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 11, 2023, through January 7, 2024
- 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 Dog, topped with cranberry relish and 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: Cookies & Cocoa)
You know Cookies & Cocoa 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.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat 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. South For The Winter (Location: Christmas Cocktails)
It is time to celebrate and make your spirits bright going South For The Winter at Christmas Cocktails booth.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town
This Christmas Cocktail drink mixes the smooth flavor of Jack Daniels with a hint of sweetness from the Jack Honey.
Along with the festive flavor of Monin Cranberry and the twists of ginger and lime, it all blends together for a comforting drink of festive cheer.
South For the Winter Christmas Cocktail will have you feeling holly jolly.
3. Red Curry Shrimp and Jasmine Rice (Location: Char Siu Christmas)
Seafood lovers will be shrimply ecstatic to hear that Char Siu Christmas is bringing back one of the most popular holiday dishes to Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town again.
The exotic flavors of the fan favorite dish Red Curry Shrimp and Jasmine Rice will be making mouths water yet again this holiday season.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas
The aroma of this dish is simply intoxicating!
With onions and red peppers cooked to perfection mixed with succulent shrimp smothered in creamy red curry sauce, it fills you with the warmth of the season.
Served with fragrant jasmine rice, it is culinary bliss!
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4. Smoked Turkey, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Texas Toast, Gravy (Location: Holiday Hearth)
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.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town
You will love how they have used the thick Texas toast 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 cranberry sauce brings it all together for a true Christmas delight.
5. Apple Crumble Cupcake at Xcursions
Xcursions has put together a fun menu of enchanting holiday cupcakes to indulge in.
But the heavenly one that has made our list of must-try foods at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town is the delectable Apple Crumble Cupcake.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas
The Apple Crumble Cupcake is the perfect holiday treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Plus, the soft and moist cupcake is bursting with the familiar flavors of Christmastime.
With the comfort of cinnamon and nutmeg to the pieces of spiced apple-filling, buttercream frosting, and crumbled topping, it feels like a special Christmas gift all wrapped up to enjoy.
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6. Brussel Sprouts, Crispy Bacon, Apple Cider Vinaigrette (Location: Holiday Joy Tasting)
Brussel sprouts 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 Brussel Sprouts, Crispy Bacon, and Apple Cider Vinaigrette at Holiday Joy Tasting you will be sprouting smiles from ear to ear.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town
Not only is this dish super fresh tasting it is tossed in just the right balance of apple cider vinaigrette to make that perfect bite.
Then mixed and topped with crispy bacon it just all comes together for an explosion of taste that yule be sorry if you miss out on.
7. Christmas Churro (Location: Sesame Treats)
Sesame Treats features the Christmas Churro which will surely churr-up any Grinch this Christmas season.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas
Festively decorated, the dough melts in your mouth with its cinnamon-infused churro taste.
And with its familiar crispy, golden warm outer layer it’s irresistible with a sinfully delicious dipping sauce.
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8. Carved Beef Brisket, Texas Toast, Beef Gravy, Onion Crisps (Location: Smokehouse Mobile)
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 Carved Beef Brisket that Smokehouse Mobile will be serving up at Christmas Town.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town
Slow-cooked and smoked to perfection the carved beef brisket is tender and juicy with savory beef gravy to put you in meat lover heaven.
With the satisfying crunch of Texas Toast and the salty crunchy goodness of onion crisps, it all blends together for an irresistible dish. It doesn’t get tastier than this!
9. Turkey Dog, Stuffing, Cranberry Relish (Location: Dragon Dog)
What better way to take in the theme park’s festive spirit than with one of Dragon Dog’s gourmet hot dogs?
It’s almost a tradition to sink your teeth into a jumbo dog at Busch Gardens Tampa.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas
But it’s time to dive into your holiday turkey a little differently this year at Busch Gardens Tampa for Christmas.
Dragon Dog is bringing Christmas comfort into every bite with their turkey dog.
Served with savory Christmas stuffing and topped with bursting flavor of cranberry relish it may just become one of your new holiday traditions.
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10. Ginger Snap Mule (Location: Dragon Fire Grill Pub)
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 Dragon Fire Grill Pub for a delightfully warming Ginger Snap Mule Christmas cocktail.
Why We Love This as The Best Things to Eat at Busch Gardens Tampa Christmas Town
The Ginger Snap Mule at Dragon Fire Grill Pub combines the smooth flavors of spiced rum with the nuttiness and velvety sweetness of the amaretto.
Adding in a kick of flavor with Ginger Beer and a splash of lime 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 December 3, 2023)
Wanna help me build a snowman? 🙂
Sounds like my kind of party!