Are you looking for the best things to eat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas?
Well, look no further because it’s the most wonderful time of the year again, Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town has officially arrived.
‘Tis the season for stretchy pants!
And with the Christmas Town Sampler Lanyard available to dive into all their seasonal delights you may just need them.
From deep-dish melt-in-your-mouth cookies to hearty holiday dishes and Christmas cocktails, it is a holiday food festival extravaganza.
With more than 10 million lights making the season bright, a holiday train, Santa’s house, and meet and greets with Santa’s famous friends, the heart of Tampa Bay is the place to be for festive fun.
So, let’s unwrap the must-try foods at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas that you simply can’t miss!
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The Best Food and Dining at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town at a Glance:
- Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town runs from November 15, 2024, through January 5, 2025
- Christmas Town Village Food & Beverage Cabins open daily at 4 p.m.
- Treat yourself to the Christmas Town Sampler Lanyard which will save you money if you want to try several festive dishes
- Indulge into a decadent fresh baked deep dish holiday cookie
- Make your spirits bright with Christmas Cocktails
- Dive into the taste of the holidays with a turkey, topped with Christmas stuffing
Keep reading to get the full list of the 10 best food and dining at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town to help you eat your way through the holidays!
1. Fresh Baked Deep Dish Cookie at Cookies & Cocoa (Location: Sleigh Bells Soiree)
You know Sleigh Bells Soiree is close when the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the air.
Forget the figgy pudding, I want cookies! With Double Chocolate Chip, Holiday Sugar, and Cinnamon Swirl it is the place to indulge in that sweet holiday treat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas.
The Fresh Baked Deep Dish Cookie definitely lives up to its name!
Served warm and soft on the inside with ooey gooey goodness and perfectly crispy delicious edges it is the ultimate for any cookie lover.
It is the decadent dessert that brings holiday delight into every bite!
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2. Mistletoe Smash (Location: Jingle & Mingle)
It is time to celebrate and make your spirits bright going Mistletoe Smash at Jingle & Mingle booth.
This Christmas Cocktail drink mixes the smooth flavor of gin with a hint of sweetness from the blood orange.
Along with the festive flavor of pomegranate and the twists of mojito mix, it all blends together for a comforting drink of festive cheer.
As you can see, the Mistletoe Smash Christmas cocktail will have you feeling holly jolly.
3. Braised Short Rib, Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese (Location: Santas’s Shindig)
Hearty food lovers will be simply ecstatic to hear that Santas’s Shindig is bringing back one of the most popular holiday dishes to Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town again.
The intoxicating flavors of the fan favorite dish Braised Short Rib will be making mouths water yet again this holiday season.
The aroma of this dish is simply intoxicating! Making it one of the best things to eat at Busch Gardens Christmas Town.
With red wine sauce cooked to perfection mixed with the succulent smoked gouda mac and cheese smothered on the short rib, it fills you will fill you with the warmth of the season. It is culinary bliss!
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4. Holiday Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing (Location: The Holly Jolly Fest & Giraffe Bar)
It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas at Holiday Hearth!
Holiday Hearth is giving you a taste of Christmas dinner early with all the flavors of the seasons in one mouthwatering dish.
You will love how they have used the country style cornbread stuffing to help soak in all the flavors and yummy gravy so that not one delicious drop is lost.
The smoked turkey is tender, melting in your mouth while the stuffing and gravy sauce brings it all together for a true Christmas delight. Be sure to ask for cranberry relish to take it up a notch!
Don’t forget to try the Open Face Turkey Sausage Sandwich while you’re at this booth which comes with Texas toast, turkey sausage, pureed candied yams, and cranberry relish.
5. Holiday Cupcakes (Location: Zambia Smokehouse & Zagora Cafe)
In the past, Busch Gardens would put together a fun menu of enchanting holiday cupcakes to indulge in at Xcursions.
But the heavenly ones, this year, that has made our list of must-try foods at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town are the seasonal Christmas cupcakes from Zambia Smokehouse and Zagora Cafe.
They are the perfect holiday treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Plus, the soft and moist cupcakes are bursting with the familiar flavors of Christmastime.
With the comfort of chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg to the traditional buttercream frosting that some may have, it feels like a special Christmas gift all wrapped up to enjoy.
