While most of us look forward to the standard fried dough and cotton candy on our theme park vacations, many theme parks across the country these days have branched out to offer more unique and unusual amusement park food. All over the United States, you can find unusual fare at theme parks that reflect the parks' local cuisines. Yet other food options are just plain wacky and creative!
From deep fried fruit to chicken and waffles and eggplant french fries, try seeking out unique amusement park food during one of your next theme park vacations. You may discover a few new favorites!
An old-fashioned Western theme park, Cliff's Amusement Park® offers family-oriented theme park vacations, complete with a variety of thrill rides and water rides to beat the desert heat. Cliff's is also home to authentic New Mexican-style amusement park food offerings, making it unique among America's theme parks. The top menu choice: Frito pie, a New Mexico staple made with seasoned beef and chilies on top of a bed of crunchy Frito corn chips.
Along with the exciting rides, entertainment and beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery, theme park vacations to this Tennessee park include traditional Southern food. From fried chicken and country fried steak prepared on-site daily to traditional Tennessee-style barbecue and fried catfish, not even Yankees will leave Dollywood® hungry.
One of America's top destinations for theme park vacations, Epcot Center®, part of the Walt Disney World Resort® in Orlando, Florida, is known the world over not only for its great amusement park food, but for its exceptional fine dining options. To complement the theme park's several internationally-themed sections, Epcot offers authentic Mexican, Japanese, British, German, French, Chinese and Moroccan choices, both in sit-down dining restaurants and open-air park stands and shops.
If you want to dine in one of Epcot's ethnic restaurants, make reservations in advance. They fill up quickly in the evenings and generally have long wait times.
Winner of the "Golden Ticket" award from Amusement Today magazine for Best Park Food 13 years in a row, this family-friendly central Pennsylvania theme park offers some of the most usual amusement park food out there. In fact, many people visit Knoebels Amusement Resort® just to see what types of new amusement park food they have to offer.
In addition to hearty "sit down" fare like lasagna, pasta and meatballs, Knoebels offers a huge variety of healthy sandwiches, salads and vegetables for the diet-conscious, as well as many ethnic goodies including a full menu of Mexican and Asian dishes. Adventurous types can sample more exotic treats like bison burgers, alligator bites, eggplant french fries and deep fried macaroni and cheese. Knoebels even offers an extensive gluten-free menu.
Home to more than 50 restaurants, the Universal Orlando Resort® may offer more dining options than any other park. From fine dining choices like Emeril's Orlando® and the Palm Grill®, to more casual options like Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville® and the Hard Rock Cafe®, Universal truly has something for everyone. In fact, many people include this resort in their theme park vacations just for the food.