Jiko - The Cooking Place

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 honeyEntrees* 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 oilDesserts* Malva Pudding ($14) - Amarula-infused Malva cake, caramel-sea salt gelato, kataifi, kanu tuile, cabernet gelee* Complimentary after-dinner treat: pineapple gummiesIf 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.