is a tried-and-true Disney fan destination.
Many guests number it among their must-have advance dining reservations for it’s fun atmosphere, unique menu, and cult favorite dishes.
On a recent visit to Walt Disney World, we had the pleasure of eating at Boma not once — but twice…in the SAME DAY! Yep — we had breakfast and Boma AND dinner at Boma!
While I’ll be sharing the details of our Boma breakfast in a later post, today we’re taking a look at the rockin’ spread available for dinner.
Atmosphere
Located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma is just one of three incredible restaurants at this resort — it’s a true food-lovers haven here.
You’ll find Boma on the ground floor beneath the lobby level, adjacent to both The Mara and Jiko. (Sanaa is located in nearby Kidani Village.) And while The Mara is the resort’s counter service location, Jiko is a signature restaurant, and Sanaa features a table service fusion of flavors, Boma serves as the resort’s buffet offering.
But while many Disney buffets are more about character interaction than cuisine, a trip to Boma is all about the food. A sign in Animal Kingdom’s lobby provides a little background on the meaning of the restaurant’s name — and encourages you to make your ADR for Boma well in advance!
The term boma loosely refers to a fence fashioned of sticks, and you’ll see this motif throughout the restaurant’s interior. A wrought-iron version of a boma borders either side of the wide, winding path into the restaurant.
Here, the fence borders a low wall separating the seating area from the buffet. You also see the oversized stacked “jars” that function as pillars throughout the space, as well as the thatched roofing over the service area.
Colorful swaths of African prints are draped across the ceiling to soften the look, and to mimic the sun-blocking tents that you might find in an African market.
Beautiful statuary of African animals adorn this low wall at the entrance to the seating area.
Chairs are wooden, yet comfortable, and are carved in various rustic patterns. There is a “mix and match” informality to the sets. Here, the chairs are fully wooden and heavy, complementing the thick, free-form wooden tables.
The smaller tables next to the boma, however, are more delicate, and are made of iron and wood. The tables here are more colorful as well. Don’t forget to look for hidden Mickeys in the chair backs here!
The sections of tables located closest to the windows actually feature mixed seating with combinations of chairs and banquettes that encircle posts. I’d want that banquette seat; it looks like a comfy spot to curl up!
Serving stations are located to the left side as you enter the restaurant and appear under the roof of the “huts”, while seating is in the open-air, boma-bordered enclosure.
And now that I’ve shown you around a bit, we have an enormous amount of food to cover! So let’s get to it.
Eats
Boma works like most other table service buffets in Disney parks and resorts: once your party is seated, a server takes drink orders. Meals come with a complimentary soft drink selection and free refills, but you can always choose from a selection of premium drink options (for an added cost). This includes some cocktails, but the more interesting choices are the array of options from Africa.
Since Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to the largest collection of African wines outside of the continent, there’s a pretty good selection available at Boma. There are African beers as well as liqueurs and coffee.
Posted pricing for the dinner meal gives you an idea of just what you can expect when the check comes. 🙂
If you’re interested in learning about African wines, one of Boma’s wine flights might be just the right fit for you. I think they sound pretty interesting.
Concerned about just how “exotic” the dishes at Boma might be? A list of some of the possible buffet offerings will provide you with a look at what you’ll most likely find for breakfast and dinner.
Because there are so many foods to show you, I’ve broken them up into broad categories for ease of viewing.
Breads and Salads
Even though you’ll want to pace yourself, there are many items that are considered “must try” flavors at Boma, beginning with the bread. Mealie Bread is a mild cornbread, and I can never skip having at least a taste of it!
And while I’m not partial to hummus, lots of folks can’t get enough of the Lavosh and Pita with the three house spreads: Hummus featuring White Beans, Black Olives, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. (You can also pick up some of the hummus at The Mara next door if you’d like to take some back to your hotel with you!)
You’ll find a couple of different greens options if you’d like a traditional salad, but the vinaigrettes are freshly made in house and offer bright, interesting flavors.
