9/5/20 9/5/20

Yak & Yeti Lunch Review

Yak & Yeti Restaurant, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, reopened in July 2020 after the Disney Parks & Resorts closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brandon and I consider Yak & Yeti to be our favorite table service in the Animal Kingdom theme park for affordable meal options that work well for our special dietary needs. We hadn't been to both the theme park or Yak & Yeti since February 2020, so we were both really looking forward to this visit to the restaurant on our recent mini-staycation at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Lunch at Yak & Yeti

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we did not make a dining reservation for Yak & Yeti, as we were unable to find any reservation openings. The restaurant is owned and operated by Landry's, and on this visit, we utilized our Landry's Select Club membership ($25 one time purchase) that offers priority seating for guests. We've found this membership really worth it for us as locals, particularly when dining at Yak & Yeti and the other Landry's restaurants on Disney property (Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe). With this in mind, we inquired at the restaurant about wait times and priority seating and were pleasantly surprised to be able to get a walk-up priority seating with a very short wait.

Yak & Yeti itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. Seating was modified to offer social distancing, and we noticed hand sanitizer available for use in the lobby of the restaurant. Unlike the Disney owned restaurants that we've experienced in the resorts, we were not required to have temperature checks. However, we both assumed this was because we had to have temperature checks to enter the theme park itself. Since this is currently (at the time of writing this review) the only theme park restaurant we've been to, we're not sure if this is standard across the parks and restaurants.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several Disney Resorts, including the Contemporary Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Riviera Resort. We have also only been to Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

We've written a lot about the theme of Yak & Yeti Restaurant. Located in the fictional area known as Anandapur, which is inspired by Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Thailand. You can see a lot of this inspiration in the Yak & Yeti Restaurant itself.

Yak & Yeti - Restaurant Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Perhaps our biggest recommendation for those guests dining at Yak & Yeti is to look around at all of the decor. We have been told that much of the decor is authentic or is a reproduction of authentic artifacts.

Yak & Yeti - Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We especially love sitting on the second floor where you can get incredible views of the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom (if you're lucky enough to sit by the windows) and get a chance to see a lot of the beautiful decor.

The second floor, in particular, always feels very well decorated with a lot of unique and interesting artifacts. I also love how the seating includes mismatched chairs and beautiful wooden designs.

As you can see by the photo on this visit, social distancing seating was in place at Yak & Yeti -- with signs on tables currently unavailable for use.

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti Restaurant is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, the do not offer the standard allergy-friendly menu that you see at many Disney owned restaurants. They do offer a gluten-sensitive and allergy-friendly menu that guests can review along with the ability to speak directly with a chef -- which I highly recommend.

Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We have learned throughout our visits that the gluten-sensitive menu is a great starting point but does list options that are not safe for those with celiac disease (such as French Fries that are made in a shared fryer).

If you have celiac disease or food allergies, it is always advised to speak directly to a chef. We have found that the chefs there take special dietary needs very seriously and have always gone above and beyond to accommodate us so that we can enjoy a safe meal. I also recommend looking at the regular Yak & Yeti menu, as many dishes may be able to be easily modified for special dietary needs.

On this visit, I chose to order the Grilled Salmon brushed with Garlic Ginger Butter served with Jasmine Rice and Stir-Fry Seasonal Vegetables and a side of gluten free soy sauce (tamari) which is gluten free but does contain dairy. If you are dairy free, the only modification in this dish is to omit the garlic ginger butter on the salmon -- otherwise, the vegetables, rice, and GF soy sauce are all great GFDF options.

This is one of my go-to dishes at Yak & Yeti for something that is filling, tasty, but not overly heavy. I always love the flavors of the grilled fish and the stiry-fry veggies are always so delicious too. This is definitely a dish that I will continue to get again and again.

Brandon ordered the Lo Mein, which normally comes with chicken or shrimp. Because Brandon has both a fish/shellfish allergies and a rare allergy to chicken & turkey -- he was able to get beef in his Lo Mein instead.

