Caravan Road

There is a lot of good food at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and new favorites are opening all the time. Today, however, I thought we would offer up some respite for those weary travelers that are migrating between Harambe and Anandapur. Along the way there are several kiosks to grab quick bites from, but we’re focusing on two of the dishes served up at Caravan Road.

Along the route between the two lands, Caravan Road can be found just down the way from the freestanding restrooms, looking out towards the Tree of Life. The menu at Caravan Road boats a whopping three dishes: Teriyaki Beef Slider (with pickled cucumber), Edamame, and Asian Noodle Salad. Of these three, we decided to sample the slider and salad. Each comes in a paperboard carry-out container, which makes them easy to grab on the go.

The Teriyaki Beef Slider is a single slider and has the exact flavor profile you would expect. The sauce that has been liberally applied to the shredded beef is sweet, salty, and sticky, with a great twinge of spice. In other words, it’s a nice representation of a teriyaki sauce. The pickled cucumber has been cut long ways, and is the perfect size to add atop your slider. It has a strong acidity to it, and some nice heat, which means it doesn’t get overrun by the teriyaki. The one drawback to the slider is that the beef is very wet and the bottom bun turns to mush almost instantly. I’m not saying don’t try the slider, but I am saying that you should make sure to grab a fork!

That fork will come in handy for the Asian Noodle Salad as well. I would typically expect the noodles in this salad to come off as a bit soggy, but they are perfectly chewy, or al dente as the missus was so kind as to point out. In addition to the noodles, the dish has a ton of fresh vegetables in it. Everything from bean and pea pods, to cabbage, carrots, and red peppers make an appearance in this dish, which means the salad looks and tastes very, very bright. The black sesame seeds add a nice contrast as well. The main flavor, however, is peanut. So if you have an allergy or simply aren’t a fan of the taste of peanut in your noodles, I recommend staying away. If the Asian Noodle Salad still sounds delicious, then you should be in good shape.

A word of caution, when it comes to Caravan Road, there are a few standing tables nearby and a seating area across the way, but these spaces are at a premium. It may be best to secure seating first and then grab your food. Otherwise you should plan to continue your journey to either Harambe or Anandapur in order to find a place to sit and eat.

No matter where your food journey through Disney’s Animal Kingdom takes you, one could do a lot worse than the hearty, appetite pleasing entrees of Caravan Road. Whether you’re looking for noodles or some beef, they’ve got you covered. It’s a place that is easy to overlook, but it will definitely get the job done if you give it the chance.