There’s also a good assortment of fresh fruit — always a welcome addition to the buffet for children, picky eaters, or guests looking for healthier options.
Kool Slaai may look — and sound — suspiciously familiar. It should, since it’s basically coleslaw. 🙂
With the Lentils and Hearts of Palm Salad, you’re seeing a fairly common ingredient used in an interesting way.
I expect that the peppery arugula was a good match for the citrus notes in this Orange, Olive, and Fennel Salad.
And the Papaya, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad sounded really refreshing, and was a beautiful pink color. Really, Boma is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for healthy, interesting options.
Curried Pasta Salad highlights one of the more common flavors that you’ll find in the fusion cuisine of the African continent.
And another favorite staple, couscous, gets a cold treatment in this Tunisian Couscous Salad, inspired by the flavors of North Africa.
Since watermelon is actually native to southern Africa, it’s natural that you’ll find it on the buffet here. Watermelon Salad is made by slicing the fruit paper thin, and it features the entire fruit, rind and all.
Lovers of this sweet fruit will also find it paired with tomatoes and bleu cheese in Watermelon and Tomato Salad.
Had your fill of salads and cold choices?? Let’s check out the hot food offerings!
Soups
One thing you can always count on: there will be lots of soup during your dinner visit to Boma. And most of the time, they are fantastic! It’s one of the most raved about courses available for the evening meal.
Folks who’ve been to Boma multiple times are always hoping that they’re favorite soup will be on the menu on their next visit! Check out the recipe for the Coconut Curry Chicken Stew here!
It’s feast or famine with the soups at Boma, it would seem. Another DFB Staffer happened to have dinner around the same time we did and snapped these photos of the soup selection on that evening. According to her, it was hard not to fill up on soup, because every single one of these selections was a winner!
You can never go wrong with a good Disney Tomato Florentine Bisque, but with the other more interesting selections, you might want to be a little more adventurous.
The Sambal Chicken Corn Chowder got very high marks for its rich, spicy consistency.
The group really liked the medium heat of the Curried Coconut Seafood Soup, and the mussels were a really nice addition.
And I can vouch for the Butternut Squash Soup — it’s always amazing!
I hope you aren’t full yet, because we have a lot more food to go!
Sides
The exotic flavors continue as you move toward an array of interesting side dishes. You’ll also encounter lots of things that you may have never heard of. Fortunately, helpful cast members are available behind the line to answer your questions about the dishes.
Chakalaka, a spicy relish originating in South Africa, is a traditional accompaniment to Pap, which is similar to a soft polenta.
Matar (or Mater) Paneer is a popular North African dish consisting of Paneer cheese served in a spiced tomato yogurt sauce with peas. It’s normally served with bread or over rice.
You’ll also find steamed Basmati Rice on the buffet to eat with several of the spicy dishes.
Peanut Rice and Roasted Root Vegetables also use flavors common to Africa, and complement the hearty meats and stews nicely.
Couscous makes another appearance. Here, it’s served warm with dried fruit and nuts.
Normally Fufu has a more dough-like consistency, but at Boma, it’s more of a combination mashed white and sweet potato, seasoned with coriander and cinnamon.
As with all Disney buffets, there’s also an area devoted to the kiddos, with some mainstream options.
Kids’ Buffet
On the kids’ buffet, you’ll find crowd pleasers like Macaroni and Cheese and Mashed Potatoes.
There’s also Penne Pasta with Meatballs and Marinara. I swear, if there weren’t so many other incredible dishes to try, I would totally be having a big plate of this!
Baked Chicken Legs can be dressed up with the various sauces at the carving station — more about those in just a second. These seem to have replaced the fried chicken nuggets we used to see on the kids’ buffet at Boma — just an FYI, folks!
And now…on to more meat!
Main Dishes
While many of the sides, soups, and salads would serve nicely as main courses, there are also several meat dishes to choose from.
