Jiko or Boma?

[PrincessASquared]

My DW , DD(5) , and myself will be at AK in Feb. We would like to have a GREAT meal before the EMH's. I can't decide which one to choose. Please help me decide. Thanks

 

[Mary Diehl]

My family has eaten at Boma twice-once for breakfast and once for dinner. Both are buffets. We loved the breakfast and dinner was o.k. The dinner buffet consists foods with African spices. I didn't really find anything that I loved but there was enough to choose from that still made it a great experience. Very friendly wait staff too. Jiko we found very over priced for what you got, not very good, kids didn't like the spices on their food and the atmosphere was a little "stuffy". Just didn't feel warm and friendly. I would definitely go back to Boma not Jiko. Hope this helps.

 

[sdenis]

We did Boma for dinner one night and LOVED it!

Service was awesome and it was booked solid, lucky to get in without an ADR!

Not as pricey as Jiko.

Haven't been to Jiko to eat so I can't speak to that, however, the prices are HIGH! So if you have kids and aren't on the dining plan I would defiinitely go with Boma.

Cheers!

 

[Safari Queen]

Boma is the one we ALWAYS do. I think there's something for everyone. We enjoy trying the African dishes but there's also carved meat more the less adventurous. And the soups and desserts are outstanding.

 

[jwfla422]

In May we stayed at AKL for the first time and had the opportunity to finally try BOMA. We have been avid Jiko fans for the past 4 years.

While BOMA was pretty good we still prefer JIKO. I just like the food selections better there. Breakfast at BOMA was pretty good and dinner was OK. Quite honestly I just got tired of getting up and waiting in some really long lines to get food. I did most of the salad type things which were fun to try, but when we go back to WDW and stay elsewhere we'll probably skip BOMA and just do Jiko again. It's our favorite in all of WDW! And for the record, my dd who is now 9 started going to JIKO with us when she was 5 and loves it. This was the first place she started to eat salad (and I'm grateful for that LOL!!)

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've eaten at both restaurants twice for dinner.

Boma #1 - Great food, so-so service
Boma #2 - Great food, good service
Jiko #1 - Average food, excellant service
Jiko #2 - Average food, horrible service

I'd pick Boma. IMO it's better food, and definatly a funner atmosphere with kids. Jiko's food is edible, but I haven't really enjoyed that much there. Plus the last time I ate there I had a horrible server.

 

[spatter1234]

We are leaving in 9 days and have ADR at Jiko. Will let you know how it goes! Never eaten at Boma and probably won't on this vacation so will not be able to compare the 2.

 

[Tricia1972]

We had Boma for breakfast - we considered it very standard breakfast fare. We're still going to give it another shot for dinner, where the menu is pumped up a little.

We're going to Jiko in October for dinner. So I can't advise you based on past experience.

However, if you are looking to try something African, I'd try Boma first. That way if you guys find that you don't like the tastes of the food, you still have standard fare to fall back on.

Jiko is almost exclusively African and if you don't like your dish you are almost out of luck, unless your server brings you a different dish.

IMO a buffet would be the safer choice, especially with kids.

 

[jwfla422]

Just for the record-we've been to Jiko more than times than I can remember over the past 4 years and it has consistently been excellent! Our latest dining experience there was this past May so that wasn't too long ago (and it didn't disappoint).

I've ordered the filet with mac n cheese many times and I think it is the best filet anywhere. I've also had the salmon as well as their flatbreads and once upon a time they used to have monkfish which I never tasted until I dined there. That was also outstanding. We're pretty "picky" when it comes to food and service but I think this place is one of WDW's top gems. Make sure to browse the menu before you go so you have an idea of their offerings. I must almost add that I get their tomato, cucumber and onion salad every visit which is quite unique and pleasing to the palette.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We have eaten at both several times. Boma is our favorite buffet and Jiko is our favorite menu restaurant. We eat at Jiko on every trip. You will not go wrong with either pick.

 

[ntsammy5]

My experience has been a little like OP. Jikos has very good food and average service. Atmosphere is reserved (someone else said stuffY). Bomas has good food and the service is good, but it is a buffet after all.

If you're looking for an unusual experience, Jikos is the choice IMHO.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

We've eaten at both now and prefer Boma. The food quality is a little better at Jiko. However, we found the spicing particularily the tamarind to be a little on the heavy side.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Also, for a five year-old Jiko may be kind of boring. Boma would probably be more fun. Jiko is a signature restaurant, and a kind of slow-paced meal.