Brandon is also allergic to cabbage, so the chef ensured that they did not include Bok Choy in his dish. In addition, if you have a fish/shellfish allergy, do speak with a chef, as they usually have to adjust the sauce normally used in the Lo Mein. Usually, they make Brandon's noodles with gluten free soy sauce to ensure there are no issues with his allergies. All in all this dish is made to be safe for fish/shellfish, peanuts, cabbage, hazelnut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

This is Brandon's must order anytime that we go to Yak & Yeti. He has tried other dishes, like steak, at the restaurant. But, overall, he the noodles are by far his favorite dish. If you like noodles, this is a great option.

As an aside, I have also ordered the Lo Mein here before. The noodles are rice-based, and like Brandon's version, they will use GF soy sauce in place of their standard Lo Mein sauce. So, if you're gluten free and dairy free -- this is another good option to choose too.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Yak & Yeti, we did film our visit and included it in our Mini-Staycation video day 1 on our YouTube channel.

Overall

Yak & Yeti Restaurant continues to be our top table service restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom. We absolutely love the decor, the special dietary needs options, and the chefs who have always gone above and beyond to help us enjoy safe meals. We were so glad to dine there after so many months of not being able to and look forward to whenever we get to go back to the restaurant again.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti Restaurant? What was your experience dining there?

2/16/20 2/16/20

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Yak & Yeti is our go-to table service restaurant located in Disney's Animal Kingdom. While not owned and operated by the Disney Company, we've been pretty impressed over the years by this Landry's restaurant. Recently, we stopped by for dinner with one of our friends and to redeem my $25 Landry's Select Club birthday reward.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in February 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as a review of fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Atmopshere

Because we've been to Yak & Yeti a lot, I do have a ton of reviews on the blog where I go into a lot of detail about the theme. In this review, we'll take a look at it briefly.

Yak & Yeti - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Set in the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom, Yak & Yeti is perfectly themed and fits right into the fictional village of Anandapur. I especially love going here at night because it just looks so beautiful during this time of day.

Yak & Yeti - Entrance Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we were with a friend, so I admit I didn't take a ton of photos. I don't think I've ever photographed the lobby area much. But, here it is. As you can see there weren't very many people there -- making it the perfect photo opportunity. I do love how the theming starts from the moment you step inside the restaurant.

Yak & Yeti - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were seated on the first floor (the restaurant has two floors for seating), near the staircase. It was a little busy in this area, but as we enjoyed our meal, the restaurant did clear out quite a bit. I love the unique tables and chairs throughout Yak & Yeti.

Yak & Yeti - Stairs / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated. I absolutely love the staircase to the second floor and the second floor seating area especially. Being seated so close to the stairs was definitely an interesting location to dine at!

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti isn't owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not offer a traditional allergy-friendly menu. They do, however, have a gluten-sensitive / allergy-friendly menu. I highly recommend speaking directly to a chef any time you dine here, as many of the dishes on this menu may not be safe for those with celiac disease or those with allergies.

On this visit, we chatted with a chef who talked through the options. Since Brandon and I have eaten here a lot, we had a pretty good idea of what we wanted, which made it easy to discuss. Thankfully, I have found the restaurant to have a good amount of Asian-inspired options that are gluten free if you ask a chef about them.

On this visit, I didn't want anything super heavy. So, I decided to get the Atlantic Salmon which is grilled, brushed with garlic ginger butter and served with jasmine rice and sautéed seasonal vegetables. I was also able to get gluten free tamari on the side too. This dish is gluten free but contains dairy with the butter. If you're dairy free, the chef can omit the butter on the salmon -- everything else is dairy free.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent dish. It was exactly what I was craving that night. Nothing too heavy, but flavorful. The salmon was just slightly overcooked, but the flavors were great. I especially loved the sauteed vegetables, which were super yummy and well-cooked. This is definitely a dish I'd get again.

Brandon just about always gets his go-to -- the Beef Stir-Fry. It is made with rice noodles and gluten free tamari, so it's actually gluten free and dairy free on top of being fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free.

