The Ultimate Knott’s Berry Farm Foodie Adventure Guide

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Updated: July 14, 2024

Special thanks to u/BelovedBeagle on Reddit for the update help! ♡

The OG in the theme park industry, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, USA (part of the new Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger under the Six Flags name now with 27 combined properties) is one of the more unique parks in the country (and one of the oldest, predating Disneyland by 15 years).

Once a boysenberry farm stand (what is now Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant) it quickly grew in popularity into a completely different animal by way of shops, attractions, and delicious boysenberry-related foods. Now a silent giant, Knott’s continues to innovate with their signature berry and their ride offerings.

But of course, we’re here for Knott’s Berry Farm food.

This post will dive into the benefits of the Season pass, the dining packages offered, and any other insider tips and tricks to make your time at Knott’s Berry Farm worthwhile. So strap in, grab a churro, and let’s go.

Benefits of Being a Knott’s Berry Farm Season Pass Holder, Perks and Discounts

No matter what park you go to, if you’re a park regular (especially at a year-round park like Knott’s) getting the season pass is always going to be a major savings boost to your wallet. Sure, you’ll pay more upfront, but you’ll see it pay itself off quickly after a few visits.

And sometimes you even get extra benefits depending on the level of pass you buy!

Regular Ticket Prices

We’ll start with the regular ticket prices though for comparison. You can buy tickets one of two ways: online or in the park. If you’re looking to save money, buy them online (and if you’re an international traveler, quick reminder that everything here is without tax, so factor that into your budget, too).

Regular adult prices (gate) ≃ $99.99, discounted adult prices (online) ≃ $64.99
Regular child prices, ages 3-11 (gate) ≃ $99.99, discounted child prices (online) ≃ $59.99

While there isn’t much of a savings buffer between discounted adult and child, you can clearly see the major difference between buying at the gate over online. Of course, if you get to the gate and you need a ticket for someone, whip out your phone and buy them online.

There are discounts for anyone in the military, in a group, or with birthday packages.

Regular Season Pass

Current Price: $150.00

Now, there are three different season passes, the Regular Season Pass, Gold Pass, and Prestige Pass. The nice thing between all three tiers is that you can do a monthly payment plan no matter where you are from to help with the upfront cost of the pass. The best time to purchase a season pass is in August around Snoopy’s Birthday (the 10th) although that may not always be the case, but I’ll keep you updated!

With the Regular Season Pass, you’ll receive a 10% food and merchandise discount, in lieu of unlimited visits to the main Knott’s Berry Farm property (sorry, no Soak City).

One thing to note: passholders are also automatically enrolled in a Pass Perks program and can earn discounts by visiting Knott’s or Soak City (visiting both on the same day only counts as 1 total visit).

Gold Pass

Current Price: $175.00

The best bang for your buck, the Gold Pass, is the best value (even Knott’s agrees). Usually with other parks, I’m all about the highest tier because of the perks associated considering that the perks tend to make up for the difference in price, but since each pass has the same 10% food and merchandise discount, it makes very little difference to me.

Although you don’t get any free bring-a-friend tickets like the Prestige pass, you have access to discounted tickets on select dates, which I feel makes up for the lack of the free tickets anyway. You also have access to both parks – Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City across the street.

In addition, Gold passholders who buy the All Park Passport add-on get free parking at Knott’s. Those with this add-on can upgrade their dining plan to apply to all parks and also buy an all-park fast lane add-on.

Prestige Pass

Current Price: $425.00

The Prestige Pass has the most perks out of all three passes, but it comes at a hefty price tag. At $399, or $54 a month, this can sting if you’re not aware of the costs.

This pass does come with unlimited visits to both parks (Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City) and it comes with a 10% discount on food and merchandise like the others. Unlike the other passes you also receive two free friend tickets annually, 1 single-use fast lane per visit, preferred parking, and preferred entry (2 hours daily).

Just like with Gold, you can add the All Park Passport for an extra $100 or $150, which makes this already expensive pass seem incredibly out of its depth. However, unlike Universal and Disney, where their passes cost twice as much for their parks and you can’t move from state-to-state with it, with this pass you can at least visit any of their original 15 theme park properties across North America.

