Yak and Yeti review

Yak and Yeti restaurant
“Yak & Yeti Restaurant” by HarshLight licensed under CC BY 2.0

Yak & Yeti is one of the best restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This moderately priced table-service meal features an array of delicious Asian cuisine. Yak & Yeti is not too hard to get a reservation at, so don’t worry about ensuring your reservation at 6am, 180 days before your Disney Vacation begins.

I think this is a great place to dine in Animal Kingdom, but it has some tough competition from other Animal Kingdom restaurants. My personal top five are:

  1. Tiffins – African, Asian, and Latin Fusion
  2. Rain Forest Café – American Fare
  3. Tusker House – African-American Fusion
  4. Yak & Yeti – Asian Cuisine
  5. Flame Tree Barbecue – American Fare

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has great themed dining, unique dining, and casual dining options. I’ve ranked Yak & Yeti fourth only because a few restaurants beat them out for taste and atmosphere. Here’s the breakdown for Yak & Yeti.

The Restaurant

Entering from the front of the park, continue until you pass the Oasis and enter into Discovery Island. Right as you come to the Tree of Life, you will head to the right following signs towards Asia. You will then continue to follow a path that leads you over a bridge into the Asia area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then you will make another right, and the Yak & Yeti restaurant will be immediately to your left. 

Yak & Yeti has three parts. First, Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages which serves small, on-the-go style meals and an assortment of beverages. There is also Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes which serves a variety of quick, American fare with an Asian spin. Then we have the Yak & Yeti Restaurant.

Yak & Yeti’s ambience reminds me a lot of an older P.F. Chang’s or hibachi restaurant. It’s a fun Pan-Asian atmosphere that is bustling and busy! The décor features oriental wooden seating and architecture with accents of gold. It is somewhat dimly lit, especially at night, suitable for a romantic occasion.

This restaurant has a few different rooms and is very large making it a great spot for larger dining parties. The menu is priced moderately, averaging $15 to $35 per adult. Overall, Yak & Yeti is a great place to dine, even though it’s not quite at the top of my to-do list.

The Service

I have never been disappointed with the quality of service at Walt Disney World, and Yak & Yeti is no different. The staff is polite and punctual, always clearly answering any questions myself or my party members may have. They know the menu incredibly well and take time helping you make a great decision if you’re feeling conflicted. I love the consistency in service quality I receive all across Disney World.

The Menu

This menu is an extensive one. There are tons of options to please every member of your family here. The Nepalese inspired menu combines bold flavors and unique ingredients to create an array of colorful meals suitable for even the pickiest of eaters.

The appetizer menu is broken into two sections: Small Plates and Shareables which are meant for two people. The Pork Pot Stickers ($9.99) and Pork Egg Rolls ($9.99) tie for my favorite starters here. The Pot Stickers are either pan-seared or steamed and served with a delicious soy lime dipping sauce. Soft and scrumptious, these are such a great, traditional appetizer. The egg rolls are crunchy and flavorful served alongside a chili plum dipping sauce. If you enjoy something that packs some heat, try out the Firecracker Shrimp ($11.99). Crispy fried shrimp tossed in a spicy cream sauce served next to a helping of Asian slaw is great start to a Yak & Yeti meal.

The shareables menu includes some options meant to share amongst two people. My favorite item here is the Dim Sum Basket ($15.99) which includes those delicious pork pot stickers, shrimp siu mai, cha su bao and pork siu mai steamed on a beautiful banana leaf and served next to that same soy lime dipping sauce. I love to order this basket and save a little money by not ordering two separate appetizers!

The Ahi Tuna Nachos ($16.99) are an interesting option here. Prime Ahi is served with Asian slaw, fried wontons, and wasabi aioli with a sweet soy glaze. If you’re on the Poke trend, the Big Island Tuna Poke Bowl ($16.99) is perfect for you! In this bowl, you’ll find tender Ahi Tuna, cucumbers, Maui onions, avocado mousse, and crispy wontons. This dish is fresh and light, opening your pallet for a flavorful meal, however I’m less inclined to share this one!

There are a couple of soup and salad options here as well. The Wonton Soup ($6.25) is warm, and tasty. This clear chicken broth soup is served with vegetables and pork wontons. Wonton soup is such a classic Chinese restaurant starter, it’s comforting and warm setting the mood for your meal. The House Salad ($6.99) features Romaine and Iceberg lettuce, sesame seeds, and an Asian dressing. The Kale Caesar Salad with Cilantro-Lime Seared Shrimp ($18.49) is a great salad topped with parmesan crisps, garlic-ginger wonton strips, Caesar dressing and tangy shrimp. I like to share this salad with another guest to save room for my entrée later on!

Next on the menu is a list of Noodles and Bowls which are honestly all delicious. I love every single option on this portion of the menu because I’m a true noodle junkie. The Lo-Mein is delicious featuring soft, warm noodles, carrots, cabbage, green onions, and bean sprouts. You can order the Lo-Mein with Chicken ($19.99), Shrimp ($20.99), or Vegetables ($18.99).

The Lobster Garlic Noodles ($30.99) are also incredible, probably my favorite noodle option here. This dish includes lobster, shrimp, scallops, baby spinach, red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, tossed in garlic stir-fry sauce. Tender and comforting, this dish is hearty and perfect for any seafood lover!

The Wok menu is also awesome here. The Sweet and Sour Chicken ($19.50) is so tasty served with ginger, garlic, bell peppers, and tangy pineapple. I love the juxtaposition of flavors in this dish that pack a punch and work together! The Honey Chicken ($19.99) is also fantastic including fresh vegetables tossed in a sweet honey sauce served over either jasmine or brown rice. If you’re more into beef than chicken, try out the Korean Beef ($20.99) wok which features wok-fried beef, peppers, onions, pineapple, and an incredible Korean BBQ sauce. This meal is hearty and filling, so keep that in mind while ordering starters if you have a small stomach!

