Posted by: Caitlin Kane September 16, 2022
Coconut is a wonderfully versatile ingredient that can be used in so many ways in various cuisines to create both savory and sweet dishes. From sweet desserts with toasted coconut to savory coating for fried shrimp, there is no end to the amazing things that imaginative chefs can create using coconut. The Walt Disney World Resort is home to some incredible dining locations, many of which utilize coconut to create unforgettable dishes that include appetizers, entrées, desserts, and more. Let’s check out some of the best coconut eats and treats to enjoy while at the Walt Disney World Resort!
Disney’s Old Key West Resort welcomes Guests into the fictional town of Conch Flats where the laid back atmosphere of the Florida Keys can be found all around, especially at Olivia’s Café. This table service restaurant is run by local Olivia who serves up indulgent southern cuisine infused with the fresh flavors and ingredients of Florida for breakfast and dinner each day. A flavorful dish that Guests love to enjoy at Olivia’s Café for dinner is the West Indian Tofu and Coconut Curry which features a creamy Caribbean curry combined with tofu, roasted sweet potatoes, marinated tomatoes, broccolini, edamame, red pepper, and cilantro.
Another very popular table service location at a Disney Resort is Jiko – The Cooking Place which can be found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Open nightly for dinner only, Jiko – The Cooking Place welcomes Guests into a vibrant interior where an on-stage kitchen and wood-burning ovens prepare feasts of African, Indian, and Mediterranean flavors. After enjoying a wonderful dinner at the restaurant, Guests can dig into the African Drum “Beets” a plant-based dessert that features a coconut-strawberry-beet mousse with chocolate cake, candied beets, and balsamic strawberries.
Credit: Yak & Yeti Restaurant
Yak & Yeti Restaurant in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a wonderful table service restaurant that welcomes Gusts into a deeply themed environment that spans two floors and features smaller rooms filled with authentic décor and artwork collected in South Asia. The menu for lunch and dinner focuses on pan-Asian cuisine, and Guests can enjoy an array of flavorful options they won’t soon forget. The Coconut Shrimp is a specialty menu item at Yak & Yeti Restaurant that perfectly coats shrimp in crunchy coconut coating and pairs it with jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables, and a plum barbecue sauce.
Fans of coconut shrimp have another wonderful option to enjoy at a popular table service restaurant in The Landing area of Disney Springs. The Boathouse features a nautical theming that Guests love right on the shores of Lake Buena Vista and serves up a lengthy menu of seafood favorites and land indulgences for lunch and dinner each day. The Hand Breaded Coconut Shrimp featured at The Boathouse plates perfectly crispy and flavorful shrimp paired with grilled pineapple salsa and an orange chili sauce for dipping.
A sweet coconut option is also available as a dessert at The Boathouse for those who have saved enough room. The Coconut Panna Cotta is creamy and delicious with a mango gelee, fresh fruit, and coconut shortbread cookie for added crunch.
Credit: Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew
Over on the West Side of Disney Springs is Evergalzed Donuts & Cold Brew, a popular destination that serves up a creative menu of decadent doughnuts in inventive and over the top flavors. The Funky Bunch menu in particular features truly creative doughnut options and Guests are sure to love digging into the Mounds Coconut Dream which tops a coconut-almond iced doughnut with toasted coconut, chopped Mounds, cream cheese frosting, and a vanilla icing drizzle.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort celebrates the laid back atmosphere of the islands with tropical touches, lush landscaping, and bright architecture and Guests can even continue the beachy theme with a wonderful dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro. This table service location is open nightly for dinner and features a light and airy interior with water views where Guests can enjoy a family-style meal of Caribbean flavors and ingredients. To end a delicious dinner, Sebastian’s Bistro serves Our Celebrated House-made Coconut Pineapple Bread Pudding which is ooey, gooey, and topped with a caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Another delicious coconut dessert option can be enjoyed at Yachtsman Steakhouse, a table service restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort that is open for dinner each night. Yachtsman Steakhouse features an upscale nautical theme that pairs perfectly with a decadent menu of steakhouse favorites and delicious seafood that can be topped off with flavorful desserts. The Pineapple and Coconut Tart is a plant-based dessert option Guests will love that features roasted pineapple curd, coconut crema, sable cookie crunch, and a cherry gelee for the perfect end to any meal.
