Tiffins or Jiko?

[Daisybell911]

Hi all! I'm going to arrive on 9/7 and we're going with the DxDP to really enjoy all the restaurants for our honeymoon. We're going to do a half day at AK on arrival day and since my ADR's open up on Saturday, I need to put the final tweaks on my list. I really would like to catch ROL since it's new but what's most important is awesome food! Would you choose Tiffins or Jiko for our dinner that evening? I really would like it to be nice since its the first night of our honeymoon. Any insight would be awesome!

 

[steg]

Tiffins with ROL dining package, can actually save you money on tiffins in some instances.

Jiko's recent menu changes have "ruined it" for us personally. Everything we liked about our first visit to Jiko is gone.

 

[dclpluto]

I would pick tiffins. Jiko of course you would have to leave the park and since this will be your first day and only be there a half day.

Congrats

 

[imthegoose]

Tiffins with ROL dining package, can actually save you money on tiffins in some instances.

Jiko's recent menu changes have "ruined it" for us personally. Everything we liked about our first visit to Jiko is gone.

I'm actually having the same issue deciding between Tiffins or Jiko. I was leaning towards Jiko b/c I've heard a lot of great things about it. What menu changes occurred and how was it ruined?

 

[steg]

I'm actually having the same issue deciding between Tiffins or Jiko. I was leaning towards Jiko b/c I've heard a lot of great things about it. What menu changes occurred and how was it ruined?

Just things like the smoked chicken flatbread and wood fired oysters we loved being taken off the menu and replaced with things that contained ingredients we weren't fans off. When I say ruined, I meant ruined for us specifically Also In review sites like yelp and tripadvisor I was also unable to find any current pictures of the white sauce based mac and cheese they used to have that you could ask for a substitution for on one of the entrees which we loved with the Filet and Beef Shank they used to have, although those proteins are still on the menu. I was able to find some pictures of another mac and cheese at jiko that appeared to be baked and loaded with other stuff like what appeared to be sausage and peppers.

It appears that their menu has changed yet again when I looked just now but still isn't enough to pull me away from Tiffins.

 

[gillep]

Just things like the smoked chicken flatbread and wood fired oysters we loved being taken off the menu and replaced with things that contained ingredients we weren't fans off. When I say ruined, I meant ruined for us specifically Also In review sites like yelp and tripadvisor I was also unable to find any current pictures of the white sauce based mac and cheese they used to have that you could ask for a substitution for on one of the entrees which we loved with the Filet and Beef Shank they used to have, although those proteins are still on the menu. I was able to find some pictures of another mac and cheese at jiko that appeared to be baked and loaded with other stuff like what appeared to be sausage and peppers.

It appears that their menu has changed yet again when I looked just now but still isn't enough to pull me away from Tiffins.

DH and I have eaten at Jiko at least once a year for the past 8 years and our most recent experience was after the most recent chef change and menu update. The food is just as good as it has ever been, although if you don't like certain new ingredients that is understandable. DH was still able to get the filet with mac and cheese, as he always has, and it was exactly as it has always been with the white sauce and nothing else. We actually love some of the new items, especially the bread service which now has all in-house made accompaniments.

To answer the OPs question both are great options. Tiffins with the ROL package would be great if you want to see the show. If you want to see the lodge (lobby is beautiful) then a nice dinner after AK at Jiko would also be excellent. I really don't think that you can go wrong with whatever you choose!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We've been to Tiffins 3 times -- excellent food & experience.

We've lost count of how many times we've been to Jiko. There have been menu changes over the years, and we have NEVER had a problem with any of them -- food and atmosphere always excellent.

On our upcoming 11-day Aug trip we will go to both of these.

If I had to select one OR the other, I would decide based on whether leaving the park was a negative or not. If that matters, go with Tiffins. If not, I might just have to flip a coin!

 

[Daisybell911]

I figured if I went with Jiko, it would be a really late reservation around 9:30 so when we left the park we could go there and not miss any AK time. Jiko was my first choice since I heard so many wonderful things about it. However, the more I hear about Tiffins, and the possibility of a ROL package, im not considered changing my mind.

Man, can I just eat at ALLLLL of the restaurants?? I honestly think I'm just as excited to eat at all of the great places as I am to go to the parks!

 

[Hopefully]

I have eaten at Jiko's a few times in the past and enjoyed it. However the current menu no longer appeals to me at all.
We are planning on Tiffin's for our next trip.

 

[Somnia]

I figured if I went with Jiko, it would be a really late reservation around 9:30 so when we left the park we could go there and not miss any AK time. Jiko was my first choice since I heard so many wonderful things about it. However, the more I hear about Tiffins, and the possibility of a ROL package, im not considered changing my mind.

Man, can I just eat at ALLLLL of the restaurants?? I honestly think I'm just as excited to eat at all of the great places as I am to go to the parks!