(At this time, even though Cedar Fair and Six Flags have merged there is no clear indication that their passes will be interchangeable between their original parks. It most likely will take months for this change to occur in their systems or be on sale within the 2025 year – 7/14/2024).

Prestige passholders also get free access to VIP lounge, Calico Social Hall, where character meet & greets happen inside. Additionally, passholders who get bring-a-friend tickets at a ticket booth can get free all-day lounge access vouchers with them.

But other than that, there’s nothing remarkable about this pass when compared to other regional parks like Six Flags, Lake Compounce, or even giants like Disney and Universal. Most other parks have tiered savings that the Cedar Fair umbrella does not provide.

Now, for reference, I own a Kings Dominion Prestige Pass which is one of the parks under the Cedar Fair umbrella out in Virginia, and actually has one major difference: 15% food and merchandise discount. My pass was $250, or $33 a month on the monthly payment plan, so in comparison, I come out on top.

So, you’re probably wondering, Alex is this pass worth it? Absolutely not. Grab the Gold pass and you’ll do just fine.

All Park Passport Add-On

An additional part of the Gold and Prestige Pass, this add-on allows you access to all Cedar Fair parks, and any associated perks under your pass transfer to that park. If one park has a perk that your home park does not offer though, from my understanding, it doesn’t transfer to you just because you’re at the visiting park.

This is either $100, if you’re adding to a Gold pass, or $150 if adding to Prestige.

In other words …

Pros of the pass: Unlimited admission to Knott’s Berry Farm (if entering and exiting, you need to get your hand stamped as a one-day ticket, but if you’re a passholder there’s no need) and with Gold and Prestige, unlimited admission also includes Soak City.

Unspoken pro between all passes is Cedar Fair hotel discounts as well, which can help if you’re an out-of-towner and also the inclusion of other add-ons to the Gold and Prestige pass: Dining Package ($165.00), FunPix (photo package) ($58.99), Scary Farm pass ($155.00), Fast Lane ($675.00), and locker rentals ($170.00).

Cons of the pass: The perks that you are able to use during a regular day are not available during Knott’s Scary Farm, any special ticketed events, or park buyout admissions (and if you’ve got park buyout money, I don’t think money really is an object of concern).

No matter which pass you buy, the discount on food and merchandise doesn’t change and for a more expensive pass, I don’t think that that helps in any way for people looking for better perks typically associated with higher tiered passes.

Also, two of three passes have no free general parking (not even Gold pass), but there is a way to add parking to your pass for an extra $89 if you desire.

Knott’s Berry Farm Food Dining Plans

In my experience, Knott’s Berry Farm is one of the few theme parks to have an array of dining packages to cover many budgets. Some plans are great to split between parties and others not so much. Hopefully one of these helps your tummy out.

Single Meal Deal ($17.99)

This covers one entrée, a side, and a regular sized fountain drink at 16 locations. This pass can be used at either the main park or over at Soak City.

All Day Dining Plan ($33.99)

An every-90-minute dining plan, this is a steal, where you’re allowed an entrée and a side, however, no drink at 16 different food locations. But if you bring a water bottle and fill it around the park (which you should be doing anyway), you’re saving a lot of money. And this can be used at either park.

Dining Bundle (from $77.99)

Inserting this here before I move on, but if you’re buying a ticket day of, you can grab the Dining Bundle, which combines the one-day ticket with the All Day Dining Plan. Which would provide savings of $20 when bought online (which is your only option).

Premium All Day Dining Plan ($43.99)

Similar to the regular All Day plan, this plan tacks on the ability to have an entrée and a side or the option of a snack instead every 90 minutes. The biggest perks with this plan is that you’re allowed a free refill on soft-serve beverages every 15 minutes all day long and you can use this between both parks without having to choose. This pass does not seem to have a threshold on where you can eat, but I believe it would be the same 16 participating locations, too.

All Season Dining Pass (from $165)

Now, the big mama jamma, this pass allows for two meals (lunch and dinner) at all 16 locations, each time you come to the park for the day, to be used once every 4 hours. There is no drink package – you’ve gotta add that to your pass separately. And you know what, speaking of …

They have three drink packages to help out wherever your budget may lie. These bottles are only valid on soft-serve (fountain) beverages.

