Jiko or Flying Fish??? What's your experience?

[pennyplanner]

These are two restaurants that I have always wanted to try. The menus both sound enticing and the locations also offer a special atmosphere. I have been to neither the Boardwalk or Animal Kingdom Lodge.

One day in late April will find me finishing the day in AK and then I need a place for an early dinner. Proximity would lend itself to Jiko but it has to be more than that!

What do you like about the food at either restaurant and how about the general atmosphere of the Lodge or the Boardwalk?
I will be dining alone.

Thanks for your input,
penny

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We have eaten at Jiko on 3 of our last 4 trips and just love it. We have never had a bad meal here. On our last trip we had the beef tenderloin w/ macroni & cheese and pork tenderloin with sweet potato dumplings and both meals were very good. We always start our meals with a flatbread, we tried the olive one last time and it was very good. If you get there early make sure you walk outside to see the animals, AKL is a beautiful resort.

 

[madalex]

FF was our favorite restaurant at WDW, until we went to Jiko the first time, so, in my opinion, both are excellent.

With African dishes and the use of African spices, the food at Jiko is wonderful and more interesting than the relatively standard (but still very good) seafood at FF. Jiko has a great wine list of all South African wines, while FF has a nice wine list of its own. Jiko is a little more elegant to me, but FF is decorated rather whimsically, which is also very nice.

Both restaurants have great things to do around them: AKL has the savannahs and the wonderful lobby, while FF has the Boardwalk and all the fun things to do there.

You can't go wrong at either place, but I would vote for Jiko.

 

[punkin]

I vote for FF. Jiko was good, but I think the flying fish is a superior rest. Their tuna tartare is out of this world. In fact, according to my DD (11 yo) it's the best food this side of heaven.

 

[GEM]

These are our two very favorite restaurants in all of WDW! You really can't go wrong with either one.

 

[Krissalee]

I'm torn! I love both restaurants!

Sorry I couldn't offer any advice, but even after dining at both restaurants, I would have trouble choosing one over the other! What ever you decide, enjoy! And remember that you can always try the other on that next trip.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I haven't been to FF but I just wanted to add that I think Jiko is great! I love their flatbreads Lots of interesting dishes for the main course!

 

[slyjester]

I have eaten at both last October for the first time and they were both wonderful. Both were in a great location and there was plenty to do after dinner walking about and exploring. At Jiko the flatbreads were delicious and fresh and the atmosphere and entrees were excellent as well. I especially loved the huge wood burning oven. The Flying Fish was also good, and I started with this amazing Apple and Radicchio salad. In addition, we sat in front of the open kitchen and saw all the meals being prepared (and spoke to the head chef!)whereas in Jiko you cannot experience this. I am not sure if this helped you but you cannot go wrong with either one.

 

[webray]

We have been to both numerous times. It is hard to choose between them, so we go by what we are in the mood for.

Atomosphere inside each restaurant..well, they are both very nice.

For early dinners..well, nothing really gets going on the boardwalk until later in the evening..so there wouldn't be much to look at except checking out the couple of stores. At AKL...there is the store and the animals to check out before/after dinner.

Which ever you choose, you will have a wonderful time.

 

[JC Butterfly]

I agree with all of the other posters. do you really have to decide? any way you could fit them both in? After all Flying Fish is just a short walk from EPCOT and a not too far walk from MGM, might be able to fit it in at the end of a park day?

If you choose Jiko I would suggest going over when there are day light hours to the AKL, it is breathtaking to walk around the public area grounds. The shops there offer some very unique and authentic African merchandise too.

If you try FF, it has the most amazing appearance at night with the Boardwalk all lit up. If you want to "work off" some of your meal you might consider renting a surrey bike to ride around in, lots of fun!

Good luck,

Brenda

 

[Dawna]

and it is a very hard choice. My husband had the wahoo at FF and he said it was delicious. I had the red snapper and it was one of their signature dishes...excellent! We also shared a fried oyster appetizer which was very good. Our waiter at FF was superb also. At Jiko, I had the oak grilled filet with mac cheese and red wine sauce...my best meal at Disney. My husband had Jiko's monkfish, but he said it was not as good at the wahoo at FF. The ambiance at Jiko is really special as was our entire stay at AKL. I really missed not having desserts at either place but we were so full from our meals!!!! Next time I will save room!!!

Either way you will be very pleased.
Good luck with your choice!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Love them both!! Very hard choice, but we really love AKL, so I'd have to say Jiko. We also love their Kalamata Olive flatbread, both DD and I loved the monkfish, DD had the filet w/mac'n cheese (yummier than it sounds!) and we practically swooned over the Tanzanian Chocolate Purses for dessert!! And the South African wines are excellent. BTW - when we were there last year, you could be seated at the counter and watch the chefs, slyjester have they stopped doing this?

FF is also wonderful, DD had scallops and I had the potato-wrapped red snapper (to die for!) and we had the chocolate souffle for dessert. Very yummy meal. The Boardwalk is lovely at night, with all the lights.

Lots of help, right?! You really can't make a bad choice here!! Enjoy!

 

[gatour]

I think both restaurants are among the best at Disney. If I had to choose, I would lean towards Jiko, just because the resort is spectacular.

 

[pennyplanner]

You are making me wish I had time for both. Given the early dinner hour and the desire to see AK Lodge, I am choosing Jiko. I think my dinner out on the Silver Plan (two wishes!) will be a wonderful choice considering all your input.

I promise reviews when I return!

Thanks,

penny