Boma or Jiko-The Cooking Place?

[Boo Bear]

I'm wondering which one you favor any why? We're visiting soon and I need to make my reservations ASAP. I'm leaning more toward Jiko from what I've read, but a family friend recommended Boma so I'm struggling with choices here. Any help?

Thanks,

Bridgette

 

[chalee94]

boma is a buffet...with a little more noise and activity. OTOH, you can sample dozens of different foods if you have the room. some don't like the spices...i think the flavors are amazing.

jiko is an elegant restaurant. i think they have the best scallops in wdw and i enjoyed a bite of the filet with mac'n'cheese. definitely a great place to relax and savor your food...

boma might be a little better for a family and jiko the preferable choice for a couple. i'm planning to hit both...they are 2 of my favorite restaurants at wdw...

 

[F1Julie]

We've been to Boma on just about every trip and to Jiko once. The food at Jiko wasn't as good or exotic as expected and we didn't have good service. We love Boma though. There is a great selection of food and it's fun to sample a bunch of different things.

 

[FireDancer]

Boma is my favorite restaurant on Disney property. I make a point of eating there once per trip and will be eating there again in May of 2009 after the Podcast cruise.

The food is great and the variety is nice. I eat very healthy and almost everything there is good for you but don’t think you will be eating grass and salad. I met some old friends from Tampa last time that are meat and potatoes people and they left there loving it.

I have looked into Jiko and it would be better for a romantic-type dinner but I have to go with Boma here.

As an added bonus the best coffee in Disney is also in Boma IMO. Get the press pot and enjoy if you are a coffee drinker.

 

[OKW Lover]

These are two very different dining experiences. I don't think you can say that one is better than the other. I think it really depends on what you are looking for in a dining experience. I'd suggest you look over the info here on the DIS by clicking on "Dining" in the menu bar near the top of this page.

For us (older adults, no kids), we prefer a nice sit-down meal and would thus chose Jiko probably 7 times out of 10.

 

[davinakb]

Agree that it's two different dining experiences. Boma, being a buffet, is more casual dining with lots of choices, something for everyone in the family. Jiko, a signature restaurant, is more relaxed table service that's perfect for a nice, quiet dinner. So if you just want a wide variety in a casual setting, go for Boma. If you want a little more, enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner then go for Jiko (great South African wine list). FWIW.

 

[wdwrich]

I read on this board that Jiko recently changed chefs and that they are still "adjusting" the menu. If I go to a signature restaurant, I would expect them to have it "right". Perhaps Boma is a better choice in the short term. We've always had great meals there.

 

[lucysdad]

Have done both more than once. Jiko is a signature restaurant. Elegant, quiet and very good. Definitely better for couples. Boma is fun, colorful, great interaction with CMs from Africa. The food is wonderful and there is great variety. My recommendations: For a quiet, romantic, gourmet meal, Jiko hands down. For a fun, exciting family experience, definitely Boma. Both are great.

 

[Aimeedyan]

You can't compare it anymore than you can compare Chef Mickeys to CA Grill just because they are both located in the same hotel.

What experience are you looking for? Who is in your party? Do you want to dress up a little?

 

[ShellKing]

I have the same question. We are staying at AKL. We have a 10yr and 7yr old. I was leaning towards Jiko for a dinner for the 4 of us. I tend to just eat one or two things at a buffet anyway.

 

[crisi]

Do pay attention to Jiko's prices - particularly if you are going with a family. Sticker shock at signature places isn't uncommon. Also be prepared at Jiko to spend an hour and a half or two hours having dinner - the pacing of a signature place is going to be slower.

However, if the prices are doable and your kids will sit through a nicer dinner, Jiko has much better food and is a much nicer experience.

 

[kathie859]

I have the same question. We are staying at AKL. We have a 10yr and 7yr old. I was leaning towards Jiko for a dinner for the 4 of us. I tend to just eat one or two things at a buffet anyway.

Buffet doesn't adequately describe the broad range of foods available at each Boma food station. i.e., the soup station has several choices and the salad station has the exotic, more unusual offerings (think couscous salads, exotically spiced foods), plus the usual green salad with "regular" dressings and fresh fruits.
The dessert station has the ubiquitous "zebra domes" plus ice cream, tiny fruit tartlets (my fave), cookies amoung other things. They have kids' offerings--chicken fingers, mac 'n cheese, too. The service is stellar and no one that I've ever eaten at Boma's with has ever left hungry--regardless of how picky an eater they are!

Jiko's is a great dining experience. Our first visit included a young one (he was 2 at the time) and he was restless and that was not the atmosphere of the restaurant--so it wasn't the most restful of events. Subsequent visits with "adults only" have never failed to please. I adore the lamb shank

I guess it just depends on your party and how relaxed the kids would be. If they would sit thru a full dinner service quietly, it could be a lot of fun.

Have fun on your trip

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Subscribing here..............

Thanks to all the posters here giving input - just booked Boma in September as we're spending our 23rd anniversary at AKL & DH wanted to eat somewhere different (last vacation before AP's expire). DH will eat anything, but I'm a bit more picky. As long as there's some sort of salad, and chicken I'll be fine. Plus I know I can always get Mac & Cheese off the kids side. Can't wait to try the Zebra domes, either.

 

[parrothead928]

Do both if you are able to swing it!!!!! The food at both is absolutely incredible!!!

 

[Tiffany]

I'm wondering which one you favor any why? We're visiting soon and I need to make my reservations ASAP. I'm leaning more toward Jiko from what I've read, but a family friend recommended Boma so I'm struggling with choices here. Any help?

Thanks,

Bridgette

Two completely different dining experiances. Boma is a family orientated buffet that is crowded and noisy. Jiko is a more upscale table service dining place. The filet at Jiko is outstanding.

 

[B-Ride]

We have only eaten at Boma and it is our favourite buffet at WDW. The only trouble I ever have with Boma is finding the room to eat everything I want to try.

 

[DisneyWalle]

Boma is a buffet style restaurant and it can be rather loud. However, the food selection is wonderful especially if you enjoy trying new and exotic foods. Which my family does! They also offer a section of french fries, macaroni and some other items for those less adventurous. We ate here back in July of 2006 and enjoyed it even though, it was very crowded.

Jiko is a fairly quiet sit down restaurant which is better suited for older children - simply because of the food choices and atmosphere. However, my son who is 7 yrs old loves trying new and exotic foods and enjoys sit down restaurants. So he enjoyed Jiko immensely last September!

It's really going to depend on the likes and dislikes of your family. I wish you luck and a great vacation!

 

[meriann]

We were just at Jiko on Friday and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I have never been to Boma but I say if you want a nice night out go to Jiko. I don't know if I would take my kids if I got back. This night was a date night for DH and myself and BIL and SIL and we all loved it.

I had the short ribs and the meat was so tender and wonderful it just fell off the bone. Dh had the lamb and he has had lamb in several countries(including africa) and places and he said this was the best he has ever has as well.

I just want more piscactio creme brulee! OMG that was amazing!

 

[JCandKT]

We've made ADR's at both Boma and Jiko for our September trip. It'll be the first time for both for us. We made the reservations on the advice of all of you and Kevin's dining reviews!

 

[backinoz]

So glad I found this thread

We're going in Dec/Jan, and I was having a hard time figuring out which to do...

Think I'm leaning a little towards Jiko ATM. It'll be me, DH, DD10 & DD11, and given both DDs are paying adult prices for Boma, but would share a main meal at Jiko, the $$ are pretty well the same for us (we'll share appetisers and desserts between us). Buuuuuttttt, Boma looks so good that we may just have to make ADR's for that too!!!