Yak & Yeti: A Beast of a Meal!
Caralee WirgesNovember 22, 2016
Yak and yeti. Those two words alone conjure up thoughts of adventure and mystery like hiking in the foothills of the Western Himalayas. Fortunately for us, we will not be working up a sweat today but instead going on a culinary excursion for our taste buds. I am speaking of the quaint restaurant, Yak & Yeti, tucked away in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.As you are walking through Asia in Animal Kingdom, you could pass by this eatery unnoticed as its architecture blends seamlessly with the theming. It could easily be mistaken for a store front in India or Nepal. And by the way, if you are so inspired by the Asian-themed décor in the restaurant that you need to take a piece of the experience with you (not actually take the artifact, that would be stealing) but instead purchase a treasure for your home, then never fear there is a Yak & Yeti store located next door.I apologize, I digressed. We are here for the food, right? We’re almost there, I promise. As you walk through the door you are hit with the enticing aroma of pan-Asian cuisine luring from the kitchen, mingled with the faint ambiance of exotic teas and spices. The place is reminiscent of a humble home in the village that was transformed into a restaurant. Downstairs there are several small rooms that can make for a more intimate and quieter dining experience. Upstairs offers panoramic views of Asia and would be a great choice to enjoy a meal and do some people watching, I mean, to take in the views; yes, to take in the spectacular scenery! We don’t people watch - that would be rude, right?My meal of choice was dinner. And let me tell, you after a day of trekking through rainforests, being chased by a dinosaur and almost eaten by a Yeti I was ready for a relaxing meal. I think the staff could sense this by my disheveled appearance and they quickly whisked me away to one of those smaller rooms with only three tables, of which none were occupied … OK, thinking back, maybe I carried the stench of my goat encounter along with me. Hmm … Could this be why I had a room to myself? Either way, it worked! I had a great table and the most leisurely meal of my entire trip.I had worked up quite a thirst so it is no surprise I perused the drink menu first! It was quite extensive and had something for everyone. Of course they carried the obvious non-alcoholic libations like sodas, but they also offered some unique selections like Shanghai Lemonade or Everest Refresher which had three flavor options: Desert Pear, Passion Fruit or Lemon Grass. But I had something stronger in mind. Did I mention I had just been chased by dinosaurs? Yak & Yeti offered some exotic selections like sake and beers from a variety of locales including India, Japan and China. There were also alluring mixed drink choices with enticing names like Pink Himalayan, Rickshaw Rickie and Kiwi Kimono. But it was the Big Bamboo that caught my eye. It was a mixture of coconut, banana and tropical fruit flavors. Let’s just say it was a RUM-derful experience!Now that I had quenched my thirst I was ready to cure that aching in my belly. What was great about this menu was that it offered options for every level of hunger. Not in the mood for a big meal? Well Yak & Yeti has several small plates like Thai Chili Chicken Wings and Firecracker Shrimp. They also have a section of menu called “Shareables” and includes delicious selections like Dim Sum basket for two and Ahi Tuna Nachos for two. I was looking for something more substantial. After all, I had done a lot more running than I intended and had worked up quite an appetite. This menu did not disappoint. There was a” Noodles & Bowls” section that included a Malaysian Seafood Curry. A “Wok” section that offered a Korean Beef and a “Grilled” section that had a mouth-watering Kalbi Steak with Coconut Shrimp. And last but not least were their “Specialties” section that included items like Bhaktapur Duck and Chicken Tikka Masala. It was the Seared Miso Salmon that was calling my name and I could not say no. The salmon had a miso glaze and was served with coconut-ginger rice and a baby bok choy and shiitake mushroom stir-fry. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the glaze was a nice complement; it did not over power the fish.
