Over my years of traveling with Amtrak, many great memories and “interesting” conversations happened during a meal in an Amtrak Dining Car. My first experience was on the California Zephyr, where I had several terrific conversations with other passengers. I even had a long-term friendship that started over lunch in the Sunset Limited/ Texas Eagle dining car. (Hi Sean and David).
A dining car is where Amtrak serves sit-down meals prepared by onboard chefs, and the cafe car sells grab-and-go food, beverages, and snacks.
If you ride the Texas Eagle between Chicago to San Antonio, you WILL NOT have traditional dining. However, from San Antonio to Los Angeles, cars from the Texas Eagle connect to the Sunset Limites with traditional dining so that you will be on that section of the route.
The dining car is the train’s heart and soul, where people gather for a common goal, food!
Kev
Food Service On Amtrak Trains
When planning your first or next Amtrak Adventure, knowing your food option is essential.
Traditional dining trains:
For sleeping car passengers, you have access to meals in the dining car, and this is also where you go to pick up select complimentary beverages. All train passengers have access to the cafe car in Sightseer Car.
- Auto Train
- California Zephyr
- Coast Starlight
- Empire Builder The dining car is not available between Portland, OR, and Spokane, WA, on 28 and 29. The cafe car is open for food, and sleeper passengers receive a box meal for their first or last meal.
- Southwest Chief
- Sunset Limited
- Texas Eagle (only between San Antonio, TX, and Los Angeles, CA.)
Flex dining is on these trains:
Sleeping car passengers on these trains receive Amtrak’s flex dining and use the Sleeper Lounge, a rebranded dining car. All train passengers have access to the cafe car.
- Capitol Limited
- Cardinal
- City of New Orleans
- Cresent
- Lake Shore Limited
- Texas Eagle (Between Chicago, IL, and San Antonio, TX)
- Silver Meteor and Star
For more information on these trains with Amtrak’s Flex Dining, check out this page.
Food options for traditional dining cars
Amtrak menus often change quarterly, and some trains have specials, usually new items they are trying out.
Breakfast offerings include continental breakfast, french toast, omelets, and scrambled eggs. Breakfast meats, coffee, and another beverage are available at no additional charge to sleeper car passengers.
Lunch can include a Cesar salad, burger, grill cheese, or chili.
Dining choices offer a traditional spread of dishes like a beef, chicken, fish, or seafood entree and a vegetarian option. Amtrak is introducing appetizers to go along with your diner selection, with choices like lobster crabcakes, green chili cheese tamale, and more.
The kid’s menu is available for lunch and diner and includes grill cheese, chicken breast, hot dog, and mac and cheese.
While Amtrak tries to have everything on the menu, sometimes popular choices run out towards the end of the route if they were more popular than Amtrak expected.
It looks like Amtrak is continuing to offer free soft drinks for sleeper car passengers throughout their journey and a complimentary alcoholic beverage with diner.
If you have special food requirements or questions on special meals, click here.
Current Traditional Dining Menus
2021 Changes Coming Dining Cars
Some new additions are coming to Amtrak’s traditional dining cars, and some “old classics” are coming back.
Flex dining carry-over, drinks not food
A few carryovers from the flex dining program may be enjoyable for many sleeper passengers.
Traditional dining cars now offer complimentary non-alcoholic beverages thought-out your Amtrak adventure. Choices could be limited; ask the dining car steward for more information. This service is only available during the hours of operations and is closed at night.
The other flex dining carryover is a free complimentary adult beverage with your dinner for those old enough.
Changes to the dining car experience
According to an article by the Rail Passenger Association, more exciting changes are coming. These changes include cloth tablecloths, glassware, silverware, and ceramic plates. These changes will increase the passenger experience and reduce onboard waste.
Other changes can include more flexibility with the menu, like lunch for dinner or adding breakfast meat to the continental breakfast.
These changes could take a little time to implement, and Amtrak does not have a goal date for tableware.
The Location of the Dining Car
For most trains, the dining car is between the Sightseer Car and the sleeper cars, towards the middle of the train.
You will find the Empire Builder dining car is on the Seattle side of the train behind the last sleeper and the first coach car. If you are in the Portland section, it is a little bit of a walk.
Mealtimes for Traditional Amtrak Dining Cars
Dining cars operate on local time. Often your cell phones and smartwatches will automatically change the time to the correct time zone.