I've had variations of this dish too, and both Brandon and I are huge fans of this stir-fry. The chefs have been great at customizing the dish as needed too. I usually get bok choy in my stir-fry, but since it's a member of the cabbage family, they omit it for Brandon's. And, as you can see, they made sure in this version that Brandon had plenty of carrots, green onions and beef to round out the dish.

Overall

We always really enjoy our meals at Yak & Yeti. While it may not be everyone's favorite, we like it a lot for the variety of options we get and for something different. It's not that easy to get good gluten free Asian inspired fare out at a restaurant, so I really appreciate the offerings at Yak & Yeti. It's definitely a location we liked to visit when we can, and we always feel the chefs that we've encountered there have been excellent at accommodating our special dietary needs.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Yak & Yeti, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom, is our go-to table service restaurant in the park. Recently, we stopped by Yak & Yeti a few times over the holiday season, including once to use Brandon's birthday reward as Landry's Select Club members.

*This post contains two dining reviews that took place in November and December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Atmosphere

Yak & Yeti can be found in the Asia area of the Animal Kingdom. And, its theme reflects its location acting as a home in the fictional land of Anandapur that has been turned into a restaurant.

Yak & Yeti Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Landry's did an exceptional job with the theme of this restaurant, and you'll be transported to a far off place the moment you walk up to the Yak & Yeti's entrance.

Yak & Yeti Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant includes two levels for dining. On our first visit, we dined on the first floor in an area that has posters and other artifacts related to traditional Bollywood films.

On the first floor, you'll also find various artifacts -- some in fact are actually from locations throughout Asia, which is really neat.

On our second visit, we dined on the second floor, which both Brandon and I prefer. We both remarked that the second floor seems to have a lot more artifacts and cozy areas to dine. But, no matter where you are in the restaurant, you're bound to enjoy the delightful and charming theme.

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have a traditional allergy-friendly menu. They do, however, offer a gluten sensitive menu for guests. If you dine at Yak & Yeti, I always recommend that you speak directly with a chef.

As I learned awhile back, the gluten sensitive menu is not necessarily safe for those with celiac disease, as some items are actually made in shared fryers. On both visits, we looked at both the gluten sensitive menu and spoke directly with a chef.

On our first visit, both Brandon and I got noodle bowls. I ordered a beef and shrimp noodle bowl (a modified version of the vegetable bowl listed on the menu), which was made using rice noodles and gluten free tamari sauce. This dish was both gluten free and dairy free.

While I really enjoyed this dish, it's not my favorite at Yak & Yeti. In fact, the previous time we visited, I had a modified Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp Stir-Fry from the seasonal menu. And, it was by far my favorite dish that I've had at Yak & Yeti in a while. Unfortunately, it's no longer on their seasonal menu, so I opted for a noodle bowl instead. It's definitely a solid option and one I try to get every once in a while.

Brandon absolutely loves the noodle bowls at Yak & Yeti. He ordered the beef noodle bowl, which was made fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free. The big differences between my bowl and his was the GF tamari sauce and the omission of bok choy and shrimp. His dish was also made with rice noodles.

As per usual, Brandon really loved this dish a lot. He got it again on our next visit, though the chef that time made some slightly different changes to the vegetables in his noodle bowl.

Yak & Yeti - GF Consomme — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our second visit, I wasn't feeling like a super heavy meal, so I decided to try one of their new salads and the Chicken Consomme soup. The soup is both gluten free and dairy free and contains Chicken Broth, Tofu, Onions, and Carrots. I've had this on several visits, and I do really enjoy it. I would say that the flavors are very mild and understated, but it's definitely a nice change of pace for something lighter. Like everything at Yak & Yeti, the portion for the soup was really big too.

Yak & Yeti - GF Wedge Salad — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the Asian Wedge Salad which is gluten free and contains Baby Iceberg Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Carrot Ginger Dressing, and Pork Belly. I also opted to add Grilled Cilantro-Lime Chicken to the dish too.