Souvenir Bottle or Drink Wristband ($18.99)

The Souvenir bottle, otherwise known as the All Day Bottle, is used on the day with free refills every 15 minutes. If you were to go with this option, you can bring this bottle back into the park with you and fill up your cup for $6 to reactivate for your visit the next time around. It would then give you free refills again.

However, if you go the wristband route, you’ll receive a paper cup for every refill you grab on the day of your visit, and that’s it.

All Season Bottle ($34.99)

This is the best option if you’re a regular, but don’t own a season pass because you’re not that regular. Very similar to the All Day Bottle (Souvenir Bottle) in that you get free refills during the season that your cup is valid for.

Season Pass Drink Plans (from $34.99)

If you’re an passholder though you have a couple options, but they retain the same every 15 minutes free refill policy as the other drink packages. However, if you’re looking for the option to have hot chocolate, ICEE, and coffee, you’re better off upgrading to the Drink+ plan ($49.99).

Recommended: Where and What You Can Eat with Knott’s Berry Farm Dining Plans

Research and Prep Before You Go

Before you head out to Knott’s Berry Farm, especially as a first-timer, it’s important that you research and prep before you head out there. Take it from me, as someone who has gone there exactly once, I wish I had done the things I always tell friends to do.

Call it a brain fart, because what the heck. In my defense I was very focused on getting pictures of the menus (and still ended up missing a few)!

Knott’s has an app you can use to navigate the parks: ride wait times, shopping, and of course, dining options. The app also has a section to see Special Dietary Needs (click the ‘i’ > Guest Services) on the go just in case you need it.

The app does not support mobile ordering at this time, but I’m sure that this will be an option in the future. They also don’t have any of the menus online either, which I was surprised about as well, but you will find what options are available (e.g., Gluten Free options) and whether or not the restaurant accepts the dining plan.

Over time these options will appear on the website, so thanks for your patience as I make updates.

Aside from that, an important notice: Knott’s Berry Farm is a cashless park, meaning if you bring in cash you can exchange cash-to-card at kiosks inside of the park. Please come prepared to use plastic!

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Knott’s Berry Farm Menu Prices 2024

The prices on the following menus, on the clickable banner below, at these restaurants come as late as November 1, 2023.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Knott’s Berry Farm Dining Option Types

Something that sets Knott’s Berry Farm from a lot of theme parks is the fact that they are a boysenberry-centric theme park, which is unique and can be incredibly rewarding if you’re open to eating everything boysenberry-related. But not everything is all about this berry, there are many options to choose from.

There are three main categories of dining options at Knott’s Berry Farm: quick service, snack stands/carts, and full-service restaurants. They also have beverages that include fountain drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, and alcohol.

And because of this, they have a wide arrangement of food options. With roughly 45 options, I hope that you are able to explore the food offerings at Knott’s and I hope that the food not only fuels you, but also gives you happiness.

Quick Service

With a larger menu than a snack stand, but typically less than a full-service, quick service restaurants are hallmark fast food eating spots at theme parks and Knott’s is no different. Most are designated for you to eat outside and very few allow you to eat inside or under outside patios.

Popular locations are:

Fireman’s BBQ
Strictly-On-A-Stick
Panda Express
Calico Tater Bites

Snack Stands / Carts

Best for grabbing incredibly quick bites like churros, ice cream, and popcorn. This can include places to grab beverages, too.

Some locations include:

Delicious Churros and Pretzels
Dippin’ Dots
Pacific Coast Pastries and Roasts
Tiki Bar

Full-Service Restaurants

While there aren’t many full-service restaurants in the park these are all inside with air conditioning. There aren’t a lot of them, so, that’s the downside if you’re used to that at parks like Universal and Disney. But if you’re used to regional parks like Six Flags, you’ll be right at home.

Those spots are:

Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant (current menu unavailable)
Ghost Town Grill
TGI Friday’s (current menu unavailable)

Kid-Friendly Options at Knott’s Berry Farm

The reality of theme parks is simple: make sure the kids and teenagers are sufficiently happy to keep on going and have parents spend more money and food is the easiest way to get to your wallet.

But unlike most parks, Knott’s does a decent darn job of making sure that there are a more options than chicken nuggets, hot dogs, pizza, and burgers for kids to have.

