Wondering what to try at Busch Gardens Christmas Town? We review both Holiday Spice dishes, the Holiday Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffles, and the Turkey Meatballs.
Busch Gardens Christmas Town is back, bringing millions of lights, mountains of ornaments, and enough seasonal snacks to keep Santa fueled until Easter. On opening weekend, we visited Cabin #2 — the Holiday Spice Food & Beverage Cabin, home to two of the event’s most festive $10 dishes: the Holiday Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffles and the Cranberry Glazed Turkey Meatballs. We tried both (and survived the engineering challenges). Here’s the full rundown.
Holiday Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffles
Mini sweet potato waffles with crispy fried chicken and cranberry glaze — $10
If you like your holiday food with a sense of danger, the Holiday Spice cabin has you covered. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay ambassadors at Cabin #2 warned us that the top waffle might fall or fly off, For us that instantly catapulted this dish into “interactive dining experience” territory. It’s festive! Also, it’s flavorful! It’s aerodynamic!
The portion size is generous, big enough to share with someone you trust deeply or someone too polite to decline your offer. The sweet potato waffles have a mild flavor. Yet somehow, this allows them to completely overshadow the chicken, which ends up feeling like the backup dancer rather than the headliner. The chicken is good, but not groundbreaking. The cranberry glaze adds holiday sweetness but unfortunately turned the bottom waffle into a merry little sponge, soaking up everything in sight.
While fun and seasonal, this dish still can’t dethrone the star attraction over at SeaWorld Orlando: the Joyful Chicken & Waffles. If holiday waffles were a competition, Busch Gardens is getting the “most spirited attempt” ribbon. Verdict: A fun novelty from the Holiday Spice cabin – hold onto your waffles.
Cranberry Glazed Turkey Meatballs
Turkey meatballs glazed with tangy cranberry sauce and herbs — $10
Also available at the Holiday Spice Food & Beverage Cabin, these cranberry-glazed turkey meatballs offer a more stable, less airborne option at Cabin #2. Guests receive four average-sized meatballs, making this perfect for sharing or perfect for “accidentally” not sharing. The texture is softer than that of typical beef or pork meatballs, which may surprise some diners, but our group found the flavor above average and warmly seasoned.
The cranberry glaze gives them a delightful holiday kick but also elevates the mess level. If your fingers aren’t sticky at Busch Gardens Christmas Town, did you even experience it? This dish feels seasonal, satisfying, and reasonably priced, especially when paid for with the sacred sampler lanyard. Verdict: Solid flavor, good value, and great holiday vibes from the Holiday Spice cabin.
Should You Visit the Holiday Spice Cabin at Busch Gardens Christmas Town?
Absolutely—though maybe not in high winds. Cabin #2, the Holiday Spice Food & Beverage Cabin, offers two dishes that lean heavily on cranberry, the unofficial mascot of Christmas Town cuisine. The chicken & waffles offer spectacle (intentional or not), while the turkey meatballs deliver reliable flavor and value.
If you’re mapping out your sampler lanyard route, the Holiday Spice cabin deserves a spot. Just keep your hands ready for any waffles attempting escape velocity. For more information about Christmas Town, visit the official Busch Gardens Tampa Bay website.
For more theme dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Also, we sometimes publish bonus theme park dining reviews like this one. As always, eat like you mean it!
Other Busch Gardens Christmas Town Food Reviews
We have a list of all the food and beverage options on our website. The Christmas Town reviews we haev published so far include:
Expertise. Ease. Value.
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