Minnesota Zoo Food & Drink

The Minnesota Zoo’s sprawling campus is home to a variety of dining options, perfect for a quick snack or a relaxing meal. So, why not grab a bite and chill out with a refreshing drink? Here’s a taste of what we offer:

Call of the Wild | Indoors | Serving daily 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Burgers, hand-battered chicken tenders, pizzas (including gluten-free crust), fried walleye sandwich, sandwiches, house-made falafel, salads, soup, and kids’ meals. Sweets include soft serve ice cream, Dole Whip, Icees, and cookies. Our chefs make the falafel from scratch and hand-batter the chicken tenders. Many entrees are shareable, including tenders and pizzas.

Wild Java | by Target Learning Center & Minnesota Trail | Coffee, smoothies, pretzels, snacks

Penguin Café | South Entry | Serving daily 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.| locally roasted Peace coffee, specialty drinks, pastries, fruit, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches

Discovery Bay Cart | Daily 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.| Pretzels, sodas, draft local beer and snacks.

Seasonal Eats & Treats – Opening soon!

Grizzly Coast Café (located near the Splash Pad in Central Plaza) Closed for the season
Smash burgers, Impossible burger, kids’ meals, hot dogs, tater tots.

Grizzly Coast Pavilion Bar (located near the Splash Pad in Central Plaza) Closed for the season.
Canned and draft beverages, snacks.

Dipping Dots Carts (Central Plaza) Weekends 11 am – 3 pm
Dippin dots (asst flavors), canned beverages, bagged popcorn, and cotton candy.

Hopper’s Mini Donuts

Lakeside Taco | Airstream trailer turned taco truck! Serving Mexican and Latin American favorites

Graze | For the herbivores! Look for the silver Airstream by the outdoor Amphitheater. We're cooking up vegetarian, vegan, and delicious dishes to suit your dietary needs

Carousel Cart (located directly across from the carousel-includes retail and snacks) Weekends (closed starting Sept 28) 10 am – 3 pm
Pretzels and canned beverages.

Trail Mix (attached to Hanifl Nature Center near the entrance to the Farm) Weekends 11 am – 3 pm
House made trail mix (2 flavors), fresh popcorn, grab snacks and canned alcoholic and NA beverages.

Trex Cookie Truck (location varies) Weekends (closing Sept 28) 10 am – 3 pm
Assorted flavors of local favorite Trex Cookies, grab snacks and canned beverages.

Farmhouse Refreshments (located in the white farmhouse inside the Wells Fargo Farm) Weekends (closing Sept 28) 11 am – 3 pm
Pulled pork and brisket hot sandwiches, hot dogs, mini-donuts, pretzels, Sebastian Joe’s ice cream, fountain sodas and snacks.

Fresh and Local

To bring you the freshest flavors, we partner with many local producers.
Warm up with Peace Coffee, an organic, fair trade and delicious brew. Tap into a beer from South by SouthEast MN Brewing Co, Surly, and Fulton, or a take a sweet sip from a Northern Soda (including the Zoo-exclusive Red Panda Punch and Root Bear).
Treat yourself to Ferndale Farms turkey legs (at special events) and bread from The Good Bread Company.

Gifts They’ll Go Wild For!

Treat the wildlife fan in your life to the many joys of the Minnesota Zoo! There’s something for everyone at the Zoo, including clothing, plush friends of their favorite animal, and natural home decor. Select gifts available online – and we offer free pickup at the Zoo.

Timber Lodge Traders, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily

An animal kingdom of plush friends is inside – come see if your favorite animal is here. Gather round a jigsaw puzzle featuring the images taken right here by Jim Brandenburg, legendary wildlife photographer. Many more toys, treats, and souvenirs in the shop.
Celebrate your love for the Minnesota Zoo with the classic 1978 moose or go modern with the tiger logo. Available on clothing, water bottles, stickers, coffee mugs, and more.
Want a pocket-sized souvenir? Use the Penny Press and bring home a shiny coin with your favorite animal design. Located in the gift shop.

Seasonal
- Central Plaza Gifts
- Gift Cart by Weesner Amphitheater

*Hours of operation subject to change.

Meet Our Chefs

Executive Chef | Clint McCann
With over two decades of culinary leadership, Chef Clint’s career is rooted in the high-energy, world-class kitchens of celebrity Chef Roy Yamaguchi. Today, Chef Clint specializes in healthy New American cuisine. He uses fresh ingredients from local Minnesota producers to create vibrant, whole-food dishes. By focusing on "Blue Zone" health-conscious dining and creative vegetarian concepts, he ensures that every guest, regardless of their dietary needs, enjoys a sophisticated and flavorful experience.

Executive Sous Chef | Tanner Griffin
A passionate and innovative culinary professional, Chef Tanner has over a decade of experience in the Twin Cities restaurant scene. He is a proud graduate of Le Cordon Bleu. He combines his classical training with a modern approach to hospitality. Together with Chef Clint, he crafts memorable meals and brings Minnesota flavor to daily dining, special events, and private events at the Zoo.

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