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    The Mara

    3.7 (144 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, African
    Open 6:30 am - 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM - 11:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    The Mara Photos

    THE MARA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mara

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    Reviews With Photos

    Iced Chai Tea Latte
    Ellie W.

    I LOVE THE MICKEY WAFFLES!! Came here for breakfast twice while here on our stay. The Mickey waffles are just as I remember as a child. Super soft and pillowy and thick I love the addition of whipped cream and fruit and the side of bacon was nice! The Savannah platter was also a staple for me this trip getting in my protein before a long day at the park is just what I needed. I can't complain with this quick service dining. The staff were friendly and attentive as well. I would defintely come here again.

    Harissa-spiced Beef Bowl
    Johanna S.

    We went here for an early dinner on a weekday so the place was pretty empty. It was quiet and really clean. The staff was nice and friendly It's located near the pool area of the Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. There were decent amount of food choices. It was African themed but they also have American food choices. I got the Harissa Spiced Beef Bowl. It's a beef stew with kale salad rice and guacamole. It was really good. And it's a huge serving. My son got the cheese flat bread which was also good. We got the cookie brownie for dessert which was delicious. It was sweet but not too sweet. The best part is that the price is pretty reasonable especially for a Disney resort.

    Savanna Platter & Kilimanjaro Bowl --yummy but not served hot
    Marlo J.

    The Mara is clean, the staff is super friendly & they have an amazing menu. The ambience, for a counter service meal, is incredible! However the only issue we ran into consistently on our most recent visit was that the hot food was served barely warm. We noticed that the cook brings up stainless bins of freshly cooked hot food from the kitchen and places them in front of the food prep person who takes and creates your order. So the issue is when he is about halfway through the food he's got in front of him has started to lose heat, and if you get food from the bottom of the bowl, you're getting barely hot food. The lines were too long for us to take our food back for hot food, as we had to get to the parks. However it is something you can be aware of as you are in line! We recommend the Mara; just watch the temperature of your food!

    The best waffles have ears
    Julie L.

    Great location right next to the pool! Personally I think it's a great spot if you don't want to get a sit down or buffet. A third of the price and you'll be comfortably full and able to walk around in the 100% humidity. Mickey waffles are my go to! $12 combo comes with 3 waffles, 2 sausages (or bacon) and berries and whipped cream. Flatbread was better than expected and chewy but crisp. 10-11:30 pm is flatbreads only, no dinner options, but a chef made fries special for a guest. Never hurts to ask! They sell premade cocktails and bottles of African wine too. Night caps! If you're poolside or staying in the resort, highly recommend!

    Butternut Squash Soup
    Rachel Macie H.

    Mara is what I would call a hidden gem amongst the many restaurants on Disney Property as they have a delicious selection of choices for either breakfast or for lunch. So for breakfast it's all about those Mickey Waffles as they actually really are good so parents don't overlook them for yourself because they are perfect for everyone as they just hit the spot when your wanting some waffle goodness! The quiche is also very yummy it's filled with bacon and cheese like you just can't go wrong with it as it's just like a mini breakfast pie! They also have lots of specialty coffees here too last time I ordered a oat milk latte with cookie butter and a chocolate Simba on top and let me say it was just soo good for the morning like writing this I'm just craving one right now! Then for lunch I've been here a few times as I always seem to find myself frequenting this resort and coming here for lunch is definitely a nice treat! Recently Mara got a new menu which includes bowls and I must say these are packed with flavors of epic proportions in all three of the varieties. My favorite has to be the shrimp bowl as that's just something that has hit the spot for me each time I've gotten it as it's packed with flavors from the tomato cucumber salad to the kale salad that comes with it to that delicious rice and flavorful shrimps, but don't count out that oak grilled chicken bowl two as it is pretty much the same as the shrimp but with chicken instead, the icing on top of it has to the that delicious zesty sour cream like it just mixes soo well with something that is already just that good! They also have a few flat breads too one pepperoni and one tomato ricotta both of which look really good as I haven't tried them but my friend who went with me had tired them as well as the veggie bowl and she said they both are super good and would totally get them again! Overall you can't go wrong coming here as they have a bunch of options for everyone some unique and some burgers and either way you slice it your going to get something yummy from some of the nicest Cast Members I've encountered in all of Walt Disney World, with that said I'm sure I'll be here sooner than later for what's just magically scrumptious in every Mara type of way!

    Chocolate cupcake with pudding in the middle. Amazing icing and little round crunchies
    Julie W.