You honestly can't go wrong with either one, but I will say Jiko is the best restaurant I've ever been too and the best on Disney (in my opinion). Jiko is one of those must do's on every trip for me.

 

[mindeola]

I cancelled a Jiko 25th anniversary dinner for the Tiffins ROL package. I have not been to either one, but I think this is going to work for us nicely. Congrats on your wedding and have a great trip!

 

[kastoney]

Its definitely a bit of a Sophie's choice, but good news is you cannot go wrong with either. They are both disney dining at its best

 

[ratfam]

We did Tiffins ROL package last week. Because ROL was showing at 7:15 we ended up with more of a late lunch (3:10pm was the latest reservation available on the package), but hours may be later when the show is later. Our family of 4 (including picky DD21 and foodie DS18) all found it to be phenomenal, the ingredients were interesting and fresh and the presentation beautiful. The staff had a lot of pride in the restaurant and was very excited that the show was finally open. We were very glad to have the reserved seating since the seats were great and the theater had closed to standby more than half an hour in advance of showtime, I suspect people arrived very early to get their seats. The service was great and they definitely did not want to rush you through the meal. We were there about 2 hours (the server got a bit bogged down towards the end or we probably would have been done about 20 minutes sooner), so you should probably take that into consideration. Also when we arrived for ROL it was a bit of a zoo, they were trying to turn away standby people and weren't really dealing efficiently with dining package people. It all worked out great and I suspect that this was probably due in large part to the whole thing being so new (there were a lot of "official" looking people observing) but depending on how much better they get at managing the crowds I would recommend 40 minutes early with the dining package rather than the 30 that Tiffin's advised.

 

[steg]

We did Tiffins ROL package last week.

Was it clear where you had to go and line up for the reserved seating with the dining package?

 

[ratfam]

Was it clear where you had to go and line up for the reserved seating with the dining package?

No, not at all. The guidemap gives you a general area of where to go but part of the problem is that the dining package enters in the same area generally as the standby people, so when they were turning away the standby people that was creating a total bottleneck and they weren't giving direction to the dining package people (plus we were given conflicting directions by cast members when we were trying to even find the entry point). Then they started moving us in to an area where there clearly were no seats available, and then said "dining package people come this way" but then the person we were supposed to be following shot off and we had no idea where we were supposed to go. Eventually we figured out where we were supposed to go which was a pretty empty section of the theater with fabulous seats so it all ended well, I am sure that after they have had the whole thing going for a few more weeks the CM's will know more where to send people and maybe they will reconsider creating a better separated entrance for the dining package more like with Fantasmic. Until then just don't cut it too close on timing

 

[Nancyg56]

Tiffins was hands down, the best meal we had last December, and we after really well the entries trip.

I would plan a late lunch, enjoy that beautiful art filled restaurant, then meander outside to Nomads to relax with a cocktail. Then go to the show. DAK is a lovely park IMO is the one to choose if you want to relax for part of the day.

I don't know your touring style so I don't knwo if you get sidetracked as you are leaving a park. We do. The downside of having a meal scheduled as late as your Jiko ADR is planned, and one that has evening entertainment included prior, is that you are compelled to see the show and hit the road. DAK after dark is pretty, and I know my friend and I were mesmerized by the colors around us.

 

[steg]

The food is just as good as it has ever been, although if you don't like certain new ingredients that is understandable. DH was still able to get the filet with mac and cheese, as he always has, and it was exactly as it has always been with the white sauce and nothing else.

Thank goodness! We just rearranged some stuff to get Jiko back on our itinerary because of your post. Thanks!

 

[TampaDisFan]

I've eaten at Tiffins only once and I thought it was just OK. I think Jiko is much better but it is inconvenient since it's not in the park.

One suggestion I'd make is if you are going to leave AK and go to AKL, I'd go to Sanaa instead. It's cheaper but even if it was the same price I'd still think it's better than Jiko and Tiffins easily. I think it's somewhat of a hidden gem. I had eaten at Jiko like 5 times over the last year and then when we discovered Sanaa we never thought it was worth going to AKL and going to Jiko instead. Sanaa is just so much better IMO.

Something to think about.

 

[Daisybell911]

I ended up doing Yak &Yeti for lunch and Jiko for dinner. We have a 9:55 reservation because we are going to do Pandora and ROL. I'm so excited! Thanks for the recommendations!

 

[gillep]

I ended up doing Yak &Yeti for lunch and Jiko for dinner. We have a 9:55 reservation because we are going to do Pandora and ROL. I'm so excited! Thanks for the recommendations!

That sounds wonderful! I am sure you already know this, but if you enjoy wine I highly recommend trying the S. African wines at Jiko. They do flights as well as wines by the glass and by the bottle. I also recommend the bread service, mmm carbs!