Sanaa, Jiko, or Boma

[J3nn78]

If you could do just one of them which one and why? We have not been to any of them and can try one of them on our next trip. Need some help deciding.

THanks!

 

[dgaston]

I'm no help. We have reservations at all three for our stay in one week.

Perhaps Boma to experience a variety of African inspired food, and I do love the Zebra Domes/

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I think Jiko has the best quality food. But Boma does have variety, which is nice.

 

[phorsenuf]

Sanaa is excellent. Ate their twice on my last trip.

 

[figment814]

I have only eaten at Boma and Jiko. But from my understanding they are all very different experiences. I am not a big fan of buffets, but I tried Boma based on the reviews...and wasn't overly impressed.

I love Jiko...but I usually get a couple of appetizers as they are more interesting. The filet is good, my DBF gets it every time, but it is not overly special IMHO. This is the only restaurant I am okay eating at (almost) every trip.

I think the Sanaa menu looks amazing, and hope to eat there in October.

Based on the reviews, I think it is best to decide the dining experience you are looking for...people seem to love each one for different reasons.

 

[Nettester]

We went to all three of those restaurants last year.

Boma is an excellent buffet for unique and delicious foods and desserts. We absolutely loved that place, wished we had made more than one ADR there. Kids loved it too. There is a section of traditional kid favorites. The atmosphere is very beautiful as well, elegant surroundings, dark wood, very enjoyable to spend a evening dining and seeing the gorgeous lobby area, and walk around the animal viewing areas of AKL.

Sanaa has outstanding Indian food, which we love. And table service if you prefer that to a buffet. It is a little more out of the way to get to. Some of the tables are by the window and have a direct view of the animals. We did not have a window table, but the whole family enjoyed the meal. Our server told us they have also become a favorite of the locals. We would definitely go back to Sanaa.

Jiko is the most upscale. We thought it was only OK. The service was excellent. It was very expensive, portions were fancy and small, good, but not outstanding. My kids (10 and 8) did not enjoy it at all. I would return again, only without kids, though it would not be my top choice at WDW.

 

[ABCanada]

Love Sanaa. We often do it twice in one trip. We enjoy a late lunch, find it very relaxing, watching the animals and enjoying the food.

While the food at Boma is good and interesting we are not fans of buffets. Find Boma noisy.

Only been to Jiko once as part of the Sunset Safari. Food was good but enjoyed Sanaa atmosphere and food more.

Check the Sanaa menu. While it may not appeal to everyone, we have taken others with us and everyone has enjoyed it.

Save room for desert and if you enjoy tea they have a great loose leaf selection.

 

[MJMcBride]

I would go Boma, as a buffett u get to try a whole slew of items

 

[MeganFyne]

Love Sanaa

Went with my BF, he's a meat eater, I'm a veg. We both had AMAZING meals. Also seeing the animals while we ate was lovely! We got the bread thing - it had sauces. I'm sorry this is a meal over a year ago so I can't be specific but it ruled - I'm SURE there was Naan but I can't remember the sauces.

Our server was great, the atmosphere was wonderful.

Also, and I don't think anyone ever mentions this -
the size of 2 tops at Disney is HUGE! I mean I live in NYC and I'm used to a table for 2 being about 2 feet across. At Sanaa it was like a 4 top. The chairs are also huge! I felt like Lily Tomlan! It was terrific!

To be sure, we had gone to Sanaa after having been to the Wave in the Contemporary the night before. The Wave was BY FAR the worst table service dining experience I've had at Disney, and then Sanaa was just wonderful! Wherever you go have fun!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We tried Boma for dinner once and didnt like it at all, the dinner items are too sweet with cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg etc. I dont like my entrees to be sweet like dessert.

Love breakfast at Boma though

Jiko was great the first time, it was our favorite! The second time we ate there the quality of the filet was horrible and we are not in a rush to go back

Hope to eat at Sanaa soon, would love to try it and all the reviews I have read have been very good

 

[grace&philipsmom]

We have eaten at all three, and I would definitely choose Jiko. The food and service were the best by far.

