We packed plenty of snacks, drinks and sandwiches during our weekend visit to the Grand Canyon. We stocked up at the Wal-Mart in Kingman, AZ where we had stayed the previous night.
Since there weren’t many dining choices inside the park and one could go for miles without seeing a building, this was a good idea with kids in tow. It was also a money and time saver. It was a great opportunity to have a little picnic while admiring the canyon views. However, there were also a variety of dining options within the park and its neighboring towns.
Canyon Village Marketplace – There were plenty of grocery and food items as well as a deli at the marketplace located in the Market Plaza at Grand Canyon village.
Yippee-ei-o Steakhouse – We had dinner here during our Grand Canyon weekend. It was located on State Route 64 in Tusayan a few miles from the Grand Canyon entrance. It was across from the IMAX Theater. It looked like a western saloon with waiters and waitresses dressed in red cowboy shirts and cowboy hats. Most of the seats were bench seating with seatbacks. The layout was a little packed and crowded.
There was a Buckaroos menu for the kids which offered hotdog with fries, chicken nuggets, and spaghetti and ranged between $5-$7 with no drinks included. Their varied menu had a lot of steak options, of course, and ranged between $13 – $30. Plates came with salad (choice of Ranch or Italian dressing), baked potato, bowl of beans, hot biscuit, and corn on cob nibbler. The Steak options came in different ounce sizes. Ribs, shrimp, chicken were also available. It was a lot of food and was pretty good.
Since we went on a Saturday night during Valentine’s and President’s Day weekend, it was pretty busy. So, be prepared to wait for your food when you’re here during busy weekends and especially during the summer season. Order appetizers and request for your kids’ food to be served first to avoid any whining.
Contact: 928.638.2780 Address: Highway 64, Grand Canyon, AZ
The Explorer’s Cafe – This eatery inside the National Geographic Visitor’s Center and IMAX Theater was our quick stop for lunch on our way out of the Grand Canyon. It had a cafeteria line counter with prepared personal pan pizza and bread sticks you could pick up from Pizza Hut Express. There was also an Asian section with chicken and rice or chicken with rice and vegetables.
There was a choice of Spicy, Teriyaki or Orange Chicken put in a Chinese take-out box. It was actually some pretty good orange chicken. The biggest rip-off was the burgers and hotdogs for $8. WOW! There was plenty of seating areas inside and outside and was a popular tour bus stop so be prepared for the crowds and lines. Address: 450 State Route 64, Grand Canyon, AZ
Tusayan was a little town that caters to the tourists with nothing much going on at night and had a few diners and cafes. McDonald’s and Wendy’s were among the fast food offerings.
For Next Time:
El Tovar Dining Room – How wonderful would it be to dine in a historic restaurant looking at the majestic canyon while the sun is rising or setting? This was located inside the El Tovar hotel. They highly recommend reservations. Although the menu was a little pricey, we definitely want to dine here on our next visit.
Contact: 1.888.297.2757 Address: Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023-0699
Best Western Restaurants – The Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn in Tusayan boasts a few dining choices within their building and probably worth a visit for variety. They also have a Family Fun Center with billiards, arcade games and bowling to entertain the kids.
Contact: 928.638.2681 Address: 100 Highway 64 Grand Canyon, Arizona