Jiko

[doodlemama]

is it accurate that Jiko is no longer a great Disney restaurant? We haven’t been in 4 years but it has always been a favorite and everyone is requesting it
For our May trip. I have it booked but can’t find many reviews that praise the restaurant lately. It’s very expensive so I don’t want to waste the time and money for a meh experience. We are adventurous eaters and love fine dining so that is not my concern. Thanks to anyone who can chime in! Getting nervous abot my ADR now!

 

[kiford]

We were there less than two years ago and took friends of ours who had never been there before. They now have it on their list. I thought that the food was just as good as all of the previous times; it is one of our favourites too.

 

[gillep]

We have been going to Jiko at least once a year for the past 10 years, our most recent experience was January 2018 and the food and wine were as good as always. By far my favorite restaurant on property.

 

[SouthJersey]

is it accurate that Jiko is no longer a great Disney restaurant? We haven’t been in 4 years but it has always been a favorite and everyone is requesting it
For our May trip. I have it booked but can’t find many reviews that praise the restaurant lately. It’s very expensive so I don’t want to waste the time and money for a meh experience. We are adventurous eaters and love fine dining so that is not my concern. Thanks to anyone who can chime in! Getting nervous abot my ADR now!

We were there in late September last year and January of this year.
I wish they'd bring back the original lamb entree, but besides that Jiko is still one of our favorites. Unfortunately our service has been a bit lackluster the last two visits.

 

[OneinThree]

Very interested here myself as I am considering an ADR there for the summer. I believe the OP may be referring to Dis Unplugged's recent video on "Most Overrated Restaurants", where Pete explained his recent disappointment in Jiko, historically his favorite dining spot on property. He probably eats at Disney restaurants as much as anyone on the planet, and seems really "in the loop" as far as getting feedback from others as well. Like the OP, I'd really like to hear about recent experiences (within the last several months) as well.

 

[MemphisVanessa]

We were there a year and a half ago and it was amazing! We ended up cancelling a Narcoossee's reservation so we could dine at Jiko a second time during our trip.

 

[HolRae]

We ate there in February. We had excellent food and service. I will be gone back 2 weeks from tomorrow and am looking forward to it. My husband and I both enjoyed all 3 courses.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We will be trying for first time next week—will report back.

 

[need2travel]

Just for kicks I looked up Jiko on TripAdvisor to see what people had to say. I read the first 10 reviews (all within the last 3 weeks) & 9 out of the 10 rated it as really good to amazing. Hope this helps someone, happy dining!

 

[NYCgrrl]

This is what I wrote shortly after our Christmas 2017 trip:

Last trip (Dec 2017 to Jan 2018) we stayed for 11 nights and ate at the following signatures:

Jiko's- lovely tablecloth restaurant with nicely African seasoned food; attentive and friendly staff. Arrive earlier than your reservation and tour the grounds you'll be happy you did.For the life of me I can't recall what we all had as appetizers and my tablet is upgraded right now so can't check there. I do recall I had the piri piri chicken on flatbread and enjoyed it minus the bread which I chose not to eat because of dietary changes I've made. The Moroccan lamb tagine was exquisite with tender vegetables that still had snap, The Malay seafood curry could have used more curry seasoning for my sensibilities but since I'm not familiar with the food of Malaysia maybe that's how they do it. The man had filet mignon with mac and cheese and asparagus and pronounced it lip smacking good.

 

[doodlemama]

Thank you all. Going to keep it! Tiffins will have to wait!

 

[hertamaniac]

Sorry, but we ate at Jiko this past fall and were very disappointed (even with 30% off as AP). The food was good (sirloin under mac-n-cheese) and fish (creamy sauce called Bo Kaap Malay Seafood Curry) and was only average given the price factor. I will say that the Wild Board Tenderloin was one of the best appetizers ever! But, I would easily put Flying Fish as the best meal, apps + entree + value, in all of WDW.

Note: we have yet to do California Grill.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Sorry, but we ate at Jiko this past fall and were very disappointed (even with 30% off as AP). The food was good (sirloin over mac-n-cheese) and fish (creamy sauce called Bo Kaap Malay Seafood Curry) and was only average given the price factor. I will say that the Wild Board Tenderloin was one of the best appetizers ever! But, I would easily put Flying Fish as the best meal, apps + entree + value, in all of WDW.

Note: we have yet to do California Grill.

I agree with you on the seafood curry. The protein was properly cooked (ie not rubbery) yet the sauce underwhelmed me but as I've said before I've no concept of how Malaysian cuisine seasons it's curry.

We'll have our first meal at CG's this coming July and opted for the Sunday brunch.

 

[gharter]

Some have thought the food wasn't as good when they got a new chef in 2016. We've been there with the previous chef and twice with the new chef. Every meal was excellent. Have not noticed any loss in quality. There have been some changes to the menu which is to be expected with any change in head chef.

 

[OKW Lover]

is it accurate that Jiko is no longer a great Disney restaurant?

IMHO, no that's not accurate.

 

[FSU Girl]

I was there a couple weeks ago. It was great. In my signature is a link to my dining report you can read to get an idea of the place

 

[chalee94]

I was there last month and Jiko was excellent. Definitely give the wild boar a shot if you go.

 

[GoGoBeans]

We are there twice in December and our meals were fantastic. I’m very much a steak person and I flip between the filet and short ribs, so as long as the steak isn’t over cooked, I can be easy to please. I forget what DH got the first night but the second night he got the seafood curry. He raves about that dish. Said it’s the best he’s ever had.

There was a Kenyan coffee rubbed short rib on the menu 10 or so years ago that is my best Disney food memory. There were also these bobootie rolls 3-4 years that haven’t been on the menu the last few times we were there. My kids loved those so much they would order those for dinner too. IMO there are menu items we miss, not that it’s gone downhill. We’ll eat there again this summer.

 

[rosetava]

DH and I eat there last September and January and found it to be lacking in quality and service. We have dined there numerous times in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it. With the former head chef now working at the CG it evident why there’s a shift in
popularity and satisfaction.