There is always a version of Bobotie, a South African egg and meat dish, in the spread at Boma. You’ll find it at both breakfast and dinner. On the night we visited, they were featuring a Beef and Lamb version. The dish is flavored with curry, so if you’re a fan, you’ll probably like this.
There is also always a selection on the carving station. Beef lovers will enjoy the African Carved Strip Loin.
Pungent horseradish is available as a condiment to the beef.
Normally there is a pork selection as well, and sweet and tender Ancho Barbecue Pork Ribs were found at our seating.
Fans of the Durban Chicken from Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa might be disappointed in this version; it’s not braised and has none of the spice of that restaurant’s dish. Still, with some condiments, it’s perfectly good.
And this is where it can get really interesting! The sauces at Boma are fantastic, especially if you like a bit of zing with your meal.
My favorite, hands down, is the Sambal. I wish I had some right now!
There’s also always a fish option, and the Salmon with Orange-Almond Rice with its creamy sauce looked pretty good.
So many choices! It’s really hard to make selections and narrow it down with such fantastic variety, but we managed to do it! And after a bit, we headed back to check out the fantastic sweet options.
Desserts
Boma normally features a couple of warm desserts, in addition to smaller bite-sized pastries. During our visit, the featured warm desserts were Apple Cobbler and Banana and Butterscotch Bread Pudding.
Both are fantastic, of course!
And what’s a warm, comforting dessert without a rich sauce to pour over the top? Both the Vanilla Sauce and Rum Sauce are delish, so mix and match here, my friends. You’ll be happy you did.
Once you pull yourself away from the comfort food, you’ll see a beautiful spread of miniature pastries. I think I could make a meal of these alone — they all look so good.
Cinnamon adds a complexity to this Chocolate Mousse.
One of my absolute favorites, though, are these tiny Coconut Cheesecakes. They’re amazing! I sooo wanted to eat more than I had room for!
I skipped the Kenyan Coffee Tarts, but others at the table said they were awesome.
The fruity Passionfruit Panna Cotta was a nice departure from the other flavors…in theory, anyway. You guys know how I feel about milk jello. 😉
But stop the presses! There’s peanut butter here, too! (Seriously, I can’t stop writing about it these days!)
As an avowed PB lover, no way was I skipping this creamy Mousse, which also featured a Peanut Brittle Base and a Butterscotch Ganache! It was deeeeeelicious!! Save room for these!
However, no meal at Boma is complete without at least one Zebra Dome.
These little gems, made of a mousse spiked with Amarula liqueur, have attained something beyond cult status. They’re more like legendary at this point. (And remember, if you can’t secure that ADR, you can always pick up a package of them at The Mara. Or try your hand at making them at home with our recipe!)
If your tastes run to simpler fare, have no fear. There are always a delicious assortment of cookies and brownies as well. Hmmm — brownies and Vanilla Sauce…
And with that, another memorable Boma meal came to a close. And we rolled ourselves back to our room! 😉
Overall
Boma is a fantastic choice for just about everyone. Those who like to explore a bit and are adventurous with their palate will enjoy the African flavors and influences here. And those who’d rather stick with the basics will find plenty of food here to satisfy as well. I think the only problem that I can find with Boma is that there’s entirely too much good food to enjoy in one meal. In a perfect world, I’d have a two day pass for the price of admission.
And here’s another tip: getting a reservation here can be easier than you might expect, especially if you’re willing to eat dinner a little earlier. Our staffer secured a table for her party of seven with one day’s notice; and the early dining hour was perfect for the group, which included kids. If you’re trying to save money, this is actually a great idea; you can skip lunch and eat an early dinner. Trust me, you’ll be satisfied.
With its astounding selection, which includes many dishes geared toward those who are less adventurous, I’m confident you’ll find something for everyone in your party. Definitely give Boma a try for dinner if you haven’t already.
Have you dined at Boma? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Colette says
I’ve always wanted to eat at Boma, im gonna go there next time I’m at WDW. The food there looks delicious! If its anything like the food at Sanaa then I’m sold haha. I got the zebra domes from the Mara in March and they were nice.
