8 Things You’ll Love About Flame Tree Barbecue

Molly Elias

As far as quick serve restaurants go, Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom is one of my favorites. It has great quality food, fantastic views and seating, and a few extras to appreciate. Here are 8 things you’ll love about Flame Tree:

8. The Music

Not all quick serve restaurants at Disney get their own soundtrack, but Flame Tree does! I absolutely love this music. The style is very clearly Animal Kingdom, but with its own flare. You can hear this music while you order and down by the seating area while you eat.

7. The Seating

Speaking of, Flame Tree Barbecue has one of the largest seating areas in terms of quick serve places. The nice thing about this seating is that it’s not all clumped together. The seating area is divided up by gazebos down by the water. There are several colored gazebos that all fit a good amount of people and each has their own condiment station.

6. The Barbecue

I mean, obviously. Flame Tree is great because it’s one of the few places on property to get an honest to goodness completely barbecued meal. And this food is delicious. The menu is a bit on the higher price scale for quick serve, but you get what you pay for. Flame Tree has massive portions and you can really get a full meal here. The last thing I have to say about that is this: just go for the ribs.

5. The Views

Remember those gazebos I was talking about? Well, they’re each placed right on the water overlooking Mt. Everest. The view is so stunning that you can watch the Everest carts going up and can even hear the screams on the way down. Flame Tree provides a really unique view of Animal Kingdom that shouldn’t be missed.

4. The Animals

This one seems obvious for a restaurant in Animal Kingdom, but Flame Tree lets its guests see animals up close and personal. Since the seating is right on the water, you get to see the homes of so many of these creatures, like ducks and herons and lizards and turtles! The gazebos are up a bit from the surface, so you get to enjoy these animals without feeling like you have to protect your food.

3. The Seclusion

One of my favorite things about Flame Tree Barbecue is that it is fairly secluded from the rest of the park. While it’s definitely not hidden, this restaurant is still off the beaten path, as opposed to places like the Yak & Yeti. And the placement of the seating area makes this fact especially true. Eating at Flame Tree Barbecue is relaxing, serene, and great for taking a breather.

2. The Circle of Life Motif

Just because Flame Tree is based outside doesn’t mean Disney skimped on the design. In fact, the design of this restaurant is more intricate than you’d think. Not only are the gazebos beautifully colored, the carvings tell a very important story. All of the carvings along the borders of the structures have a circle of life motif. For example, in the blue building, the statues are of crocodiles eating fish. This are a bit strange, but there is a beauty to them that Disney honors.

1. The Time Convenience

Quick serve restaurants are for exactly that purpose: to be quick. And Flame Tree always is! But Flame Tree’s timing throughout the day is really convenient. It’s usually open from 11 in the morning to 10:30 or 11 at night. This gives a long stretch for lunch and dinner, or just a late night snack! And the menu stays the same all day, so you never miss out. Because, really, whatever time of day it is, it is always a good time for some ribs.