The Grill portion of the menu is also delicious, but personally not my favorite. I always prefer the noodles and woks, but these options are unique and packed with flavor. The Korean BBQ Ribs ($26.49) include a half rack of ribs that have been slow roasted for hours. These ribs are served with a zesty BBQ sauce alongside fries and a kimchi slaw. The Kobe Beef Burger ($19.99) is a fan-favorite topped with sesame-soy mayonnaise and your choice of shiitake mushrooms, scallion compote, or Asian slaw next to a helping of fries. This is a great option for someone looking for an American dish infused with Asian flavors! The Teriyaki Chicken ($22.99) is a classic option I’m all here for! This chicken is tender and juicy served with pineapple-onion-pepper skewers, a teriyaki glaze, as well as coconut-ginger rice and stir-fried vegetables. The pineapple really shines in this dish, pairing beautifully with the teriyaki sauce.

The Specialty Menu at Yak & Yeti features some unique and flavorful options that are definitely worth a try. My personal favorite is the Bhaktapur Duck ($28.99). This tender half ducking is served with an incredible plum BBQ sauce, jasmine rice, and stir-fried vegetables. The Chicken Tikka Masala ($24.99) is also delicious.

The boneless chicken breasts are marinated in yogurt and fresh herbs before being cooked in a traditional Masala sauce and served over jasmine rice and garlic naan bread. Another great option is the Coconut Shrimp ($23.99) served with jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables and yummy plum BBQ sauce. I love this dish; it is genuinely one of the best coconut shrimp meals I have ever had!

Next, we have all of your options for side dishes including House Fried Rice ($11.99), Chicken Fried Rice ($7.99), Steamed Brown or Jasmine Rice ($4.99), Sautéed Baby Bok Choy ($10.99), Garlic Noodles ($10.99), and Coconut Shrimp ($6.99). All of these sides are great compliments to a meal at Yak & Yeti, my personal favorites are the Garlic Noodles and Jasmine Rice. The Garlic Noodles are such a great addition to any meal simply because they are so soft, tasty, and comforting. I also love to ask for Jasmine Rice because it soaks up whatever sauce is on your dish, enhancing its flavor and making a delicious side.

Then we continue down to my favorite part of the menu…dessert! The Fried Wontons ($9.99) are my favorite dessert here. They keep the Asian-inspired meal going with a sweet twist. Enjoy skewers of fresh pineapple and cream cheese wontons served with vanilla ice cream and a honey drizzle. The warm, creaminess of this meal really sweetens up your pallet leaving you full and satisfied at the end of your meal. You can also have a slice of New York Cheesecake ($8.99) or Chocolate Pudding Cake ($8.99). For something fruity, try the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake ($10.99) served warm alongside vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. This cake is light and fluffy, the perfect ending to a big meal!

Yak & Yeti offers all of your typical beverage choices like Coke, Lemonade, Sprite, Sweet Tea, etc. They also have some fun non-alcoholic beverages like Berry Cherry Limeade, Shanghai Lemonade which is a lemonade that can be served with desert pear, passion fruit, a South Seas blend, Lychee, or Lemon Grass flavor. Then, the Everest Refresher offers a sparkling water option with your choice of the same flavors.

The specialty drinks menu also offers some interesting choices. Yak & Yeti also has a large variety of beer and wine as well as the Yak Attack ($11.00) which is a mango daquiri mixed with Don Q Cristal Rum and Wildberry flavors. The Kiwi Komono ($11.00) is also unique, mixing Don Q Coconut Rum, Vodka, Midori Melon Liqueur, Fresh Kiwi, and Sweet and Sour flavoring!

The Kids’ Menu

Yak & Yeti’s kids’ menu is interesting in that it combines typical kids’ menu items with some Asian cuisine items. Children can order a Cheeseburger ($8.99), Chicken Tenders ($8.99), or PB&J (8.99) if they want something more standard. They can also enjoy Teriyaki Chicken Breast ($8.99) served with two sides. The Pork Egg Rolls ($8.99) are also served with two sides. Kids can choose from Carrot Sticks, Applesauce, Grapes, Corn, Go-Gurt, Steamed Veggies, White Rice, or Brown Rice as their side dish. For dessert, kids have two options: Chocolate Mousse ($2.49) or an Ice Cream Sundae (S2.49).

The Reservation

Yak & Yeti is a painless reservation to make. You can trust getting a reservation here the day before you dine nine times out of ten. Go ahead and book it as soon as possible, just in case though! You can easily use the MyDisneyExperience app in order to make any Disney World restaurants reservations. I prefer Yak & Yeti as a lunch spot. It’s a great way to escape from the Florida heat and sit down for a nice meal without breaking the bank.

Remember that Yak & Yeti is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so make sure you book this reservation on a day where you are either already in Animal Kingdom or have enough time to get there! If you miss your reservation, you may be fined a small no-show fee. 

The Conclusion

Overall, Yak & Yeti is a great little spot to dine! It might not be one of the best places to eat in Disney World, but it’s still a fun spot in Asia of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The food isn’t Disney’s best, but it is still yummy! It reminds me a lot of a high-end version of your local Chinese restaurant. They have some fun and fancy options as well as your standard Chinese food. I love the variety of meals you can have here.

You’ll never be worried about pleasing a picky eater. If you have a family who loves Chinese food, I definitely think making time for Yak & Yeti should be a priority! If not here, check out Epcot’s China and Japan pavilions for more incredible Asian cuisine!

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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