The Grub at Knott's Berry Farm

Coasters Drive-In Modeled after a 50s diner, Coasters Drive-In , with burgers, fries, and shakes, gets very busy at lunch time. There are also chicken tenders and a salmon orzo salad for those who avoid fried food. Look out for seasonal specialty milkshakes. There is currently a boysenberry shake. A specialty burger is the Xcelerator, , a 12-inch patty packed high with bacon, cheese, and fries! The Sidewinder is a smaller version of the Xcelerator. Other menu items include not dogs and an "Ode to Cordelia - Donut Chicken". The latter is exactly that - a chicken sandwich made with two donut halves. Coasters has a condiment bar. The available condiments are: ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, and mayo.  Available veggies: lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and sliced pepperoncinis.  For seating, there are ten or so indoor booths, and quite a few outdoor tables. Most of the tables have shades. Coasters is quite popular. At times there can be quite a wait for your meal or an availab...

  Wagon Wheel pizza & salad My first entry mentioned Wagon Wheel Pizza, but I really had no idea if I was at Wagon Wheel Pizza or Sutter's Pizza . Those two, along with Hollywood Hits , are the three Knott's pizza restaurants which are open on weekends and seasonally. They have similar menus, selling pizza by the slice, in a combo with salad, and also whole pies - good for families and groups.  Toppings may vary at different locations. Wagon Wheel Pizza is at the end of a cul-de-sac that the shares with Ghost Rider , the Ghost Town Bakery , and Spurs Chop House. Since this area is a cul-de-sac and Spurs is only used for special events, there is often plenty of seating available.  I found this a good place to go for a peaceful meal away from the heaviest park crowds.

Ghost Town Grill is the only restaurant inside the park that has table service. The prices aren't bad, and the comfortable seats and air conditioning are welcome on a hot day. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. I found the web site description to be accurate.  " Enjoy soup and chili served in a bread bowl, hearty sandwiches, fresh salads, and daily chef specials, as well as beer and wine. There’s something for everyone, including a special kid’s meal menu. And don’t forget about the dessert – boysenberry pie, cake, and ice cream are just some of the sweet treats waiting for you. The Sarsaparilla float alone is something you won’t find anywhere else in the park! Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available upon request. " Ghost Town Grill is not on the meal plan, so be prepared.  I enjoyed the Ghost Town Grill, and will return, but I ordered the wrong item. I chose the Tri-Tip Slider Trio. I expected the meat to diced or tender so that the sliders could ...

It's impossible to exit the park without noticing the large Starbucks in the California Marketplace. Now, it's a Starbucks like all the others, but there are a few things you might care to know. The prices are higher than your local store. Even with my season pass discount, I still paid 19% more than at home. You can pay with the Starbucks app, if you'd like.  As per the web page, This is the only place location on earth to order a signature farm fresh boysenberry Frappuccino.  As evidenced by the the store displays, they must sell a lot of bottled water and potato chips. There is no inside seating. There are 35 outdoor tables, almost all under the shaded patio, or with a table umbrella sunshade. As best as I can tell, Starbucks opens 1 hour before the park, and closes 30 minutes after the park.  This varies with the days of the week, and the season, so if you really want your Starbucks fix, be sure to check the hours in advance.

I planned on trying Coasters Diner , but the line was very long. At Sutter's Grill , the lines were minimal. And there's a lot of menu overlap between the two. The differences - Coaster's offers milk shakes and hot dogs, while Sutter's Grill has BBQ and Buffalo-flavored items. I was in the mood for a cheeseburger basket.  The burger had nicely-melted cheese, along with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion.  No other condiments were on the bun, and I forgot to ask about mustard. I did see ketchup packets. I appreciated that there was no mayo on the bun. For me, mayo adds only calories, and no flavor.  On my next visit, I'll remember to ask what condiments are available.  The sesame seed bun was a little stale, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Overall the flavor was good. The fries were good, too, with a moderate amount of salt. It sure beat waiting in line for 20-30 minutes for Coaster's. Sutter's web page menu: Dining Plan Options: BBQ Burger...

I went back to the Boardwalk BBQ , hoping to try something other than (South) Carolina BBQ. I tried pulled pork again.  This time I got BBQ sauce that the server described as "regular". It was no Chris-N-Pitts.  I found it spicy-hot. Fortunately I have some tolerance for heat, so it didn't ruin my meal. But the last time I visited, the BBQ sauces were described with place names.  So I'm not sure what I'm comparing. It was busy today. Thet ran out of ice for drinks. And forks. I was hungry. I ate with a spoon.

 La Papa Loca delivers exactly what it advertises - Loaded fries.My order of Carne Asada fries came with steak, cheddar cheese, guacamole, and sour cream - all in a 4"x5" cardboard box. At first, I thought the portion was too small, but as I ate, I found it very filling - too filling and heavy for me. The adjacent seating area is small compared to the lunch crowd, but adjacent to the restaurant seating is the Fiesta Plaza stage, which can provide additional seating between performances. La Papa Loca and nearby seating The stage is just beyond the umbrella-shaded tables. On the other side of the stage is another restaurant, the Cantina. La Papa Loca offers taquitos as an alternative to loaded fries. They provide drink lids on request, but don't have plain iced tea. I suppose La Papa Loca caters to those who love french fries, and to those kids who won't eat anything else. As for myself, I won't be back. I found the food too heavy and bland. The Cantina is a better...