Jiko - The Cooking Place

What a culinary experience! The other reviews are on spot and this place did not disappoint. Came to celebrate a birthday, price-wise it is definitely a special occasion restaurant for me 😀 Service was great, food was unique and flavorful. Took 1 point off the food since the cut of my steak wasn’t great, while it was cooked correctly the meat was tough and I didn’t get the experience ever was raving about. Other than that - loved the place, atmosphere and all the great dishes. Tip - come a bit early (or stay after your meal if it is still daytime) and walk around the property. Animal Kingdom lodge is beautiful and you get to see some of the Safari animals outdoors. Ask your server about the symbols in the restaurant like the rings on the columns and the Kanu birds all around.

We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at Jiko the Cooking Place and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by a friendly hostess at the front. Our waiter, who was Moroccan (I unfortunately didn't catch his name), escorted us to our table, which happened to be by the chef's table. It was our first time dining at this restaurant, and we were immediately impressed. The staff at Jiko were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They made us feel right at home and were attentive to our needs throughout the evening. The level of service was exceptional. Not only did they provide excellent recommendations, but they also took the time to explain the different dishes and their origins. It was evident that they had a deep understanding and passion for the cuisine they were serving. Speaking of the cuisine, the food at Jiko was simply exquisite. Each dish we ordered was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. Our daughter, who accompanied us, absolutely loved the food as well. The menu offered a variety of options, and we appreciated the attention to detail in every dish. From appetizers to desserts, everything was top-notch. In addition to the incredible food and service, the restaurant itself was beautiful and had a relaxing ambiance. The decor and lighting created a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a special occasion like our wedding anniversary. It truly enhanced our overall dining experience. Overall, our experience at Jiko the Cooking Place was outstanding. The combination of friendly staff, delicious food, and the restaurant's ambiance made it a memorable evening. We highly recommend Jiko to anyone seeking a unique and delightful dining experience.

First time eating here and we were very happy. We had the wild boar tenderloin and the duck confit flatbread for appetizers. I highly recommend either. The bread service here was also fantastic. For the Entree, I had the filet, which was very good. My family member had the sustainable fish, which for the day was black grouper, and he raved about it. It also happened to be my birthday, and they brought out a surprise, which was delicious!

We had dinner at Jiko with a party of 7 on a Wednesday night. Despite having reservations, they took quite a bit of time to seat us. Overall, we enjoyed the food but the service was exceptionally slow. For appetizers, I shared the Duck Confit and Honey-Raisin Flatbread. This was a touch too spicy for me but my friend enjoyed it. For dinner, I had Merguez-spiced Lamb Shank. The lamb was very tender and the lemon mashed potatoes were different and good. However, my food was barely warm - again, the service was exceptionally slow. For dessert, I had the Melktert which is an African milk custard. I love custardy desserts so this was tasty to me. I'd recommend Jiko if you are looking for a nice sit down restaurant with unique food that is on the pricier side. I wouldn't suggest coming here if you are not an adventurous eater and want a cheap eat.

Our server Michael was phenomenal, so the group all agreed service was amazing! I ordered multiple plates to try a little of this & a little of that. The duck flatbread and wild boar appetizers were my favorite of the 3 that I ordered. I was really looking forward to the Zulu Oxtail Samp and Beans, but it was cold, so aside from a bite to taste that was about all I ate from it. For two entree's received the steaks were unfortunately not cooked to the temperature asked. One was past well-done so, that plate wasn't eaten. Again, excellent customer service, as the manager on duty removed the two over-cooked items from those ladies' bills. Over-all the atmosphere and service were a great experience.

You get what you pay for . This is one of the best restaurants in Disney in my opinion. It’s located in the animal kingdom lodge, very easy to get to. We were seated quickly and the service was top notch. The food was excellent, the filet mignon was perfect and the Mac and cheese was amazing. The grouper also was very good. It has a great wine selection and the deserts were good as well. Highly recommend it!

My wife and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary here. The atmosphere and service was great. The giraffe bread was absolutely to die for. Bread shouldn't be this good.I ordered the cocoa rubbed venison as my meal which was an amazing take on deer meat. Easily one of the top dishes I've had on disney property. My wife got the filet and we both agreed the venison was the way to go. We also shared the duck flatbread appetizer which was excellent as well. My wife and I really enjoyed the experience here and would definitely comeback again. I would say give it go if you want a high quality dining experience on disney property.

I don’t really like to eat the bread restaurants give at the beginning. This giraffe bread though was really good and I couldn’t stop eating it. My favorite dish from here was the Zulu Oxtail. That was so good. The tenderloin was good too but if I had to choose between the Oxtail or Tenderloin, I would choose the Oxtail every time.