As a long-distance Disney fan, I usually live vicariously through my coworkers who go into the parks every single day. So, I was thrilled when I had the chance to eat my way around Animal Kingdom last week!

Animal Kingdom is currently having a moment with its food scene, and although I’ve loved Animal Kingdom food over EPCOT for years now, the rest of the world is finally catching on. Because of that, Disney invited us out to try some of the iconic eats that make this park a notch above the rest! So let’s eat around Animal Kingdom together, shall we?

The star of the show had to be the pork shoulder. This was so tender and mixed well with everything on the plate! The charred onion sauce also elevated this from a regular hash to something I’d expect at a fancy, table service restaurant. It had a slight kick, but it was mostly just packed with onion flavor that complemented the meat and potatoes.

I wish the hash was a tad crispier, as it was mushy in some parts of the plate, but the taste was exactly what you want it to be — lightly salted and the ideal vessel for the charred onion sauce and pork shoulder. The chorizo sausage had a nice, smoky flavor, but it was incredibly tough to chew through, so you may end up picking around it if you don’t cut it into small bites for yourself.

You can get this between 8 AM and 10 AM, then the menu transitions to lunch. So after rope dropping Flight of Passage, go ahead and put in a Mobile Order if you want to try it!

Flavored coffee scares me sometimes, because it sounds super sweet. This coconut coffee, though? It nailed the balance. It was stronger than I expected — especially since this is iced coffee and not cold brew specifically — but the mixture of coconut, oat milk, and a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk made it sweet enough. You’ll have to stir in the condensed milk as you drink the coffee to get the full effect, but it’s so worth it!

You can also get this drink with Amarula Cream Liqueur (yes, the same liqueur used in Zebra Domes) for $15.50. Oh, and it’s available to order all day!

Kusafiri — Rice Bowls

After letting us explore the park on our own in the morning, we got a guided tour around the park and met some chefs who are behind the food we adore so much. My group’s first stop was back at Kusafiri with Culinary Director Gregg Hannon to talk about the bowls!

It’s beef! It’s chicken! Oh wait, it’s beef AND chicken! That’s right — there are two proteins in one serving with the Beef and Chicken Rice Bowl! This costs $12.99 and is made with Chermoula-marinated Chicken on Jollof Rice with Kachumbari Tomato Salad, and Tzatziki Sauce. The chicken was spiced, but not spicy, so you don’t have to worry about the heat. The beef was tender and easy to chew in bite-sized pieces. The real star of the show had to be the rice! I would eat a plain bowl of that rice with no toppings and be a happy camper. The tzatziki and veggies brighten up the dish, and you can tell they are fresh.

You cannot tell the Plant-based Picadillo Bowl is plant-based from taste alone. It is packed full of flavor! The Impossible® Beef on Jollof Rice with Kuchumbari Tomato Salad and Plant-based Aïoli come together to create a fresh dish that you wouldn’t expect to find in a theme park. Seriously, I was blown away. A bite with every aspect of the bowl is best, but I found myself going back for just a bite of the Impossible® Beef again and again.

Both bowls are $12.99, and the portion sizes are completely shareable. Something we discussed with Gregg Hannon, Culinary Director at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is sharing new flavors with kids. This immediately struck me as a fantastic gateway dish to try African spices and vegetables in a kid-friendly way, and that is always the goal, according to the Disney food and beverage team. “We really are going to great lengths to make sure that we are being authentic, but also making sure that we’re engaging our guests. We’re trying to find that balance for all ages, all demographics, and all budgets, as well,” said Hannon.

Hannon also made sure to point out that Animal Kingdom “is a true discovery park, and we want them to not only discover the animals and the plants and the lands, but also the food and beverage.”

Terra Treats — Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich

We’ve seen the lines. We’ve seen the pile of sugar in all its forms. We’ve seen the families trying to eat this before it melts all over the ground. The Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich is iconic for a reason, and I got to learn that firsthand last week!

Over at Terra Treats, the unsuspecting ice cream stand that also serves the hand-scooped ice cream that used to be in DinoLand U.S.A. (R.I.P.), you’ll find this masterpiece for $8.99. It is literally a brownie layered with vanilla ice cream, topped with chocolate chips and edible cookie dough. Oh, and there are sprinkles and sea salt in there just for fun!

Even in the rain, people are lining up for this treat. Every time we pass by, there’s a queue, so we think this spot deserves its own Lightning Lane! Skip the line at Expedition Everest, or skip the line to get this frozen treat? I think the answer is clear…

Anyways, I spoke with Pastry Chef Kellie Matthews, the creator of this wildly nostalgic concoction, about what inspired the viral treat. “I definitely think I am like a mad scientist,” Matthews said. “What could I have if I were able to have anything?”

