When they announced that they would be adding a new Quick Service location to the highly anticipated Pandora, the World of Avatar I was pretty excited. Animal Kingdom has typically had some pretty great food already that is right up my alley. Then they previewed some menu options and I got even more excited, as it all sounded fresh, new and even on the healthy side!
We made two trips to Satu'li Canteen on our impromptu 3 day long weekend trip to Walt Disney World this summer. The first was during Extra Magic Hours (a perk for Walt Disney World resort guests) at about midnight when our dinner started wearing off and we were ready for a midnight snack. The second was for breakfast after getting to Animal Kingdom bright and early to experience Pandora during the day.
I was very excited to see that the Canteen was open for the evening magic hours (which were 11pm-1am during my trip) because I had only arrived from the airport at about 9pm which meant my dining options were already limited so I just had a quick sandwich in the room before heading on out.
We got to Animal Kingdom around 10:30pm and took our time exploring the area until about midnight. That's when we noticed the Canteen was open and decided to take a midnight snack break before heading back out of the park to our bus and calling it a night. It was pretty empty at this point but has a nice setup to handle the crowds of the day.
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| Ordering stations and bright menus overhead |
There are two main features on the dinner menu here, the pods and the bowls. The bowls are a create-your-own option by mixing and matching their proteins, sauces, and bases (think the Chipotle of Pandora) while the pods are fixed with two options, veggie curry or cheeseburger.
We wanted to try both sides of things so we opted for an order of veggie curry pods and a bowl with quinoa and veggie salad, chicken and chimmichurri. We also tried the signature sangria with our late night snack!
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| Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl - Wood-Grilled Chicken Thighs marinated with Garlic and Olive Oil topped with Crunchy Vegetable Slaw and Boba Balls served with your choice of Base and Sauce |
The chicken was juicy, the base of quinoa and vegetable salad had a nice variety of crunch and flavors, and the chimichurri sauce went with everything nicely. The Boba Balls were a hit as well, while they look a little strange, they burst in your mouth and add a nice sweet component to the dish overall. There was also a TON of chicken on our dish so honestly we could have split this and been fine!
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| Vegetable Steamed Curry Pods - Bao Buns - Steamed Vegetable Curry Pod with Eggplant, Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, Carrots, and Shallot Cilantro Cream served with Crunchy Vegetable Slaw and Vegetable Chips |
Another hit for us! The veggie curry within the buns had a great spice (but not too spicy at all) and full flavor. The veggie chips were crunchy and salty and honestly a great late night snack in and of themselves. This dish came with the same veggie slaw that they top the bowls with as well.
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| Dreamwalker Sangria - Refreshing White Sangria with a hint of Blue Curaçao and a Stella |
The Dreamwalker Sangria is a fun addition to the specialty beverage line up and definitely looks like it belongs in Pandora. They have a few specialty beers as well but we went with a Stella this evening. There is also a wine selection but like most quick service locations, no full bar here. The Sangria is definitely on the sweeter side but still had a nice refreshing and light taste to it.
We had a pretty empty dining room since it was so late, but there was a lot of space and it was nice and clean even after a full day of use!
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| Lots of great tables to choose from! |
A few days later we were up with the sun to head back to Pandora! After our ride on Flight of Passage our tummies were rumbling and once again Satu'li was open to satisfy our needs! We were indecisive again and ended up ordering three items between the two of us to get to try a variety. They also have signature Bloody Mary's in the morning which looked very impressive if you like those (which we don't unfortunately!)
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| Kid's Menu: Steamed Egg Pod Bao - Steamed Pod filled with Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Spinach, Cheddar Cheese served with Grapes and your choice of beverage |
They don't have any normal eggs on the menu so these Pod Bao are the only way to get that breakfast staple. There's a regular menu option as well with two pods but we just wanted to give it a try! It was a great alternative to the typical scrambled eggs or egg sandwich.
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| Fresh Fruit Plate - Pandoran Tropical Fruits served with fresh Yogurt-Muesli topped with Vanilla scented Maple Syrup |
The fruit plate was a pleasant surprise. When we asked the Cast Member working what his favorite was, he mentioned that this was underrated and I'd have to agree. It doesn't sound like much but the fruit was so fresh and a great variety, with the yogurt-muesli balancing it out so nicely for a complete meal. It was the perfect breakfast for a hot summer Florida day!
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| Pork Hash - Slow Roasted Pork and Potato Hash topped with Grilled Chorizo Sausage, Green Onions served with Natural Jus |
If you are a breakfast potato person this is a great dish for you! The slow roasted pork was so juicy and flavorful while the potatoes had that soft but crisp texture. The grilled chorizo adds a nice little bit of heat and texture as well. A hit all around (and another recommendation from our wonderful CM this morning!)
So overall the food was wonderful and while we ate at off times, we noticed ample seating, both indoor and outdoor, and drink station space to accommodate main meal time crowds. There were also constantly Cast Members working the dining floor keeping an eye on things and keeping it clean for all to enjoy their meals. While we didn't give it a try, this restaurant also offers Mobile Ordering from the My Disney Experience App and there's a dedicated line to pick up your orders if you choose to go that route.
This is a great addition to the dining options at Animal Kingdom. Have you gotten a chance to give it a try or is this on your to-do list for your next trip? What have your favorite dishes been?
Until next time...
Agent Maci
