Visitors may come to theme parks for the thrills – but they stay for the food. From giant donuts to year-round Thanksgiving dinners and burger-sushi hybrids, parks go to great lengths to make their eats as fun and exciting as their rides. Here we take a look at the tastiest, wackiest foods in theme parks across the US.

Click or scroll through our gallery as we reveal the theme park snacks and meals you absolutely must try – counting down to the craziest, most showstopping of all.

It's the history that really makes these hot dogs noteworthy. Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs stand has been next to Coney Island's Luna Park for more than a century, and it now doles out burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and onion rings too. Of course, the best thing to order here is a plump hot dog – they're famous for a reason!

For a sit-down feast, head to Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott's Berry Farm. It's a historic spot that opened in 1934, and it makes sure its customers never leave hungry. Gorge on a banquet of crunchy fried chicken, house-made biscuits, fresh vegetables, and steaming gravy, then finish up with a slice of boysenberry pie.

Tuck into a hearty Viking feast at Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk. Large enough to feed the family, the Thawfest Platter features chicken drumsticks in a wild berry barbecue glaze, grilled salmon, sausage, carrots, onions, and Nordic fries, all served with a delicious selection of side sauces. Little How to Train Your Dragon fans will also love the fish-shaped chocolate mousse for dessert.

A glorious spiral of lighter-than-air ice cream, Dole Whip has been a Disney favorite for years. The pineapple-flavored delicacy has been served at Disney parks since the 1980s, and today adults can enjoy it with a measure of rum poured over the top. As well as the original pineapple variety, you can also discover flavors ranging from strawberry to root beer. You can try it at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

Sweet, tangy, and dusted with cinnamon sugar, these deep-fried apple chunks come piled high and finished with a swirl of vanilla cream. They're served warm, in a bright yellow carton – dunk each fry in an ample amount of cream for the tastiest bite. You'll find them on Castle Hill at LEGOLAND California.

The reputation of Dollywood's signature dish, cinnamon bread, precedes it. Oozing with butter and powdered with sugar, the chunky bread packs a cinnamon punch. Choose apple butter or icing to go with your bread, which is served fresh from the oven and is pleasingly sticky. Expect a line at the Grist Mill bakery – but know that it's totally worth the wait.

This Disney dessert is based on a type of sweet Norwegian bread that's often given to children as part of a packed lunch – hence the name. To make School Bread, a sphere of dough is injected with custard or vanilla cream, then coated with icing and dried coconut. Vanilla custard is the finishing touch. Swing by the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT for a taste of this unmissable treat. 

This colorful dessert from the Volcano Bay water park at Universal Orlando not only looks the part, but it also features all the flavors of a fruit salad, with layers of banana, blue raspberry, orange, and strawberry ice cream. So, if the water slides don’t cool you down from the Florida heat, head to the ice cream stand near the entrance, as this sweet treat certainly will.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eat Shrek’s face? Of course you have. And now you can, thanks to the Shrekzel – a pretzel that's shaped to resemble the ogre's instantly recognizable features. Available from Swamp Snacks at DreamWorks Land, this chunky baked delight is the perfect snack for anyone who’s worked up an appetite on their journey to Far Far Away.

Available at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, this irresistible butterscotch-like ice cream is a winner with Harry Potter fans – and if you need even more Butterbeer products in your life, Butterbeer potted cream and Butterbeer fudge are available, too. Not only that, but during the Butterbeer Season event (March through May), you can get your hands on even more limited-edition Butterbeer treats and merch.

It's not uncommon to find churros at a theme park, but Disney's offering is something extra special. You'll feel as if you're sitting around the campfire, as the s'mores-inspired treat is covered in crushed Graham crackers, and it comes with a dipping pot of gooey chocolate-marshmallow sauce. Head to a cart at Disneyland Resort to get your fill.

Fries are commonplace in theme parks the world over, but Kennywood's Potato Patch has a reputation for going the extra mile. Made using high-quality Idaho potatoes, each mountain of Potato Patch fries comes buried under your choice of indulgent toppings – think barbecue, onion or garlic salt, gravy, bacon, and cheese. Find this fast food hero in the heart of the park; it's like a shining beacon when you most need to refuel.

The DelGrosso family owned DelGrosso's Cafe, an Italian restaurant in Altoona, before they bought this amusement park – so it's easy to see why Italian food is at the heart of the menu here. Fast-forward some 80 years, and 'Spaghetti Wednesdays' are still a major feature of the park: each week, chefs whip up a new Italian dish like rigatoni, ravioli, or gnocchi.

Head to the Green Eggs and Ham Cafe to try its namesake dish, inspired by the famous Dr. Seuss book. Your eggs really do come green, served with diced ham and tater tots, all covered with a cheesy sauce. If green eggs don’t sound appealing, you can get your tots with carnitas or Buffalo chicken, or try them pizza style (with pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella, and tomato sauce). These fun and tasty tater tots will have you ordering lots and lots.

You can get a warming Thanksgiving dinner all year round at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, a holiday-inspired park with areas dedicated to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the 4th of July. Celebrate turkey day, regardless of the season, at the Plymouth Rock Café, where you can order a plate laden with succulent turkey (or chicken or pulled pork) and all the trimmings.

Funnel cakes are obligatory at theme parks, and Six Flags' offering is the best of the bunch. Mighty plates of sizzling hot dough are doused in syrup and can be served with whipped cream, ice cream, or powdered sugar. These parks take the funnel cake fun to the next level: sweet-toothed visitors can get involved with funnel cake eating contests, blindfolded funnel cake decorating, and funnel cake frisbee.

