Well, we’ve made it! This marks our final safari through the Walt Disney World parks, as we cover the best Quick Service options for guests with food allergies in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
On this list, I will cover the top 3 best locations, in my opinion, to grab a quick meal in between flying on the back of a Banshee and traveling back in time to find an Iguanodon. These places not only have good food, but offer great service, and accommodating menus. So get ready to have a wild time, and eat some grub as we start off our list in Discovery Island…
#3 – Flame Tree Barbecue
Located right off the Tree of Life, Flame Tree Barbecue offers up a lively environment, riverfront views, and of course, all the barbecue you can crave. With options like Ribs, Chicken, Pork, and even a vegan option, Flame Tree Barbecue is often an overlooked, yet great option within Animal Kingdom.
Allergy Note: There are no items on the menu containing fish or shellfish, so for those with allergies, you can feel comfortable ordering any item off the menu, however, it is not a shellfish-free kitchen, as they do process Shrimp in it, so if cross-contamination is an issue, you may want to speak to a Chef.
When it comes to gluten, milk, soy, peanut, tree nut, and egg allergies the Flame Tree Barbecue allergen menu offers up the 1/2 Chicken Meal, the St. Louis Rib Dinner, the Ribs and Chicken Combo, and the Ribs, Chicken, and Pulled Pork Sampler. All of these will be served with Baked Beans and Fruit replacing the usual coleslaw. And as long as you’re not avoiding egg, the Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich can also be modified and served on an allergy-friendly, gluten-free bun.
With such a meat-heavy menu, most vegetarians and vegans would probably not look twice at this place, however, as part of Walt Disney World’s plant-based offering additions, the Hot Link Smokehouse Sandwich (pictured) was recently added to the menu. Featuring a Beyond Brat wrapped in a House-Made New England Style Bun, this vegan offering is then topped with Tangy Mustard Barbecue Sauce, Slaw, and Crispy Onions*. This dish is then served with Fries* and is free from milk, egg, honey, and meat.
*Note: Both the fries, and the crispy onions are cooked in a shared fryer, so depending on your comfort level you may want to opt-out of enjoying anything fried from this location, however, if shared fryers aren’t an issue, you should be a-okay.
#2 – Harambe Market
Loosely translated from Swahili, Harambe Market means “All Pull Together” Market, so it only makes sense for there to be options so everyone can enjoy a meal together. So whether you’re grabbing a nosh after watching Festival of the Lion King, or just wanting to experience an African style market place, this may just be the dining stop for you.
Allergy Note: Harambe Market is a completely fish and shellfish-free kitchen as well as there being no nut products processed within the facility. It is important to note, however, that the kids Uncrustables does contain Peanut Butter, and the Most Beautiful Cake contains Coconut, but neither of them are made within the kitchen itself. Do make sure to avoid both of these items, and speak to a Chef if you have any concerns.
Harambe Market offers 3 different types of bowls on their menu all of them being safe for gluten, egg, milk, soy, nut, and fish allergies. Served with a Cilantro Rice and finished with Salsa, you can choose from the Ribs Bowl, Chicken Bowl, or Vegetable Bowl. It is worth noting that previously the Vegetable Bowl came with a yogurt sauce that was not dairy-free, however, since the Vegetable Bowl has been switched to a plant-based option, it should now only contain the salsa as with the other bowls. To be sure though, do double check before ordering.
The Pork Sausage is also milk, nut, fish, and egg allergy-friendly and comes with a Curry Ketchup, if not avoiding milk it will also come with Naan Bread, however, this bread will be excluded if you have a dairy allergy.
Last but not least, the Chicken Gyro, and the Beef and Lamb Gyro are both available for those with egg, nut, or fish allergies and is served with an African Coleslaw.
There is also a Harambe Fruit Market stand available as well if you’re looking to grab a healthy or hearty snack throughout the day. You can find options such as Allergy-Friendly Chips, Whole Fruit, Fruit Cups, and Cuties Mandarins here. You can also grab a Mickey Pretzel which is dairy, peanut, tree nut, and egg-free throughout all Disney Parks. Just make sure to skip the cheese sauce!
#1 – Satu’li Canteen
Easily one of the most unique and tastiest of all the quick service spots within Walt Disney World, Satu’li Canteen is located within the planet of Pandora, where you get the chance to eat like a Na’vi local. This eatery differs from most in the way that you build your own bowl in 3 parts choosing a protein, base, and sauce.
In terms of proteins the Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken (pictured), Chili Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu, Slow-Roasted Sliced Grilled Beef, and Chili-Spiced Garlic Shrimp are all safe for those with gluten, egg, milk, peanut, and tree nut allergies. The Tofu is the only protein to contain soy, and the Shrimp the only one with fish/shellfish.
For a base, there are 4 different options, the Hearty Salad which is safe for gluten, egg, fish, milk, and soy allergies, the Red and Sweet Potato Hash (pictured), and Black Beans and Rice for gluten, egg, fish, milk, nut, and soy allergies and the Lo Mein Noodles which are free from any egg, fish, and milk.
Your last choice comes in the form of a sauce to top it all off. The 3 options here are a Charred Green Onion Vinaigrette which doesn’t contain any gluten, egg, fish, milk, nuts, or soy. There is also a Black Bean Vinaigrette, which is safe for egg, milk, and nut allergies. And the last option, a Creamy Herb Dressing (pictured) which can be enjoyed by those with any gluten, fish, milk, or nut allergies.
For those following a plant-based diet, the Tofu, Potato Hash, Black Beans, and Rice and the Charred Green Onion Vinaigrette are all vegan, as they do not contain animal products. During my last visit, the Hearty Salad, and the Lo Mein Noodles both contained honey, as I know some following a vegan diet are not bothered by this, others may want to avoid.
Allergy Tip: Satu’li Canteen tops all of their bowls with Boba Balls which change manufacturers and ingredients often, with that being said, they avoid topping any allergy orders with these, if you do receive a bowl with them, I would double-check with a Chef before eating.
And, we are done. We’ve traveled from an alien planet all the way to Africa to find some good eats, and hopefully got your taste buds excited. For those who don’t know, you can find parts 1-7 of this series by clicking the links below. During these last few weeks, we’ve covered all 4 theme parks and broke it up between quick-service locations and table service, so you can find comfort in planning your next Walt Disney World vacation. As always, do remember to ALWAYS order your meal off of the allergy menu, if available, and communicate clearly with a Cast Member regarding your exact allergy and speak to a Chef whenever possible.
Top 3 Locations to Dine With Food Allergies in Walt Disney World Part 4: Epcot – Quick Service
Top 3 Locations to Dine With Food Allergies in Walt Disney World Part 3: Epcot – Table Service
And don’t worry, it’s not over yet. For those looking to dine outside of the parks, we will be covering the best places to dine within the Walt Disney World Resorts. So whether you want to book a hotel based on food options, or are just looking to eat in a more laid back environment, we have you covered.