The Best Meal at Animal Kingdom, Period.

Having told people that it was a good idea to skip Animal Kingdom last year, I’ve been taking a lot of heat. Both out in the world and from my fellow writers here at Disney Fanatic. So, I’ve come with an olive branch of sorts: food.

It makes perfect sense to me. I feed people; that’s what I do. So, let’s try to break the tension with a little food talk. Unless that is, you disagree with what I will say next. Then this will just serve to anger you more. In this case, there’s not much I can do to appease you.

So, here it goes: the best meal at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers several interesting options for dining, but the best meal at Animal Kingdom is at Flame Tree Barbecue. It is always unusual to select a quick-service restaurant rather than a table service for the best meal, but in this case, there is no better place to sit down and enjoy a meal.

The difference here is there is no need for a paper menu or a waiter. You don’t even need cloth napkins, which is the true sign of good barbecue.

I recommend ordering on your phone and then picking it up later.

Mobile ordering on the My Disney Experience App is easy; the food will be waiting for you during your designated pick-up window. The line for Flame Tree is long from about 11 a.m. until the park closes.

So, if you don’t want to wait, this is the easiest way to get your hands on this great food.

I don’t get an appetizer here. Come to think of it; they don’t have apps, just side dishes. Just as well, you’ll want to save room for the ribs.

I try my best to wait until after noon to get my food so I can have a beer with the ribs. It’s always a beer. There are other drinks there, but I don’t mess with those when I’m eating with my hands. So, I start with a beer, sometimes two.

I get the onion ring basket for the table and the St. Louis Rib dinner for me. Be warned; it’s a lot of food. Animal Kingdom is huge, so don’t plan on doing too much walking after you eat. Maybe try and arrange a nap for after lunch if you can. And stay away from Expedition Everest after you eat too. I’m just looking out for you on this one.

Take your food to the sitting area behind the restaurant overlooking Discovery River, just on the edge of Discovery Island, and go to town. There are bbq sauces at the napkin stations. I go with the spicy, and it’s not too hot, but nice kick on the back end.

You’re going to be a hot mess while you’re eating, but really, who cares? You’re on vacation.

The beans and the slaw that come with it are solid, but who are we kidding? You’re there for the meat. Just go to town on that and save the sides for later if you have room.

I do not get dessert at Flame Tree, which is fine. You’re not going to have room anyway.

This is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten at any restaurant in the Walt Disney World Resort. Flame Tree Barbecue is the best quick-service restaurant that Disney World has to offer

Now, hopefully, this makes us square. Or at least it will when you sit down for this meal. It will be the best you will have at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Enjoy yourself.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and may not reflect the views of Disney Fanatic as a whole.