The chef recommended this to me, and while I was a bit dubious at first, because the flavors sounded a bit odd to me, I was actually pretty impressed with the salad. I absolutely loved the carrot ginger dressing, and the addition of pork belly was a great one. Oddly, the blue cheese worked really well, and all of the flavors ended up making for a great meal. Next time, I probably would just order a salad and not get any appetizer (like the soup), because this salad was legitimately huge. Yak & Yeti definitely does not skimp on the portions.

Yak & Yeti - Noodle Bowl — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon went with the beef noodle bowl again on our second visit. This time, the chef only included carrots, green onions, and some cilantro instead of the vegetable medley he had on the first visit. Brandon loves both carrots and green onions, so he was pretty good with this vegetable medley. As per usual, he really enjoyed his noodle bowl a lot.

Overall

Yak & Yeti has been a consistently great option for us for a table service meal when we're visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom. We both really enjoy the pan-Asian food, and we've been pretty impressed with the options and the attention that the chefs give to guests with special dietary needs. It's definitely a location we'll keep going back to again and again.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti? What do you think of the special diets options there?

9/4/19 9/4/19

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Yak & Yeti, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, is a table service restaurant owned and operated by the Landry's that serves pan-Asian inspired cuisine. Recently, we stopped by Yak & Yeti for an impromptu dinner at a long day at Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios.

*This post contains a gluten free and dairy free dinner review. It also includes information about fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

We were staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a staycation and the Animal Kingdom park was a short bus ride away for us -- making it an easy option for us for dinner. We're also Landry's Select Club members. So, while we didn't make reservations in advance, we were seated within 5 minutes of walking into the restaurant. We definitely appreciate this perk of being club members!

Atmosphere

The theme of Yak & Yeti is one of my favorite things about the restaurant. Located in the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom, it's perfectly themed to its location.

The restaurant is supposed to resemble a village home in Anandapur -- the fictional kingdom located there -- that has been converted into a restaurant. From the moment you walk towards the restaurant, you'll be treated to an exceptionally well-themed restaurant.

Yak & Yeti Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We have been told on several occasions by cast members at Yak & Yeti that the restaurant contains authentic (along with prop) artifacts from Asia. You'll see lots of really neat items throughout this eclectic eatery.

On our last several visits, we have been seated on the first floor near a variety of Bollywood style posters. I really love this area and all of the detailed touches.

Another feature that I love about Yak & Yeti is that you'll find mix matched tables and chairs. It really lends to a unique and quaint vibe.

Yak & Yeti Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even the tables are beautifully constructed and reflect the mix and match style.

I do always recommend looking up, down, and all-around when you're at Yak & Yeti because there are artifacts and decor in every inch of the restaurant. I also recommend taking a bit of time to look around on both the first and second floors of the restaurant too as the themes and artifacts change throughout.

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not have the standard allergy-friendly menu. At the time of this review, they have a gluten sensitive menu. This menu is a great starting point if you're gluten free. But, if you have celiac disease and/or cross-contamination is a concern, do be sure to speak to a chef directly. Some items on the gluten sensitive menu (like French fries) are not celiac safe.

No matter your special dietary need, I always recommend you speak with a chef directly. They can customize dishes and talk through additional options not listed on the gluten sensitive menu.

Both Brandon and I spoke to the chef about options, and the chef was great at accommodating. Because we've been several times, we both had a good idea of some potential options, which helped.

My favorite dish at Yak & Yeti used to be the Malaysian Seafood Curry dish, which was both gluten free and dairy free. Unfortunately, it's no longer on the menu. So, I asked the chef if it was possible to make the Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp Stir-Fry on their seasonal menu gluten free. Essentially, the chef said she just needed to remove the teriyaki sauce and make a stir-fry with GF tamari instead.

The GF Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp Stir-Fry included flank steak, shrimp, stir-fried vegetables, and pineapple tossed in gluten free soy sauce and coconut-ginger rice. This dish was both gluten free and dairy free.

