Tiffins is one of our absolute favorite restaurants in Walt Disney World to eat gluten free (and other allergies) for so many reasons!
Tiffins is a signature restaurant located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK) at Walt Disney World in Florida The menu is influenced by African and Asian flavors. Tiffins is located on Discovery Island in DAK between the shops and entrance to Pandora, making it a relatively short walk from the entrance. Three dining rooms are decorated with African, Asian and exotic animal themes. Be sure to look for collages, sketches, paintings and more. When you enter, there is a giant wooden map of the globe behind the check in desk. Don’t miss all the Disney Parks featured on the map!
Ordering off the Gluten Free and Allergy Menu
Before you are seated, ask the host/hostess for both an allergy menu (if available) and a regular menu. First, allergy menus may not always have the pricing and secondly, sometimes an offering could be easily accommodated by simply leaving off an item or topping. At Disney, they will most likely ask you when you check in about any allergies in your party. But no worries if they don’t, it’s more important to let your server know!
It’s easier for the servers/cast members if you have an idea of what you’d like to order. Give them at least two choices you’re interested in. This will help them determine what fits your allergy diet and make your meal go faster! Be sure to identify each person in your party and their allergy(ies) and if you will be sharing any items. Often, the Chef will come out to talk to you, but we’ve had many safe (for us) and amazing experiences by speaking only with our server. If you do not feel confident about your allergies after speaking to your server, don’t hesitate to ask to speak a Chef or Manager!
Ordering with gluten free and allergies starts before you even enter a restaurant. We check the restaurant’s website before we make a reservation. Some Disney table service restaurants have an allergy menu, but some do not. We have two allergies, gluten and xanthan gum, so we prefer table service restaurants to be able to interact with our server/chef/staff and ensure our safety. You know your allergies better than anyone else and can make the best decisions for you!
On The Allergy Menu
On the menu as of this article, Tiffins has many gluten free offerings, more than most Disney restaurants! Appetizers listed as available gluten free are Charcuterie, Spiced Chickpea Falafel, The Land salad, Charred Octopus, and Tacos. Six entrees are listed as gluten free: 50th Braai Spiced Veal, North African Spiced Tofu, Tamarind Braised Short Rib, Butter Chicken, Surf & Turf, and Shrimp & Grits. And lastly, one dessert is gluten free: Tropical Trifle
See Tiffins’ Full Menu → Click Here
Wow, Yay for Tiffins! We can’t think of another Disney restaurant with so many gluten free choices! But we don’t go to Tiffins for the choices, it’s the quality of the food and the incredible and attentive staff who make us feel so safe eating there! It’s the one Disney restaurant where we “know people” or they know us. If you can, make a note of who you interact with and the next time you go, ask for them! This will give the cast members accolades and inspire them to help you and others!
What We Eat Gluten Free at Tiffins
We’ve eaten at Tiffin’s many, many times! We find ourselves ordering the same items over and over, because we love them so much. Let’s talk about the appetizers we’ve had! Our favorite gluten free appetizer we’ve had is the Octopus. We order it every single time and have never been disappointed. Our next favorite is the Land Salad. Nothing unique about the Land Salad, but it is so fresh and just tastes delicious. We’ve also ordered the charcuterie and enjoyed it, especially the duck liver pate and pickled onions. In the past, we had the tacos and loved them, but recently they’ve had xanthan gum in shells, so unfortunately we had to pass on the tacos.
Gluten free entrees are plentiful at Tiffins with 6 offerings: 50th Celebration Braai Spiced Veal, North African Spiced Tofu, Tamarind Braised Short Rib, Butter Chicken, Surf and Turf, and Shrimp and Grits. They change their entrees occasionally, but we’ve had 3 of the 6 gluten free entrees. First, the Braai Spiced Veal was tender and juicy. We loved the mushroom ragout and truffle polenta that came with it. Next, the Shrimp and Grits we also loved, but be warned the Applewood Bacon- Pepper Jam is fairly spicy and not for the faint of taste buds. Lastly, and our favorite of the 3, is the Surf and Turf. Once again, we see the South African Braai Spice again on the melt mouth in your mouth beef tenderloin. The surf is scallops perfectly cooked and browned. We were even able to have the Cola demi-glace, which was delicious!
Almost forgot, we had dessert! We do not do dessert often, but glad we tried dessert at Tiffins. The Tropical Trifle is a panna cotta with coconut crumbs, and fruit is currently on the menu as gluten free. The panna cotta is rich and creamy and makes a nice combination with the fruits. We also loved the coconut crumbs and crisps. The Tropical Trifle was light and refreshing and the perfect ending to our Tiffins meal!
In order for us to go back to a restaurant over and over, there are a few things we rely on. Good food, we’ve established that for Tiffins. Easy availability, we’ve never had a problem getting the reservations we’ve needed. Most importantly, excellent service and attention to our allergies. This is where Tiffins stands out! We know a few cast members who work there and they always go out of their way to make sure we are taken care of and can eat safely. We cannot say enough about Tiffins service, they are diligent, caring, and go above and beyond in every aspect! Whether you are gluten free or not, we hope you give Tiffins a try on your next visit to Walt Disney World. You will not be disappointed!
Want to bring more Disney World food magic home?
Check out our copycat recipe version of The Hollywood Brown Derby’s Famous Cobb Salad! Copycat Hollywood Brown Derby Cobb Salad – Gluten Free and other recipes!
For a full review of our gluten free experience at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Brown Derby, check it out here → The Hollywood Brown Derby
For more gluten free restaurant reviews and great gluten free recipes and how we live a great life, gluten free check out our linktree Follow us on instagram and tik tok for more gluten free ideas and adventures!
*These products have not caused a reaction for us. Please consult a medical professional or dietician for your own food allergen restrictions.
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