Jiko or Boma?? YIKES

[ogreenlee]

I have ADRs at Boma currently, but I've seen really good things about both, including the new thread.


For folks who have eaten at both, which one would you choose? I'd love to go to both, but doubt we'll make it over to the AKL twice.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

That is a tough choice. We have dined at both several times and they are both excellent. Jiko is our favorite TS restaurant and Boma is our favorite buffet. I guess you would have to choose which you would rather eat at TS or Buffet. On our last visit I had the Lamb Shank which was excellent, my favorite meal of the trip. We always start with one of there great flatbreads. Boma has many standard buffet items and many different items. There soups & salads are fantastic many different items not found on other buffets. There have several entress that are different also. You will not go wrong with either choice.

 

[JMLBrats]

Didn't think Jiko's lived up to the hype. Loved Boma's. (Dont' know who you're dining w/ though and of course that makes a difference. For instance if you're looking for a romantic dinner I would say try Jiko's since the atmosphere is very pleasant and it's definetly more rowdy and loud at Boma's. )

 

[DVC Grammy]

Both are great . Boma, obviously, offers a greater variety of foods and is family-friendly, which can be noisy; Jiko's is more of an "adult" restaurant, and seems to be quieter.
We tend to prefer Boma for breakfast and Jiko's for dinner.

 

[ogreenlee]

Thanks! There will actually be 6 of us including two 4yr olds. One of the adults isn't as adventurous as the rest of us. Maybe we should just keep our Boma ADR so him and the two kids can eat off the children's buffet.

 

[CoolPool]

I enjoyed the wine selection, attentive wait service, and quieter adult atmosphere at Jikos, but I enjoyed the funky staff and variety of food at Boma much more. Frankly, Boma felt more "exotic" and African than Jikos.

Remember too if you are on the dining plan, that Jikos takes 2 credits whereas Boma is only one.

 

[Hedy]

Thanks! There will actually be 6 of us including two 4yr olds. One of the adults isn't as adventurous as the rest of us. Maybe we should just keep our Boma ADR so him and the two kids can eat off the children's buffet.

I've only been to Boma's and loved it, but having beem with a less-than adventerous eater who found the experience upsetting, I'd say the kid's part of the buffet would tip the hat towards Boma.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

But that won't keep me from weighing in.

I'd pick Jiko. The menu on Allears looks amazing. And I think there are nice choices for the not-so-adventurous... at the same time some really unique yummy-looking tastes. Plus... I think it would be quieter than Boma. Heard that that one is big and busy.

Cheers, Mel.

 

[tabrizia]

I loved Jiko when we were there last year. Boma underwhelmed both me and hubby. It did not impress us at all. That being said we are fairly adventurous eaters and that may have been oyur problem with Boma, it definitely seemed geared towards the average American who wants to try something new palate (not that I have a problem with that, it just wasn't new or very impressive to either of us).

 

[elastigirl]

Thanks! There will actually be 6 of us including two 4yr olds. One of the adults isn't as adventurous as the rest of us. Maybe we should just keep our Boma ADR so him and the two kids can eat off the children's buffet.

I would pick Boma in that case. My dad got stuff off the kids buffet his first pass, before he got more adventurous! He ended up loving almost everything, but I still tease him about it.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Thanks! There will actually be 6 of us including two 4yr olds. One of the adults isn't as adventurous as the rest of us. Maybe we should just keep our Boma ADR so him and the two kids can eat off the children's buffet.

It sounds as if Boma's a better fit for your family. Also, keep in mind that not everything offered in the "adult" section is extremely exotic............lots of "Americanized" food is available!

 

[SeaSpray]

I'm not an adventurous eater, and I'd recommend Jiko. We dined at both places last year, and I'd absolutely return to Jiko. I'd return to Boma, too, but Jiko first. lol

Here's one of my web pages that has pictures of our meals at both places:

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/AKLrestaurants.htm

Enjoy!

 

[MJMcBride]

One trying a different cuisine, such as African, your best bet would be to go buffet and sample as much as you can

 

[crisi]

I didn't enjoy either. But they are very different restaurants.

Boma is an extensive buffet. The food was OK, but I'd bought into the hype and my expectations were higher than the food could deliver. With two four year olds, unless they can handle their own plates, I'd avoid a buffet myself - but I'm not a huge buffet fan and little kids make getting your own meals that much more difficult.

Jiko is a pretty fancy sit down restaurant. We had a bad waiter and I ordered wrong - both which colored my opinion (my husband LOVED his steak). It will likely take more than an hour to finish a three course meal here and be fairly expensive - I'd avoid it with preschoolers, myself.

(I'm coming down on the side of neither.)

 

[ogreenlee]

I'm thinking with two crazy 4 yr old girls... that we should stick with Boma.


They both look worth trying. The pictures (thank you, seaspray! cute family!!) are making me hungry. I do think that our unadventurous friend will thank us.

Don't worry about us, though. We're ditching those friends on Friday night to go to Marrakesh. We made ADRs for 3 there, and she made ADRs for 6 at Coral Reef, but we have decided that we don't want to eat at Coral Reef. She also said that she wants to change to something else, but doesn't want Marrakesh. That was our first choice for that night since we'll be at Epcot that day/night.


This will be our first trip actually paying attention to the restaurants. Last November we were only there for 3 nights at SOG with my mom's military widow ID card. We ate at Chef Mickey's and CP.. and at SOG.

And yes... I am PROUDLY going for the Free DDP. While I also consider myself a "foodie", I have no expectations because I've never tried any of these places. As long as the food doesn't suck, I'll be happy. I'm not going for the food. I'm going to have fun, and to hang out with our friends and both of our DDs while not having to worry about the cost of eating something besides overpriced counter service items. (This is one of three vacations we're taking this year, not including our trip to Korea next Spring) If it was the food I was looking for.. I wouldn't leave Atlanta. To each his own, I say.

However, I would love to see an increase in quality for the restaurants there. Who wouldn't?

 

[kathie859]

I love Jiko, but with kids it can be a bit slow paced and you're at the mercy of the kids current states of mind. <G>...We dined with DD and DGS, age 2, and it was just too much for the little guy to sit quietly. Service was slow--not necessarily a bad thing under the right circumstances--but not good with a squirrelly toddler.
Boma, on the other hand, is a bit more lively, and you serve yourself--so you control the pacing of the meal. The kids have plenty of choices of "normal" food if they are not adventurous and you can try some unusual things. OH, and did I mention that I adore the dessert selection?

 

[ArielNPolo]

I think kids will enjoy Boma more