    This place is amazingly cheap and fast for a resort dining spot. I was also surprised by how decent the food was. We've had the BBQ pork sandwich - great taste despite only being meat and bread; chicken flatbread - lots of flavors and also quite nice; chickpea salad sandwich - wait a prepared food sitting in the fridge can taste this fun? maybe has some olives or something in the chickpeas? also nice side veggies and couscous; and children's chicken tenders which comes with a side drink and choice if apple, grapes, yogurt or fries. Breakfast was less exciting for me but still decent enough. Pick up your choice if meal, then go back to your room and watch as giraffes, zebras and other herd animals stroll by. What a luxury experience!

    South African Vegetable Bowl
    Alysha W.

    We went over to eat at Mara one night when we wanted quick service and they were able to accommodate for my allergies. I had the vegetable bowl which has African spiced vegetables in a stew with rice and a kale salad. My mom had the shrimp bowl and we shared some fries. We both enjoyed our food and would go there again to eat these items.

    Breakfast Mickey Waffles with side of sausage
    Cody F.

    My absolute favorite quick service restaurant in WDW. I always make it a priority to come here whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I just love how you can get zebra domes here whenever. I'm just disappointed they no longer serve African Stew! That was my favorite! I always dine in and the ambiance is excellent. The cast members always keep it clean.

    Waffle Platter

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    2 years ago

    Really unique and more authentic flavors for the theme of the Resort. Zebra Domes are a must!

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    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar - Fried Chicken Sandwich

    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

    4.1(477 reviews)
    0.5 miDisney World, Horizons West / West Orlando
    $$

    While visiting Orlando we wanted a location with a patio because the weather was beautiful this…read moreparticular day plus they are dog friendly and we had our pups with us. Everything was great here from beginning to end. When employees that are off the clock but still goes out of their way to also help or assist you and not getting paid shows great hospitality. The food was epic and that's not over emphasized. I had the trout with veggies and roasted potatoes. It was really really good. It was a tad too salty but manageable. My wife had and crunchy ahi tuna bowl and she never came up for air lol. My sister had the fish and chips and the amount of food she got was more than she could eat. She loved her meal. I also had the best sweet tea east of the Mississippi and I had a red pomegranate sangria. This was a really good find and next time I'm back in Orlando I'll come here and try something else.

    This is a usual spot for us for dinner or lunch but we rarely go for brunch. Came today for brunch…read moreand sat on the patio. Patio is nice and shaded, not too crowded or loud and it was a really nice day out. Restaurant is always clean which is really nice. Service was fine, nothing amazing, she didn't check on us much. I ordered a limoncello basil spritz and my friend ordered a huckleberry lemonade. Spritz was very nice and light, but the huckleberry lemonade had way too much jam in the bottom. As for entrees, I ordered the mountainberry pancakes and the bacon candy. Bacon candy was delicious, tasted like jerky and was super sweet and sticky. Pancakes were just ok, not enough sauce and the pancakes themselves seemed like those microwave pillsbury ones. All the same size and the texture was rubbery like they'd been microwaved. My friend loved her veggie omelet though! Aside from the pancakes everything was great!

    Photos
    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar - Dining area

    Dining area

    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar - Brunch Menu

    Brunch Menu

    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar - Inside dining area

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    Inside dining area

    Crush Yard

    Crush Yard

    4.7(46 reviews)
    0.8 miHorizons West / West Orlando

    We had an event at Crush Yard last week and the service was amazing. In particular, Alana Martinez…read morewas extremely responsive as the liaison and handled the whole night, making sure everything went well. Prior to the event we had special menu restrictions due to vegetarian and vegan attendees and she made accommodations with the menu and the prices were very fair. We had over 100 people show up and she had all the food ready and waiting when people arrived and even brought out more food when we went through the allotted amount. The bills were updated online live, and she was extremely responsive with excellent communication and reliable billing. I wanted to also give a huge shout out to Christopher, who is the lead chef and produced absolutely delicious food. Everybody was impressed with the quality of the food - especially the sliders. I thought the honey chicken sliders were amazingly delicious. The whole night turned out perfectly. This was a great event and we will definitely consider using Crush Yard in the future when we have our baseball spring break trips. Everything about it was well managed, and the facilities are fantastic. Thank you Crush Yard!!