Everything at Hersheypark’s The Chocolatier features a touch of chocolate, including the savory dishes. The chocolate barbecue chicken wings come in a rich sauce laced with the good stuff – but you can stick to classic Buffalo sauce, if you prefer. Other chocolatey menu items include a chicken sandwich featuring peanut butter and caramel grilled chicken and bacon drizzled with chocolate.

If you're tired of run-of-the-mill fries, go in search of Silver Dollar City's tasty Tater Twists. Golden potato is twirled around a wooden stick – or a juicy hot dog, if you order the Twisted Tater Dog – and you can choose from a range of zingy seasonings. Pick them up on Valley Road and feast on the go.

It might not seem like apples and bacon should go together – but this flavorful cake proves they do. Luxuriously light, Disneyland's apple bacon whoopie pies are slathered with maple cream cheese icing and covered with bacon brittle. You'll see them wheeled out seasonally and at events such as the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.

Plant-based diets aren’t forgotten at Das Stakehaus, which otherwise serves a rather meaty menu – it might look like brains, but this ghoulish dish served at Dark Universe is, astonishingly, completely vegan. The stuffed cabbage is made with Impossible meat, soft cabbage leaves, and a bell pepper and tomato sauce. It’s served with bright pink beet bucatini, making for a meal that looks horrifying but tastes delicious.

Simpsons-inspired store Lard Lad Donuts is a donut lover's delight. Its 'D'oh-nuts' come in flavors including maple bacon and chocolate, but the larger-than-life Big Pink is the one to go for. The huge, sugary round of dough is glazed with pastel pink icing and topped with sprinkles. Get your teeth around one at Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Hollywood – just look out for Lard Lad, the joint's donut-wielding mascot.

Feeling hungry at Silver Dollar City? Make a beeline for Lumbercamp Falls Skillet, where, as the name suggests, huge iron skillets are loaded with smoky sausage, chicken, and colorful grilled vegetables. The dishes are cooked right before your eyes for added theater. Head to Buckshot’s Skillet Cookery for more signature skillets, barbecue, sandwiches, and huge turkey legs.

Hersheypark's freakshakes taste as good as they look. Pick which king-size shake you want – there are lots to choose from, including Reese's Peanut Butter, Chocolate Overload, and Strawberry Shortcake shakes – and make sure you snap a photo before you dive in. Chocolate Overload, a firm favorite, is crowned with whipped cream, chocolate-covered pretzels, a chocolate mousse pop, and a chocolate shortbread cookie.

If you're a fan of both cookies and ice cream, this indulgent sweet treat is for you. To make it, a generous amount of soft-serve ice cream (choose from vanilla or boysenberry) is sandwiched between two gloriously chewy chocolate chip cookies. An extra coating of chocolate chips on the outside completes the confection. Seek out a Cookiewich at the Ice Cream Shop in the Ghost Town area of Knott’s Berry Farm. 

Gargantuan turkey legs have become something of a theme park staple. They're not the prettiest option, it's true, but these jumbo legs are favored for their tender meat and smoky flavor. You'll spot them at Disney parks, Universal Studios, and Six Flags venues across the States – as well as at many other theme parks around the globe. Make sure you've got a napkin handy!

Over at Cowfish, a restaurant in Universal Orlando, you'll find burgushi – a fusion of burgers and sushi. The Combo Bento Box comes with a tiny burger, edamame beans, and sushi rolls. The High Class Hillbilly dish is another favorite here; to make it, slow-roasted pork is wrapped up like a sushi roll and piled with bacon coleslaw and skinny potato slices. Pair it with a creative craft cocktail.

Didn't think Oreos could get any better? Wait until you've paid a visit to Kennywood. Here, they're battered, fried, and dusted in powdered sugar. The result is a puffy, slightly crispy morsel – and when you bite into it, prepare for a satisfying crunch as you reach the chocolatey, creamy cookie in the center.

Alligator bites might not be for everyone, but those who give them a try will be rewarded. The alligator meat is diced, breaded, and deep fried, then served on a bed of salad with a zingy dipping sauce. You can find alligator bites in the International Food Court at Knoebels, where you'll also come across bison burgers, 'hog wild fries,' and a punchy sweet and sour chicken dish.

There are lots of places to find cheese at a theme park: melted on top of a burger patty, bubbling on a pizza, or oozing over nachos, for example. But for die-hard cheese lovers, this option has to be one of the best. Cedar Point offers a mighty hunk of cheese, speared onto a stick, and deep-fried in batter, which creates a crisp casing for the molten cheese inside.

If you’re drawn to food challenges, you won’t want to miss this one at Super Nintendo World, part of Universal’s newest Epic Universe Park. A hefty 1lb meatball comes topped with mozzarella and served in a rich mushroom marinara sauce. A puff pastry Bowser sits alongside it, and the fire part comes from a side of hot sauce that really brings the heat to this villainous dish.

Burgers are ubiquitous in theme parks around the world, but Disney’s Animal Kingdom has put an unusual spin on the classic. The Satu’li Canteen in Pandora serves these light, fluffy bao buns, stuffed with ground beef, Cheddar cheese, mustard, ketchup, and pickles, along with a side of crunchy vegetable slaw and vegetable chips.

One slice of this hefty 25lb apple pie from Spotlight Bakery at Dollywood weighs a whopping 3lb. With flaky pastry encasing an aromatic apple center, it certainly makes a filling snack. If you’re really feeling it, get the whole pie to share and keep the skillet it comes in – but bear in mind that it’s designed to serve 32 people. If you can’t make it to Dollywood, you can order the pie to be delivered straight to your home.

Love theme parks? Discover more famous eats at Disney locations around the world

Last updated by Laura Ellis.