Our Appetizer-Only Dining Review of Sanaa
- Dani
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
Going on vacation to Walt Disney World is always a wonderful and magical experience. There is so much to enjoy, from thrilling attractions to beautiful hotels, the ambiance, and, of course, the food. One of the great things about dining at Walt Disney World is the variety of cuisines available. When we visit, we love dining at our favorite cultural restaurants, and Sanaa, located at Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village, is one we always include every vacation! We've had excellent meals at Sanaa and typically dine there for lunch or dinner. During our last visit, we decided to try something different and only ordered from the appetizer menu! Keep reading to find out what we chose and, more importantly, if we recommend it to other visitors.
Sanaa features African cooking with Indian flavors. They offer casual breakfast from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM, lunch from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, dinner from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM, and a lounge open from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM. The restaurant provides spectacular views of the hotel's savanna, where you can see a variety of animals that one might encounter on an African safari.
We had two fantastic waitstaff during our visit, one of whom was still in training, but she was doing an excellent job, and we experienced no issues throughout our lunch. I always enjoy a mango lassi with my meals at Sanaa, so I ordered that first. Danny chose a herbal hot tea presented in a beautiful pot and glassware.
To start our appetizer-only lunch, we ordered the Indian-style bread service. Danny and I have enjoyed naan from various restaurants over the years, but we both agree that Sanaa's bread service is the best! The order includes a custom selection of five breads and nine accompaniments. We chose three traditional naan and two garlic-ginger naan. For the accompaniments, our nine included two mango chutneys, two toasted red pepper hummus, two tamarind chutneys, two coriander chutneys, and one red chile sambal. I particularly enjoyed the tamarind chutney, but all of the sauces were flavorful and delicious, complementing the bread perfectly.
Next, we ordered the samosas made with potato and peas, served with tamarind and mango chutney. The last dish we chose was the lamb kefta, one of my favorites. This dish consists of seasoned ground lamb served with house-made garlic hummus, topped with crispy spiced chickpeas, pear chutney, chile oil, and papadam. Papadam is a thin, crispy lentil-based cracker popular in Indian cuisine.
Overall, the appetizer-only dining meal at Sanaa was a success. The total cost came to about $60 before tax and gratuity. The portion sizes were perfect because we wanted to enjoy a meal at Sanaa without feeling overwhelmed before tackling more parks and attractions.
If you're interested in trying this approach at Sanaa, we highly recommend it. This is a great option for someone new to the restaurant who wants to sample various dishes before committing to entrees or for anyone looking for a quick bite. As veterans of Sanaa dining, we enjoyed this unique perspective on our meal.
We are always looking for fun dining experiences at Disney parks, so please share your recommendations! We’d love to hear your thoughts on Sanaa and if you have ordered similar dishes. Thanks for reading, and reach out if you have any questions or would like assistance planning your next magical vacation!
Comments