Best Theme Park Restaurant (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards (2024)

Extraordinary dining experiences

Best Theme Park Restaurant(2024)
May 1, 2024

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Gone are the days when amusem*nt park food meant overpriced greasy burgers and cotton candy. The nation's top parks are catering more and more to sophisticated palates with restaurants boasting high-quality food in unique environments.

We asked a panel of theme park experts to nominate their top 20 amusem*nt park restaurants, then readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best theme park restaurants you've got to try.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

No. 10:

Le Cellier Steakhouse at EPCOT - Orlando, Florida

Styled after the cozy cellar of a Canadian chateau, EPCOT'sLe Cellier Steakhouseshowcases north-of-the-border flavors in dishes like P.E.I. mussels, filet mignon. and maple creme brûlée. Adult diners have their choice of beer and wine as well.

Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg

No. 9:

Trapper's Smokehouse at Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Williamsburg, Virginia

Follow the intoxicating aroma of outdoor pit barbecue to the New France section ofBusch Gardens Williamsburg, and you'll find Trapper's Smokehouse. Nothing beats hickory- and oak-smoked spareribs and slow-smoked chicken with a selection of sides, including baked beans, fried pickles, and macaroni and cheese.

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Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

No. 8:

Zambia Smokehouse at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Tampa, Florida

Zambia Smokehouse atBusch Gardens Tampa Bayis a casual dining eatery with an open barbecue pit, offering a variety of proteins, salads, and sides. For adults, aselection ofbeer and wine is on the menu, and both indoor and outdoor seating are available.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

No. 7:

Satu'li Canteen at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park - Orlando, Florida

Located inside of aQuonset-hut structure, visitors to Satu'li Canteen enjoy dishes inspired by "Avatar." Try an Ocean Moon Bowl, packed with fresh vegetables and noodles, and a Pandoran Sunrise drink to fully immerse yourself in the setting. The restaurant also boasts an extensive allergy-friendly menu.

Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg

No. 6:

Das Festhaus at Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Williamsburg, Virginia

Decked out like a Bavarian beer garden, Das Festhaus will transport you to Germany. Sample their knackwurst, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and German potato salad in air-conditioned comfort while being entertained with singing and dancing. It's a great place to take a break and relax while touring Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

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Photo courtesy of Kings Dominion

No. 5:

Grain & Grill at Kings Dominion - Doswell, Virginia

Grain and Grill at Kings Dominion offers healthier theme park fare with locally sourced ingredients. A mix-and-match menu of proteins and sides means there are lots of possible combinations, from garlic and herb chicken tocrispy hoisin pork with greens. Adults can also visit the restaurant's patio to enjoy signature co*cktails, wine, and craft beer.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

No. 4:

Yak & Yeti at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park - Orlando, Florida

Yak & Yeti, a Nepalese-style restaurant insideDisney’s Animal Kingdom,serves a menu of pan-Asian dishes — ahi tuna nachos, pork pot stickers, and tempura chicken — at the base of Expedition Everest. Adult diners can sip on Asian beers, chilled sakes, and creative co*cktails from the full-service bar. An adjacent quick-service restaurant offers lunch and dinner on the go.

Photo courtesy of Dollywood

No. 3:

Aunt Granny's Restaurant at Dollywood - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Aunt Granny's Restaurant is a sit-down dining experience located in Rivertown Junction at Dollywood. Guests choose from a variety of comfort food proteins and sides, such as fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, served family-style at the table so that each guest can help themselves to as much as they want. Bread and desserts are also included to round out the meal.

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Photo courtesy of The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio

No. 2:

The Chocolatier at Hersheypark - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Here's the sweet secret about The Chocolatier: it's not just about chocolate. It's a full-service restaurant with some of the best views of Hersheypark from its second-story patio and bar. Cocoa is incorporated into many dishes on the menu, from shrimp tacos and burgers to salads and filet mignon.

See Also

Our readers' picks for the 10 best theme park restaurants of 20222024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival | the disney food blogThe Hukilau 2024: Live coverage, photos and video from social mediaThe 45 best sights in Anaheim

Photo courtesy of Knoebels Amusem*nt Resort

No. 1:

The Alamo at Knoebels - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

While some parks jack up food prices and treat their captive audience as a big profit center, The Alamo is as friendly to the pocketbook as it is to families, with burgers and hot dogs still priced at or under $5. The menu at this eatery located on the park's main boulevard also includes heartier options, like deep-fried crab cakes, chicken and waffles, and spaghetti and meatballs.

Alex Ojeda

Alex Ojeda

Alex Ojeda, known as @AlexOjeda, is a Mexican-American short-form video creator renowned for his captivating content centered around the world's most exhilarating travel experiences. With an audience of over 13 million followers across various social media platforms, Alex’s content does over 2 billion views annually across social media.

Derek Perry

Derek Perry

Derek Perry is the Communications Director for the world's largest ride enthusiast group,American Coaster Enthusiasts.Derek first joined ACE as a kid with his parents and twin brother on a roller coaster-riding road trip after unexpectedly being at a park the same day as an ACE event.In addition to his love of travel, he is one half ofThe Perry Twins, a DJ and music production duo with his brother, Doug. They have written, produced and remixed many songs, including their original songs that topped Billboard Magazine’s dance chart. He has been lucky to combine his love of amusem*nt parks with traveling for DJ gigs and has ridden over 1,200 unique roller coasters around the world and share their adventures onInstagram,FacebookandTikTok.

Francis Dominic

Francis Dominic

I sleep more in planes than I do my own bed. Probably visitingyour local theme park! I am an emotional Aries, with a big love of fantasy-romance books, and continually immersing myself in film and television. I love to live life in color because the world can use a lot of it. And I live it unapologetically! It's okay to continuallychoose yourself!Connect with Francis on Instagram. TikTok and Twitter.

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrainedwanderlust and has visited 45 countriesand counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written forInsider,Fodor'sTravel,Yahoo,theHuffingtonPost, theWashingtonPost,ViatorandReviewedamong many other publications.Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantageof everything the region has to offer.Jamie can be reached atjamiesmithwrites@gmail.comandcan be found onTwitter,InstagramandTikTok.

Jessica Gardner

Jessica Gardner

JessicaGardner, akaJessicaThe Theme Parkette,is a Los Angeles-based theme park aficionado who shares her tried-and-true travel tips, fun facts, and coaster appreciation as @themeparkette onTikTokandInstagram. She is the co-host of the American Coaster Enthusiasts’ official podcast, “Ride With Us” and “The Theme Parkettes” podcast.Jessicais also a working actorwhose credits include the hit shows NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Grace and Frankie, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and many more.

Nikky J

Nikky J

NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida.You can watch her onYouTubeor listen to her podcast.

Robb Alvey

Robb Alvey

Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.

Robert Niles

Robert Niles

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusem*nt parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.

Taylor Bybee

Taylor Bybee

Taylor Bybee is the founder of Coaster Studios, a roller coaster and theme park youtube channel with over 200,000 subscribers. Taylor has ridden over 1,000 roller coasters now across all 6 habitable continents, constantly scouting the latest and greatest thrill rides. Coaster Studios has been around for over 10 years now, providing a wide variety of high quality videos within the amusem*nt industry, including reviews, analyses, vlogs, documentaries, and more.Taylor can be followed on Twitter @coasterstudios and on Instagram via @coaster_studios.

Victoria Wade

Victoria Wade

Victoria is a writer for the esteemed theme park hipster and has been visiting theme parks for over 20 years. Sharing updates on all the thrills is her one true love. You can find her opinions of all things theme park related on her Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.

10Best Editors

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

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