Restaurants...Because Your Tummies Will be Growling!Before I list the different restaurants in the Zoo along with my personal favorite, let me give this word to the wise (and frugal): You can bring your own food into the park. Forget about paying $3 for a bottle of water. Bring it yourself!
Of course, you're on vacation so maybe packing a lunch from your hotel room is not going to happen. But you can stop by a grocery store and buy everything you need for lunch and probably save at least $20. My friend likes to stop by the grocery store Ralph's for a kid's meal from the deli. It costs less than $3 and includes: a piece of chicken, a side order of macaroni and cheese, apple, bag of chips, cookie, and drink. See our friend Emma, pictured on the right enjoying her brought in kid's meal from the grocery store. Believe me, you won't find a deal like that at the Zoo restaurants!
Watch why we always bring our lunch to the San Diego Zoo. But perhaps time is more important than saving a few dollars, and of course there's the novelty of eating at the Zoo's restaurants. My favorite place to eat at the Zoo is the Treehouse Cafe. It's located in the Treehouse complex next to Gorilla Tropics. You literally feel like you're sitting in a giant treehouse, with spectacular views from multilevel decks. Treehouse Cafe serves salads, sandwiches, and hot entrees like spaghetti, BBQ ribs, chicken enchiladas and more. This cafe is all about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! 
The nicest restaurant in the Zoo is also in this Treehouse complex...Albert's. Here's a sampling of what you can expect at Albert's, a restaurant USA Today rates among "Places to dine amid outdoor beauty":
Are you getting hungry yet?
Other options throughout the Zoo include these restaurants: Canyon Café: Located next to the adorable panda bears, this cafe serves Mexican specialties like their popular carne asada burritos, tasty fish tacos, appetizing taco salads, and hot lobster quesadillas. If you don't care for Mexican, there's also charbroiled hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, vegetarian selections, and kid’s meals.
Raintree Grill: Across from the reptile house and near the main entrance, this grill serves individual pizzas, fried chicken, fish and chips, chicken taquitos, BBQ pork sandwichs, burgers, and broiled chicken sandwiches, as well as a variety of kid’s meals.
Flamingo Café: As you walk through the main entrance of the Zoo, you'll see the flamingo exhibit (beware...flamingos are beautiful but they stink!). The Flamingo Cafe has a great view of the flamingos and the main plaza, but oddly enough, it never seems to smell there. They serve breakfast until 11 a.m. For lunch, try delicious paninis or gourmet sandwiches such as sun-dried tomato chicken served on foccocia, ciabatta, or European roll. Also available are entrée–sized salads, rice bowls with chicken and vegetable toppings, and good wraps. The last time we ate here, we were joined by a peacock!
Children's Zoo Cupboard: Adjacent to the Children's Zoo and near the Skyfari Aerial Tram, the Cupboard serves the usual lineup of favorites for kids: Hebrew National all-beef hot dogs, burgers, corn dogs, and chicken tenders, as well as others kid’s meals. Enjoy a soft-serve ice cream or ICEE for dessert in the adjacent Children’s Zoo Picnic Area.
Lagoon Terrace: Next to Flamingo Café. The Lagoon Terrace serves individual pizzas, hot dogs, chili-in-a-bread boats, nachos, and meatball sandwiches. This outdoor dining patio overlooks a beautiful garden and lagoon.
Safari Kitchen: If your kids like monkeys, this is the eating place for you with views of the Monkey Trails exhibit. The menu includes hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and fish and chips.
Insider Tip: No straws available! The Zoo does not have any straws at the restaurants because they pose a choking hazard for the animals. So if your kids need a straw for their drink, be sure to bring your own and dispose of it properly when you're through. Budget Tip: An average entree like a hamburger costs $8. That's without fries or a drink (add an extra $5). So you can do the math and budget what your family will approximately spend for the day's meals.
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Sydney's Grill: In between the koala and elephant exhibits, you'll find this spacious and shaded eating area offering a variety of hot entrées such as chicken fajitas, fish and chips, and rice bowls as well as sandwiches including tri-tip steak, charbroiled chicken, and bacon cheeseburgers. This menu also includes entrée-sized salads, wraps, and fresh fruit as well as ice cream, and specialty desserts.