With tacos at Baja Taqueria, potato deliciousness at Papas Mexicanas, and mac & cheese dishes at Miner’s Mac & Spuds, there’s no shortage of truly good food for kids in this park.

And if your kids aren’t looking for a regular hot dog with ketchup, mustard, and relish, there’s fantastic options over at Wilderness Dogs and Drinks (formerly known as Wilderness Broilers), too.

Special Dietary Needs

One of my favorite things about going to Knott’s Berry Farm was finding out how good they are to creating a welcoming atmosphere for people who have dietary restrictions.

From vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, there’s a lot throughout the parks that it can feel safe leaving your igloo in the car and grabbing something inside of the park. But the company does such a good job that they even have a dedicated page for it (KBF Dietary Needs).

I’m gluten-free, what options are at Knott’s Berry Farm?

A lot actually! If there’s nothing explicitly on the menu, you can replace a bun for lettuce; they’ll let you do that. Some options off the top of my head for gluten-free options are at Boardwalk BBQ, Sutter’s Grill, and Wilderness Dogs and Drinks.

What vegan options are there at Knott’s Berry Farm?

When I initially went I thought there were only a few places to grab vegan options, but the opposite is actually true. There are a ton of places, however, they don’t advertise them nearly as well as they should. Here’s what I mean by that using Sutter’s Grill as an example (photos below).

On their website they show vegan-friendly options, but their menu in the park does not showcase this.

All that to say, even if the menus in the park don’t show what options they have, it’s best if you ask before heading in line if they offer anything so you’re able to have a wider breadth of options. And if you happen to also be gluten-free, you can see that this menu does the same thing when compared side-by-side.

However, some places I know that do accommodate to vegan foodies are Prop Shop Pizzeria, Ghost Town Grill, and Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

Healthy Eating Food Options at Knott’s Berry Farm

If you’re eating healthy, going through a healthier lifestyle change, or overall looking for some healthy options, I’m pleased to let you know that there’s a plethora of options that aren’t only salads.

Over at Casa California Restaurante, you can make your own burrito and rice bowls full of protein and healthy fats. Most taco options at Baja Taqueria (the Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos sounds sensational) and since you can make your own salads and pasta meals, Prop Shop Pizzeria.

You can also try Ghost Town Grill which has a lot of healthy vegan options, too, but feel more like side dishes than anything. Speaking of sides, there are some healthy choices at Fireman’s BBQ, but also rice bowl options at Panda Express, too!

Of course, healthy is what you make of it. You can eat anything you want, it’s always about moderation.

And don’t forget to treat yourself to some delicious boysenberry pie before you head home, you deserve it for being so good.

Knott’s Berry Farm Dining Hacks and Insider Tips

Just like any other theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm is expensive with their food options. Why? You’re a captive audience – you don’t really have anywhere else to go – and corporate isn’t about to let you pay pennies on the dollar for something they can cash in on. So, to help you stretch your dollar, here are some hacks and insider tips that I think will really be worthwhile:

1. If you’re an annual pass holder, get the dining package.
2. If you’re not an annual pass holder, get the dining package.
3. If you think you’re going to eat lunch and dinner in the park, get the dining package.

I hope that’s helpful.

But wait, I have more. *spirit fingers*

1 – If you’re with two or more people, buy either the All Day or Premium All Day Dining Plan. Because portions are pretty big you can split meals and snacks every 90 minutes, especially if you’re there from open to close. For every two people I would buy one plan.

2 – You can visit the restaurants on the outside of the park entrance without admission (i.e., Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, TGI Fridays, Cable Car Kitchen, Boba Knott’s, Starbucks, Farm Bakery, and Chicken-To-Go).

3 – Thirsty all the time? You have two options – 1) buy either the All Day Bottle or All Season Bottle inside of the park or 2) bring your own insulated reusable water bottle and ask for cups of ice water and refill it throughout the day without paying for water bottles. My favorite water bottle is this one.

4 – A great way to save money for a family of four: buy four passes (one can be Prestige if you’re looking for the free two tickets and it gets the free preferred–and general–parking), two dining plans and two drink plans.

5 – The best time to grab food is always before regular lunch and dinner rushes, so around 11 AM, 3 PM or after 6 PM.

