Where can I find exotic foods at WDW?

[corgi_monster]

I'd love to try some new things while at WDW - where can I find exotic dishes?

I'm Japanese, so please don't tell me sushi or sashimi. Raw, slimy fish - yum!

I'd love to hear all your suggestions!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Exotic.. hmmmm.. what about Jiko or in Epcot Morocco....not sure either are that exotic, but have to say I am at a loss for exotic. Maybe Artist Pointe, they do some interesting food as well...

Anyway, look here, here is a list of every restaurant at WDW and what they offer. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm#mk

 

[Maggi May]

I'm Japanese, so please don't tell me sushi or sashimi. Raw, slimy fish - yum!
!

Too funny!

In addition to Jiko and Morroco, which are very good suggestions, how about Boma at the AKL? Their buffet has plenty of "safe foods" like roasted chicken and prime rib, but they also offer really unusual dishes such as watermelonr rind slaw and bobotie, which is like a lamb/beef pie with bread topping. Some of Boma's seasonings are unusual, too, at least to the typical American palate.

Another nice thing about Boma is that the kitchen is right behind the buffet area and the chefs like to answer questions about the food and make suggestions.


And, while I wouldn't call it exotic, if you've not had much food from the British Isles Raglan Road and the Rose and Crown might be good choices, too.

 

[salmoneous]

<flame suit on>

Disney designs most of their "exotic" foods to be exotic for the folks from Iowa who view The Olive Garden as going out for foreign food. I think the food court in my local mall has more exotic food than 95% of what is served at Epcot.

Not that there is anything wrong with that - just don't go in with your hopes up. The one place I would steer you to is Jiko.

 

[Laura]

<flame suit on>

Disney designs most of their "exotic" foods to be exotic for the folks from Iowa who view The Olive Garden as going out for foreign food. I think the food court in my local mall has more exotic food than 95% of what is served at Epcot.

Not that there is anything wrong with that - just don't go in with your hopes up. The one place I would steer you to is Jiko.

I completely agree. I haven't been to Jiko, though, but it looks pretty good and gets great reviews. Boma, though it has a lot of "safe" food, also has some more exotic dishes like watermelon rind salad and some other interesting vegetable dishes--just like Maggi May posted.

There's also Bongo's Cuban Cafe--which is fun and a bit different for those of us who live in the north. I understand it isn't the best Cuban in Orlando, but I thought the food was tasty. Fried plantains=good.

ETA: I read some recent menus for Crystal Palace's lunch and dinner buffets. There seem to be some interesting dishes on that buffet, too.

 

[crisi]

Also agree. If you are into "exotic" food, you won't find much at Disney. There are some unusual dishes served at Jiko and Boma. Marrkesh is unusual. But all those menus are developed for the American Tourist palate.

 

[Leota]

Also agree. If you are into "exotic" food, you won't find much at Disney. There are some unusual dishes served at Jiko and Boma. Marrkesh is unusual. But all those menus are developed for the American Tourist palate.

Ditto. We love to eat alot of different ethnic cuisine. It sure ain't happening at WDW - everything is very Americanized - like any Tourist Destination. Unfortunately instead of using the opportunity to introduce people's palates to something new & exciting, they decrease the authenticity to the lowest common denomenator - ie. the Olive Garden Nation.

We find the best exotic food happens in the scariest storefront restaurants in the city. If it has a plain sign, no menu but is written in a different language on a chalk board, if at all - you know it's gonna be good!

 

[hmp2z]

You can't! WDW appeals to the lowest common denominator: Midwestern hausfraus who think that California roll = good sushi.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[pmiranda]

We find the best exotic food happens in the scariest storefront restaurants in the city. If it has a plain sign, no menu but is written in a different language on a chalk board, if at all - you know it's gonna be good!

...or make you terribly ill.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

<flame suit on>

Disney designs most of their "exotic" foods to be exotic for the folks from Iowa who view The Olive Garden as going out for foreign food. I think the food court in my local mall has more exotic food than 95% of what is served at Epcot.

Not that there is anything wrong with that - just don't go in with your hopes up. The one place I would steer you to is Jiko.

If you believe this, then you obviously are misguided. Have you ever eaten at Jiko, Boma, Le Chefs de France, Le Cellier, etc.? These all have some excellent choices that are of the exotic variety. I can understand seeing an "Americanized" version of foreign foods at a counter service restaurant, but the more expensive table services are wonderful.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'd love to try some new things while at WDW - where can I find exotic dishes?

I'm Japanese, so please don't tell me sushi or sashimi. Raw, slimy fish - yum!

I'd love to hear all your suggestions!

We like Jiko, Boma, Le Chefs de France, Le Cellier, Rose & Crown, etc.

An *AMAZING* restaurant that services seafood and steak is Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It has the best mussels, steak, and lobster on property and you should definitely give it a try!

 

[madalex]

If you believe this, then you obviously are misguided. Have you ever eaten at Jiko, Boma, Le Chefs de France, Le Cellier, etc.? These all have some excellent choices that are of the exotic variety. I can understand seeing an "Americanized" version of foreign foods at a counter service restaurant, but the more expensive table services are wonderful.

