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Review: Breakfast at the New Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora


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Kaltxi from Satu’li Canteen!

(That’s “Hello” in the Na’vi language!)

We’re back at the fast-casual restaurant in Animal Kingdom’s brand new land, Pandora — The World of AVATAR (despite the seriously crazy lines that still plague the land since its opening)!

Officially open at long last, guests are able to visit the moon of Pandora, as the story goes, thanks to ACE: Alpha Centauri Expeditions. Now that humans and the Na’vi coexist in peace, we are all welcome to explore the gorgeous landscape, and experience two new attractions with the Na’vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage.

And the Satu’li Canteen is available to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner to all the interplanetary travelers on expeditions of their own! We’ve already explored the options on the Lunch and Dinner menu, and now we’re back for a bit (or a lot!) of Breakfast.

Satu'li Canteen outdoor menu

Satu’li Canteen outdoor menu

Satu'li Canteen

Satu’li Canteen

So, let’s see what Satu’li Canteen has to offer for the most important meal of the day!

Atmosphere

We took a full tour of Satu’li Canteen during our previous visit, and you can see it in motion through the video below. Or watch all of our Pandora videos on our Pandora Playlist!

Even so, let’s take another quick look around since it’s such a new — and cool — space!
Satu'li Canteen atmosphere

Satu’li Canteen atmosphere

The story here is that Alpha Centauri Expeditions has taken what was once the mess hall of the RDA (Resource Development Administration) and, once peace in the land of Pandora had been established, turned it into a dining establishment for visiting travelers.

Satu'li Canteen Indoor Dining Area

Satu’li Canteen Indoor Dining Area

Satu'li Canteen Indoor Dining Area

Satu’li Canteen Indoor Dining Area

Satu'li Canteen Indoor Dining Area

Satu’li Canteen Indoor Dining Area

In addition to offering food, Satu’li Canteen is also a museum of sorts, featuring Na’vi cultural items and artwork which surround and hang high above guests as they dine.

Na'vi Artwork

Na’vi Artwork

Satu'li Canteen atmosphere

Na’vi Artwork

Na'vi Artwork

Na’vi Artwork

If you are enjoying Pandora in the cooler morning hours or just a pretty day, outdoor seating is also available.

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

While the culture of the Na’vi are honored in the seating areas, the industrial nature of the former RDA (Resource Development Administration) can still be seen in the ordering queues.

Ordering Queues

Ordering Queues

But don’t forget: Satu’li Canteen is the first counter service restaurant to offer Mobile Order, which allows guests to pre-order and pre-pay for their meal, thereby bypassing the ordering queue.

Sign directing to Regular and Mobile Order

Sign directing to Regular and Mobile Order

Be sure to read our step-by-step Mobile Order How-To, as this brand new ordering option will roll out via the My Disney Experience app to several additional Counter Service locations all over Disney World in the coming months. We were so impressed by the streamlined process that we decided to use it again for breakfast.

Mobile Order Screenshot

Mobile Order Screenshot

We also chose to use it because, in this opening week of a brand new land, lines entering Pandora (and inside the land itself) looked a little somethin’ like THIS.

Pandora's Opening Week Lines

Pandora’s Opening Week Lines

Pandora's Opening Week

Pandora’s Opening Week

Crowds in front of Satu'li Canteen

Crowds in front of Satu’li Canteen

Soooo, yeah. Mobile Order, it is!

Mobile Order Pick-up on the Left

Mobile Order Pick-up on the Left

And here’s what we picked up with it…

Eats

For Lunch and Dinner, options at Satu’li Canteen focus on better-for-you fare with an emphasis on proteins, grains, and produce. While Breakfast has its own unique offerings, you’ll find that focus echoed in items like the Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-fired Beef, Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage, and the Tropical Pandoran Forest Fruits with fresh yogurt-muesli and vanilla maple syrup.

Breakfast Menu

Breakfast Menu

Twists on tradition include the Cinnamon French Toast and the Scrambled Egg, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed “Pods.” And finally, the Steel Cut Oats can only be ordered by guests 21-and-over (as designated by the tiny asterisk on the menu). That’s because — in addition to caramelized brown sugar, Marcona almonds, and Gogi berries —the final topper is whiskey-soaked raisins.

Speaking of adults-only, a Bloody Mary featuring Absolut Peppar Vodka is also up for grabs.

Breakfast Menu

Breakfast Menu

Of course, the kiddos haven’t been forgotten! Pint-sized versions of the Breakfast Pods and the Cinnamon French Toast are offered alongside popular cereals.

Kids' Breakfast Menu and Drinks

Kids’ Breakfast Menu and Drinks

We started our first feast of the day with the Cinnamon French Toast.

Cinnamon French Toast

Cinnamon French Toast

Topping the toast is a dusting of powdered sugar and a blueberry cheesecake dollop.

