Disney Sanaa Restaurant Review | 4 Must Have Eats

Looking for a unique Walt Disney World hotel restaurant? Check out this Disney Sanaa Restaurant Review | 4 Must Have Eats and Best Tips. Post sponsored by Disney. All delicious opinions are my own

Disney Sanaa Restaurant Review | 4 Must Have Eats + Tips

It has been praised as one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World. Sanaa, the famous African Indian fusion restaurant located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge brings such color, culture and flavors that are unexpected to the normal American palate.

Excited to dine here for the first time during our Monkey Kingdom Event adventure, I was unprepared for the journey my meal would take me. So grab a napkin (to catch the food picture drool) and dive into my ultimate Disney dining experience with my exclusive Disney Sanaa Restaurant Review | 4 Must Have Eats and Best Tips to make the most of your dining adventure.

4. Salad Sampler

It’s not a meal without your salad. And the Sanaa salads are definitely unusually delicious! Your Salad Sampler includes the choice of three salads: Chickpeas with Cucumber and Tomato; Watermelon, Cucumber and Fennel; Kachumbari; Mango; or Bhel Puri.

Watermelon and cucumber ended up being the surprise combo of the meal. I loved how sweet and refreshing this cold salad was! The chickpeas salad was also delicious, but very filling. So watch that appetite if you’re ordering more courses.

3. Slow Cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well-Seasoned

I kid you not. That is the name of the dish. You get your choice of two meats served with Basmati Rice or Five-Grain Pilaf – Butter Chicken, Goan Seafood Curry, Chicken Vindaloo, Spicy Durban Shrimp, or Beef Short Ribs. We received the Butter Chicken, Goan Seafood Curry & Basmati Rice. The butter chicken was ah-mazing. Seriously. I would have licked the sauce clean from my bowl if I could.

As for the Goan Seafood Curry, I’m not a huge seafood fan so I wouldn’t be one to judge this portion of the dish. The sauce was definitely flavorful, but the chewy seafood texture isn’t my bag. Next time I would definitely try the Short Ribs and the Shrimp!

2. Dessert Trio

Seriously. Not one, but three desserts presented beautifully on a plate. It was a little tour of delicate delectable-ness (totally made up that words and loving it).  The chocolate mousse was light and airy, topped with  beautiful blue butterfly. The Banana Cheesecake was definitely my favorite of the dish.

And had I not known what Kulfi was, I would have totally been fooled into thinking I had vanilla ice cream topped with mango and coconut. But in fact, Kulfi is a much creamier and denser cold treat from India. I have to get my ice cream fanatic husband to try this one!

1. The Naan – Indian Bread Service

Are you surprised that dessert is actually NOT my favorite part of my meal? Me too! The Naan is the BEST bang for your buck when dining at Sanaa, and seriously this dish can be a meal unto itself. It’s that good. If I hadn’t been sitting with 9 other people, my table manners would have been thrown out the window. Here’s the normal option: Choice of Three Breads – Traditional Naan, Garlic-Ginger Naan, Spiced Naan, Onion Kucha, or Paneer Paratha AND Choice of Three Accompaniments – Red Chile Sambal, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Coconut Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Spicy Jalapeño-Lime Pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, or Tamarind Chutney.

While normally 3 accompaniments are included with your Naan, oh yes, we were served all 10. It was a colorful plate indeed, and being a huge fan of bread and dips, this was definitely the highlight of my meal. Here’s my picks for best dips. Red Chile Sambal was hands down the favorite, a little heat (not enough to burn your mouth down, but definitely spicier than your average salsa) with a blend of amazing seasonings. I would also include the Cucumber Raita for the full opposite effect to the chile; cool, smooth and refreshing with a yogurt base. The Mango Chutney would be my 3rd pick, just to round out your taste buds with a little sweetness.

The best part about the Disney Sanaa Restaurant, in my opinion, is that the price point is very affordable for those looking for an amazing sit-down Disney dining experience. You can enjoy a fantastic and unique meal without having to splurge the family Disney budget. The Salad Sampler is a reasonable $7.49 for 3 salads, and the Naan is definitely the BEST priced item on the menu at $10.49. You can check out the fill Sanaa restaurant menu, info and RSVP details HERE. Are you looking for more ways to make your Sanaa experience even better? Check out these 5 Sanaa Dining Experience tips.

Sanaa Tips for the Best Dining Experience

1. Make reservations

As with any Disney experience, if you can make reservations, do it. Open for lunch (11:30 am to 3 pm) and dinner (5 pm to 9 pm). Sanaa accepts reservations for your family’s feast, up to 180 days before your arrival. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-villas-kidani/sanaa/

2. Ask to be seated by the windows

Did I forget to tell you about the amazing view? Your dining experience just happens to overlook one of the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge savannas. So a wandering zebra or giraffe might happen to pass between courses.

3. Enjoy a Family-Style Feast

I love how family is the central theme of the meal. Family style servings of salads and Naan are presented, encouraging families to interact, communicate and dig in together.

4. Dine with a Specialist

And if you need another amazing reason to go check out Disney’s Sanaa Restaurant, it also is the home of the Dine with An Animal Specialist experience. Seriously fun and unique Disney dining and experience rolled into one. We got to sit with Greg Peccie, the Animal Operations Manager and learned 10 amazing animal facts about the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge residents!

5. Build in some extra time

Disney dining is more than just food! The Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge has so much more to offer! Be sure to schedule in some extra time to explore the hotel, including a closer view of the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge savannas! There’s also 2 pools, animal experiences and of course, great Disney photo ops (especially with those amazing animals) throughout the 46 acres!

Have you been following along with my #MonkeyKingdomEvent adventures? Check out my amazing Disney experiences so far!

• Disney’s Wild Africa Trek
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Backstage Tales Tour
• Disney Animal Kingdom’s Wilderness Explorers Guide
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Best New Gardens for 2015
• Exclusive Interview with Disneynature Ambassador Dr. M. Sanjayan
• Monkey Kingdom Movie Review
  

A rich exotic menu, affordable family options and amazing Disney atmosphere all make Sanaa one of the best Walt Disney World restaurants. It was a tasty travel experience that left a memorable impression with me. I cannot wait to go back with my family to inhale devour politely eat more Naan and have my kids walk around the savannas.

What Disney Sanaa Restaurant dish would you love to try?

Disclosure ~ I was invited to attend an all-inclusive media event in exchange for this posting. All opinions are my own. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more family travel tips.

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