Jiko and Boma come close with some of their dishes, but Chefs de France and Le Cellier are far from "exotic." It's been about 50 years since French food served in an American restaurant was thought to be exotic. That's not to say that those are not good restaurants; I just wouldn't call them "exotic."

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

If you believe this, then you obviously are misguided. Have you ever eaten at Jiko, Boma, Le Chefs de France, Le Cellier, etc.? These all have some excellent choices that are of the exotic variety. I can understand seeing an "Americanized" version of foreign foods at a counter service restaurant, but the more expensive table services are wonderful.

If you believe this then ...Well, I disagree.

WDW has nothing adventurous aside from Buffalo steak at Artist Point and that's not too exotic...Once upon a time Artist Point served a collection of wild game from the Northwest, The California Grill served genuine Californian nouveau cuisine, Flying Fish served a variety of ever changing fish and seafood with unusual receipes and Jiko served unusual fish finds (Monkish and Duck & Prok firecracker), but those days are gone. You'll now find the ubiquitous on every menu (one pork, one steak, one fish) with some mild variation.

The only restaurant on property that offers any twists on the norm is BlueZoo, IMO but still not exotic.

 

[Leota]

If you believe this, then you obviously are misguided. Have you ever eaten at Jiko, Boma, Le Chefs de France, Le Cellier, etc.? These all have some excellent choices that are of the exotic variety. I can understand seeing an "Americanized" version of foreign foods at a counter service restaurant, but the more expensive table services are wonderful.

If you believe this, let me cook for you or take you to some real ethnic restaurants. Jiko & Boma are wonderful, especially Jiko, but they are "African Inspired" not "African" Chefs is the poorest excuse for watered down French Cusine I have ever tasted & I know Classical & Noveau French Cuisine, trust me. I have never in my life heard anyone call Canadian food Exotic so I don't even know what to say to that...

I have eaten at just about every Signature restaurant in WDW & most of the other TS places as well over the past 16 years. While I have had some really great meals (the Old Artist Point, BlueZoo, California Grill, Victoria & Alberts) The only meal that comes close to exotic these days are some of the fresh & exciting ingredients at V&A.

 

[crisi]

If you believe this, then you obviously are misguided. Have you ever eaten at Jiko, Boma, Le Chefs de France, Le Cellier, etc.? These all have some excellent choices that are of the exotic variety. I can understand seeing an "Americanized" version of foreign foods at a counter service restaurant, but the more expensive table services are wonderful.

Have eaten at most, but have to agree with others - none of that is exotic. Boma has some interesting dishes - but its pretty bland and Americanized. I can't think of anything I've seen on the menu at Le Cellier that I can't get within ten miles of home (then again, I live in Minnesota on the Wisconsin border, beer cheese soup isn't unusual at all).

But I don't consider Thai, Indian or Korean exotic - those are regular meals I even cook at home (except Korean, I don't really like Korean). Sushi is served in my company cafeteria. I've eaten Sri Lankan (very spicy) and Ethiopian (lots of scoop up something that I believe was pureed beans onto something a lot like naan or pita). So perhaps I'm not misguided, but simply have a much more stringent definition of exotic.

 

[BriarRosie]

If you believe this, let me cook for you or take you to some real ethnic restaurants. Jiko & Boma are wonderful, especially Jiko, but they are "African Inspired" not "African" Chefs is the poorest excuse for watered down French Cusine I have ever tasted & I know Classical & Noveau French Cuisine, trust me. I have never in my life heard anyone call Canadian food Exotic so I don't even know what to say to that...

I have eaten at just about every Signature restaurant in WDW & most of the other TS places as well over the past 16 years. While I have had some really great meals (the Old Artist Point, BlueZoo, California Grill, Victoria & Alberts) The only meal that comes close to exotic these days are some of the fresh & exciting ingredients at V&A.

Well, I can think within some of the homogenization over the last few years,
you can still find "exotic" among the ordinary. To most people, escargot is
still too exotic, as is foie gras. (Chefs de France and California Grill for my
examples)

 

[corgi_monster]

Thanks, everyone!
I think we'll be going to Boma and perhaps Jiko (if we have enough TS credits leftover.)

I tend to agree with the people who think that there aren't too many exotic dishes in WDW, which is why I asked this question. I guess "exotic" just depends on who you are and what experiences you've had. Jellyfish, 1,000 year old eggs, and tripe are quite common household ingredients at my DBF's house, and I don't really bat an eye at these things.

I'm off to look at pics of zebra domes!

 

[Leota]

...or make you terribly ill.

Isn't that the fun of it tho?

I have one favorite restaurant in my city. I call it "Vietnamese Roulette" It is the scariest looking restaurant with a butcher block up front covered in unidentifieable body parts....But they roast one mean duck & make the best Bun I ever had.

So far, so good. But even if I got sick one time, it'd be worth it for that Duck!

 

[DISNEYDUET]

<flame suit on>

Disney designs most of their "exotic" foods to be exotic for the folks from Iowa who view The Olive Garden as going out for foreign food. I think the food court in my local mall has more exotic food than 95% of what is served at Epcot.