Abridged or omitted meal services may occur if the train reaches its final destination early or if the scheduled time is during mealtime.
Quick meals can happen if the train comes in early to its final destination. On the other hand, if the train is running late, they may add a meal. Ask your onboard staff if you have questions.
If you miss a meal, the cafe car is available from early morning to late night, but it is closed overnight and for the attendance breaks.
Breakfast
- Breakfast time is from 6:30 am – 10:00 am
- The last boarding time to receive breakfast is 9:30 am
- Reservations are not needed and is first come first served
- There are no announcements for the start of this service; you may go for breakfast anytime after 6:30 am.
Lunch
- Lunch is from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm.
- The last boarding time to receive lunch is 2:30 pm.
- Reservations could be required.
Dinner
- Dinner is from 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm.
- The final boarding time to receive dinner is 8:30 pm.
- Reservations are required
Be advised, all this can change at any time and can vary from train to train.
Meal Reservation For Amtrak Dining Cars
Sleeping car passengers
For sleeper car passengers, making reservations is easy. The dining car steward will announce when they are ready to walk the train to take reservations.
When they are coming around, at least one person in your party needs to be in your accommodation so they can make the reservation. Often when you make your reservations, you receive a reminder slip.
Your car attendant may make the reservations for you if you are not on board when they take reservations.
Coach passengers (currently suspended)
After sleeper’s reservations are complete, the dining car steward walks through the coach cars for passengers to fill the remaining spots. To make a reservation, waiting at your seat till after they come through is the best you can do to get the best times.
There is a chance that you could catch them in the observation car, but your reservation choices could be limited. You can ask the dining car steward for openings if you board after taking reservations, but there are no guarantees.
General information
Ask your car attendant or the dining car steward if the dining car announces the reservation time or if you should walk to the dining car at your reservation time.
Be aware that the dining car can get busy, and a 6:30 reservation could get called at 6:45 or later. When they call it, they still call it a “6:30.” This congestion can be due to passengers lingering too long after their meal or not coming at their scheduled time.
When You Enter Traditional Amtrak Dining Cars
The common practice for eating in an Amtrak Dining Car
- When arriving in the dining car, wait to be seated. The steward will direct you where to sit.
- During regular times Amtrak practices community seating
- If there are fewer than four people in your party, others may join you.
- Sleeping car passengers receive handed a piece of paper when they sit down. Only fill in the room and car number/letter (found on your ticket), and then sign it. The staff will fill out everything else.
- All scheduled meals come with your room ticket (so pick what you want). Meals include one entree, plus meal-appropriate extras such as breakfast meat, cheese, desserts with lunch and dinner.
- Sleeper passengers get complimentary non-alcoholic drinks throughout their journey and an acholic drink with diner.
- Coach passengers, you will not have to sign a slip.
- You are responsible for paying for your meal.
- The experience is similar to that of a restaurant.
The Portland Section of the Empire Builder
The Empire Builder split or joined another train with the same name en route. During part of your trip, there may not be a dining or cafe car. Often your section of the train will have one or the other.
Portland section (28) of the Empire Builder joins the Seattle section (8) in Spokane, WA. The Seattle section has the diner, and the Portland section has a cafe car. If you are a Portland sleeper passenger, car attendants handed soon after you leave, and after the two trains combine, you will enjoy the rest of your meals in the dining car.
Tipping In Amtrak Traditional Dining Cars
Tipping is appreciated, and many passengers base the tip amount off the menu prices.
Traditional dining warp up
Eating on the train can be one of the more memorable parts of your Amtrak adventure.
The menus can change at any time, and sometimes they offer entrees that are not on the menu. Often these selections are new choices that Amtrak is trying out.
If you have sleeper car reservations, include the main entree and extras. With dinner, your first adult beverage is part of your reservations. Plus, you can get complimentary beverages from the dining car.
Your meals can be consumed in the dining car or in your accommodations. Either you can walk to the dining car during your reservation time to order your meal and bring it back. You could have your car attendant get the meals and bring them back to your accommodation.
Thank you for your help. This is my first trip and I am so excited. It is on my bucket list.
You are welcome! If you have any questions, let me know where I can help you! I hope you enjoy your trip.
How much and when do you tip your porter at the end of your trip?
Tipping a car an attendant is optional, but typically people tip between $5-$10 a day. Often for dining car staff, tips are based on menu price or similar to car attendants.