Happy #tastytuesday friends!! Last week, I was fortunate to be back at Walt Disney World (WDW) resort and to dine at a couple of the restaurants that are currently open. And, of course, I couldn’t visit WDW property without going to Animal Kingdom Lodge! Sanaa is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village and is considered 1 table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
Currently, only Disney Vacation Club resorts are open, so Kyle and I decided to make a reservation at Sanaa, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village. Sanaa is African cuisine made with Indian inspired flavors and was a favorite of ours when we tried it during our honeymoon in November 2018. We made our reservation for 5:30pm, and we checked in virtually through the My Disney Experience app when we arrived. About 5 minutes later, we received a notification that our table was ready, and we made our way to the podium to be seated.
We were seated at a table that was very socially distant from all other tables in the restaurant. I’d say there were only about 4-5 other families eating dinner there, and everyone was spread out far enough away from each other, but we still all had a great view of the savanna through the windows. Kyle and I decided to sit on the same side of the table so we could see the animals, and this seating position was also helpful to keep us socially distant from our server, who would stand on the other side of the table.
Once we were seated, I was handed a paper copy of the allergy friendly menu, while Kyle downloaded the regular menu off of a QR code that was placed on the table. I decided to start with the allergy friendly bread service and then chose the Potjie-inspired Goan Seafood Curry and the Cilantro-Coconut Vegetables for my main course. Both the seafood curry and the vegetables were not listed on the allergy friendly menu, but our waiter recommended them from the regular menu and let me know that the chef could make them to my specific allergies. As I love seafood, curry, coconut milk, and cilantro, I was up for trying these two options!
The allergy friendly bread service was SO GOOD. I repeat: SO GOOD. The sauces accompanying the allergy friendly bread started from right to left going from very spicy (light, red sauce) to very mild (yellow mango chutney). My favorite accompaniments were the roasted red bell pepper hummus, red chile sambal, and jalapeño-lime pickle. I love spicy sauces and red pepper hummus, so naturally these are the 3 sauces I chose. This dish was a 9/10 for me.
My main course arrived soon after. Quite honestly, the seafood curry was the best seafood curry I have ever had. I could drink the broth by itself. It had just the perfect amount of flavor and spices, plus it doesn’t hurt the the seafood was tender and paired so well with the curry itself. The coconut-cilantro vegetables were great as well, but pailed in comparison to the seafood curry. Overall, I would give the entire dish a 9.5/10, but specifically I would give the seafood curry an 11/10.
And let’s not forget…
…all of the animals on the savanna!
One of the great advantages of eating at Sanaa is the ability to watch the animals on the savanna, both inside and outside of the restaurant. My recommendation is to go in the morning for a quick breakfast or for a late lunch/early dinner. The animals are most active in early morning/evening, so you will be able to see more of them both inside the restaurant and outside the restaurant in the outdoor viewing area.
Honestly, this is one of the best dining experiences that I have had in a long time. The service/cleanliness of the restaurant was impeccable, the food was amazing, and the animals were so much fun to watch!
Here’s to living our best and most delicious Disney lives! <3
~ Meagan
Meagan has been living with many food allergies and sensitivities since she was 19 years old. She is currently a Personal Vacation Advisor for Magical Vacation Planner, specializing in helping her guests book trips to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. Meagan enjoys researching fitness and nutrition and has taken a special interest in finding allergy friendly options at Walt Disney World.
Interested in having Meagan help you plan your next trip? Send her an email at m.slone@magicalvacationplanner.com or get a free quote at https://magicalvacationplanner.com/staff/meagan-slone/!