Cinnamon French Toast

Cinnamon French Toast

This is all placed atop a passion fruit anglaise and served with sausage.

Cinnamon French Toast

Cinnamon French Toast

Sausage on the side

Sausage on the side

The French Toast has a nice, light and spongy texture (though those who prefer their French Toast on the crispy side probably won’t enjoy it as much).

Cinnamon French Toast

Cinnamon French Toast

Personally, I really liked the berry topping! Even though it didn’t come close to the “blueberry cheesecake dollop” that I envisioned (it’s more of a compote and only slightly creamy), the berry boost delivered some terrific flavor to an otherwise staple dish.

Closeup on Blueberry Cheesecake Dollop

Closeup on Blueberry Cheesecake Dollop

My one complaint is that I thought the portion was a tad small, even as one of the lesser cost items on the menu, coming in at $7.99. But for a sweet option, this is a nice one. FYI — this does not come with butter or syrup, but syrup is available at the condiment counter. We asked about butter and couldn’t find any, anywhere.

Portion size, though, was not remotely a concern with the Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef and Chimichurri (also called “Steak and Eggs”). A helping of arugula finishes off the plate.

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef and Chimichurri

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef and Chimichurri

It features that same tender, rare beef and flavorful Chimichurri sauce as the Create Your Own Satu’li Bowl served at lunch and dinner.

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef and Chimichurri

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef and Chimichurri

Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef

Wood-fired Herb-crusted Beef

I thought that would be my favorite part, but what actually stood out the most was the Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata.

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata

I can be picky about texture with a frittata, but this one was on point, and the baked in veggies tasted great.

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata cross-section

Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata cross-section

This is the choice if you’re hoping to tackle a LOT of the park right after breakfast, as it is incredibly filling to boot.

Remember the Cheeseburger and Vegetable Curry Steamed “Pods” from our lunch and dinner review? (To refresh your memory: the Cheeseburger Pods are a hit; the Vegetable Curry… not so much unless you LURVE curry.) The breakfast version is the Scrambled Egg, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed “Pods.”

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pods with Pickled Vegetables

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pods with Pickled Vegetables

These are served with pickled vegetables.

Pickled Vegetables

Pickled Vegetables

The pods are, of course, simply steamed bao buns, filled with the scrambled and diced ingredients mentioned above, along with just a bit of cheese.

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pods

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pods

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pod cross-section

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pod cross-section

They weren’t bad, but I do think they could’ve used more of that cheese to help this dish along.

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pod Filling

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Spinach Steamed Pod Filling

And while I still really liked how the bao was prepared, I also thought these weren’t stuffed quite full enough. If you’d really like to try the bao buns, I would stick with lunch or dinner.

I saved my personal favorite — hands down — for last: the Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage.

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage

The chorizo sausage tops the hash along with a natural jus — which was sort of like a pork broth.

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage

Packed with flavor and hearty, this is a great savory option. I loved the roasted peppers and potatoes in combination with the plentiful pork.

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash

That natural jus helps to create a dish that’s not at all dry, either. And I always appreciate that bit of kick from the chorizo!

Chorizo Sausage

Chorizo Sausage

I would love to see the Hash available on its own as a side with any of the other dishes so more people could enjoy it. It’s a real winner!

Overall

Satu’li Canteen isn’t just a great counter service breakfast offering for Pandora; it’s a great breakfast offering even considering your other options in Disney World for those who are looking to step outside the regular Bounty Platter and Mickey Waffles (not that we don’t LOVE our Mickey Waffles — you know we do!). Unique and — better yet — well-prepared dishes in a cool setting are a terrific way to start the day.

And if you’re facing any lines that even come close to this throughout the summer…

Pandora's Opening Week Lines

Pandora’s Opening Week Lines

… you’re gonna need some serious sustenance!

Signing off once more from Pandora! (But not for long…. there’s still more where this came from, so stay tuned!)

Nosh or Not?

Breakfast at Satu’li Canteen Could Be Right For You If:

  • You’re hitting Pandora early and aren’t planning a big lunch
  • You’re up for experimenting a bit with your standard breakfast dishes

Breakfast at Satu’li Canteen Might Be a Pass For You If:

  • Your family is a Mickey-Waffles-Or-Nothing kind of breakfast crew
  • You’re not a big breakfast eater
  • You have super picky eaters or not-so-adventurous eaters in your group. Even the kids’ meals are out of the ordinary, featuring the blueberry cheesecake sauce and passion fruit anglaise, and the goat cheese and spinach steamed pods. Note, however, that you can get the sauces taken off of anything you order, and there is regular cereal available.

Would you like to start your day at Satu’li Canteen? Please let us know with a comment!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and:


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