Dining at Sanaa is a must-do during every visit to Walt Disney World. The restaurant serves delicious and flavorful African-Indian inspired cuisines, the best Indian-style bread service, offers my favorite mango lassi, and has spectacular views of animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa takes the number one spot on my list of restaurants to dine at Walt Disney World.
Located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village, Sanaa offers a unique breakfast, lunch, and dinner experience. The restaurant is styled to resemble an East African traditional spice market, adorned with handcrafted decor. When planning your visit to Sanaa, make reservations in advance, as they are highly recommended. Same-day or walk-up reservations are available on a limited basis, but I wouldn't take the chance if you really want to eat at Sanaa. I usually make lunch and dinner reservations 60 days in advance of my vacations.
The Food at Sanaa
Sanaa's lunch and dinner menus offer alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Indian-style bread service, appetizers, and African and Indian inspired cuisines. I start my meal with a non-alcoholic mango lassi smoothie. If you've never had a mango lassi, try one. The beverage consists of nonfat yogurt and a frozen blend of mango purée. In addition to the mango lassi, I also order the Indian-style bread service as an appetizer. With bread service, you can choose five breads - traditional naan, garlic-ginger naan, spiced naan, onion kulcha, or paneer paratha, and nine dipping accompaniments- cucumber raita, roasted red pepper hummus, mango chutney, tomato-date jam, tamarind chutney, coriander chutney, garlic pickle, red chile sambal, or spicey jalapeño-lime pickle. I usually order five traditional naans and a combination of five tamarind chutney and four mango chutney accompaniments. The fresh, soft bread and chutney complement each other so well providing a warm, sweet, and savory taste.
For my entrée, I order a potjie inspired dish. The word potjie is short for potjiekos, which in South Africa is translated to "small pot food". From Sanaa's potjie menu, one can select a dish from the "Journey" section - goan seafood curry, butter chicken, or braised beef, and one item from the "Harvest" (plant-based) list - chickpea wat, aloo masala (spiced potatoes), or cilantro-coconut vegetables. Basmati rice is served with all selections. I order braised beef with aloo masala. The braised beef is cooked to perfection; every bite of the tender meat is flavorful and packed with spices. Another noteworthy dish to try is the butter chicken.
I'm usually very full to entertain the thought of ordering dessert, but Sanaa's menu includes - serradura (a butterscotch pudding), an African triple chocolate mousse, and kheer (a coconut-rice pudding).
Beyond the Table - The Sanaa Ambience
Before your visit to Sanaa ends, take time to enjoy the beautiful view of the savanna-styled landscape and the animals outside the restaurant's windows or walk on the lodge's deck. Animal sightings include ankole cattle, zebras, white-bearded wildebeest, and more!
Let me know your thoughts about Sanaa and what dishes and desserts you recommend trying. Click here to read more about my favorite Disney restaurants.
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