The flavors in this dish were fantastic. The beef was really tender. And the shrimp was perfectly cooked. The GF soy sauce along with the stir-fried vegetables and pineapple made for a great sauce. It wasn't too sweet, and it wasn't overly salty either. Add in some rice, and you have one excellent dish. I would 100% get this again. In fact, I think I was still raving about how good it was a few days later. After eating this dish, I've already decided we might need to make another visit again soon!

This was the first time we'd eaten at Yak & Yeti since Brandon's peanut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergy diagnoses. So, he was a little nervous about options. Thankfully, the Lo Mein he usually gets was easy to modify. Essentially, he got Beef Lo Mein minus the cabbage. The Lo Mein normally comes with chicken, shrimp, or tofu. But, the chef said it was no problem to substitute beef. She simply omitted cabbage from the dish and added in extra carrots. With these modifications, the dish was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free.

Brandon was really pleased with his entree. He said it was just as good as ever. And, he really enjoyed the beef in place of chicken. Like me, he was also raving about how good it was, and we both agreed we'd like to go back soon!

Overall

Both Brandon and I have had really excellent experiences at Yak & Yeti. Of the Landry's restaurants on Disney property, it's by far our favorite. It's also the one where we both feel like we have a lot more options. The chefs at Yak & Yeti do a great job of accommodating. And, the food has been excellent, and plentiful, too. This continues to be our go-to table service restaurant in the Animal Kingdom and whenever we're both craving Asian food (which is hard for both of us to get).

Have you been to Yak & Yeti? What was your experience dining there?

5/31/18 5/31/18

Yak & Yeti -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in May 2018.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Yak & Yeti is a table service restaurant located in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. Back in April before we went to the DVC Moonlight Magic we had dinner with Brandon's mom at Yak & Yeti. This restaurant isn't owned and operated by Disney, but by Landry's. Brandon's family are members of the Landry's Select Club which offers priority seating and rewards, and we ended up signing up that night for the membership. Since we had a $25 reward to use from signing up, we decided to get dinner one night at the Yak & Yeti to use it.

Atmosphere

The theming for Yak & Yeti is quite lovely. It really fits in well in the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom.Both the food and the decor reflect Asian cultures, and we were told by cast members that much of the decor is authentic from Asian countries.On our previous visits, we have always dined upstairs on the second floor of the restaurant. On this visit, we were seating in the back corner of the first floor. It was nice to have a different seat and check out some theming and decor we'd never seen before.I absolutely love this quote and Bollywood movie posters that were on the wall near our table. It adds such a fun touch and gives the restaurant even more back story to its theme.There is definitely a lot to look at in the restaurant, and I would encourage you to wander a bit, if you have the time.

The Food

Having been to Yak & Yeti recently, I knew that the restaurant offered a "gluten sensitive" menu but that a chef would also come speak with me. On this visit, I was given the menu and asked if I wanted to speak to a chef or just order off the menu directly. I'm glad that I spoke with a chef, as I learned that the menu does not necessarily list items that are celiac safe.When the chef came to our table, I mentioned I was interested in the burger listed on the gluten sensitive menu. He said the fries were not safe for guests with celiac disease and that the burger would be served plain, as the regular menu toppings could not be made gluten free. I was a bit taken aback by this and did ask what the point of having them listed on a menu was. The chef's only response was that this is a gluten sensitive menu and not a gluten free menu. This is very disappointing to see that, especially since the chefs who have assisted me at the restaurant seemed to understand the need for safety. Personally, I'd rather they just get rid of the menu and come talk guests directly instead, since the menu really isn't meant for most of the people who might use it.Since the burger was not a great option, the chef recommended to me several items, including the Malaysian Seafood Curry which was not on the gluten sensitive menu. He said this is a naturally gluten free and dairy free dish. So, I opted to order this.I have to say that of the menu items I've tried at Yak & Yeti, this has been my favorite. The dish was super flavorful and packed full of seafood. It was also a huge portion. I definitely didn't leave hungry. It wasn't super spicy either, so if spice is a concern, you'll find this red curry dish to be quite flavorful and mild. I'd definitely order this again.