Take a look!

The inspiration behind the Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich! 🍪🍦😍 pic.twitter.com/ufTolI9ex0

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 11, 2026

You would think this would be overly sweet, but between the sea salt and the light ice cream, that is surprisingly not the case. It was created this way on purpose, so that groups can share and enjoy food together. Plus, it helps you save room to try tons of other snacks around the park!

The Smiling Crocodile — Arepas

Believe me, you’ll want to save room for some arepas from The Smiling Crocodile! Here, you can find the Pulled Pork Cheese Arepa and the Pulled Chicken Cheese Arepa, which both come with plantain chips for $13.49 each. 

The pulled pork version is topped with queso fresco and salsa verde. This was salty, a little bit spicy, and had all the right textures in one bite. The arepa itself was soft, along with the layer of cheese inside. Then there was a hefty serving of the pulled pork filling inside. This could easily be a lunch or another perfect shareable for a group!

The pulled chicken comes in avocado dressing and is topped with queso fresco and salsa verde. The tangy avocado dressing took the chicken to a new level. As a self-proclaimed picky-eater, I could see other picky eaters branching out with this chicken dish!

This ended up being my favorite snack of the day. Executive Chef Camilo Velasco is from Colombia and introduced us to the iconic arepas. Could we see these in the new Encanto area coming to the Animal Kingdom park expansion in 2027? Unfortunately, it’s too early for that kind of scoop, so we’ll have to wait and see!

Pandora — Drinks

How do you theme food and drinks around a fictional world where that is not at the center? Well, that is a challenge people like Bryan Maroun, Proprietor at Pandora: World of Avatar, have to solve! And let me tell you — they definitely figured it out.

We tried three drinks that you can find around Pandora right now. Starting with the Nightwraith Blaze ($10.29) at Pongu Pongu, which is a non-alcoholic option based on the new Avatar: Fire and Ash film! Maroun revealed that Disney works closely with Lightstorm, the production company founded by James Cameron, ahead of new films to come up with food and beverage options in the parks. This bright red blood orange, lychee, and wildberry slushy, topped with a glow cube and passion fruit juice-filled pearls, definitely screams “Fire and Ash!”

So, what can you expect from this? Well, it is slightly sweet, but mostly refreshing, and the juicy boba adds a nice pop of flavor. It’s possible to order with a float of Tito’s Vodka for $20.50 if you desire. The creators made sure this tasted its absolute best with and without alcohol!

The other two drinks I tried can be found at Satu’li Canteen (hooray, we’re back!). This includes the Yovo Fruit Margarita ($16.50) made of Teremana Blanco Tequila with dragon fruit and sour mix. Wow, this one was strong! If you don’t pucker from the tequila taste on the first sip, I would be impressed. But once that washes over you, the refreshing dragonfruit taste hits you. I’m beyond my ultra-sweet drink phase, so this is exactly the kind of drink I look for now. It’s fruity, it’s fun, AND it’s strong, so you get your money’s worth.

The yovo is one of the Navi’s favorite fruits, and dragonfruit ended up being the closest real-life fruit to it. Maroun said his team plays around a lot with these drinks, even down to the garnishes, until they get it just right. In this case, the dragonfruit on top was chosen to “not only help identify to our guests this is a really unique offering, but it is very reminiscent of what the Navi would actually have here.”

Finally, we tried the Trader’s Tailwind (also $16.5o), which was also created with Fire and Ash in mind. It’s made of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Bols Triple Sec Liqueur, mango purée, Minute Maid® Orange Juice, chamoy, and ginger beer with a chili-lime-rimmed glass garnished with a dehydrated blood orange wheel.

Beware, because this drink has a kick! If the chamoy inside the drink isn’t enough, a sip from the Tajin rim will definitely hit you in the back of the throat. The mango helps everything go down smooth, and the ginger beer adds depth to the complex cocktail.

The drink’s story is “reminiscent of that storyline” featured in Fire and Ash, according to Maroun. The Wind Traders “brought these exotic and great ingredients to us, which is why it doesn’t really look like the Yovo Margarita, or any of our other offerings.”

This was only the first part of my day, but it was pretty fantastic, right? Stay tuned for part two, where I dive into what makes Nomad Lounge and Tiffins so special, including food, ambience, and beyond!

THIS Is the Best Mac & Cheese in Disney’s Animal Kingdom