Eating on Amtrak
Eating on Amtrak

Eating On Amtrak: What you need to know!

All but five of Amtrak’s trains have at least one food car, and there are trains with two or more! The route you take can determine what food offerings you get. Most people’s first interaction with eating on Amtrak will be in a cafe car, but those who upgrade could get a seat service or a meal in a traditional dining car or their room.

This article is an overview with links for more in-depth articles; you may get hungry by the end! Or am I the only one who does that way when I read or talk about food for too long?

Setting your expectations for eating on Amtrak

Amtrak's Amfleet Café Car
Amtrak’s Amfleet Cafe Car

The first thing I want to cover is checking your expectations, for not all trains have a chef who prepares meals. Not everything is like what you see in old movies. First, there is less singing on the train, as there is little to no singing.

The best thing you can do is be a responsible traveler and do your research. Since you are on this page, I know you have to be a good traveler because you are doing your research. Look at my train schedule page on this site or Amtrak’s to see what to expect for food on each train so you can set your expectations accordingly.

What different trains offer for food

As you learned, not all trains offer the same food service. This section covers what services are on the different trains, and the next gives you ideas on what food to expect.

Amtrak trains without food service.

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

Regional Trains

Dining car flowers
Dining car flowers

Regional trains travel under 750 miles and are often state-funded, offering mostly coach-class, although many provide business-class accommodations. If you plan to take a regional train, your food choices come from the cafe car.

Long-Distance Trains

All long-distance trains have a cafe car that is open to all passengers.

If you have sleeping accommodations, you will receive complimentary flex or traditional dining, depending on the train. Some trains do have reservations available for coach passengers.

Acela

Like regional and long-distance trains, Acela has a cafe car for all passengers, but First Class passengers get at-seat service, including drinks and meals.

Amtrak Acela First Class breakfast
Amtrak Acela First Class breakfast

Eating On Amtrak: Cafe Cars

As you learned, most trains have café cars that offer various entrees, snacks, and beverages that you can eat in that car or take back to your seat or room. Menus can vary based on the route.

Food from an Amtrak Cafe Car
Amtrak cafe attendants use cardboard trays to make transporting your food more accessible.

The food is prepackaged, and there is little customization outside of adding condiments. Your food is warmed for you when appropriate. Beverages include Coke products, coffee, tea, and adult beverages.

Depending on your order, an average meal (drink and entree) can start at around $10, based on your desire. Some regional trains offer combo meals.

The cafe attendant puts your selections in a cardboard tray to make it easier to take your food to your seat or table.

Amtrak cafe cars are open most of your journey but may close for the attendant breaks, at specific station stops, and at night if you are on a long-distance train.

If you have dietary restrictions, I would look at the cafe menus to see if what Amtrak offers works for you or if you need to bring something.

Coffee On Amtrak

Amtrak Coffee
Coffee from Amtrak’s cafe car.

I often get asked about coffee on Amtrak, so here is what you need to know. For whatever reason, coffee on the rails tastes better; I know it is psychological.

Amtrak brews fresh coffee in the cafe car and sleeping cars. Fresh drip coffee comes from the cafe and the dining car, and percolated coffee is in sleeping cars. The roast can vary from time to time and route to route.

Amtrak does not offer hot espresso drinks like lattes or fresh iced or cold brew coffee, but they sell bottled coffee drinks.

Eating On Amtrak: The dining car or sleeper passenger meals

June 20 2021 Amtrak #5 oma
The California Zephyr #5 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Amtrak has two different types of meals for sleeper car passengers, depending on the route.

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

Flex dining

Amtrak Flex meal
Amtrak’s Chicken Marsala is part of its flex dining program, which includes iced tea, a roll, and a salad.

Trains with Flex dining:

These are pre-prepared meals that are loaded onto the train and heated onboard. These meals are not available to coach passengers. Often, your attendant brings these meals to your room.

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

Traditional Dining

Traditional dining is prepared onboard and found on:

Amtrak Viewliner dining car seating.
Amtrak Viewliner dining car seating.

Set prices for coach passengers on some trains based on availability.

  • 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 food on the train, which could be a great way to save money or deal with food restrictions. Remember that Amtrak cannot heat, store, or refrigerate it.

Do not bring or use a coffee maker, hotplates, or other small appliances on the train because it is unsafe for you and others. People do not want to smell your cooking, especially if you are not sharing. Also, passengers would appreciate it if you refrain from eating smelly foods.

For example, in restaurants, do not bring food into the dining car or cafe car you did not buy on the train; the exception is food for young travelers.

Other Tidbits On Eating On Amtrak

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

Box meal on the builder
This meal was handed out after leaving Portland, OR.

These trains spit 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 cafe car.

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

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,”

Amtrak omelet breakfast
An Amtrak traditional dining omelet breakfast

When planning a trip, I like to budget money for the cafe car, especially if I am in coach class. It works better for me to buy meals onboard than to bring all my food on board with me. Sometimes, I want a warm meal.

I am not the kind of traveler who is eager to carry coolers because I like to pack light.

I like to pack snacks in a reusable bag that I carry on the train or pop in my luggage, and as I travel, the bag empties and then gets packed away. Unless I am on a day trip, I pack snacks in one direction to pack lighter. This method allows me to shop at my destination and enjoy something different or even a delicacy from where I was.

Remember, all the food in the cafe car is prepackaged, and staff can warm up the food you bought but not the food you brought.

Sometimes, I have walked to the cafe car to get a cheese tray and wine to be fancy while relaxing in my room. Additionally, I have met some fantastic people in the dining car, including friends I still talk to today!

Safe Travels!

Kev

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Kevin Monteith

Kev Monteith has been traveling on Amtrak since 2012. With over a decade of experience, he has been on over 800 trains, covering over 200k miles of rail. Kev enjoys helping others achieve their travel dreams by providing support and information. Outside of travel, Kev enjoys making music as an organist and outings with family.

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