Overall

Despite the issues with the gluten sensitive menu, I really enjoyed my meal at Yak & Yeti. I do think there are better options in the park, but having the Landry's Select Club card means it's an easy spot to have a meal without a reservation at the last minute (which is great for us as locals). Thankfully, I have not had any issues with the food I've ordered here, and I've always been able to speak to a chef on each visit. I would recommend if you have celiac disease or allergies to ask to speak to a chef prior to ordering to ensure safety and not order directly from any special diets menus, like the gluten sensitive one they are currently offering.Have you been to Yak & Yeti Restaurant? What was your overall experience?

5/15/18 5/15/18

Yak & Yeti -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in April 2018.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Yak & Yeti Restaurant is a table service location in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. Though it is not owned and operated by Disney (It's a part of the Landry's restaurants chain), it has been an extremely popular dining location in the park for many years now. We visited last year after a pretty lengthy hiatus and really enjoyed our meal there. So, we decided to have dinner here before we went to a DVC Moonlight Magic event held in the park.

Atmosphere

One of the things that we really love about the Yak & Yeti is the theming. Located in the Asia section of the park, you can see the Asian influence in the restaurant's decor. In fact, we were told by cast members that many of the items in the restaurant are authentic from specific Asian regions.There is both downstairs and upstairs seating in the restaurant. We found the downstairs seating to be a bit more hectic than the upstairs seating.On this visit, we actually did not have a dining reservation, but Brandon's mom has a Landry's card, so we were able to get seated within 10 minutes of arriving, which was fantastic.We were seated upstairs, which was fine by us. While the dining area was a little crowded when we arrived, it got a little calmer about 20 minutes into our dining experience.As you can see, the seating areas are lovely. We found our table to be fairly spacious too.

The Food

Yak & Yeti does not carry an allergy-friendly restaurant per se. They do now offer a gluten sensitive menu, but even with this menu, they made sure a chef came out to talk to me about options.I was pleasantly surprised by all the options on the gluten sensitive menu that were available to me.Prior to our meal, we did opt for some drinks. I got a classic gin and tonic, but they have a variety of options for whatever drink you like.For a starter, I got the Chicken Consomme which came with tofu, scallions, and carrots. This was both gluten free and dairy free. I really enjoyed this soup -- it was super light and had great flavor. It's definitely a dish I'd get again, though I have to admit, I want to try the Lettuce Cups on my next visit.For my entree, I ordered the Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Chili Plum Sauce, Jasmine Rice, and Steamed Vegetables. I also got a side of gluten free soy sauce too. Like the soup, this dish was both gluten free and dairy free.While I wouldn't say this was the best entree I've ever had, it was good. The shrimp portion was generous, and I loved the sauteed vegetable blend that included bok choy (one of my favorite veggies). The Jasmine Rice with plum sauce was also really good too.

Overall

Everyone agreed that the meal experience overall was quite good. We had excellent service and were really surprised by how quickly we were seated using the Landry's Card (we actually got one ourselves that evening). The food was also decent, with lots of gluten free options. For the Animal Kingdom theme park, this is a great table service option, especially considering that the other table service locations are either an all-you-care-to-enjoy character meal or signature dining. We will definitely be enjoying a meal here again in the near future.

4/20/17 4/20/17

Yak & Yeti Restaurant -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in March 2017.

Dinner at the Yak & Yeti Restaurant

The Yak & Yeti is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park. Owned & operated by Landry's (who also owns the Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe), the Yak & Yeti is a restaurant that I haven't dined at in a long time. In fact, I realized that I hadn't dined there since October 2010, so it's been a long time. On this particular occasion, we decided to stop by the Yak & Yeti Restaurant for dinner, while touring the Animal Kingdom Park on a hot day. We all needed to get inside air conditioning, hydrate, and of course, eat!

