Eating on Amtrak

When traveling by train, eating on Amtrak is part of the experience! Nearly all trains offer food options, with only six short regional routes lacking food service. Most trains feature at least one food car, while long-distance trains often have two, providing various dining options for passengers.

Food cars aren’t just about snacks and beverages—they’re also a chance to stretch your legs, take a break from your seat or room, and enjoy fresh scenery. On many Superliner trains, you’ll find a Sightseer Lounge car, where the upper level offers panoramic views, and the café below serves food and drinks to keep you refreshed.

Feel free to linger in the café car as you enjoy your purchase, but remember to be courteous so others can use the space.

This article gives an overview of Amtrak’s dining options, with links to more detailed guides. Fair warning: you might get hungry by the end—or is that just me? Talking about food always seems to do that!

Setting Your Expectations for Eating on Amtrak

The first thing I want to address is setting your expectations. Not all trains, especially regional ones, have chefs who prepare meals. In many cases, the food options are more grab-and-go.

I hate to break it to you, but train travel isn’t always like what you see in old movies. For starters, there is usually less singing—often, there’s no singing. This lack of singing will upset the people who learned about train travel from White Christmas but will relieve others who do not want to live in a musical.

The best thing you can do is be a responsible traveler and do your research.

Since you’re reading this page, I know you’re already on the right track. If you’re traveling on one of Amtrak’s long-distance trains, you can find information about the available food services and the meals served onboard on my long-distance train schedule page. This way, you can plan and set your expectations accordingly.

Amtrak trains without food service.

These trains do not have cafés or food service cars, but one does have vending machines.

• Keystone
• Hartford Line
• Hiawatha
• Piedmont has vending machines.
• Valley Flyer
• San Joaquin trains 702, 703, 712 & 717 do not have food service.

The food options provided on various trains

As previously discussed, not all trains provide the same food service. This section delves into the services offered on different trains, while the next section will outline the types of food you can expect.

Regional Trains:

Regional trains, which typically travel less than 750 miles and are often state-funded, mainly offer coach-class seating. Some also provide business-class options. Traveling on a regional train, you can get food in the café car or through vending machines.

Long-Distance Trains:

All long-distance trains have a café car open to all passengers, making you feel welcome and comfortable during your journey. If you have sleeping accommodations, you’ll be eligible for complimentary flex or traditional dining, depending on the train. Some long-distance trains also offer dining car reservations for coach passengers.

Acela:

Like regional and long-distance trains, Acela provides a café car for all passengers. However, first-class passengers receive at-seat service, which includes drinks and meals.

Eating on Amtrak: Café Cars

As you’ve learned, most trains have café cars that offer a variety of entrées, snacks, and beverages. You can enjoy your selections in the café car or return them to your seat or room. Menu options can vary depending on the route.

Amtrak café attendants use cardboard trays to facilitate food transport. The food is prepackaged, and customization is limited to adding condiments. If needed, the attendant will warm your purchased food for you.

Regarding beverages, the café car offers a wide selection, including Coca-Cola products, coffee, tea, juices, and alcoholic beverages.

For those concerned about the cost, an average meal (including a drink and an entrée) can start at around $10, depending on your choices. Some regional trains even offer combo meals, providing good value for money.

Amtrak café cars are usually open for most of your journey but may close for attendant breaks, at specific station stops, and at night on long-distance trains.

If you have dietary restrictions, it’s a good idea to review the café menus in advance to see whether Amtrak’s offerings will work for you or if you need to bring food.

Coffee on Amtrak

Many people ask about coffee on Amtrak, so here’s the vital information. For some reason, coffee on the train tastes better—possibly due to psychological factors.

Amtrak provides fresh coffee in the café cars and sleeping cars. The café and dining cars offer fresh drip coffee, while the sleeping cars serve percolated coffee. The type and brand of roast may vary depending on the route.