Aside from that, I always assume that there are going to be people who can’t eat inside of the park, and that’s OK. Here’s how to make your time eating in the parking lot a little bit easier.

Tip #1: Since you’re not allowed to bring food into the parks, I always advise to take a mid-day break and head back to your car where you’ll have a cooler filled to the brim with foods made from home and super cold drinks. My favorite hard-sided cooler can also double as a seat for a small child, too.

Tip #2: Surprisingly to all of you, I am actually a picky eater. It’s one of the reasons why I created Theme Park Bites, because while I could find food in the park, I couldn’t imagine how hard it was with families and children and people who otherwise can’t eat specific things, but still wanted to enjoy a park.

So, I truly suggest that you check out the menus prior to heading to the park to get an idea of what your fellow picky eater is willing to eat so they can get excited about the day with a few options in tow.

Knott’s Berry Farm Events & Festivals

Before we wrap this guide up, I wanted to point out events and festivals that Knott’s hosts. Since I have never been to any of them, I will be linking some trusted resources for you to take a dive deep. We’ll start with the first in any calendar year–

Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration

Good grief, Charlie Brown, there’s a celebration! What a wonderful way to start off the year with the kids by taking them to Camp Snoopy and having fun with the Peanuts gang. There’s entertainment for everyone, but especially the little ones, character meet and greets, and of course delicious food to round out the celebration.

Tasting cards were offered in 2024 that allow for up to 6 food items for roughly $55 offering up specialty food items.

By Undercover Tourist: Everything You Need to Know About PEANUTS Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

Their version of Food & Wine Festival, this event is incredibly popular, they offer up tons of limited-time foods and drinks that are all about the precious boysenberry. It’s almost like the entire park is actually turned into a boysenberry, seems incredibly cool.

They offer food tasting cards that allow you to try 6 items for around $55, which is a steal considering how expensive food can be of course.

By Undercover Tourist: Your Sweet and Savory Guide to the Boysenberry Festival at Knott’s Berry Farm

Knott’s Summer Nights

A nighttime party during the summer season, Knott’s Summer Nights is a great way to unwind after a particularly hard day in the office, especially on the weekends. From concerts, and Ghost Town transforming with Ghost Town Alive! with robbers, bandits, with a pretty sweet western feel all springs to life. And yes, there will be delicious new treats to try!

Tasting cards are available during Summer Nights that allow you to try 6 items for $55.

By Theme Park Duo: Summer Time at Knott’s Berry Farm
By Undercover Tourist: A Revitalized Camp Snoopy Returns to Knott’s Berry Farm This Summer

Knott’s Spooky Farm, Scary Farm & Merry Farm

If it’s anything like Disney I’m assuming these events flow relatively seamlessly into each other so I’m clumping them together. Spooky and Scary Farm are their Halloween event and Merry Farm is their Christmas event.

Spooky Farm happens during the day whereas, Scary Farm, happening in the evenings, is an incredibly popular event and gets busier the closer you get to Halloween, but it’s rife with shows, live entertainment, interesting haunted houses, and oodles and oodles of yummy limited-edition food (and that’s all I want in life, OK?).

But it doesn’t mean Merry Farm isn’t also popular as well. The 2023 year was beyond packed and food actually ended up running out at many locations, so take that as you will and arrive early. Or don’t go during the week of Christmas and New Years.

However, if you’re looking to go and do it anyway, get yourself a room at the Knott’s Hotel or at any hotel in the area months before so you get the best deals.

By Undercover Tourist: Your Guide to Knott’s Scary Farm 2024 / A ~Froggy~ Festive Guide to Knott’s Merry Farm 2023 (and 2024

Have Fun!

And that’s it. That was long, wow. As I explore Knott’s Berry Farm, I will be sure to update this guide as I go along. Hopefully it proves useful to you and your crew.

Thank you for taking time to read this guide. If there’s anything I missed, or you need (or want) an answer to something, let me know! I might even add your question into an update for the guide.

If you haven’t as of yet, please follow us on our other social media channels (YouTube, Instagram & Tik Tok – @themeparkbites) to stay up to date on food reviews. Thank you for allowing us to be your tasty theme park companion!