Chef Rick Bayless serves up a menu of delicious authentic Mexican cuisine at Frontera Cocina, a table service restaurant found in the Town Center of Disney Springs. Frontera Cocina features a vibrant interior with bold colors and authentic Mexican artwork that pairs wonderfully with a lunch and dinner menu of flavorful and indulgent menu options. A wonderful seafood entrée that Guests love to enjoy at the restaurant is the Mahi Mahi al Coco which pairs grilled mahi mahi with a creamy coconut sauce, tomato, jalapeno, plantain rice, and warm corn tortillas.
Jumping back to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Guests can head over to Kidani Village to enjoy more beautiful theming and savanna views in addition to a wonderful table service location. Sanaa is open daily as a table service restaurant for lunch and dinner and is themed to feel like an East African spice market with traditional African cuisine and Indian flavors that Guests can enjoy while gazing out at the savanna. A unique and flavorful entrée option available at Sanaa is the Samaki Wa Kupaka which marinates sustainable fish in turmeric and serves it with roasted cauliflower, yucca katlesi, and coconut gravy.
To end any meal at Sanaa, Guests can enjoy a plant-based dessert option that features a unique blend of flavors and textures. Kheer is a coconut-rice pudding that is topped with a cashew streusel and saffron-poached fruit which provide a touch of wonderful sweetness and texture.
An adventurous meal can always be enjoyed at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. This table service location continues the story from the nearby Jungle Cruise with beautifully vibrant themed rooms and a menu of international cuisine served up by the beloved skippers. After an exotic meal, at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen Guests can order up the Coconut Bar with Pineapple-Basil Compote and Vanilla Cream for dessert which tops a vanilla chiffon cake with coconut and a lime-white chocolate ganache.
The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a wonderful table service restaurant on the end of Hollywood Boulevard that welcomes Guests back to the golden age of Hollywood with an art deco-inspired interior filled with caricature sketches of famous stars. The menu at The Hollywood Brown Derby focuses on contemporary American cuisine and Guests can end any lunch or dinner on a plant-based sweet note with the Chocolate-Coconut Cake that is perfectly moist and topped with a chocolate sauce and hazelnut cream.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is home to Steakhouse 71, a popular table service restaurant that celebrates the year that the Walt Disney World Resort opened with a retro interior and throwback menu of American classics. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Steakhouse 71 is always busy and Guests can end any meal with a retro dessert featuring several fruits. The Ambrosia tops a coconut chiffon cake with tart mandarin curd and compressed pineapple for a throwback favorite that is filled with wonderful fruity flavor.
Of course the Walt Disney World Resort is home to some amazing coconut ice cream options including one delight that can be found in the France Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase. L’Artisan des Glaces is a charming ice cream shop in the rear of the pavilion that serves up indulgent flavors throughout each day that Guests can enjoy as a traditional cone or in more creative ways. The Coconut-White Chocolate Ice Cream is a wonderful option to choose at L’Artisan des Glaces that is the perfect combination of creamy coconut and unique white chocolate that Guests are sure to love.
The final coconut treat to enjoy at the Walt Disney World Resort is another ice cream option that can be found in the West Side of Disney Springs. Salt & Straw is a relatively new shop that serves up a completely unique menu of flavors that pair interesting flavor profiles together to create unforgettable combinations. A vegan option that Guests can enjoy at Salt & Straw is the Roasted Pineapple Coconut Sherbet that churns together caramelized roasted pineapple and coconut cream for a smooth and creamy option that is absolutely worth a visit.
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