Rune says
LOVE eating at Boma. We visited twice during our stay last Christmas / New Year and it was delicious both times although I certainly agree with what you’re saying about the soups – they were entirely different on both nights and so while we were disappointed that new favourites weren’t available, we enjoyed sampling others. I’m a real ‘grazer’ by nature and not a big meat eater so the huge selection of sides, salads, soups, etc works well for me, and my daughter was really happy getting stuck in to the African dishes.
The desserts always leave me wishing I hadn’t filled up so much on soup, salad, bobotie, fish, mealie bread and so on, seriously they are lovely things. The coffee tarts were really yummy along with the cheesecakes and mousses, and brownies with rum / vanilla sauce. Barely managed a zebra dome between us as we were so full, but it feels like a rite of passage doesn’t it?
To anyone considering Boma for dinner, I’d say give it a whirl because even if you don’t have the most adventurous palate (and mine can’t cope with anything too spicy) you will find plenty to eat. Don’t be afraid to sample new things too, I don’t like crab as a rule but the Zanzibar Crab soup was delicious. Love the place, the drummers make a noise true, but they add to the lively atmosphere.
Can’t wait for your Boma breakfast review AJ, been flip-flopping on whether to book it or not for our next trip in Sept for while now. =)
Ariel says
Which would you suggest for lunch, Sanaa or Boma?
Tricia says
Yummmmmmmmmmm… I am a picky eater and always walk away stuffed to the gills. Boma is on our must do list. We have breakfast plans and now I want dinner ones to for the next trip.
Joni says
I have never been to Boma’s for Breakfast as I am not that big of an adventurious eater.
But have eaten there on our last day of vacation for the past 7 years for breakfast. It is awesome. You get your normal everyday breakfast items and much more. Scrambled eggs are great. They add goat cheese I think. Yummy, You can get carved meat, Omelets, and some African items. Lots of good pasteries also. Worth a trip at least once.
Oatmeal & Quinioa, & fruit for the health conscience. Go early and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Wendy says
I’m not the most adventurous eater. However, I did enjoy the food offerings at Boma just fine. But the reason I’d return is EASILY the desserts!!!!! The cinnamon chocolate mousse, peanut butter brittle dessert and coffee tart were all FANTASTIC! I much preferred all of those to the famed zebra dome. I LOVE coconut and do not recall that one being on the buffet on my visit, so hopefully it’ll be there on a return trip!
Wendy Snelgrove says
Ariel,
Boma isn’t normally open for lunch. (I’ve never been during Christmas etc. and it might be open then just due to crazy crowds). Sanaa is lovely at lunch because it overlooks the Sunset Savannah and it is easier to see all the animal friends at lunch than during an after-sunset dinner.
Every restaurant at AKL is amazing!
Wendy
Sherri Erwin says
It’s really hard to pace myself at Boma. I take very small portions so I can try more things, and I never get to all of it. Everything is so good. The soups, of course. But everything else, too.
Christine says
Love love love Boma!
Don’t hesitate to try it for breakfast or dinner. Both are fantastic with plenty of options for picky/non-adventurous eaters.
By any chance, does anyone know where I can find a list of the rose wines they currently offer? I had one that I loved during my visit in May, and I completely forgot the name of it. thanks!
Matt says
I love BOMA, it has become a must visit for me and my wife when we are at WDW. I agree with the others, its hard to pace yourself because they have such a wide variety of foods for you to sample. I would suggest this to any and all WDW guests as it has a little something for everyone. Not to mention, once you are done eating you can explore a beautiful resort!
Nerak says
I go to Boma every time I am in Disney. I count down the days until I can have some bobtie and fufu! (and everything else). I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Dana says
This was one of our favorite restaurants, until we found out that I have Celiac and cannot eat gluten. The last time we went to Boma, after learning this, I was disappointed to find that most of the more authentic dishes I could not eat (they had flour in them). This included all of the curry dishes, which really bummed me out (I’m a curry fanatic). The one nice thing was the head chef brought over a tray of gluten free deserts for me, including gluten free zebra domes. That cheered me up a bit.