Amtrak doesn’t offer hot espresso drinks like lattes or fresh iced or cold-brew coffee, but it does sell bottled coffee drinks.

Eating on Amtrak: The dining car or sleeper passenger meals

Depending on the route, Amtrak offers two different types of meals for sleeper car passengers.

Regardless of the meal type, you receive non-alcoholic beverages, desserts, and other meal-appropriate add-ons. Additionally, you get your first adult drink with dinner on Amtrak!

Flex dining

Trains with Flex dining:

• Cardinal
• Lake Shore Limited
• Texas Eagle (between Chicago and San Antonio)
• City of New Orleans
• Crescent

These are pre-prepared meals that are loaded onto the train and heated onboard. They are not available to coach passengers. Often, your attendant brings these meals to your room, but Crescent and Lake Shore Limited sleeper car passengers can eat in the dining car.

There are hot and cold breakfast selections, and lunch and dinner share the same selections.

Traditional Dining

Traditional dining is meals prepared on board and found on:

• Auto Train
• California Zephyr
• Coast Starlight
• Empire Builder
• Floridian
• Silver Meteor
• Southwest Chief
• Sunset Limited
• Texas Eagle between LA and San Antonio, TX.

Set prices for coach passengers on certain trains based on availability (these prices are subject to change at any time).

• Breakfast $20
• Lunch is $25 and $15 for kids
• Dinner is $45 and $25 for kids.

Can you bring food on Amtrak trains?

You can bring your food and drinks on the train, an excellent way to save money and accommodate dietary restrictions. However, it’s essential to know that Amtrak cannot heat, store, or refrigerate food, drinks, or medications.

Passengers can bring alcohol on the train but must keep it in their luggage unless they have a room. Amtrak prohibits coach and business class passengers from consuming alcoholic beverages they haven’t purchased from the food car. If caught drinking alcohol, the conductors may remove you from the train, especially if you become unruly. However, passengers with a room are allowed to consume alcohol in their room or a friend’s room.

Please do not bring or use coffee makers, hot plates, or other small equipment on the train. They are unsafe for you and the other passengers. Additionally, it is best to avoid bringing smelly foods, as they can be unpleasant for others.

Finally, like restaurants, do not bring outside food into the dining or café car unless it is for young travelers.

Other Tidbits on Eating on Amtrak

The Empire Builder and Lake Shore Limited are unique within the Amtrak system.

These trains split somewhere along that route, so the food offerings on the part of the route can vary. Since the train splits, only one section of the train will have a dining or sleeper car lounge during the trip, and the other half will have a café car.

Your first or last meal may not be in the dining car; it could come from the café or a boxed meal like the one in the photo.

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Eating On Amtrak Wrap-up

To be safe, always bring a few snacks. I usually have a few bars, jerky, or snack packs, just in case! Don’t forget to pack a few protein-enriched snacks so they “last longer.”

When I plan a trip, I like to set aside some money for the café car, especially if I’m traveling in coach class. I find purchasing meals onboard more convenient than bringing all my food. I prefer hot meals, but the best thing you can do is figure out what works best for your needs and budget.

I’m not a traveler who enjoys lugging around coolers or extra food because I prefer to pack light.

I pack snacks in a reusable bag that I carry onto the train or stow in my luggage. As I travel, the bag empties, and then I can stow it away. Unless I’m on a day trip, I only pack snacks for one leg of the journey to travel lighter. This approach allows me to shop at my destination and savor something different, perhaps even a local delicacy, which always adds a delightful twist to my journey.

Remember that all the food available in the café car is prepackaged, and the staff can warm up the food you purchased onboard, not the food you brought from home.

Sometimes, I stroll to the café car to pick up a cheese tray and a glass of wine for a fancy snack to enjoy as I relax in my room. But what I truly cherish about train travel is the social opportunities it presents and the chance to leave my room.

I met some wonderful people in the dining car, including friends I still keep in touch with today!

Other helpful links

Safe Travels!

Kev