Don’t forget to try the Apple Spice Cake at Santas’s Shindig that comes with spiced apple filling, sponge cake, and cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
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6. Mushroom Ravioli, Truffle Cream Sauce (Location: Frosty Festivities)
Mushroom may not be on everyone’s list of best theme park foods but they obviously haven’t tried the ones at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town.
Because once you bite into a forkful of the stuffed pasta with mushrooms, Alfredo cream sauce infused with truffle at Frosty Festivities, you will be sprouting smiles from ear to ear.
Not only is this dish super fresh tasting it is tossed in just the right balance of truffle flavor to make that perfect bite.
Then mixed and topped with Alfredo cream sauce it just all comes together for an explosion of taste that yule be sorry if you miss out on.
7. Pork Carnitas, Mofongo (Location: Elves & Evergreen)
Elves & Evergreen features the Pork Carnitas, Mofongo which will surely churr-up any Grinch this Christmas season.
Traditionally decorated, the Mojo pulled pork melts in your mouth with its sweet plantain style of mofongo.
And with its familiar crispy, golden warm pork skin crackling outer layer it’s irresistible with a sinfully delicious lime & chili dust. Making it one of the best things to eat at Busch Gardens Christmas Town!
Be sure to also try the Puerto Rican Rice from this booth that also comes with Rice, saffron, tomatoes, onions, olives, pimento peppers and sofrito sauce.
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8. Smoked Chicken Platter (Location: Smokehouse Express)
Zambia Smokehouse is famous for their phenomenal in-house smoked meats so of course they made our top 10 best things to eat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas.
You can’t miss trying their drool-worthy Smoked Chicken Platter that Smokehouse Express will be serving up at Christmas Town.
Slow-cooked and smoked to perfection the delicious chicken is tender and juicy with savory mushroom gravy to put you in meat lover heaven.
With the satisfying crunch of the green beans and the creamy goodness of red bliss mashed potatoes, it all blends together for an irresistible dish. It doesn’t get tastier than this!
9. Spicy Turkey Burger (Location: Zagora Mobile/Patio Bar)
What better way to take in the theme park’s festive spirit than with one of Zagora’s gourmet burger?
It’s almost a tradition to sink your teeth into a juicy burger at Busch Gardens Tampa.
But it’s time to dive into your holiday turkey a little differently this year at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas.
Zagora Mobile is bringing Christmas comfort into every bite with their Spicy Turkey Burger.
Served with savory turkey patty, potato burger bun, sweet potato fries, and topped with bursting flavor of cranberry sauce it may just become one of your new holiday traditions. Making it one of the best things to eat at Busch Gardens Christmas Town!
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10. Ginger Cranberry Sour (Various Locations)
What better way to top off our best food and dining at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas list than raising your glass to the holidays!
So, swing by Zagora, Sleigh Bells Soiree, Winter Wonderland, Polar Pavilion, Cookies & Carols and Jingle & Mingle for a delightfully warming Ginger Cranberry Sour Christmas cocktail.
The Ginger Cranberry Sour combines the smooth flavors of Bourbon with the tartiness and velvety sweetness of cranberry juice.
Adding in a kick of flavor with ginger syrup and a splash of triple sec and margarita mix it is a holiday blend that will have you in the Christmas spirit from the first sip.
My Final Thoughts on the Best Food at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas
Well, that’s a wrap ThemeParkHipster! I hope this list of holiday-inspired culinary delights at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town has you dreaming of a theme park Christmas.
Remember that Busch Gardens Christmas Town is already included in your theme park admission.
So, I highly recommend checking out the Christmas Town Busch Gardens Tampa Sampler Lanyard options so you don’t miss out on any of your favorites on their holiday menu. And remember, Christmas calories don’t count!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
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About the Author
Sarah Jordan is a solo traveler enthusiast, professional travel writer, and proud mama to her rescue dog Coconut.
With a love for destinations across the globe, she made Epcot her first theme park and still treasures her EPCOT World Showcase passport to this day.
After finally following her inner wanderlust, she discovered the freedom and empowerment that solo travel brings.
(Original Article Date: December 5, 2013/Updated by Editor on November 16, 2024)
Wanna help me build a snowman? 🙂
Sounds like my kind of party!