We have since discovered Sanaa, and I can eat almost everything there. And it’s easier to pace yourself, because you aren’t trying to “get your money’s worth” like you would be at a buffet.
Julie says
LOVED Boma!! Went for breakfast and dinner in the same week and both were wonderful. Breakfast was such a great deal- especially if you go for a late breakfast at about 10-10:15, you can essentially make it into brunch and then you’re covered for a day in the parks plus a light dinner! The corned beef hash was incredible at breakfast too!!
Ariel says
Thanks so much for the help Wendy! =)
Jaime says
Love, love, love Boma. I am a vegetarian and the chef walked me around the buffet to show me what I could have. The Curried Pasta Salad and Carrot Ginger Soup were both amazing. Going to miss it on our next trip, but it’s definitely on the list for next year. Thumbs up!
Katherine F. says
I can vouch for the surprising easiness of getting a last minute table– at least for a small party. When I was in school in Orlando and was feeling homesick, I’d call up for a reservation at Sanaa or Boma. Almost always I could get in for the next day. Time flexibility is key, but I actually enjoy going later when I’m going to Boma, because I feel like I can work up a real appetite.
Nicole says
This is always a must-eat restaurant on every Disney trip. We had our wedding dinner here, and all of our guests were able to find something to eat. We had a great time dancing around Boma with the cast members, and even found time to come back again later and enjoy dinner again on our honeymoon. Looking forward to the breakfast review…
Mary says
We visited Boma for both breakfast and dinner during our February trip. We love Boma for breakfast and wanted to try something different. Out of the four people in my party (including myself) that went for dinner, I am the only person who actually liked the dinner and I am not sure why. I am a somewhat adventurous eater (I will try pretty much anything once) and love the turkey at Boma. I sampled a little bit of different items and for the most part, liked what I tried.
I guess we will be sticking to breakfast here but it was worth a try.
Mary says
Also, really liked the Peanut Rice but didn’t get a chance to try the butternut squash soup as I don’t think it was available when I went. I looked for it but didn’t see it anywhere.
Beth says
This food looks good!!! Funny, I tend to think of Matar Paneer as Indian. My son has been a vegetarian since he was about 2 and a half, and he loves his peas’n’cheese. I knew he’d enjoy eating at Sanaa, but it looks like Boma would be good for him too.
LoriD says
LOVE LOVE LOVE Boma! I’ve got a breakfast ressie there for our upcoming trip and am contemplating a dinner ressie too if I can talk the rest of the party into it. We’ve enjoyed both in the past and it’s now a must do for us at least once each trip. That and a trip to Mara to grab some Zebra Domes for the trip home. YUMMY!
Paul S. says
I’ve eaten at Boma a few times and have even taken friends there. No one has ever been disappointed by this wonderful place. I have gotten to expand my food “perimeter” and was pleasantly surprised by all the great flavors I discovered. I’m quite partial to the carrot ginger soup, the watermelon rind salad and the babootie, which had been different every time I’ve been to Boma. It’s a fantastic place to branch out and try new tastes and flavors, as well as meet some of the Best Cast Members on WDW property. Highly recommend Boma!
Catherine says
My hubby and I ate at Boma last year and LOVED it ! We plan to go back again soon. He loved all the different flavours (the buffet here is the perfect way to try all these different flavours) and the dessert were my fav part !! To DIE for !!
Jeff says
I have eaten at Boma for both breakfast and dinner. I absolutely loved the dinner I had there, and feel it’s one of the top 5 meals I’ve had at Disney so far. Unlike many folks here apparently, I was not wowed by the breakfast. I love breakfast, so I can’t say the food was bad in any way, but I was really disappointed by the fact that half the items on the buffet were packaged frozen items. Comparing it to the dinner I had on a previous visit, where everything seemed to be made fresh in-house, the breakfast was a real let down.