 

[prttynpnk]

We love all 3 but end up leavinfg Saana out of our rotation alot becasue it's a little harder to get to.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

We're planning our fifth visit to Jiko and our third to Sanaa on our upcoming trip. Jiko is my absolute favorite, but both are excellent. I honestly have no interest in buffets at all, but if I ever do decide to try one, it will probably be Boma.

 

[Pakey]

We've done all 3 several times now. My answer would be: it depends

Jiko is a great place for adults, they have an outstanding wine list. I think the appetizers are much better than the entrees. When we go, we usually just order a bunch of appetizers and a bottle or two of wine. I think Jiko has the best soups at WDW.

Boma has some very interesting dishes. For variety and adventure, this is our top choice. The children's pod has more traditional food but for adults, I wouldn't choose this place if you are not adventurous. The restaurant is very pretty but noisy.

Saana is low key. I think the food is very good but portions are huge here. The menu is limited and if you do not care for Indian seasonings (although the food here is tame), your choices would be even more limited.

 

[Scotgirl]

I ate at Sanaa in September and wasn't overly impressed. The service was great and the restaurant was lovely but the food was rather bland. Certainly not as flavourful as the Indian food we have here. The cost was around $80 for the two of us - felt it was too much for what we actually had.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I ate at Sanaa in September and wasn't overly impressed. The service was great and the restaurant was lovely but the food was rather bland. Certainly not as flavourful as the Indian food we have here. The cost was around $80 for the two of us - felt it was too much for what we actually had.

Agreed. I think the appetizers are relatively interesting, but the entrees definitely tasted tame. The best part of Sanaa (IMO) is the view of the animals, and the chai cream dessert...but I'd rather have Jiko's authentic South African Malva Pudding.

 

[TDC Nala]

Ask them to kick up the spices. (If you're used to traditional Indian food, Sanaa's food is not like traditional Indian food)

 

[skylizard]

We tried Boma for dinner once and didnt like it at all, the dinner items are too sweet with cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg etc. I dont like my entrees to be sweet like dessert.

Really? I found many entrees there that weren't sweet at all. The prime rib and salmon were both delicious and not sweet.

 

[snykymom]

We love Jiko - been there twice, and are looking forward to it again on our next trip. But we're all adults. And we don't do the filet because we're more interested in the South African cuisine. (BTW, I find that appetizers are much more interesting at most of the TS restaurants, because they're not included in the regular dining plan, so restaurants make a bigger profit on them and can be more adventurous.)

My DH, who doesn't like buffets, looked down into the Boma area as we were climbing the staircase up from Jiko and said, "Now, that looks interesting, too!" I coulda killed him! But we now have ADRs at Boma, and also at Sanaa - he loves Indian food. I know it's not real Indian, and we have a great Indian restaurant in town, but I think he'll enjoy it anyway.

And because of the three ADRs at AKL, I decided to spring for staying there!

 

[umieesa]

After saying I'd never go back to Boma because of the "sweet" food, there was one day on our last trip that it rained so heavily we decided to stay at the resort. My husband and I thought (with little choice) to try Boma again. All I can say is that this time it was much better and I don't remember as many dishes being "sweet". I know certain items are on a rotation, so it may depend on what day you go and if you get lucky, but everything was quite good and the kids were happy too (it was a Thursday if that matters)! Agree with the PP that the salmon was excellent and there were plenty of delicious tasting soups and salads.

We also ate at Sanaa that trip and it was really delicious. I got the chicken in red curry and the shrimp in green curry, and hubby got the tandoor lamb. Everything was good and quite flavourful. Yes, it may not be as authentic as the Indian food we are accustomed to, but the food was still very flavourful without being spicy. The mango berry tapioca pudding was one of our favourite desserts the whole trip, and a good end to the meal. The chai cream was good, but I definitely couldn't eat too much of it. The kids enjoyed themselves here as well.

That being said, I don't think I could really decide between the two!

If you have a lot of picky eaters then you may want to go with Boma, since everyone is bound to find something they'll like, but the view from Sanaa and the food make it a must do on our next trip!

Good luck choosing!