Atmosphere

I'm always so impressed when I dine at the Yak & Yeti. Even though it's not owned and operated by the Disney Company, it seems like the Yak & Yeti follows Disney's attention to detail and style when it comes to the restaurant theming.In fact, as we learned from our hostess, all of the artifacts on display in the Yak & Yeti are authentic to their native regions. How cool is that? Both Brandon and I want to go back, not just for the food but to look around and check out all the detail. The restaurant is beautifully themed and decorated.We were seated on the 2nd floor of the restaurant with a fantastic view of park. It was also much quieter up there too. So, if you're looking for a quieter spot, do ask if you can be seated upstairs.

The Food

I was really looking forward to trying my meal at the Yak & Yeti. After reading other more recent reviews, like this one from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures, I knew that the Yak & Yeti had expanded their gluten free (and dairy free options) to include things like lettuce cups. I wasn't feeling that great on our visit (way too much sun for me), so I opted to get just an entree instead of an appetizer too.Because the restaurant isn't owned by Disney, they don't necessarily have to follow Disney's standards for special diets accommodations. This means you won't find an allergy-friendly menu here. But, thankfully, the chef came out to walk me through the options which was great. Dairy free is super easy with most Asian / Pan-Asian food. And, Yak & Yeti has gluten free soy sauce on hand to make dishes with, which is great. So, there were a lot more choices, than I expected.One of my favorite things is rice. And, since I wasn't feeling great, I decided to get a version of the noodle bowl but with rice. The dish had both chicken and shrimp in it along with several vegetables including carrots, green onion, and cabbage. With a nice gluten-free soy sauce added, it was the perfect dish for my dinner. Plus, the portion was HUGE! I ended up taking half of it home, it was that large. I would definitely get this dish again, though I'm also wanting to try some of the other dishes there too. I've got to get those gluten free and dairy free lettuce cups sometime!

Overall

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with my meal at the Yak & Yeti. The food was delicious, the portions large, and the chef accommodating. Even the non-special diets diners with me all enjoyed their meal. Brandon got the gluteny version of the dish I got and said it was fantastic too. I definitely want to make sure I get back to the Yak & Yeti again soon and maybe even check out the quick service options they serve outside too.Have you been to the Yak & Yeti? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

