was our first visit to Jiko. Because we were a large group we started with three appetizers- the diver scallop with pork belly, duck confit with honey raisin flatbread, and braised wild boar tenderloin- all three were excellent and beautifully plated. For entrees, we tried many things from the menu- the biggest hits in the group appeared to be the From the Oak Grill (filet mignon), Botswana Seswaa Short Rib, and the Bobotie Mac & Cheese side. Overall, we loved our experience and would absolutely come back for a special occasion in the future!

Unbelieable. The flavors, the presentations has to be the one of the best ever. Highly recommend. Will definitely be back when I come back to the Orlando area.

The food and atmosphere here are wonderful but Shellie, our server, deserves all of my 5-stars. We eat out a lot, and my husband is in the restaurant business, and it goes without doubt that she was our best server ever. To begin, we were made to feel welcome and comfortable

Delicious food, good portion sizes, great service! We indulged in this meal for 4 people, we were celebrating someone's birthday. Bread is delivered to the table - the round soft roll was excellent. The flat bread had a pretzel flavor to it (hit or miss, either you're going to like it or not, we didn't care for it). We also got the boar as the appetizer and the octopus salad (both great!). For the meal we got 2 filet mignonettes, 1 lamb chop, 1 Venice. All were great!! The lamb chop is definitely the bang for your buck. The filets felt like they were missing some sort of purée or small swirl of mashed potatoes on the dish. The filets came with a side of Mac and cheese which was very very good. But it still felt like there was a little other starch touch missing. For dessert we got a white chocolate birthday cake, coffee, and tea. The coffee came in a French press machine and tasted great! One fresh pot served 4 people - 1 serving each. The tea pot could serve 2. We would come back here again!

Jiko - The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort turned out to be an unexpected culinary highlight of our Disney adventure. Securing a reservation 60 days in advance through the My Disney app was a breeze, and the anticipation was high, given its top 10 ranking on numerous lists. Initially, I didn't realize it was located at the resort, not the park itself, which meant allocating time away from the park activities - a small trade-off for a promising dining experience. The efficiency of the communication from Jiko was impressive, with timely confirmation emails and reminders as our reservation approached. However, transitioning from the vastness of Animal Kingdom Park to the restaurant was a bit of a challenge. The wait for the Disney bus was longer than anticipated, causing us to arrive 10 minutes past our reservation time. Thankfully, the app's check-in feature was user-friendly, and we could notify the restaurant of our arrival as we approached. The thoughtful touches at Jiko immediately put us at ease after a day at the parks. The provision of fresh hot towels and well-maintained bathroom facilities was a refreshing change, allowing us to rejuvenate before our meal. For dinner, we indulged in the boar appetizer and a braised beef dish, the names of which escape me. Complimentary bread accompanied our meal, and every dish was a delightful exploration of flavors. The restaurant lived up to its reputation, offering what I can confidently say was one of the best dining experiences at Disney World. The surprise birthday dessert added a sweet touch to the celebration. Wine enthusiasts would be pleased to know that Jiko boasts an extensive selection, though we didn't explore it this time. The service throughout our meal was impeccable, contributing to a memorable dining experience. Jiko - The Cooking Place is a gem worth experiencing, especially for those looking for an exquisite meal amidst the magic of Disney.