An honest review of Pandora’s Satu’li Canteen
Can I pronounce it? Reader, I cannot. Can I spell it? Again, no. I’m copying and pasting every time. But what I can do, is give Pandora‘s Satu’li Canteen an Honest review
Do I recommend it? Ultimately you’ll have to read to the end, but it’s a menu full of “wholesome grains, fresh vegetables and hearty proteins,” according to Disney and who in their right mind isn’t fond of wholesome, fresh and hearty food … like cheeseburger pods?
I like the idea of dining in the heavily themed worlds like Pandora, Galaxy’s Edge or the Universal Harry Potter worlds. I enjoy that the culinary teams had to do a little extra alchemy to create menus that seem otherworldly but that a wide variety of theme park guests will happily pay for and consume.
And I like that somewhere in Disney’s corporate kitchens there was a conversation that went something like this:
“We need a menu that could credibly be served in an alien world near Alpha Centauri where plants glow in the dark and all living creatures are connected by a spirit that exists under and inside a skyscraper tree.”
“Clearly, we’re going to need a lot of Pearl tapioca like they put in Boba and bubble tea.”
“Yes, of course. But we need something bigger than Boba balls.”
“What if we took a cheeseburger and stuffed it inside a bao bun?”
“GENIUS!”
“And what if we dye the pasta noodles blue?”
“Of course we will, man. Are we not professionals?”
IN THIS ARTICLE
What is the Satu’il Canteen?
It’s a Pandora themed Quick Service dining hall in Animal Kingdom and as I think about it, it’s probably one of the best quick service restaurants on property.
The Satu’li Canteen is themed as a former mess hall for the human military occupiers of Pandora – the themed land in Animal Kingdom based on the world created in Big Jim Cameron’s Avatar movies.
It is now themed as post occupation “peaceful dining facility adorned with Na’vi art and cultural items. Owned and operated by Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE), Satu’li Canteen supplies travelers all the comforts of home—courtesy of a unique, fast-casual menu that’s been crafted from Pandora’s natural abundance.”
Does all that matter to you? I guess it depends on how deep you are into the Pandora lore. I think the land is beautiful and I hope they expand but I’ll be honest, I’m not cosplaying as a Na’vi anytime soon.
What’s on the menu at the Satu’il Canteen?
Pretty, pretty good stuff really. The breakfast menu – the canteen opens at 8 a.m. with the park – includes a really nice slow-roasted pork shoulder hash, or a frittata and beef chimichurri. To drink there’s a Pandoran Sunrise – DOLE Pineapple Juice and Minute Maid Limeade blended with POWERADE Melon and POWERADE Fruit Punch – that is better than it has any right to be and a variety of coffees. Even the Na’vi enjoy a good jolt to Joffrey’s in the morning.
There’s also quite a few alcoholic bevvies available for breakfast in Pandora in case you want to rope drop with a little hair of the dog.
The lunch and dinner menu is – if you’ll forgive me – out of this world.
We’ve already mentioned the cheeseburger steamed pods – which are galactically famous at this point. But there are a variety of bowls including the chili-garlic shrimp bowl and chimichurri beef bowl both of which are good enough to make you forget about the Boba Balls. You can also get the aforementioned blue noodles in the Ocean Moon Bowl – Blue Noodles, Tuna, Watermelon Radish, Pickled Daikon, Rainbow Carrots, Avocado, Cucumbers, and Red Cabbage with Miso and Sweet Soy Drizzle topped with Micro Cilantro. I don’t know why the cilantro is so tiny, but the bowl is good enough that I don’t care.
The drink menu remains the same as on the breakfast but the real pro move is to grab a Night Blossom from the Pongu Pongu stand just outside. I mean, layers of Apple and Desert Pear Limeade topped with Boba Balls? Who says no?
Or you can always go with the green colored Hawkes Grog Ale with its notes of apricot and peach.
Is the Satu’il Canteen worth it?
Absolutely it is. The food is unique and delicious and affordable. We often hear about how expensive dining is in Disney. The most expensive meal on the lunch and dinner menu is $19 for the Ocean Moon Bowl. There are multiple options for under $15. The drink prices are high. $4.79 for fountain beverages and more than $4 for a Dasani? But that’s Disney pricing across the board.
Now, if you decide to go for the alcohol, you’re really going to pay through the nose The space beers are $12.50 each and a glass of wine is $14 but those, of course, are not obligatory.
Overall, you can have a fun and unique dining experience for around $20 per person while sitting in the expansive and cool dining room or outside under the covered porch with ceiling fans.
Animal Kingdom is an under-rated foodie park and the canteen may be it’s most underrated dining spot.
