*DIS Contributors review meals, resort stays, and entertainment that they have paid for during their own vacations. They only utilize discounts and offers if they are available to the general public, such as annual passholder discounts, Tables in Wonderland, or DVC membership discounts. They receive no additional compensation for dining experiences or events, so that they may give their honest opinions about price and value.
San’aa features African cooking with Indian flavors and is located at Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village. It’s famous for the bread service, but, due to its more adventurous menu, some decide to shy away.
We arrived at the resort early and were able to check out some of the animals in the savannah before going in from the overlook. This was a nice perk to entertain the kids while we waited.
Once we were in the restaurant, you could still see the savannah from the tables in the restaurant, even if you’re not sitting right at the window, giving most tables a great view. The atmosphere and staff were excellent as well.
To start out, we ordered the Indian-style bread service ($17), and it did not disappoint. It came with five breads and nine dipping sauces. There was a good variety of both spicy and mild on the plate, and plenty of flavor. There were only two of us adults – the kids weren’t interested in this – so we had plenty left over. The waiter was great about packing up both the bread and our favorite sauces to go for us.
We also got the Lamb Kefta Skewers. For $15, this was a very small portion, and not really worth the money. However, they were very delicious, and the couscous salad that came with it was the favorite part of our entire meal.
Since we filled up on two appetizers (more so on the bread service because the skewers weren’t filling anyone up), we decided to split an entree and chose the Spicy Duban Shrimp with Cilantro-Coconut Vegetables. This was also fantastic with lots of flavor, and was not too spicy. I wish I hadn’t filled up on the appetizers because I wanted to eat way more of it.
For the kids, one got the cheese pizza and the other got a cheeseburger. Kids meals come with a drink and choice of two sides, and they both got the Cheddar Mac and Cheese and African Shield Brownie dessert. The pizza and side of mac and cheese were both very bland, but my daughter enjoyed her cheeseburger.
The real winner of the kids’ meals was the dessert. A sugar cookie in the shape of a shield comes on a plate shaped like a painter’s pallet with icing in red, yellow and blue for the kids to paint the cookie with. Also on the plate was a brownie with a scoop of ice cream on top. It was a fun activity to keep the kids busy while we were finishing up, and it was delicious, too.
Overall, San’aa was a hit for everyone. The atmosphere, view, and food make it one of our favorite restaurants at Walt Disney World.
Sara is a Marketing Specialist by day, but her true passion is writing. She's been a freelance writer for 11 years and uses that side hustle money for traveling with her husband and three young children.
