The Best Outdoor Dining at Animal Kingdom

It’s part four of our Outdoor Dining Guide to Walt Disney World, and naturally we are heading on a safari that’s both savory and sweet. In this guide, we are sharing all the best places to eat outside at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which we consider to be the best park for outdoor dining just behind Epcot. With one of Disney World’s best lounges offering outdoor table service as well as several great options for a quick meal al fresco, Animal Kingdom is an awesome park for outdoor dining. In fact, almost every quick service restaurant at Animal Kingdom offers outdoor seating.

Whether you’re trying to limit your indoor exposure during the pandemic or you just want to enjoy the fresh air, there are a lot of great reasons to eat outside at Disney World. I’m dividing each entry up into “The Best” and “The Rest.” The restaurants listed in “The Best” either have delicious food, great outdoor seating sections, food that’s easy to eat on the go, or any combination of the above. If a restaurant is listed in “The Rest,” it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad option. It’s just not one of our favorites.

Animal Kingdom Outdoor Dining Guide

The Best Animal Kingdom Outdoor Dining

Table Service

• Nomad Lounge (Discovery Island) – Attached to Tiffins, Nomad Lounge is one of the best places to grab a drink and enjoy some small plates at Disney World, and they offer a fantastic outdoor patio that wraps around the restaurant. Nomad Lounge has a small menu of food items and an impressive list of cocktails, wine, and beer. We strongly recommend the Tiffins Bread Service and Tempting Tigress cocktail. Nomad Lounge is also kid friendly, offering a list of create-your-own kids meals. In the past, you’ve also been able to order off of Tiffins menu depending on time of day, but it seems that they have discontinued that practice. You can always ask your server if you can order something from the Tiffins menu, and maybe you’ll get lucky.

Quick Service / Kiosks

• Flame Tree Barbecue (Discovery Island)  – Pretty good barbecue offerings here, with portions generous enough to share. The reason this gets promoted to the “best” portion of the list is the stunning outdoor dining area just behind Flame Tree Barbecue. It has gorgeous statues, fountains, and an absolutely awesome view of Expedition Everest. It’s a great place to sit for a bit and enjoy the ambiance. Complete outside. Mobile order available.
• Harambe Market (Africa) – Around the corner from Kilimanjaro Safaris is a great outdoor market area serving up chicken, ribs, and salads. The food here is good, and it’s  another spot that features great theming. Look out for a clever hidden Mickey, painted in plain sight. Completely outside. Mobile order available.
• Satu’li Canteen (Pandora) – This is one of our favorite quick service restaurants in Disney World. Satu’li Canteen features healthy and flavorful build-your-own bowls and unique cheeseburger steamed bao buns. Must order/pick up inside. Mobile order available.
• Pongu Pongu (Pandora) – Located next to Satu’li Canteen, this booth serves a limited menu of snacks, treats, and beverages. Makes the best list just due to the “Pongu Lumpia,” which is a pineapple cream cheese spring roll. Also offers breakfast items. Completely outside.
• Tamu Tamu Refreshments (Africa) – Walk up window serving Mickey cinnamon rolls in the morning, dole whips in the afternoon, as well as alcoholic beverages. The Best Outdoor Dining at Animal Kingdom

The Rest

Quick Service / Kiosks

• Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes (Asia) – This quick service restaurant offers up familiar Asian fare, including teriyaki bowls, tempura shrimp, and honey chicken. To us, this restaurant is on par with Panda Express. Breakfast is also available here. Lots of outdoor seating, completely outside.
• Drinkwallah (Asia) – Offers drinks and snacks, and a very nice waterfront outdoor seating area. Tip: this is very close to Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes, so if you want a nicer view while you eat, head across the street to the lower garden seating area.
• Thirsty River Bar (Asia) – Open air bar offering specialty cocktails, beer, and wine.
• Trek Snacks (Asia) – Snack booth serving up popcorn, Mickey pretzels, and Mickey Ice cream bars. Grab and go, no seating.
• Anadapur Ice Cream Truck (Asia) – Grab and go ice cream. No seating.
• Warung Outpost (Asia) – Outdoor booth serving margaritas.
• Dawa Bar (Africa) – This outdoor bar only serves up beer, wine, and cocktails. No food, but a nice place to grab a drink outside.
• Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery (Africa) – Get coffee, baked goods, and dessert near Kilimanjaro Safaris. Completely outdoor.
• Mahindi (Africa) – Popcorn and beverage booth.

• Restaurantosaurus (DinoLand, USA) – Quick service restaurant with some outdoor seating. Serving up familiar theme park fare, such as burgers, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs. Mobile order available.
• Dino-Bite Snacks (DinoLand, USA) – Grab and go kiosk serving ice cream and other snacks. Completely outside.
• Dino Diner (DinoLand, USA) – Outdoor quick service window serving hot dogs, churros, and drinks. Completely outside.
• Trilobites (DinoLand, USA) – Outdoor quick service booth with buffalo chicken chips, ice cream, and drinks. Completely outside.
• Pizzafari (Discovery Island) – Offers your standard Disney World quick service pizza, which is hit or miss depending on who you are (I personally enjoy it for reasons I can’t quite explain). Limited outdoor seating. Mobile order available.
• Eight Spoon Cafe (Discovery Island) – Snack booth serving mac and cheese, a pulled pork jelly doughnut, and pretzels. Grab and go, completely outside.
• Isle of Java (Discovery Island) – Outdoor Joffrey’s coffee booth, offering baked goods and snacks.
• Terra Treats (Discovery Island) – Outdoor snack booth offering pizza slices and drinks.
• Smiling Crocodile (Discovery Island) – Outdoor snack booth serving street tacos and drinks.

Stay tuned for more of the best places to eat outside at Disney World, as we are sharing the best outdoor dining at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and the Resorts coming soon.