    I finally got to check out Crush Yard in Kissimmee and it exceeded my expectations in every way…read more The space is much bigger than I imagined and the moment you walk in, there is something happening in every direction. The atmosphere is lively but still comfortable, with a great balance of energy and space to relax. It has a fun, social vibe with pickleball courts, arcade games, multiple TVs playing sports, lounge seating, board games, and a full bar. What really stands out is that you can enjoy the entire space even without playing pickleball. The staff also deserves a shoutout. Everyone I interacted with was friendly, attentive, and kept things moving smoothly even when it was busy. Service felt organized and welcoming, which made the experience even better. What really won me over though was the food. The two for one shareable appetizers made it easy to try a variety of items. I had the garlic parmesan wings, bang bang shrimp, and a Blueberry Smash drink that was honestly so good. The chicken tenders and fries were also a hit, and everything came out fresh and flavorful. I finished with dessert and that was the perfect ending. The churros and peach cobbler were both incredible and absolutely worth coming back for. Overall, Crush Yard delivers a strong mix of great food, fun activities, solid service, and a vibrant atmosphere.

    Photos
    Crush Yard - Other games/play area

    Other games/play area

    Crush Yard
    Crush Yard - Arcade games

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    Arcade games

    Twenty Pho Hour - Appetizer

    Twenty Pho Hour

    4.0(77 reviews)
    0.7 miDisney World, Horizons West / West Orlando
    $$

    I'd say my daughters are PHO experts and I would say the same for me about the Vietnamese…read morevermicelli bowls cus it's all I ever order. This place is PHO NOMINAL! The noodles were perfect the broth good on its own no hoisin or sriracha, and delicious with it. The flavors in my noodle bowls made my mouth dance! I will be coming here after every Disney day and we are pass holders. I only take pics after I take it and im extremely pleased

    It's a little overwhelming to walk into a place with a cuisine you're not super familiar with. I…read moreasked the guy behind the counter, Jacob, for help ordering...he had an awesome recommendation (I'm so sorry, I don't remember exactly what it was, I lost my original review luckily I had Jacobs name written down so I wouldn't forget, lol) it was coconut-y and spicy, but not too spicy, and just seriously delicious. The appetizer platter was great, but we probably wouldn't do it again just because we were so full and couldn't eat all of mine, I had like a whole meal of leftovers. The place is really themed fun, everything is black and white...comic book vibes, 2D, just really cool. 100% would recommend, absolutely going back the next time we're in Florida. We did get 10% off since we were headed to Halloween Horror Nights after (after we dropped off my leftovers, lol) so that was a nice bonus, we didn't know about that before going in...I hope they do that every year. I mean we're going back either way, but a discount is always fun! Oh yeah, husband also enjoyed his, even though he was as full as me and should have taken half back to the hotel for a midnight snack (meal) like I did, he finished the whole thing!

    Photos
    Twenty Pho Hour
    Twenty Pho Hour - Philly Egg Roll (2pc)

    Philly Egg Roll (2pc)

    Twenty Pho Hour

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    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' - Chef Art's Famous Fried Chicken

    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'

    4.4(3.3k reviews)
    5.3 miDisney World, Horizons West / West Orlando
    $$

    This is definitely my favorite restaurant in Disney Springs -- I look forward to coming here every…read moresingle time. They are known for their fried chicken, which is absolutely delicious. I've sampled a healthy variety of their menu and especially love their chicken and doughnuts. Definitely a treat each time but the combination of savory and sweet is so delightful. Their Mac and Cheese is a yummy add and I've really enjoyed their fried chicken salad when I'm feeling "healthier". For appetizers, I'm a fan of their deviled eggs. Overall, highly recommend this stop on any Disney trip!

    Located in the beautiful Disney Springs at Lake Buena Vista, Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' is a great…read morelunch or dinner choice amongst many which surround it. The inside of the restaurant has table and bench seating, as well as a large square shaped bar with plenty of seats. The booths are hardwood not padded, and the tables are solid metal. Their signature item is fried chicken. We ordered the Fried Chicken and Doughnuts. It comes with 2 pieces of chicken, 2 doughnuts and a side of mashed potatoes for $32. We thought it was a perfect meal to share between two because each person gets a piece of fried chicken and a doughnut. The chicken is extra greasy and topped with powdered sugar. It was very good but it still does not rate as highly as Publix or KFC for me. The doughnut was great. I would compare it to a fresh glazed from Krispy Kreme. Service was excellent. We were seated immediately, and greeted at our table by a friendly and efficient server. Overall, everything went well. The prices are high but this is expected due to the location. I would definitely return to try more of the menu.

    Photos
    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' - Thigh High Chicken Biscuits

    Thigh High Chicken Biscuits

    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' - Skillet Paillard WIth roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus

    Skillet Paillard WIth roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus

    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' - The Honeybee cocktail

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    The Honeybee cocktail

    The Mara - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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