8/6/14 8/6/14

Guest Review — Disney World with Special Dietary Needs Trip Recap Day 1

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I’ve been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren’t hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I’ve broken up Kathleen’s posts, and today we’re checking out her first few days at Disney World. You can also recap with her visit to Universal Studios Orlando on her previous guest post! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Disney Day #1 – 7/21After lunch at Bubba Gump’s, we packed up the car and headed over to the Wilderness Lodge to begin our Disney vacation. We hadn’t been to that hotel in over 10 years, and it was fun to go back.We had a reservation at the Whispering Canyon Café in the lobby of the hotel. Having done my research (on GFDFWDW of course!) on all of the restaurants we had reservations at for the week, including this one, I had a basic idea of what was okay for me to eat. I was looking forward to the family style platter that Sarah reviewed in her post a while back, but no one else wanted it so we ended up each getting our own entrée.The service was great. When the waiter found out about my allergies, he sent for the chef to come talk to me while he took everyone’s orders. Chef Williere came out and asked me what I was thinking of ordering. I told him that I really like pulled pork, and asked him if I could get that with the grilled vegetables. He said he would check on the gluten free sauce to make sure it was corn free, and I told him that the roasted chicken would be my back up. A few moments later, he came back to inform me that the gluten free pulled pork sauce had corn starch in it, so I ended up with the chicken. I’m glad I did, because it was the best chicken I’ve ever had. It was cooked just right, and the skin was perfection. The charred bits are always my favorite part and there were plenty. It was like half a chicken though, so I was able to bring my leftovers back to the room to eat for breakfast the next day.After we finished dinner, Chef Williere came back out to ask me about dessert. Like I said, I did my research, and I told him that my friend Sarah recommended the gluten and dairy free chocolate cake. He chuckled when I asked about it and regrettably informed me that I had to call ahead, so I wasn’t able to get that. Oh well. He told me that he’d go figure something out and surprise me. Boy, did he ever.I was expecting a pack of those enjoy life chocolate chip cookies, and I would have been completely happy with that, but he came out with a blueberry cobbler topped with berry sorbet and fresh berries. It was incredible. I couldn’t believe that it didn’t have any of my allergens in it, and told him just that. He laughed and said he was glad I liked it and to tell Sarah hello and to come visit him (just in case you forgot, Sarah! Haha). I was so impressed with this restaurant, and I convinced my mom that we had to try their breakfast and lunch if we could (which you will read about shortly – I was persuasive).Day #2 – 7/22Tuesday was our first day at the parks! It was also our first time using the magic bands and the fast pass plus system. Now, over the years, we have mastered our Disney schedules and ride orders down to an art (while planning our parks around which restaurants we go to – we’re Italian, we have our priorities). We know exactly when to get to certain rides, and what order to go on those rides to make the most of our trips. With the new system, we were even more efficient. We actually ended up having a lot more time than we thought, which means we’ll be re-strategizing for next year. Woo!Anyways, we started off at Animal Kingdom. I was particularly excited for this park because of the new Allergy Friendly Kiosk that opened up. We were planning on just getting some sort of snack since we had early dinner reservations at Epcot, but since we had just recently signed up for the Landry restaurants membership, we decided to use that to get a discount at the Yak and Yeti.As always, our server was great. He was really nice, and sent the chef out to speak to me very quickly. I actually had a lot of options, which was nice. I almost got the seafood curry (again with the curry!) but since it was a zillion degrees outside, and the curry was a large portion, and we had an early dinner reservation, I instead decided to go with the chicken lettuce boats appetizer. It was really good, and such a simple meal – I’ll definitely be making it at home. It was basically just stir-fried ground chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables that I could scoop into lettuce wraps and top with gluten free hoisin sauce and sriracha!My family ended up trying the famous fried wontons for dessert, but I knew I had a bounty of sugary options waiting for me at the allergy kiosk, so we headed there on the way out so I could get some goodies to go.I was very impressed with all of the options there. They had four Babycakes items: mini cupcakes, chocolate donuts, cinnamon donuts, and chocolate chip cookies. They also had boxes of enjoy life soft-baked cookies, rice chips and cakes, surf sweets gummies, raw granola bars, fresh fruit, hummus and veggies, and pints of Tofutti ice cream. Wow! I ended up getting one of each Babycakes item because I can’t get them in North Carolina, and because, you know, baked goods. Those cookies were the first to go, and the best chocolate chip cookies ever. I was so happy to eat them, as you can see. I spread the other three items out for the rest of the week. I don’t think I’ve eaten a donut in three years, and they were so yummy!That night, we dined at Teppan Edo, the Japanese steakhouse in Epcot’s World Showcase. I ate there on my first allergy friendly Disney trip, so I looked forward to going back. This was my first trip after turning 21 in December, so I ordered the Takara plum wine. It was really sweet, but I’m not a big alchohol fan so that was a-okay with me.The manager told me that I could get any of the entrees made without noodles, with white rice instead of the beef rice, and without any of the dipping sauces. They also provided me with gluten free soy sauce. The service was also really good. They offered to cook my food in the back instead of on the grill in front of us, but since they clean the grills very well in between each table, I told them that I’d be fine if they just cooked my food before everyone else’s. I was a little wary because the last time I went there, I ended up with a really bad stomachache, which has also happened after eating chipotle burrito bowls, so this time I decided to stay away from the rice (the common ingredient). I ordered the scallops and vegetables, and I was completely fine. I’m not sure if it was the rice or the sauce that was such a problem three years ago (pre-dairy allergy), but I’m glad that I didn’t have the same issue again. Plus, the scallops were great!Are you hungry now? Stay tuned for Kathleen's last trip report guest post which recaps days 3-6 of her Disney vacation! If you want to learn more about Kathleen’s experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you’ll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.