When in Animal Kingdom, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of breathtaking rides, different cultures, and ethnic eats that will have you thinking you’ve been transported to the heart of Asia or Africa.
Sampling dishes from these continents can be a welcome experience for some but for others the culinary choices may be a little too adventurous.
Luckily Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom brings both parallels together in one menu that pleases the diners that are looking for the furthest thing from American cuisine and those who prefer an Asian spin on fried chicken and rice- or even a burger.
Family friendly and favorited, Yak & Yeti is the perfect place to stop for lunch while in Animal Kingdom.
Run by the Landry Restaurant group, (owners of Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe), Yak & Yeti is a unique-to-Disney eatery that you won’t find anywhere else in the US, unlike their other restaurants.
While the other Landry’s chain locations rely on animatronic animals and immersive dining areas to entice diners, Yak & Yeti is themed as an inn-turned-restaurant in the heart of Nepal with nods to the elusive Yeti and Nepalese culture that shapes the terrain and draws adventurers and mountaineers from around the globe.
Since this restaurant has a menu that is fit for any kind of diner, Yak & Yeti remains an in-demand eatery for guests of Animal Kingdom. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made on the My Disney Experience app 60 days in advance from your Disney resort check-in day.
You can find Yak & Yeti in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom and is located right across from the Discovery Island bridge that connects the main hub to the backside of the park.
The decor of Yak & Yeti runs with the mountainous inn theme and includes eclectic decor that you would find in the South Asia. While dining here you may find yourself wanting to walk around the grounds to explore the wall art, statues, and furniture that creates the funky eatery.
The restaurant has two levels of dining space which makes for a rather lively experience since it can seat so many people at one time. I prefer to be on the upper level of the restaurant when I dine here because the front room of the upper level has tables against the windows that overlook the park- perfect for people watching.
As mentioned before, the food here is something that everyone can enjoy no matter the personal palette. The appetizers are perfect for sharing or for ordering a few to create a sample of Asian-inspired dishes for an entree.
There’s the standard appetizers here that you would expect such as the pot stickers and firecracker shrimp, but there are also some delicious and unique eats such as the chicken lettuce cups and Korean fried chicken with a maple-based syrup. Don’t fill up on starters though because the entrees here are just as enticing and filling.
My go-to dish at Yak & Yeti has consistently been the tempura honey chicken with fresh vegetables and white rice. Similar to a sweet & sour chicken, the honey chicken is fried to perfection and topped with an Asian honey sauce.
You will also find lo mein dishes and, one of my personal favorites, pad thai on the menu. Both of these options come with a choice of chicken or shrimp.
In addition to the dishes above that you’d expect to find a restaurant like this one, you will also find some other unique flavored selections such as miso salmon, seafood curry, and chicken tikka masala.
For the less adventurous eaters, (and maybe even those diners who aren’t too keen on Asian-inspired cuisine), there are some safer options to order from. The chicken teriyaki is a fan favorite and come with coconut ginger rice and a pineapple mango salsa that allows you to experiment with some new textures and flavors if you so please.
Luckily for the pickiest of eaters you will also kind a kobe beef burger, BBQ ribs, and some other steak & seafood dishes that offer additions and modifications to create a plate to your liking.
No matter the entree or appetizer you choose, you’ll find that the presentation of every plate is colorful and creative. Most importantly though everything is delicious and tastes fresh.
The dessert choices at Yak & Yeti are just as eclectic yet enticing as the rest of the menu. If you’re looking for something completely unique then the mango pie, sometimes substituted with a mango key lime cheesecake is the way to go. The tartness matched with the sweetness is a welcome change from the savory and saucy entrees.
Other dessert options include pineapple upside down cake, chocolate pudding cake, and one-of-a-kind fried wontons with pineapple, cream cheese, and a honey drizzle. I’ve never tried the fried wontons here, but I have had the pongu lumpia from the Pandora area of Animal Kingdom which is like a warm pineapple fried cheesecake.
Yak & Yeti has become my family’s go-to when we’re looking for a sit-down dining escape from the hot mid-day Florida sun. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming and there is plenty of space in the restaurant so that you never feel crowded.
The menu here pleases everyone in my party (which is very hard to do) and the prices are pretty standard for Disney dining with entrees falling between $18-$30 depending on what you order.
With the limited sit-down dining options in Animal Kingdom, I can confidently say that Yak & Yeti is the best for overall experience when looking at atmosphere, menu & food, and pricing. One trip to this inn-turned-eatery and your whole family will be wanting to return again soon.
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