I don’t know if AJ will let me post a link to my photos of the breakfast, but I show every item I ate that morning, and most were the very common items you can have at any hotel breakfast buffet. Many of them were pre-packaged frozen foods, then reheated at Boma. It just didn’t seem to follow the Disney tradition of unique, themed, and fresh creations in food.
Jan says
Dinner at Boma is a must-do for us every time we’re at WDW. We even made the trek over to Animal Kingdom Lodge during an all-Universal Studios trip. As many times as we’ve been, I don’t think I’ve tried everything yet, so there’s always something new and wonderful to try.
Anderson says
This is such a great review. You have my mouth watering at the pictures, and I love the descriptions of each dish. Would love to see another buffet review like this.
I ate at Boma once and didn’t love it. Wasn’t terrible, but was probably my least favorite dinner at WDW. I may need to try it again, or try Tusker House as a intro.
Mamaleficent says
AKV is one of our favorite DVCs, and Boma is our favorite restaurant there, so we’ve been quite a few times. Even after repeat visits, we still have to make a conscious effort to pace ourselves at that buffet!
A surprise love for me at Boma is the chakalaka and pap. I tried it just because it was so much fun to say, but found I really enjoyed the contrasting flavors and textures.
My one wish is that they would change up the hot desserts. Every time we’ve been, whatever the time of year, it’s been apple cobbler and banana bread pudding. I know lots of people like the bread pudding. (I can’t stand bananas, so I just “borrow” the sauces for other uses.) However, I’d expect at least a seasonal cobbler.
Mark says
OK, we finally made it to Boma. After all we had heard we were really looking forward to it. Started with the soups and they were fabulous. Some of the best soups we’ve ever had. After such a great start we figured we were in for something really a special. Alas, we were wrong. Some nice fun things on the salad bar. The humus was great, but frankly the entrees were disappointing. In particular the beef loin was a pretty poor piece of meat. Very very chewy. My wife said it was below the quality she gets at Winn-Dixie and Aldi! Pork was nice, salmon was nice, the African quiche was tasty, but nothing to knock your socks off. The deserts were plenty of fun. Overall, worth trying once, but the place to go back to is Sanaa, not Boma.
Disney Babies Jenn says
So I was just doing a ‘review’ for my blog and of course I forgot to take pictures of the food (forgot or couldn’t leave the table without my 18 month old screaming… and than couldn’t stop eating to actually take pictures of the food on the table) so I linked to your review, as I often do – and I noticed you skipped the kenyan coffee tart?! Oh man. I was afraid to eat the zebra dome after that – I still liked the zebra dome, but those coffee tarts were my absolute fave dessert of our vacation. Sorry grey stuff brownie – you don’t come close! Love your blog, as always!
Jim says
Would we need reservations (late Sept)?- if so how far in advance. We generally don’t do so , but this looks so good!
AJ says
Jim — You should always book Disney reservations if there is an experience you particularly want. Boma fills up fast as well. You can book reservations 6 months in advance, so you’re within your window now to book a reservation.
Lauren says
Do you know what days the butternut squash soup rotates out!?! We were lucky n tried Boma for the first time on a whim and our neighboring table recommended we try the butternut squash soup! And oh my goodness- I have craved it every day since! I was told it’s only out certain days so I want to book it right! Thanks for your input! °o°
Mike Himel says
My extended family (wife daughter, in-laws and young nephews) ate there for dinner in May. We found most of the food bland. This may be because we are from Louisiana, and love our Cajun holy trinity (onions, bell peppers and celery) with plenty cayenne and other seasonings in our dishes. I had the oxtail stew and the gravy seemed like it came from a can or pack, not a good roux. Nothing was memorable. The meat choices seemed to be poor cuts. But the desserts were good. Especially the zebra domes!
We will try Sanaa next time.