We recently got back from another weekend trip to Silver Dollar City down in Branson, Missouri. It’s a delightfully decorated theme park set in the 1890s with thrilling roller coasters AND great family rides. (I’ve already written a full guide on visiting with your young family.) You could get lost in the winding alleys for hours, enjoying all of the demonstrations of artisan crafts and trade skills.
But another major reason to love this park? THE FOOD! It’s really well themed, and really delicious. From the savory entrees to the homestyle sweets, there’s a lot to love down here in the Ozark Mountains.
Here are my top recommendations for what foods to try (and pass over) while at Silver Dollar City!
The Famous Skillets
I quickly learned upon researching the park that the skillets are a big deal here. The food is cooked on a HUUUUUUGE griddle and then they turn the ingredients with a massive spatula (that looks closer to a gardening hoe it’s so big). It’s fun to watch!
You can find the skillets at a few different quick-service/grab & go spots. Each locations has its own specialty flavor combinations.
Stop by Lumbercamp Falls Skillet (“Skillet Cookery”) near American Plunge/ Fire in the Hole to snag a Sausage Medley skillet. It has corn, potatoes, sausage, and more and was my personal favorite skillet in the park. You can grab your food and enjoy it over by the waterfall (or eat indoors if it’s raining at the large covered second floor seating area).
My husband’s favorite skillet was the Succotash/ “Family Feud” at Buckshot Skillet’s Cookery on Valley Road. It has okra, corn, peppers, onions, chicken, and more. It was really so good.
There are other counters throughout the park that also feature skillet options (see cover photo!). If you eat only ONE thing while at SDC, you should definitely make it a skillet meal.
Clara Belle’s Cinnamon Bread
This cinnamon bread is another famous Silver Dollar City food that you have to try. It’s pretty unique, very gooey, and very delicious. It’s honestly a loaf-shaped, frosting-drenched, elongated cinnamon roll.
The cinnamon bread comes in several different flavors: the classic cinnamon, apple cinnamon, peach (SUPER GOOD!), cinnamon, a chocolate cinnamon concoction, and maybe others? And it’s sliced, making it very easy to share with multiple members of your family! Clara Belle’s shop can pack it up with a lid and you can take it home, OR you can enjoy it right there in the park. (The bakery is now located in the River Town area of the park, btw!)
Either way, just make sure you get it. Mmmm!
Here’s a brief YouTube clip of the bakery! Check it out!
PS This Youtube account linked above has AWESOME info on all things Silver Dollar City! Highly recommend it!
Hand-Pulled Taffy
Phoebe Snapp’s Taffy another Classic Must-Eat Silver Dollar City food. Or at least, that’s what it seemed like from all of the locals that were carrying it around, and the friendly faces saying it’s a family tradition each time they visit.
There were a RIDICULOUS amount of flavors to choose from, and many of them were very fresh and made either that day or within a few days. My boys loved going around and picking different colors to add to our basket.
It’s located right by the exit, so a fun last stop on your way out of the park.
They also have demonstrations several times a day where you can watch them pull the taffy! Don’t miss this cute shop.
P.S. Speaking of demonstrations, Brown’s Candy Factory on Valley Road has multiple live sessions each day where you can observe them making peanut brittle & fudge! They give out samples afterwards, and some of the workers have been there for decades! It’s a great place to stop.
Kettle Chips + Loaded Toppings
These were delicious and different! The base is kettle potato chips and then you choose from a variety of topping combos. We ate the Big Ox (taco-inspired toppings like sour cream, ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, etc.) and really enjoyed it! It was fun for our whole family to dig in together. You can look out for Chester’s Kettle Chips on Hugo Hill Street.
Classic Fair Fare That Didn’t Disappoint:
Funnel Cakes
I love these because I can’t (or don’t) find them outside of theme parks! And my home-frying skills end at scones and donut holes (ie shapeless blobs).
Look out for Cakes and Cones at the entrance of Grand Exposition (right by the large rotating sphere) to snag either a classic or red velvet funnel cake. We went with the original since it was my children’s first time trying a funnel cake (truly a delightful milestone!). They also sell soft serve ice cream here. And definitely hop on the Magnificent Wave Carousel swings while you’re in the area!!
If you head to Fanny’s Funnel Cakes (on Valley Road) you can get either the classic with powdered sugar, a lemon blueberry flavor, or an Oreo Cookies & Cream.
Dippin Dots
This is another food that isn’t unique to Silver Dollar City but is nevertheless a fun treat to get while at a theme park! Banana Split is my jam.
Things we ate that were Just OK:
Fajita Skillet
Although we really loved most of the skillet varieties, the fajita skillet (sold over by American Plunge) was just OK for us. It wasn’t awful, but not nearly as good as the ones with the corn, potatoes, okra, etc.
Kettle Corn
We’ve had some great kettle corn at fairs/theme parks in the past- really warm and fresh! However, this tasted like it’d been made a few days ago potentially. I’d pass on this.
On My List to try Next Time:
There are several food items that looked really delicious but… there are only so many meals you can fit in your body, you know? I drooled over these though and hope to get them sometime!
- Artisan grilled cheese (looked super good, is sold at Traveler’s Stop near the Time Traveler ride)
- Potato Twisters (sold at Tater Twist on Valley Road, perhaps sold at another location too)
- Rivertown Smokehouse (a BBQ restaurant in the River front area)
They also have a plethora of burgers, chicken fingers, pizza, hot dogs, and corn dogs if that’s what your family is looking for.
Sanity-Saving Food Tip:
It’s worth noting that you are allowed to bring a cooler with as much outside food as you’d like. I was really glad we did that!
Although the food we bought at the park was delicious, not all of our meal choices were baby and toddler friendly (a little spicy, mixed unfamiliar foods, etc.). Some cheese sticks, PB sandwiches quartered, apple slices, grapes, and bananas went along way in rounding out our meals and keeping each member of the family full and energized.
We mostly brought supplemental snacks, but many families we saw were carting wagons full of potato chips, loaves of bread, jars of peanut butter, and the works.
Kids and adults alike can turn hangry fast when you are sweating in the heat and off of your normal food schedule. I was grateful to have food packed & ready whenever we needed it. It’s also a great way to keep a toddler (or anyone for that matter!) happy while waiting in ride queues.
It also keeps costs down!!
Beware the long lines!
On especially crowded days, it’s not just the ride queues that wind around the park. The food lines can get VERY long. Like… 40 minutes from entering the line to receiving your food!
As you’d expect, eating at irregular meal times helps offset those long wait times. Many lunch places opened at 11, so getting in line right as a restaurant opens worked well, too.
That’s it!
Am I missing anything?
What foods would you add to this list? Have you had the famous skillets & cinnamon bread at Silver Dollar City? Did they live up to the hype? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Don’t miss our other theme park reviews here:
Silver Dollar City Guide For Young Families
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