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BZ Red Hots: Delicious Fast Food at Brookfield Zoo with Great Burgers and Fresh Pizza

BZ Red Hots, located in Riverside, IL, redefines zoo dining with its standout fast food offerings. Their menu showcases crowd-pleasers like gourmet pizzas—featuring unique toppings such as roasted acorn squash and brie—savory cheeseburgers on toasted brioche buns, crispy chicken sandwiches, and fresh, golden fries. The quality rivals many city eateries, surprising visitors with both flavor and portion size. Ordering is streamlined through kiosks, ensuring quick service even during busy times. Whether grabbing a satisfying veggie burger or indulgent chicken tenders combo, BZ Red Hots delivers well-crafted, reasonably priced meals that elevate any zoo visit into a genuine culinary experience.

BZ Red Hots at a glance

  • Address Riverside, IL 60546, United States
  • Restaurant type Fast food restaurant .
  • Popular for Lunch , Dinner , Solo dining .

BZ Red Hots: Reviews & Ratings

M Z
5

We ordered pizzas. At first, I was nervous because it was crowded and we had tickets for the dolphin show is less than an hour from ordering. Ordering on kiosk was easy. We got a text message when order was made and pizza was ready in 18 minutes. Compared to prices of everything else at the zoo, prices were reasonable. Pizza was good and more than enough to feed a teenager. I could have easily split one and wouldn’t have been hungry afterwords. And…the pizza was very good. We were well fed and had plenty of time to get to the dolphin show.

Peter Costas
5

Honestly, this was the best cheeseburger I've had in Chicago thus far. And it's not even Chicago. I don't know why everyone is complaining about the prices, it's a zoo cafe, of course you should expect it will run on the pricey side, but it actually doesn't. Compared to a lot of hipstery "burger bars" in the city, the prices are pretty awesome, I think even McDonald's has worse prices nowadays. The burger patties were huge, the bun was a lightly toasted brioche, and all the toppings were fresh. This was just a great, simple burger. Seriously, if I'm convinced that the best place to get a burger in the city is to hop on an infrequent Metra train and walk 30 minutes through suburbs and zoo life and screaming toddlers to get it, then it's a pretty damn good burger.

Faith S
5

The Zoo has some good food and AMAZING fries, but it is sometimes overpriced. Naturally, the consumer is subject to expensive food at a place where you walk around and where the grounds to explore are vast.

Laura
5

We visited BZ Red Hots at Brookfield Zoo today. We had a wonderful time at the zoo and the best part in my opinion was taking a break for lunch at BZ Red Hots. Service was awesome! Ellise helped us with ordering our food and drinks at the kiosks. She was such a pleasaure with a big smile on her face. I'm sure she's one of her manager's favorite employees if not THE favorite. Thank you again for all your help Ellise. Food was great too.

Avi H
5

For a restaurant in a Zoo, this place is impressive; especially the quality of the food. Got a cheeseburger and the crispy clucker - both hit the spot, and the fries were super fresh. Our friends got the roasted acorn squash pizza which was great - squash and brie on a pizza at a Zoo restaurant??? Nut - recommend after the dolphin show!

Mira
5

The food was good, just pricey but that’s to be expected at the zoo. The employee Eilise was extremely friendly and hospitable! She came outside to talk to us and even provided us with samples of their vodka lemonade . We ended up purchasing one after as it was good!

Noel Hermosillo
5

Came here during boo at the ZOO. I have hears good things about this place. In particular the chicken tenders. I have been here many times and I can tell u the food items are all good. I ordered the chicken tenders for the kiddos, garden burger for myself and the chicken burger for the wifey. Everything came out great. Food was very hot and flavorful. Ur_favorite_realtor

Mark Malewski
5

BZ Red Hots. Located near Seven Seas, map location E13. Choose from a variety of summer foods including Pizza, Cheeseburgers, Hot Dogs, Tuscan Chicken Sandwich. Buy the souvenir cup for $12, get free refills til the end of the year. Great selection of food and drinks at the zoo. Five-piece Chicken Nuggets, Mac-N-Cheese, Pizza or Hot Dog with french fries or chips. Served with milk or Capri Sun juice. Everything is pretty tasty (for zoo food) and hard to beat in the zoo. It gets really crowded right at noon, so it's best to show up before noon to grab a spot to sit.

Location

  • BZ Red Hots
    BZ Red Hots
    Riverside, IL 60546, United States

Nestled within the bustling Brookfield Zoo in Riverside, IL, BZ Red Hots serves up a delightful fast food experience that elevates typical zoo fare to a satisfying and memorable meal. The menu centers on classic comfort foods like pizza, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders, yet delivers them with a surprising level of quality and care.

One of the most notable highlights is their pizza, praised by visitors for being both flavorful and generous in portion. The roasted acorn squash and brie pizza stands out as an unexpected yet harmonious combination, offering a sophisticated twist that you wouldn’t expect at a zoo dining spot. The pizzas come out promptly, making it easy to enjoy a hearty meal without missing out on the zoo’s attractions like the dolphin show.

The cheeseburgers here have garnered high acclaim, touted as some of the best in the greater Chicago area. Served on a lightly toasted brioche bun with fresh toppings and a large, juicy patty, the burger strikes that perfect balance of simplicity and indulgence. It’s clear the kitchen values fresh ingredients and careful preparation, elevating what could have been a straightforward snack into a truly satisfying bite.

Equally impressive are the crispy, fresh-cut fries, often hailed as a must-try side that complements the main dishes perfectly. Patrons mention that these fries alone can make the meal feel worth it. Add in friendly kiosk service, with attentive staff making ordering smooth and pleasant, and BZ Red Hots becomes much more than just a quick food stop — it’s a welcome culinary oasis amid a day of animal explorations.

Though it’s within zoo grounds, prices remain reasonable given the quality and portion sizes, helping dispel the usual perception of inflated theme park food costs. Whether you’re craving a straightforward cheeseburger, a creative veggie burger, or a classic hot dog, BZ Red Hots offers a menu that satisfies a range of appetites and tastes.

In sum, BZ Red Hots shines by combining fresh, well-crafted fast food with speed and value in a location where convenience and quality are often at odds. For zoo visitors and local residents alike, it’s an unexpectedly great spot to recharge with comfort food that doesn’t compromise on taste.

Business Information

  • Accessibility
    • Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Outdoor seating
    • Takeaway
    • Dine-in
    • Delivery
  • Payments
    • Credit cards
    • Debit cards
    • Credit cards