Yak and yeti. Those two words alone conjure up thoughts of adventure and mystery like hiking in the foothills of the Western Himalayas. Fortunately for us, we will not be working up a sweat today but instead going on a culinary excursion for our taste buds. I am speaking of the quaint restaurant, Yak & Yeti, tucked away in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.As you are walking through Asia in Animal Kingdom, you could pass by this eatery unnoticed as its architecture blends seamlessly with the theming. It could easily be mistaken for a store front in India or Nepal. And by the way, if you are so inspired by the Asian-themed décor in the restaurant that you need to take a piece of the experience with you (not actually take the artifact, that would be stealing) but instead purchase a treasure for your home, then never fear there is a Yak & Yeti store located next door.I apologize, I digressed. We are here for the food, right? We’re almost there, I promise. As you walk through the door you are hit with the enticing aroma of pan-Asian cuisine luring from the kitchen, mingled with the faint ambiance of exotic teas and spices. The place is reminiscent of a humble home in the village that was transformed into a restaurant. Downstairs there are several small rooms that can make for a more intimate and quieter dining experience. Upstairs offers panoramic views of Asia and would be a great choice to enjoy a meal and do some people watching, I mean, to take in the views; yes, to take in the spectacular scenery! We don’t people watch - that would be rude, right?My meal of choice was dinner. And let me tell, you after a day of trekking through rainforests, being chased by a dinosaur and almost eaten by a Yeti I was ready for a relaxing meal. I think the staff could sense this by my disheveled appearance and they quickly whisked me away to one of those smaller rooms with only three tables, of which none were occupied … OK, thinking back, maybe I carried the stench of my goat encounter along with me. Hmm … Could this be why I had a room to myself? Either way, it worked! I had a great table and the most leisurely meal of my entire trip.I had worked up quite a thirst so it is no surprise I perused the drink menu first! It was quite extensive and had something for everyone. Of course they carried the obvious non-alcoholic libations like sodas, but they also offered some unique selections like Shanghai Lemonade or Everest Refresher which had three flavor options: Desert Pear, Passion Fruit or Lemon Grass. But I had something stronger in mind. Did I mention I had just been chased by dinosaurs? Yak & Yeti offered some exotic selections like sake and beers from a variety of locales including India, Japan and China. There were also alluring mixed drink choices with enticing names like Pink Himalayan, Rickshaw Rickie and Kiwi Kimono. But it was the Big Bamboo that caught my eye. It was a mixture of coconut, banana and tropical fruit flavors. Let’s just say it was a RUM-derful experience!Now that I had quenched my thirst I was ready to cure that aching in my belly. What was great about this menu was that it offered options for every level of hunger. Not in the mood for a big meal? Well Yak & Yeti has several small plates like Thai Chili Chicken Wings and Firecracker Shrimp. They also have a section of menu called “Shareables” and includes delicious selections like Dim Sum basket for two and Ahi Tuna Nachos for two. I was looking for something more substantial. After all, I had done a lot more running than I intended and had worked up quite an appetite. This menu did not disappoint. There was a” Noodles & Bowls” section that included a Malaysian Seafood Curry. A “Wok” section that offered a Korean Beef and a “Grilled” section that had a mouth-watering Kalbi Steak with Coconut Shrimp. And last but not least were their “Specialties” section that included items like Bhaktapur Duck and Chicken Tikka Masala. It was the Seared Miso Salmon that was calling my name and I could not say no. The salmon had a miso glaze and was served with coconut-ginger rice and a baby bok choy and shiitake mushroom stir-fry. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the glaze was a nice complement; it did not over power the fish.
But wait! What’s a meal without dessert? Probably healthier, but definitely not as much fun! After all, Yak & Yeti offered a Mango pie. Mango Pie! What? I had never had THIS before! It was the texture of Key Lime pie but made with the sweet deliciousness of mangos. It has a shortbread cookie crust and was complimented with fresh whipped cream and a raspberry sauce. This perfectly peachy-hued concoction was music to my taste buds. They are still singing its praises and I will definitely be having a piece - or two! - on my next visit.Contact me at Caralee@wishesfamilytravel.com or follow me on my Wishes Family Travel Facebook page for more Disney information and fun!