It’s lunchtime and you are aboard the Carnival Sunshine. It’s Day 2 of your cruise and you have been living it up quite nicely. While everyone is busy shoving their plates full of Blue Iguana Cantina Food and gobbling the goods on the Guy’s Burger Joint Burgers, head to the back of the Lido Marketplace.
One of the secrets on Carnival is about to be exposed. I can’t believe that more people don’t banter about this awesome find. This is one find that will make you a cruising pro if you are on the Carnival ship and have this available. I don’t know if I am more excited that I discovered it or to share it?
Read this pro insider’s foodie post if you love Asian stir-fry with flavors ranging from Szechuan to Thai barbecue! Oh, and the best part, 1/2 of the cruisers onboard are unaware of this secret!
Get your hands on food, they will find much later. Just as I had a great secret that I divulged to you about another secret spot on the ship and lunchtime dining, this time I have an Asian-Inspired secret for you, are you ready to lavishly live food out loud on your Carnival Sunshine Cruise?
Carnival Sunshine Mongolian Wok Secret
The Carnival Dining Secret Exposed. Let’s Eat!
I love when I find a tip that will help you discover a whole other dining experience. This is probably one of the best-kept secrets of the Carnival Sunshine! One of my besties told me about it, and I want to pay it forward, lol!
So Ji Ji Asian Restaurant serves food very similar to what you will be eating, but at dinner, you pay a fee to eat at the restaurant. What I learned is the food during lunch at the Mongolian Wok is equivalent and possibly better than the food served in the restaurant. (I ask people a lot of questions and people talk freely about their opinions which is how I learn so much!)
Get here ahead of the lunch crowd, because I will be honest. it is very busy, and it takes a bit of time to get through as you are managing what you are putting in your bowl and each dish is hand-prepared, take a look.
This is the back of the line baby! That is where I was, but sometimes the line is longer, so hold tight, grab your bowl and don’t move! This lunch is well worth the 10 minutes you will spend from this point forward! It’s time to enjoy the Mongolian Wok.
What You Don’t Know Nor Do Most
What you may not know is that this restaurant serves food very similar (if not the same) at their nominal fee restaurant at night (JiJi Asian) However, at lunchtime it is free! Consider this your treat while cruising and a very effective way to taste the menu without paying extra.
Once you pick your Noodles, and the veggies you want on them(there is a mini buffet right before you meet up with your personal chef) you then visit this station. You never leave the line you are in, it is just first picked noodles, then toppings, and then if you want meat.
Hand your bowl to the Chef, he will steam it, or Woks it up! This poor chef cooked so many bowls, I am sure he is sick of looking at this food, lol! I think that this area is more discovered by mistake, than known. Being honest, most people did not even recognize it as a separate restaurant and I know this because I asked.
I can’t remember all the choices, but I think it was Salmon, Pork and Beef. You can see them in the photo above. Just go hungry and you won’t be disappointed. While I do love the LIDO lunches, this is more focused and allows me to really just eat one style of food.
When I consider how much food we consume on a cruise, being focused seems to be a good way to not overeat, yet experience great food! Total yum in this restaurant!
WOK COOKING
My food was cooking in that wok, … oh only moments away from my great creation– I can hardly wait. This is when it happened, the lady in front of me just got out of line? No explanation she just walked away.
Who knows why and really who cares. I stayed and this is what my lunch looked like.. imagine what the taste was like. It was very vegetarian. Really it is one of the best lunches I had on the entire cruise. Authentic and freshly prepared.
Snow Peas, and green beans and onions and peas. YUM. Really, the food is phenomenal and I highly suggest making a lunch date at the Mongolian Wok!
Get here early as you can, right when it is opening to avoid the lines. Don’t get out of line, it is a short wait, but it is just that you are hungry, so it seems longer.
The food is divine and it is your chance to sample food again from a delicious restaurant onboard the Carnival Sunshine
You Could…..
You can dine here at dinner, but you should get a reservation. While the charge is nominal (about $15 per adult and $5 per child) it just did not make sense to me to spend on what is already provided at lunch, as the food was similar.
There’s no shortage of food on Carnival Cruises, so pick, eat and enjoy! ~ Dana XO
My Familie’s Cruise was hosted by Carnival Cruise Lines! All articles are based on my personal experience and interaction with other vacationers aboard!
