There are plenty of great restaurants at Walt Disney World, but few combine incredible food with a unique setting quite like Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village.
I’ve visited for dinner several times over the years, and while the atmosphere is always wonderful, those evening meals usually come after sunset when many of the animals have already settled in for the night (and the window views are completely dark). This time, we decided to visit for lunch instead, and it completely changed the experience.
Getting to Sanaa is part of the fun! After parking or arriving by a Disney bus, you’ll make your way through Kidani Village’s beautiful lobby toward a grand staircase leads down toward Sanaa, with large windows overlooking the savanna as you descend.
Before you even glance out at the savanna, Sanaa sets the mood with its warm, inviting atmosphere. Rich wood tones, woven light fixtures, colorful textiles, and handcrafted African-inspired artwork fill the dining room without feeling overdone. Large windows stretch along one side of the restaurant, making the savanna the true focal point. Truly, as good as Sanaa is any time of day, this place was made for experiencing lunch with those daytime views. They also offer breakfast on a quick-service basis for resort guests!
Upon checking in, we were fortunate enough to be seated at a window table tucked into one of the quieter corners of the restaurant. Throughout lunch, giraffes and zebras wandered peacefully across the savanna, grazing just beyond the glass while we enjoyed our meal. Watching them move so gracefully without a crowd gathered around the windows made the experience feel even more special.
Of course, you don’t come to Sanaa just for the view…
The Legendary Bread Service
No meal at Sanaa is complete without ordering the restaurant’s famous Indian-style Bread Service.
For $23, it’s served with five warm breads and a selection of nine accompaniments, it’s easily one of the most talked-about appetizers anywhere on Walt Disney World property. The breads range from traditional naan to more flavorful options like garlic-ginger naan, onion kulcha, and paneer paratha. While the accompaniments span everything from cooling cucumber raita to roasted red pepper hummus, mango chutney, tamarind sauce, coriander chutney, spicy jalapeño-lime pickle, red chile sambal, and garlic pickle.
More flavorful fun comes from mixing and matching different breads with each spread. Some are rich and creamy, others sweet, while a few bring plenty of heat. (My favorite combo is mixing the spicy jalapeño-lime pickle and cucumber raita!)
A Surprisingly Fresh Seasonal Salad
Wanting something lighter to start, we also ordered the seasonal salad under the Appetizers section for $13.
The combination of Arcadia spring mix, blueberries, cucumbers, pistachios, compressed watermelon, creamy goat cheese, with a pomegranate apple cider vinaigrette made for a refreshing contrast to the richer flavors on the table. Every bite balanced sweetness, acidity, and crunch really well.
I easily recommend this one if you’re looking to split a starter before diving into the main course!
Potato and Pea Samosas
We also started with the Potato and Pea Samosas for $11, and they’re well worth considering if you’re looking for a vegetarian appetizer.
The two golden, crispy pastries are filled with a seasoned potato and pea mixture that’s hearty without feeling too heavy. They’re served with tamarind and mango chutney (also found within the bread service accompaniments).
The tamarind chutney adds a sweet, tangy contrast, while the mango chutney brings a bright, fruity finish that complements the savory filling. Between the flaky pastry and warm spices inside, the samosas are an excellent starter whether you’re sharing with the table… or keeping them all to yourself.
Potjie-Inspired Dish
For the entrée, we ordered the Potjie Inspired Dish, which features butter chicken alongside rajma masala, a comforting red bean stew slowly cooked with cinnamon and bay leaves. The dish is served with a generous portion of rice. Each of the ingredients are served in three separate bowls, with the plate underneath for you to freshly combine – allowing the rich, creamy butter chicken sauce and fragrant spices to soak into every bite.
The butter chicken was deliciously tender and flavorful with just the right amount of warmth. That said, at $37, we did find ourselves wishing the plate included a bit more chicken. There was no shortage of rice, but the protein portion felt pretty light for the price. The flavors were excellent, but I think the dish would feel more balanced with more of the chicken taking center stage to help justify the price.
Sanaa has earned its reputation for good reason. Between the unique menu, peaceful atmosphere, and incredible savanna views, it offers a dining experience that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else on Disney property. Lunch, in particular, gives you the best opportunity to watch the resort’s giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife while you eat, making the restaurant feel like an extension of Disney’s Animal Kingdom itself. Plus, after your meal, you can wander out to the savanna walkway to get an even closer look!
If you’ve only experienced Sanaa at dinner, consider giving lunch a try. Seeing the animals wandering just outside your window while enjoying one of Walt Disney World’s most celebrated meals adds an entirely new layer to an already outstanding restaurant.
